HINDUISM

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HINDUISM
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Introduction to Hinduism

• There is only one God, but endless are his
  aspects and endless are his names

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What is Hinduism?

• A philosophy and a way of life focused both on
  this world and beyond
• Tolerance and diversity "Truth is one, paths are
  many"
• One of the oldest religions of humanity dating
  back to 1500 BCE

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What is Hinduism?

• A religion that began in India.
• The religion of the Indian people
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
• There are 750 million Hindus in the world today.

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Location of Hindus
The vast majority of Hindus live in India and
Nepal
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Origins The Aryans

• An Indo-European people.
• Migrated to India in about 1500 BCE from the
  Caucus Mountains.
• Brought the Vedas.
• No single founder-combination of beliefs

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Sacred Texts

• Vedas and Upanishads
• Rig Veda Hinduisms oldest text nearly
  4000 years old

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Goal of Hinduism

• Moksha release or liberation from the endless
  cycle of rebirth (reincarnation).
• Infinite bliss and awareness
• United forever with
  the divine

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Reincarnation

• Samsara constant cycle of rebirth.
• Death is not final for Hindus they expect to be
  reborn many times.
• People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower
  level of existence depending on their karma from
  their present life.
• People may be reborn as plants or animals or they
  may be elevated to a higher caste as a human.

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Karma Dharma

• Karma Total of good and bad actions a human soul
  carries with it from life to life.
• Karma determines all the particular circumstances
  and situations of ones life.
• Dharma system of rules and values that Hindus
  follow in their everyday life
• Atman

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Festivals and Holy Days

• No set day of the week is holy-each days has its
  possibilities
• Religious festivals may be solar or lunar-lunar
  is preferred
• There are 125 special days in the Hindu year with
  Diwali being an extra special celebration.

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Diwali-Festival of Lights
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Caste System Four major castes

• Brahmin priests
• Kshatriya warriors and administrators
• Vaishya farmers, merchants, teachers, artisans
• Sudras servants, laborers
• Untouchables lived outside the caste system.
  Their presence was considered harmful.

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Places of Worship

• Hindu temples exist but Hinduism is usually
  practiced in the home where there is usually a
  shrine dedicated to a favored deity

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Shrines
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Temples
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The Ganges River
Falling from Its source of Vishnus feet onto
Shivas head and out from his hair, the water of
the Ganges is sacred enough to purify all sins.
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The Major Gods Of Hinduism
Brahma the creator god
Shiva god of destruction/ transformation so that
new can be created
Vishnu the preserver god
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Sacred Cow of India

• Milk holds a central place in religious rituals.
• In honor of their exalted status, cows often roam
  free.
• A citizen can be sent to jail
  for killing or injuring a cow.

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Banaras - Hindus Holy City

• Pilgrims come from all over to bathe in the
  Ganges.
• Countless Hindus come to die
• 1500 temples, most of them devoted to Shiva.
• It is a gathering place for the religiously
  learned and their disciples.

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What are the spiritual practices of Hinduism?

• Yogas seeking union with the divine
• Guru a spiritual teacher

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Gandhi The Father of India

• For Gandhi, social concern was deeply rooted in
  his conviction of the sacredness of life.
• Gandhi believed that human beings should strive
  to live as simply as possible since
  overindulgence often meant that others may have
  to do without their basic needs.
• Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic on
  January 30, l948 as India was gaining its
  independence.

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Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
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Ms Stewarts Rhyme

• If you follow dharma then you will have good
  karma the maybe in one of your lives you will
  achieve nirvana!

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What do Hindus believe?

• One impersonal Ultimate Reality Brahman
• Manifest as many personal deities
• True essence of life Atman, the soul, is
  Brahman trapped in matter (That art thou)
• Reincarnation atman is continually born into
  this world lifetime after lifetime (Samsara)
• Karma spiritual impurity due to actions keeps
  us bound to this world (good and bad)
• Ultimate goal of life to release Atman and
  reunite with the divine, becoming as one with
  Brahman (Moksha)

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• Mono OR Polytheistic?
• http//www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/beliefs/thei
  sm.htm