HinduismHinduism• Makes up 80% of Makes up 80% of

population of Indiapopulation of India• Belief in many godsBelief in many gods• Belief in Belief in reincarnationreincarnation

(the rebirth of souls after (the rebirth of souls after death)death)

• KarmaKarma – moral – moral consequences of peopleconsequences of people

The world's "oldest extant religion"The world's "oldest extant religion"

There are approximately 1 billion Hindus, making Hinduism the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam, of whom approximately 890

million live in India

World religions MapWorld religions Map

HinduismHinduism

It originated on the It originated on the Indian subcontinent Indian subcontinent with foundations in with foundations in the the Vedic civilizationVedic civilization, , but has no known but has no known founder, being itself a founder, being itself a conglomerate of conglomerate of diverse diverse beliefs beliefs and and traditions.traditions.

सनातन धर्म र (Sanskrit(Sanskrit))

Bhagavad Bhagavad gitagita

Sanskrit: भगवद् ‌गीता –

The "Song of God" is an The "Song of God" is an ancient Sanskrit text ancient Sanskrit text comprising 700 verses comprising 700 verses from the Mahabharata. from the Mahabharata. Krishna, as the speaker Krishna, as the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita is of the Bhagavad Gita is referred to within as referred to within as Bhagavan.Bhagavan.

Hindu TempleHindu TempleHouses of worship for Houses of worship for followers of Hinduism. They followers of Hinduism. They are usually specifically are usually specifically reserved for religious and reserved for religious and spiritual activities.spiritual activities.

Who is Hindu?Who is Hindu?When we think of the Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one God; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion of creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more.

- Chief Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar

Five Major DoctrinesFive Major Doctrines• TruthTruth is one, Sages call it by different names is one, Sages call it by different names • All Mankind is All Mankind is One FamilyOne Family • Law of KarmaLaw of Karma - As you sow, so shall you reap - As you sow, so shall you reap • That mode of living which is founded upon total That mode of living which is founded upon total

harmlessness towards all creatures or upon a harmlessness towards all creatures or upon a minimum of such harm, is the highest morality minimum of such harm, is the highest morality

• Whenever there is a decline of virtue, God Whenever there is a decline of virtue, God incarnates Himself on earth to uphold righteousness incarnates Himself on earth to uphold righteousness

VishnuVishnuShivaShiva

MandalaMandalaA plan, chart or geometric A plan, chart or geometric pattern which represents pattern which represents the cosmos metaphysically the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a or symbolically, a microcosm of the universe microcosm of the universe from the human from the human perspective. perspective.

This denotes an action that brings back This denotes an action that brings back results in this life or in the future life. The doctrine of results in this life or in the future life. The doctrine of karma (karmavada) is based upon the theory of cause karma (karmavada) is based upon the theory of cause and effect. According to this doctrine, God is not and effect. According to this doctrine, God is not responsible for the pleasure or pain of His creatures. responsible for the pleasure or pain of His creatures. They suffer or enjoy owing to the consequences of their They suffer or enjoy owing to the consequences of their own bad or good deeds.own bad or good deeds.

Castes in IndiaCastes in India The Indian caste system The Indian caste system has been in use for many has been in use for many years.  Stillyears.  Still today the today the values of values of the caste system the caste system are held strongly.  are held strongly.  It has kept a sense It has kept a sense of order, and peace of order, and peace among the people. among the people. 

•Varna is a person's natural and Varna is a person's natural and right position in society. right position in society. •The caste one has must The caste one has must dictate his or her role in life.dictate his or her role in life.

Caste-SystemCaste-System• System of social System of social

classesclasses• BrahmansBrahmans – Priests – Priests

and scholarsand scholars• Kshatriyas Kshatriyas – rulers – rulers

and warriorsand warriors• VaisyasVaisyas – farmers – farmers

and merchantsand merchants• SudrasSudras – artisans and – artisans and

workers workers

• Dalits Dalits - untouchables- untouchables

BrahmansBrahmans

Highest class:Highest class: priests and wise priests and wise men of the society men of the society origin:origin: Mouth of BrahmaMouth of Brahma

A handcolored A handcolored engraving of engraving of BrahmaBrahma

Brahma carving at a Brahma carving at a temple in Halebidu temple in Halebidu

soldiers/landowners soldiers/landowners origin:origin: Arm of Brahma Arm of Brahma

Lord Sri Rama with Lord Sri Rama with wife wife SitaSita, brother , brother LakshmanaLakshmana and and devotee Hanuman. devotee Hanuman. Rama and Lakshmana Rama and Lakshmana are always shown to are always shown to be ready for battle as be ready for battle as it is their Kshatriya it is their Kshatriya dharmadharma to fight. to fight.

KshatriyasKshatriyas

VaisyasVaisyasArtisans/merchantsArtisans/merchantsorigin:origin: thighs of Brahma thighs of Brahma

A A VaishyaVaishya is a member is a member of the second of the four of the second of the four classes of traditional classes of traditional Indian society. In Indian society. In Bhagavad-Gita their Bhagavad-Gita their duties are stated as cow duties are stated as cow protection, agriculture protection, agriculture and business.and business.

Cattle are sacred in India, yet can be used as work Cattle are sacred in India, yet can be used as work animals, for their milk, and for their dung fertilizer. animals, for their milk, and for their dung fertilizer. These farmer/laborer caste men are cutting grass.These farmer/laborer caste men are cutting grass.

