Chapter 15Learning About Hindu Beliefs

Objectives:

To discover the origins of Hinduism in ancient traditions and how these beliefs affected life in ancient India and today.

• Explain the relationship among Vedic religion, Brahmanism, and Hinduism• Outline the social structure of the caste system• Describe important beliefs in Hinduism and discuss their influence on daily life• Assess the impact of ancient beliefs and practices on life in modern India

I can:

Vocabulary:

• Hinduism• Vedas• Sanskrit• Brahmanism• caste• dharma• Karma• reincarnation• pilgrimage

Academic Vocabulary • affect• specific• interpret• divine• cycle

Dharma:• Law, obligation, duty

To follow one’s dharma:• to perform one’s duties and so to live as

one should

What would your dharma be?

Dharma usually means “right conduct or behavior”. But remember that what is right conduct for a king may well be quite different from what is right conduct for a farmer.

•Hinduism is a religion that developed over time from ancient Indian traditions.

•Its followers have many beliefs, deities, and practices that differ from place to place.

Sacred text:• Ramayana• Tells about life in ancient India• Offers models in dharma

Central Figure:• Rama• Lives by the rules of dharma• Young boy = loyal son• Adult= loving husband, responsible

ruler

Key Hindu Beliefs:

Brahman Deities KarmaSamsara Dharma

15.2

•Aryans brought the first parts/elements of Hinduism to India

•All Hindus follow the basic beliefs of Hinduism that are laid out in the Vedas.

15.2 the Origins of Hinduism (Key Terms)

•Vedas – Early Hindu religion which included sacred texts, hymns, and prayers

•Sanskrit – An ancient language of India… The Vedas were written in Sanskrit.

•Brahman – A class of priests or religious scholars that interpret the Vedas.

•Brahmanism – Vedas develop into Brahmanism after the Brahman priest bring a standard way of worshipping the Vedas.

15.3 The Caste System

•The way society was organized•Way of life•Four main social classes known as varna

Shudras(servants, farmers,

laborers)

Vaishyas(Herders,

merchants)

Kshatriyas(Rulers, warriors)

Brahmins(priests)

Untouchables (out of caste/outcast)

•Born into a certain caste•Could never be changed•Could only marry in their own caste

1. Can you identify each caste correctly?

2. What is each caste’s dharma?

3. What does the middle picture represent?

Turn & Talk

Beliefs about Brahman•Atman = soul•Circle = cycle of life, death, rebirth NOT resurrection

Work of Brahman

Samsara:• The cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Law of Karma: • the good and evil done in a person’s past life determines what happens to one’s soul in the next life

• Determines a person’s caste

•As long as people are a part of samsara, = people will know pain, suffering and death

•Reincarnation: when a person’s soul is reborn into a new body after death

•Samsara ends when the soul escapes from the cycle of rebirth.

• reunited with Brahma, the supreme force of the universe

•Pilgrimages: a journey to a holy place

• People travel to sacred places like the Ganges River

• Believe the difficulty of the journey would cleanse them of their sins

•As Brahma (the Creator), •Vishnu (the Preserver), •Shiva (the Destroyer)

Together known as the Trimurti (3 forms)

http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/group/krishnaconsciousness/forum/topics/lord-brahma-part-3-1

Shiva (destroyer)

Vishnupreserver

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/swastika.htm

SwastikaThe swastika is an ancient symbol that has been found worldwide, but it is especially common in India. Its name comes the Sanskrit word svasti (sv = well; asti = is), meaning good fortune, luck and well-being.

The swastika is most commonly used as a charm to bring good fortune (in which case the arms are bent clockwise), but it has a variety of religious meanings as well.

What connections can you make from what we have studied previously?

Hinduism