Hinduism Theology

Harmony of Religions: There is no one exclusive way to salvation (a way to get to heaven). All genuine religions and spiritual paths are right and can make it to heaven. Explains as a tree of religion working in harmony.

God (Ishwara): There is only one Supreme Being.

Non-Violence (Ahimsa): All forms of life have different manifestations of Brahman (the highest god of Hinduism).

Religious Discipline: Wisdom is not of any particular religion.

Dharma: Law that maintains the cosmic order as well as the individual and social order.

Karma: Or 'deed or action,' implies the entire cycle of cause and its effects. The Law of Karma states that every human action-in thought, word, or deed-inevitably leads to results, good or bad, depending upon the moral quality of the action. The Law of Karma conserves the moral consequences of all actions and conditions our future lives accordingly.

Hinduism Theology

Predestination: Everything happens for a reason. No person can control what happens to them.

OM: The most sacred symbol in the Hindu dharma. OM is the sound of the infinite.

• EARTH • ATMOSHPHERE• HEAVEN

Hinduism Rituals

Hindus and DEATH:In Hindu tradition and its sacred texts, only a male

family member (husband/ father/ son) can perform the last rites. In some cases women have taken on this role. In Vedic times, there were incidents of the:

Putrika: a daughter who could assume the role of a son. In later years, the religious patriarchy interpreted the

Putrika: as the grandson, and reserved the conducting of the last rites for males.

Hindus and Meditation:A state of “relaxed contemplation on the present

moment, or a state of reflection where the mind dissolves and is free of all thought.”

Hinduism Rituals

Hindus and Medicine:They have a great respect for doctors, but are quite wary

of taking medicine and drugs because of their beliefs. Insulin taken from animals if a no zone for Hindu diabetics.

Pregnancy/ Birth and Infancy:

Ceremonies are performed to ensure the health of the

mother and growing child. The father may part the hair of the mother three times upward from the front to the back, to assure the ripening of the embryo. Charms may serve to ward off the evil eye and witches or demons. Birth:

Before the umbel cord is cut the father speaks “vak” three times into the newborn’s ear. This is to ensure a long life. Infancy:

Infants, during the first visit outside to a temple, the first feeding with solid food (usually cooked rice), an ear-piercing ceremony, and the first haircut (shaving the head) that often occurs at a temple or during a festival when the hair is offered to a deity.

Important Leaders1. The Rig Veda: hymns (for the chief

priest to recite)2. The Yajur Veda: formulas (for the priest

to recite)

3. The Sama Veda: formulas (for the priest to chant)

4. The Atharva Veda: collection of stories, spells, and charms

Hinduism and Sociology

A goals of the ashrama system is to resolve the tension between ethical and

moral duty and ultimate salvation; it allows one to both act ethically in the

world and attend to one's own salvation.

The Hindu world has historically been quite able to coexist with other religions:

Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, and

others.

Hinduism and Sociology

THE FOUR ASHRAMAS

Ashrama (station in life)       Student Householder Forest dweller Renouncer

Duties Learn duties of his caste       Raise a family Study sacred texts Meditate

CASTES

BrahminKshatriyaVaishyaShudra

(priestly caste) (traditionally warrior caste) (traditionally caste of merchants and farmers) (manual laborers)

Castes is a system of social stratification, social restriction and a basis for

affirmative action.

The Ashramas is a spiritual hermitage.

Hinduism History

Formed: c. 2000 B.C.E.

Origin: India

Followers: 1,000,000,000

Deity: Polytheistic

Sacred Texts:Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad

Gita, Epics

Headquarters: None

Works Citedhttp://namasteindia.ro/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/vishnu.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yo6olIE1-pI/0.jpg

http://www.indiancultureonline.com/uploaded/gallery/veda/yajur-veda.jpg

http://www.oocities.org/gdpskmu/images/Sama_Veda_Murthy.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0cb-2NkdXSY/0.jpg

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