The coming of non-native religion into Southeast Asia.

Topic Objectives:

1. Origin / Founder of the religion2. Two-three basic teachings and ideas3. Two-three festivals and celebrations4. How the religion came to Southeast Asia

Hinduism is not a single religion but embraces many traditions.

Hinduism has no definite starting point. The traditions which flow into Hinduism may go back several thousand years and some practitioners claim that the Hindu revelation is eternal.http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/history/history_1.shtml

Hinduism is a collective term applied to the many philosophical and religious traditions native to India. Hinduism has neither a specific moment of origin nor a specific founder.

Rather, the tradition understands itself to be timeless, having always existed. http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism.html

Origin / Founder of the religion

Origin / Founder of the religion

The Persian word for hindu means River

Many Hindus describe the religion as sanatan dharma which can be translated as ‘the eternal laws of nature

http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism.html

http://www.prestonfaithforum.org.uk/hinduism/hinduism.html

Basic teachings and ideas

The Hindu worldview is grounded in the doctrines of • samsara (the cycle of rebirth) • karma (the universal law of cause and effect),

One's actions (including one's thoughts) directly determine one's life, both one's current life and one's future lives. http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism.html

blogs.isb.bj.edu.cn

Basic teachings and ideas

DeitySome Hindus recognize a vast diversity of gods and goddesses;

Some Hindus believe in a Hindu "trinity" (trimurti): Brahman, Vishnu, Shiva;

Other Hindus claim an essential monotheism, believing that all the gods are manifestations of one.http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism.html

Basic teachings and ideas

http://www.sodahead.com

Plenary

Why do you think Hinduism is compared to a large banyan tree which keeps growing and developing new roots and trunks ?

Religions of the World – Oxford Publishing

Basic teachings and ideas

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated in January or February annually.

Thaipusam is actually derived from ‘Thai’ which means ‘10th’, and ‘pusam’ meaning “when the moon is at its brightest”.

It is thus celebrated when the moon is full in the Tamil month of Thai (between January and February). http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_760_2004-12-27.html

http://dandapani.org/blog/tag/thaipusam-festival-malaysia/

Festivals and celebrations

Dedicated to Lord Subramaniam, also known as Lord Murugan, the deity of youth, power and virtue, this festival is a time for repentance for devotees with celebrations carried out mainly at the temple. http://www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/thaipusam.html

www.astroved.com-

Festivals and celebrations

The Thaipusam ceremony starts in the early hours of the morning.

The first batch of devotees carry milk pots and wooden kavadis. Some pierce their tongues with skewers and carry a wooden kavadidecorated with flowers and peacock feathers balanced on their shoulders.

Other devotees carry spiked kavadis that require elaborate preparation.

http://www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/thaipusam.html

Festivals and celebrations

Deepavali, or Diwali, is a five-day Hindu festival that begins on the shortest day of the year during the period between mid-October and mid-November. Deepavali celebrates light overcoming darkness and is also known as the Festival of Lights.

The most common legend about Deepavali is that Lord Krishna defeated Narakasura in a battle. When Lord Krishna returned to Madura, it was a new moon and the city was in darkness. The people lit oil lamps to welcome him home and celebrate the victory.http://publicholidays.sg/deepavali/

Festivals and celebrations

www.freeallimages.com

Hindus pray to the Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of light and prosperity, and celebrate by wearing colourful clothes and decorating their bodies, particularly their hands and arms, with henna tattoos.

Before Deepavali, homes are cleaned throughout and decorated inside and out with clay lamps called diyas, flowers, beautiful fabrics and colourful powders making designs called rangolis in and around the houses.http://publicholidays.sg/deepavali/

Festivals and celebrations

www.alpana.in

During the festival, prayers are offered in thanks and to request future blessings. Homes and streets become happy and colourful and full of the aromas of foods like Gajar Halwa made with carrots and milk, Dahi-bhalle – fried lentil balls served with yoghurt and chutneys – and desserts like Gulab Jamun made with cinnamon and cardamomhttp://publicholidays.sg/deepavali/

Festivals and celebrations

sglinks.com

Coming of Hinduism to Southeast Asia

http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/GHurst/files/scan0005.jpg

PlenaryWhat does the word hindu mean in Persian ?

Why do Hindus refer to India as ‘Mother India’ ?

What is the sacred river?

In what ways does ‘A sacred world’ sums up ideas about Hinduism ?

What does sanatan dharma mean?

Who is Brahman ?

Why do Hindus worship the cow ?

Name and describe two hindu practices / rituals.

How did Hinduism come to Southeast Asia?