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Hinduism A religion of South Asia
Blending of Ideas
Hinduism was formed by a blending of ideas. People began to migrate to India from Persia and other kingdoms in Central Asia, and with them came their
own religious thoughts and ideas.
1000 BCEHinduism was born from an
Aryan religion known as Brahmanism
IndiaHinduism began with the
migration of many different people to the country of India.
The VedasReligious text of Hinduism. There
are four Vedas, each containing sacred hymns and poems.
“The one who is first and possessed of wisdom when born; the god who strove to protect the gods with strength; the one before whose force the two worlds were afraid because of the greatness of his virility [power]: he, O people, is Indra.”
-from the Rigveda, in Reading about the World, Volume I, edited by Paul Brians, et al
The VarnasAccording to the Vedas, there
were four main varnas, or social divisions in Aryan society.
● Brahmins - priests, seen as
the highest varna
● Kshatriyas - rulers and
warriors
● Vaisyas - farmers,
craftspeople, and traders
● Sudras - workers and
servants
Caste SystemThe caste system divided Indian society into groups based on a
person’s birth, wealth, or occupation.
PolytheisticHindus believe in many gods.
Brahma - the creatorSiva - the destroyer
Vishnu - the preserver
Major BeliefsEveryone has a soul
ReincarnationKarma
Everyone has a soul, and a person’s ultimate goal is to reunite their soul with Brahman. This can take multiple lifetimes.
Reincarnation - the process of rebirth
Karma - the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul
A person with bad karma will be reborn into a lower caste or as a lesser creature (pig or ant).
Hinduism Today
Hinduism is mostly concentrated in India. Today, there are over 800 million Indian people who
practice Hinduism.
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