HINDUISM

Key Person(s)

or Founder(s),

Dates,

Locations

Main types of Hinduism are: Vaishnavism (Vishnu worship), Shaivism (Shiva worship), & Shaktism (Mother-Goddess worship)

Began to develop from a variety of traditions around

1800s – 1000 B.C. in India

No one founder began Hinduism.

KEY WRITINGS

Upanishads sacred writings

expounding the Vedas in predominantly mystical

and monistic terms

Vedas – Oldest Hindu scriptures, written in early

Sanskrit and containing hymns,

philosophy, and guidance on ritual for

the priests of Vedic religion

Bhagavad-Gita – 700 verses of Hindu scripture from Mahabharata (Prince Arjuna & god Krishna)

View of

God & The

Universe

The Pantheon

Estimated 330 million different gods

Each deity is one part of “Ultimate Reality” (Brahman)

Each god has “avatars” (manifestation of deity)

Brahman – “The Absolute” (ground or foundation of all reality)

Pantheism – belief that “all is god”

Vishnu – the preserver & protector of creation

Shiva – goodness, giving & destroyer

Brahma – supreme creator of all

Devi – Mother Goddess. Mother of all, many avatars.

Ganesh – remover of obstacles, patron of art,

science & wisdom

Hanuman – Monkey god with monkey

armies

Avatars

Human

Nature,

Situation &

Purpose

Atman – soul of a person

Dharma – the moral law and spiritual discipline that guides life. It is specific to each person.

Karma – the total of a person's actions in one life that decide their fate in the next life

SAMSARA– continual “rebirth” of the soul into a new body (reincarnation)

Moksha “liberation” or

“release” from the endless cycle of reincarnation

Understanding you are one with Brahman

Can take many lifetimes. Once achieved your atman is absorbed or united with Brahman (drop of water falling into the ocean)

Moksha can be achieved through good actions, yoga & meditation.

What is Our

Destiny?

(Afterlife)

Tilak – “third eye” a mark worn by a Hindu on the

forehead to indicate caste, status, or sect, or as an

ornament.

Other Key

Practices &

Beliefs

Bindi - red dot used for decoration, religious ceremony and marital status

Oum or Aum – Sacred

syllable & symbol.

Yoga - breath control, meditation, bodily postures.

To bring health, relaxation & spiritual connection

guru - teacher

Other Key

Practices &

Beliefs

Diwali – Festival of lights. (Oct. or Nov)

Victory of light over darkness, hope over

despair, good over evil

Other Key

Practices &

Beliefs

CASTE SYSTEM Castes – social class

one is born into 4 caste levels plus

the Untouchables

Other Key

Practices &

Beliefs

Karni Mata Temple

(Sacred Rat Temple)