SudrasSudras

Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu castes is castes is technically illegal. But try telling that technically illegal. But try telling that to the 160 million Untouchables (dalits), who to the 160 million Untouchables (dalits), who face violent reprisals if they forget their place.face violent reprisals if they forget their place.

Even now, this rejected caste is left to clean the streets Even now, this rejected caste is left to clean the streets and do other dirty work.and do other dirty work.

DalitDalit

Bull templeBull templeShiva’s bull, Shiva’s bull, NandiNandi

SwastikaSwastikaThe swastika is The swastika is considered considered extremely holy extremely holy and auspicious and auspicious by all Hindus, and is regularly used by all Hindus, and is regularly used to decorate all sorts of items to do to decorate all sorts of items to do with Hindu culture. with Hindu culture.

It symbolizes Peace and It symbolizes Peace and Harmony, Lord Ganesh has Harmony, Lord Ganesh has it on his right hand. Differs it on his right hand. Differs from other uses of swastika from other uses of swastika by the four dots inside by the four dots inside each of the four arms.each of the four arms.

YogaYoga Statue of Shiva performing Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation Yogic meditation

One of the six schools One of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, of Hindu philosophy, focusing on meditation focusing on meditation as a path to self-as a path to self-knowledge and knowledge and liberation.liberation.

A system A system of Yoga of Yoga that is seen that is seen as a as a preparatory preparatory stage of stage of physical physical purification that renders the purification that renders the body fit for the practice of body fit for the practice of higher meditation.higher meditation.

Hatha Hatha YogaYoga

Concept of GodConcept of God• The The Truth Truth (Ultimate Reality) is one, Sages call it by (Ultimate Reality) is one, Sages call it by

different names - there is one God, (Supreme Reality) different names - there is one God, (Supreme Reality) perceived differently.perceived differently.

• Supreme RealitySupreme Reality is worshipped in male and female is worshipped in male and female form.form.

Hindu Deities represent Hindu Deities represent

various perceptions of various perceptions of

a one God: a one God:

““monotheistic monotheistic

polytheism,” rather polytheism,” rather

than polytheism.than polytheism.

Hindu TrinityHindu TrinityThree manifestations of the Supreme RealityThree manifestations of the Supreme Reality

Brahma : Creation Vishnu : Preservation Shiva : Destruction Shiva : Destruction

•Three Faces of DivineThree Faces of Divine•Three Cosmic Functions of the Supreme LordThree Cosmic Functions of the Supreme Lord•Creation + Preservation+ DissolutionCreation + Preservation+ Dissolution•GGenerator + enerator + OOperator + perator + DDestroyer = estroyer = GODGOD

Lord Brahma, The creator God of the Trinity

Lord Vishnu, The Preserver god of the Trinity

Lord Rama, Destroyer of Evil

Lord Shiva, The "giver" god. Lord Ganesh, God of knowledge

Lord Krishna, Destroyer of Evil

Hindu celebration: Hindu celebration: VaranasiVaranasi

VaranasiVaranasiIt gets its name from It gets its name from the two tributaries of the two tributaries of the Ganga, Varuna and the Ganga, Varuna and Assi. This enchanting Assi. This enchanting city is said to have been city is said to have been founded by Lord Shiva.founded by Lord Shiva.

Ten Great ObservancesTen Great Observances• Patience, firmness and stability Patience, firmness and stability • ForgivenessForgiveness• Self-control and contentmentSelf-control and contentment• Not to steal or conceal, or be selfishNot to steal or conceal, or be selfish• Cleanliness, purity and honestyCleanliness, purity and honesty• Control over senses and sexual energy Control over senses and sexual energy • Right knowledge of the scripture Right knowledge of the scripture • Material and spiritual knowledge or study Material and spiritual knowledge or study • TruthTruth• Absence of angerAbsence of anger

Reincarnation Reincarnation TransmigrationTransmigration

The Wheel of TransmigrationThe Wheel of Transmigration

According to Hinduism a According to Hinduism a soul reincarnates again and soul reincarnates again and again on earth till it again on earth till it becomes perfect and becomes perfect and reunites with it Source. reunites with it Source. A A being has to live many being has to live many lives and undergo many lives and undergo many experiences before it can experiences before it can attain perfection, attain perfection, becoming one with the becoming one with the Divine.Divine.

NirvanaNirvanaIn Hindu tradition, In Hindu tradition, nirvana (more nirvana (more commonly called commonly called mokshamoksha ) is the ) is the reuniting with reuniting with BrahmanBrahman , the universal , the universal God or universal soul. In God or universal soul. In traditional Hinduism, a traditional Hinduism, a soul reaches this state soul reaches this state after living many lives in after living many lives in which it climbs up which it climbs up through the through the varnavarna , or , or castecaste system. system.

A mandala showing A mandala showing The Sure Way to NirvanaThe Sure Way to Nirvana

What is meant by this quote?What is meant by this quote?

"Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones."wears new ones."

Rajput WeddingRajput Wedding

BrideBride GroomGroom

This Rajput marriage blends two important families. This Rajput marriage blends two important families. For traditional Hindus, the rituals of marriage are one For traditional Hindus, the rituals of marriage are one of the most important functions of life.of the most important functions of life.

A day before the A day before the wedding the palm and wedding the palm and feet of the bride are feet of the bride are decorated with a henna decorated with a henna design called “mehndi".design called “mehndi".

A canopy A canopy or or mandapa mandapa decorated decorated with with flowers is flowers is erected at erected at the place of the place of wedding.wedding.

Hindu Hindu WeddingWedding