HINDUIS

M

BY: KENNEDY,

ALY

SSA, AND TA

YLOR

There is no specific founder but the one who received sacred text is Manu. Manu is considered the founder of tradition in Hinduism. Some say that the founder of core philosophical beliefs Shankara Acharya.

FOUNDERS

Manu

Shankara Acharya

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF FOUNDING

BACK IN… THE STORY

☺There isn’t an exact date for the beginning of Hinduism but roughly 2000 B.C. is believed to have been the beginning. The beginnings of Hinduism are impossible to determine because it has evolved so much.

The Om- it is like the cross is to Christians. Om is in every Hindu prayer. The symbol represents the Absolute (the source of all existence)

The Swastika- is an important pictorial character. It symbolizes eternal nature of Brahman the Absolute because it points in all directions. The term swastika is made of two Sanskrit words ‘Su’ meaning good and ‘Asati’ which means to exist. In ancient times forts were built in the shape of a swastika for defense reasons making it sanctified and protective.

The Saffron Color- this color reflects the color of fire which reminds them of the Supreme Being. The Hindu origin had fire worship festivals so fire and it’s color are very important to them.

The Bindi- it is a dot worn on women’s foreheads. Originally it was worn on married Hindu women’s foreheads to protect them and their husbands. They were traditionally made of paste made of sandalwood, sindoor, or turmeric. Now commonly made with vermilion. It also is used to make a ‘third eye’ where the attention during meditation is focused. Now bindi is also an accessory and is worn by unmarried girls and non-Hindu women also.

DEITIES

Brahma•Considered the creator•Not commonly worshipped

Vishnu•The Preserver•Incarnated nine times

Shiva•The Destroyer or The Transformer

LOCAT

ION O

F ORIG

IN

Hinduism is native to India in the Indus Valley and from the Aryan race. This is the modern day northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India.

MAJOR LO

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NUMBER OF

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About 14% of the world’s population are Hindus.

HOW/ WHY DID THE RELIGION SPREAD?

Hinduism spread as people travelled through or to India as a trade route.

It was spread among India originally by nomadic tribes, who all had similar beliefs, and Hinduism was formed when they combined their beliefs.

HOLY B

OOK(S) O

R OTH

ER

IMPO

RTANT

TEXT

THERE ARE 4 MAIN HINDU SCRIPTURES. THEY ARE THE VEDAS, THE RAMAYANA, THE MAHABHARATA, AND THE PURANAS. THE VEDASIS A COLLECTION OF HYMNS PRAISING THE VEDIC GODS. VEDA MEANS KNOWLEDGE. THE RAMAYANA ARE LONG POEMS ABOUT RAMA AND SITA. THE MANABHARATA INCLUDES THE BHAGARAD GITA. THE PARANAS INCARNATIONS AND THE LIVES OF SAINTS.

☻ The largest Hindu temple is Angkor Wat. It is 820,000 m^2 and is in Angkor, Cambodia. It was built for king Suryavarman II in the 12th century. It was his temple and the capitol city. It is the best preserved Hindu place of worship there. It is the world’s largest religious building.

☻ Puja (worship) takes place in Mandir (temple). Mandirs can be small village shrines to large buildings surrounded by walls people can visit the Mandir at anytime to pray and participate in bhanjans (religious songs). Peoples also worship at home and often have a special room with a shrine to particular gods.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

ROLE OF MEN/WOMEN

MEN

Men are often seen as the breadwinners of the household.

They are also supposed to protect their wives, mothers, and daughters.

Main participants in religious events.

WOMEN

Women are left at home to take care of their children and in-laws

Supposed to serve their husband.

Not usually allowed to participate in major religious events.

MORE ON THE ROLES OF WOMEN

Women are reliant on men their whole lives. As children, they are protected by their fathers, as adults, they are taken care of by their husbands, and as widows their sons take care of them.

A woman’s karma is said to be reflected in her husband, so widows are generally treated poorly.

HOLY SITES AND WHYPrayag, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain are considered holy places.All are in India.

Holidays

Kumbh MelaHoliMahashivaratri Rama Navami Krishna Jayanti RaksābandhanaGanesha-Chaturthi (Ganesha Utsava) Dassera NavaratriDiwali

MAJOR B

ELIEFS

KarmaReincarnationDharmaThe Caste

SystemThe Manu

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SOURCES

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OCTOBER

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