HinduismHinduism

Place of OriginPlace of Origin IndiaIndia

FounderFounder UnknownUnknown

Sacred TextSacred Text Shastras", Shastras",

Major Major FestivalsFestivals

Diwali-festival of lightsDiwali-festival of lights

Holy PlaceHoly Place TemplesTemples

► Hinduism developed out of Brahmanism and is Hinduism developed out of Brahmanism and is Ancient Ancient

► Hindus believed they could manipulate the Hindus believed they could manipulate the material and spiritual worlds through material and spiritual worlds through magicmagic

►They turned to prayers, _They turned to prayers, _spellsspells_, _, incantations, rituals and incantations, rituals and sacrificessacrifices to bring to bring about changes in the physical world .about changes in the physical world .

They named the power inherent in the spells, They named the power inherent in the spells, prayers, and rituals prayers, and rituals brajhambrajham..

Brahmanism is found in HinduismBrahmanism is found in Hinduism►Brahman-the one god of the universeBrahman-the one god of the universe►Brahma- the creator godBrahma- the creator god►Brahmin-_Brahmin-_priestpriest

► __AumAum_is the main symbol of Hinduism_is the main symbol of Hinduism It is the sound heard in deepest It is the sound heard in deepest

meditation andmeditation and is said to be the name is said to be the name most suited for Godmost suited for God

HOW IS HINDUISM HOW IS HINDUISM DIFFERENT FROM OHER DIFFERENT FROM OHER

FATIHS?FATIHS?►Hinduism has no Hinduism has no founderfounder, single , single

teacher nor any _teacher nor any _prophetsprophets..►Hinduism is not a Hinduism is not a single single Religion; Religion;

rather it is the practices of a variety of rather it is the practices of a variety of different religious groups which come different religious groups which come out of India.out of India.

WHAT DO HINDUS WHAT DO HINDUS BELIEVE?BELIEVE?

►Hindus believe that there us a part of Hindus believe that there us a part of Brahman in everyone and this is called Brahman in everyone and this is called the the AtmanAtman

►Hindus believe in Hindus believe in reincarnationreincarnation A belief that the soul is eternal and livesA belief that the soul is eternal and lives

many lifetimes.many lifetimes.

WHAT IS KARMA? WHAT IS KARMA? MOKSHA?MOKSHA?

►Karma is the Karma is the cause cause of a person’s of a person’s particular destiny.particular destiny.

►The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with _become one with _BrahmaBrahma. This is . This is Moksha. Moksha.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY WHY ARE THERE SO MANY HINDU GODS?HINDU GODS?

►Hindus actually believe in Hindus actually believe in one Godone God, , Brahman.Brahman.

►The gods of the Hindu faith represent The gods of the Hindu faith represent different different formsforms of Brahman of Brahman

►Most Hindus have a Most Hindus have a personalpersonal god or god or goddess to whom they pray regularlygoddess to whom they pray regularly..

The Hindu TrimurtiThe Hindu Trimurti

►The Hindu trinity is of The Hindu trinity is of Brahma, Vishnu Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.and Shiva. They are respectively the They are respectively the creator, preserver and destroyer of the creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe. universe.

Brahma- the CreatorBrahma- the Creator

Vishnu- the PreserverVishnu- the Preserver

Shiva- the DestroyerShiva- the Destroyer

A Few Other GodsA Few Other Gods

Saraswathi Lakshmi Parvatk

Where Do Hindus Worship?? Where Do Hindus Worship?? What is the Hindu Holy Book?What is the Hindu Holy Book?

►Most Hindus worship daily in their home Most Hindus worship daily in their home and have a and have a shrine.shrine.

►The Hindu building for communal The Hindu building for communal worship is called worship is called mandir.mandir.

►Hinduism does not have on sacred book Hinduism does not have on sacred book but several but several scriptures.scriptures.

►The most ancient sacred texts of the The most ancient sacred texts of the Hindu religion are written inHindu religion are written in sanskrit. sanskrit.

►The oldest religious texts are the The oldest religious texts are the Vedas.Vedas.

What are the Practices of What are the Practices of Hindus?Hindus?

►There are three basic practices:There are three basic practices: WorshipWorship CremationCremation

►The dead are burnt not buriedThe dead are burnt not buried

Compliance with the rules of the Compliance with the rules of the castecaste systemsystem

The Caste SystemThe Caste System

Caste SystemCaste System

►The The Indian Caste systemIndian Caste system has long has long been a defining part of Indian history. been a defining part of Indian history. 

