India and Hinduism

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India and Hinduism
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Hinduism

• 83 of Indians are Hindu
• Ancient, polytheistic religion
• Teaches unity with all life
• Every living thing has a spirit or a soul that
  comes from the Creator- Brahma
• Treat all animals with great respect- most Hindus
  are vegetarians

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Hinduism

• Consider the Ganges River to be holy- believes it
  purifies the souls of those who bathe in it or
  drink its water
• Final goal of every living thing is unity with
  Brahma

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Reincarnation

• Belief that the souls of human beings and animals
  go through a series of births, deaths, and
  rebirths
• Believe that the soul does not die but passes
  from body to body until it becomes pure enough to
  be united with Brahma

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Varanasi

• Hinduisms most holy city
• one of Indias oldest cities built on the banks
  of the Ganges River
• Believe anyone lucky enough to die there is
  released from the reincarnation cycle
• Devout Hindus hope to visit the city at least
  once in their lifetime to wash in the sacred
  Ganges River

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Sacred Cow

• Cow is venerated or honored in Hinduism
• Cows are free to roam the streets of cities
• Considered sacred b/c they helped in tilling the
  soil and pulling carts provide milk and food
  (dairy products) fuel (cow dung) believe the
  cow was created the same day as the Brahmin
  caste symbol of motherhood

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Caste System
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Caste System

• Hindu society was divided into castes for
  hundreds of years
• People are born into a particular caste
• Complex caste rules governed every aspect of
  life- where people lived, what they ate, how they
  earned a living, who they married

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Caste System

• High caste people had strictest rules to protect
  them from the impure lower castes
• Caste System ensured stable social order
• Could not change caste in this life but could
  reach a higher caste in a future life
• The system was outlawed about 50 years ago,
  however it is still practiced in some rural areas
  

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Untouchables

• Lowest caste
• Did work that was considered unclean street
  sweeping, tanning hides, clean sewers
• Continue to have fewer educational and employment
  opportunities