Hinduism

Origin

• Hinduism is an ethnic religion that evolved

on the Indian subcontinent beginning about

3,500 years ago.

Distribution/Diffusion

• Hinduism (shown above in hot pink) has approximately 806 million adherents worldwide. It is the main religion in India and Sri Lanka, but was carried to other parts of the world by Indians who moved there (or were moved by the British).

Fundamental Beliefs of Hinduism

• No single founder.

• No single sacred text.

• Some see Hinduism as polytheistic, others

as monotheistic

Caste System

• The caste system divides Hindus into four

societal divisions based on occupation

• When followed strictly, members of

different castes do not marry, socialize, or

interact with members of other castes

• The caste system is officially outlawed in

India and is disappearing in cities where

economic advancement is possible

Divisions/Jobs of the Caste System

Brahmins--priestly caste

Kshatriyas--nobles/warriors/protectors–

Doctors, lawyers, CEO

Vaishyas--merchants/land owner

Shudras—servants/artisans/laborers

Dalits/untouchables do the nastiest jobs ever.

Highest

Level

Lowest

Level

***Dalits are deemed so inferior they are not even recognized by caste

system

Caste System

• Brahman

Priest

Caste System

• Kshatriya ruler, warrior, landowner

Caste System

• Vaishya merchants, land owners and minor officials

Caste System

• Shudra unskilled

labor

Caste System

• Dalits/untouchables are outside the caste system.

Making dung patties to

use for fuel. Cleaning the sewer.

Fundamental Beliefs of Hinduism • Dharma = the duties

to family and caste.

Fundamental Beliefs of Hinduism

• Karma

– All actions have future consequences--rewards or punishments (in this life or the next).

.

Vs.

Fundamental Beliefs of Hinduism

• Samsara

– Belief in

reincarnation

Fundamental Beliefs of Hinduism

• Moksha

– The final release from reincarnation. (sort of a Hindu heaven)

How do dharma, kharma, samsara, and

moksha fit together?

1. By performing dharma, a Hindu builds up karma.

2. With good karma, when they are reincarnated

(samsara) they will be born into a higher caste

3. Brahmans with good karma reach moksha.

4. If you build bad karma, you a reincarnated to a

lower caste!

Sacred Space • Ganges River, the sacred

river of Hinduism

Every day, 60,000 people bathe

in the waters of the ganges at

Veranasi.

Sacred Space

• For centuries, Hindus have flocked to

Varanasi, a city on the Ganges, in the belief

that dying here frees the soul of sin and ends

the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Hindu Practices

• Cows are seen as

sacred.

Killing or harming a cow is

prohibited.

Important Texts

• The Vedas: oldest text of Hinduism, the

basic ideas of Hindusim

Important Texts

• Upanishads: Hindu philosophies and

discussions between sages and priests

Important Texts

• Bhagivad Gita: a human prince, Arjuna,

seeks help from Hindu diety Krishna

Hindu Dieties • There are three basic sects, each represented

by a high god.

--Brahma--The Creator

--Vishnu--The Preserver

--Shiva--The Destroyer

Hindu Dieties

• Brahma the Creator

– Often portrayed with four

faces for the four points of

the compass

– Brahma does not take an

interest in day-to day life

(not as widely worshiped).

Hindu Dieties

• Vishnu the Preserver

• Vishnu is in charge

of human fate.

• Vishnu has the

largest number of

followers within

Hinduism.

Vishnu and his wife, Lakshmi

Hindu Dieties • When balance needs to be restored to the

earth, Vishnu comes to earth as an avatar.

Rama

Seventh Avatar Krishna

Eighth Avatar

Buddha

Ninth Avatar

The tenth Avatar is yet to come.

Hindu Dieties

• Shiva the Destroyer

• Shiva is the source of both good and evil.

• He is also the one who creates new life.

Shiva and his

family. Shiva (left),

Parvati (right), and

Ganesha (middle).

Shiva as Lord of the Dance

Hindu Dieties

• Ganesha is Shiva’s

son.

• He is the remover of

obstacles who is

invoked at the

beginning of every

Hindu undertaking.

Hindu Dieties

• Devi (the Protecting Mother), sometimes known simply as the Goddess, who appears in some form in every region of India. She is often identified as the creative energy of the universe, and is considered by her followers the equal of Vishnu and Shiva.

• All Hindu goddesses can be seen as different forms of Devi.

Hindu Practices

• Puja is individual worship in the form of faith

offerings made to representations of the gods.

• This is often a normal part of daily life designed to

meet daily needs e.g. requests for good health. It

may also precede important events.

Hindu Practices

• Items at the home altar

include water, a bell, a

lamp, an incense

burner, and a tray with

flowers, fruit, or

freshly-cooked food.

• All five of the senses

are engaged.

Hindu Practices

• Puja ceremony

Items used in Puja.

Hindu Practices--Festivals

• Hindus celebrate the Diwali New Year festival with bright lights, gift exchanges, fireworks, and elaborate feasts to welcome Lakshmi, the godess of light and wealth. (Usually celebrated Oct. 15- Nov. 15.)

Hindu Practices--Festivals

• Holi is another festival that is celebrated by all communities. It’s a festival of colors that marks the beginning of summer season.

Colors come from water mixed with colored powder.

Hindu Practices--Festivals

• Navaratri or the nine sacred nights to the Mother

Goddess are celebrated in the month of October -

November to commemorate the victory of Good

over Evil.

Durga prevailing over evil.

Hindu Practices

• Yoga is used to heighten awareness during

meditation.

Hindu Practices

• The dot on a Hindu´s forehead symbolizes the third

eye of spiritual sight. The custom is for unmarried

women to wear black marks, and married women

to wear red. However, today women often wear

dots that match the color of their saris (or outfit).

Hindu Practices

• Cremation at death is the custom

Cremation ghats in Benares

Sacred Space

• Shrines

– The building of a shrine

is an expression of

devotion and an act of

good karma.

– Shrines can be found in a

temple, in the home, or in

outdoor public spaces.

Sacred Space

• Temples

– Temples can be large or small.

– There is no day of communal worship.

– Larger temples are devoted to major dieties.

– Smaller temples are devoted to minor regional

dieties.

– Small altars for offering puja are found in the

home.

Sacred Space

• Temples to Shiva

• At Veranasi, drink the Coke, but don’t drink

the water. The Ganges is highly polluted.

• Veranasi 9-11 ghat drawing

(A ghat is a place where people prepare to bathe and where cremations are performed.)