► In the past, the caste system has In the past, the caste system has determined a person’s determined a person’s role in life role in life

► . People could only marry a person . People could only marry a person that was in their caste, as well as that was in their caste, as well as only get a job within their own casteonly get a job within their own caste

The Untouchables-DalitsThe Untouchables-Dalits

► The untouchables were the outcastes, or people The untouchables were the outcastes, or people beyond the caste system. beyond the caste system.

Their jobs or habits Their jobs or habits involved “polluting activities”involved “polluting activities”

BuddhismBuddhism

Place of Origin North East India

Founder Siddhartha Guatama (The Buddha

Sacred Text Tripitka

Symbols Lotus flower, Buddha, Wheel of Life

Buddhism

►Siddhartha Guatama found the path Siddhartha Guatama found the path to to

EnlightenmentEnlightenment

►Siddhartha was led from the path of Siddhartha was led from the path of sufferingsuffering and rebirth and became and rebirth and became know as the know as the the Buddha the Buddha or or awakened one”awakened one”

What are the symbols of What are the symbols of Buddhism?Buddhism?

► The wheel of life which symbolizes the cycle The wheel of life which symbolizes the cycle of of life, death and rebirthlife, death and rebirth..The eight spokes remind people that the The eight spokes remind people that the Buddha taught about Buddha taught about eight ways of lifeeight ways of life. .

► The lotus flower symbolizes purity and The lotus flower symbolizes purity and divine birth.divine birth.

► Statues of Buddha include lots of symbols. Statues of Buddha include lots of symbols. There are There are 32 32 symbols in Buddhism which symbols in Buddhism which show that the Buddha was a special person. show that the Buddha was a special person. **

►Buddhist believe there is a cycle of Buddhist believe there is a cycle of birth, life and death and rebirth. birth, life and death and rebirth. Unless someone gains Unless someone gains EnlightenmentEnlightenment, when they die, they , when they die, they will be reborn. will be reborn.

► If a person can gain Enlightenment, If a person can gain Enlightenment, they can break out of the cycle which they can break out of the cycle which is called is called NirvanaNirvana. It is the end of . It is the end of everything that is not perfecteverything that is not perfect

Death

Life

Death Life

Nirvana

►The sacred text (Holy Book) of The sacred text (Holy Book) of Buddhist is called the Buddhist is called the TripitakaTripitaka It is written in an ancient Indian It is written in an ancient Indian

language called language called PaliPali which is very which is very close to the language the Buddha close to the language the Buddha spoke.spoke.

It is a very large book-the English It is a very large book-the English translation is nearly forty volumestranslation is nearly forty volumes

What do Buddhists Believe?What do Buddhists Believe?

►There are three Buddhist central There are three Buddhist central beliefs. They are known as the three beliefs. They are known as the three jewels jewels because they are so preciousbecause they are so precious Belief in BuddhaBelief in Buddha Dharma- The teaching of BuddhaDharma- The teaching of Buddha The Sangha- the Buddhist community The Sangha- the Buddhist community

made up of ordinary people as well as made up of ordinary people as well as monks and nuns. The purpose is to help monks and nuns. The purpose is to help others and by doing so to cease to become others and by doing so to cease to become selfish and to move on the way toward selfish and to move on the way toward enlightenmentenlightenment

►ReincarnationReincarnation is another important is another important belief:belief: The concept that one must go through The concept that one must go through

many cycles of birth, living and death. many cycles of birth, living and death. After many such cycles, if a person After many such cycles, if a person

releases their attachment to desire and releases their attachment to desire and self, they can achieve Nirvanaself, they can achieve Nirvana

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

►DukkhaDukkha: Suffering exists: Suffering exists►SamudayaSamudaya: There is a cause for : There is a cause for

sufferingsuffering►NirodhaNirodha: There is an end to suffering: There is an end to suffering►MaggaMagga: In order to end suffering, you : In order to end suffering, you

must follow the Eightfold Pathmust follow the Eightfold Path

Five Main Rules to Live ByFive Main Rules to Live By

►Do not take the life of anything livingDo not take the life of anything living►Do not take anything not freely givenDo not take anything not freely given►Abstain from sexual misconduct and Abstain from sexual misconduct and

sensual overindulgencesensual overindulgence►Refrain from untrue speechRefrain from untrue speech►Do not consume alcohol or other drugsDo not consume alcohol or other drugs