Hinduism

Basic Facts• One of the largest number of followers of any

religion• Oldest of major world religions• Original ideas brought to India by Aryans in 1700 BC• No single founder• Buddhism sprang from Hinduism• Hinduism is both a religion and way of life• Hindu life focuses on the cycle of birth, death

(reincarnation) and becoming one with Brahman.• Reincarnation is when you die, you begin a new

• Reincarnation is when you die you begin a new life in a new body human or animal.

Caste System

Brahman• Brahma is a chief Hindu god, one of the many forms in

which Brahman appears.• Brahman is neither male or female.• It does not have human form, because human

characteristics would make it imperfect.• Because it has no form, Hindus have created thousands

of gods and goddesses which are believed to be different manifestations of Brahman.

• Brahma – Creator; Siva – Destroyer; Visnu – Renewer• Believe all living things have a soul – ex: worms, cows,

etc.• Cow especially sacred because of all that it offers

Goal• Goal is to gain a sense of enlightenment called

moksha• It is when the soul reunites with Brahman• When this occurs, the cycle of birth, death, and

rebirth ends• Moksha can only be attained when the soul

becomes completely pure and has detached itself from everything on earth.

• 4 paths that lead to Moksha: good works, knowledge, devotion, and meditation

Temple (Mandirs)• Built near rivers or other sources of water so they

purify themselves before making offerings to the gods.• Take off shoes and leave them outside to show respect.• Worshippers ring a bell when they enter (this is like

knocking on a door)• Once inside, people make offerings to the god to

whom the temple is dedicated• Offerings consist of: fruit, nuts, flowers, coins, etc• No set days of worship• Every home has a shrine where an image or statue of a

god or goddess is kept.

Holy Places and Books• Countless holy places• Hindus consider 7 rivers in India to be sacred• They believe they can wash away the bad karma

(sins) of their previous life.• Ganges is the holiest river.• Hindus refer to the Ganges as the “River of Heaven”

because they believe it flowed to earth from the skies.

• Vedas is the holy text of Hinduism