Hinduism

Div 8

What are famous/ important symbols, statues, or artifacts?

What religious text does Hindu follow? What does the religion believe in? What is reincarnation and what is its

process?

Questions

No one really knows how it started No founder, no single sacred book Assumed started with Indus Valley civil. in

NW India Began approx. 5000 yrs. Ago Gradually developed over 100 years in

India-spread to other parts of world

1. How Did It Start?

1500 b.c.= India invaded by Aryans(asian ppl)

Aryans brought own religions+beliefs Hindu influenced by Aryans Hindu confused of own religions Diff range of Hindu belief branched out

(Cont.) Connected With Indian History

- Reincarnation + Karma- Soul never dies- Some Hindus pray everyday and some

hardly ever- Visiting temples not necessary- Beliefs are written in sources- Worship many gods called divinities

- Brahman-created world- Vishnu-takes care of world- Shiva-also called destroyer

2. What Does the Religion Believe?

Rebirth of a soul May reborn in animal, plant or human Soul never dies Do not remember past life Reincarnation process repeats over + over

until reaches spiritual perfection

Reincarnation

Determine next lives Lived good life=born into higher state

- e.g. king Lived bad life=born into lower state

-e.g. worm Do bad things = punish in next life Everything happening in in current life = result of

past life-e.g. homeless Hinduist blames karma from past life

Laws of Karma

Break out of reincarnation cycle If soul perfected = cycle broken Perfect soul reaches state of MOKSHA

-MOKSHA= state of happiness, perfectness of soul, no emotion

Then soul is absorbed by Supreme Being

Goal of Hindu

At Home

Shrine: small cupboard or decorated room(w/ perfume & flower)

Hang pics. of gods they worship (=murti)

Chant prayers, ring bells, wave candles before the praying starts

If special days: priests come & cite scriptures

3. How Do Hindus Practice Their Religion?

At Temples

Priests-live at temple, ring bells when worshippers ready to worship

Pray & talk with other worshippers

Take shoes off walk clockwise• Round Main Shrine w/ right hand twrd. God statues

Chant mantras together, pray, perform rituals, guard temples/ statues of gods, bring Prasada (food, fruit)

(Cont.)

Giving goods to priests• Candy, food, fruits, etc.

Prasad=returned offerings from god• Holy liquid

• Gift from god, priests lend those

• Drink, and leftovers- sprinkled to head

Puja•Pilgrimage: another form of Puja

• Going on long trips to sacred places

• Himalayas, certain temples& riv.

• Visit one or more places (usually 108 places)

• Religious benefit

Hinduism teaches that only one universal spirit= BrahmanMost Hindus say gods and goddesses are symbols Brahman=godThey believe Brahman cannot be described and never be understoodHindus believe Brahman is everywhere and in everythingHe is not worshiped very much today¼ of all Hindus worship Shiva

4. Who are Their God(Goddess) & Religious Leaders?

3 main gods=Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahman1 of most imp. Goddesses= Shiva’s wifeShe is goddess of destructionShe has few names=Durga, Kali, Parvati, and UmaAs Parvati and Uma=goddess of motherhood As Durga and Kali= fierce and frightening

(Cont.)

I. They pray before statues of gods/ goddesses.

II. Hanuman-Statue of famous Hindu monkey god.

III. Sculpture of Vishnu-found at Perumal Temple in Singapore

5. Famous/ important religious symbols, statues or artifacts

I. Mandala-a circular sacred symbol.II. Tilak-a lucky red mark placed on the

forehead.III. Yantra-sacred drawing, means support.IV. Cakras-Mystical points or centre's in the

body.V. Pithas-Pilgrammage sites of the goddess

Sati.

(Cont.)

I. Has lots of sacred writings.II. The Vedas-oldest sacred writing in the world.III. The Puranas-About Hindu gods and heroes.IV. The Bhagavad-Gita-About meaning of

existence.V. The Manu Smriti-source of religious and

social law.VI. The Ramayna and the Mahabharata-long

epics.

6. What Religious Text Does Hindu Follow? Why is it Important?

I. Sacred writings- teaches about belief, divinities, and personal conduct

II. Four Vedas with four parts each.III. The four Vedas-Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda,

and Atharvaveda.IV. The four parts-Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas,

Upanishads.I. Samhitas-prayer and hymns; oldest part.II. Brahmanas-rituals and theology.III. Aranyakas and Upanishads-mysticism and theology.IV. Kshatriyas-less pure than Brahmans because it

contains violence.

(Cont.)

Dif. parts of India some festivals celebrated at same time, but dif. ways

Sanskrit is the name of very old Indian lang.

4 Hindus Sanskrit is a sacred lang. Even prayers are said in this lang. Holy books are written in this lang.

7. What are the Most Common Celebrations?

Divali=1 of best known celeb. It is a new year celeb. that takes place in the fall In Oct or Nov Divali is all about new beginnings They have to clean house from top to bottom Then decorate with glitter and tinsel Small clay lamps called divas lit and put on

windows+ front doors This is to attract the attention of Lakshmi and to

welcome her to the house

(Cont.)

Cows are their milk and their poo is the hindus fertilizer

Hindus never eat beef= vegiterians Cows never hurt by people Suvere penaltes for hurting or killing a

cow(even on a accident) Some people use cows to pulls carts or to

plow the fields

8. Why are Cows Sacred to Hindus?

Cows are decorated for festivals then shown off in a parade

Hindus pray daily for cows Hindus believe that is cows are taken care

of properly then every living thing will experience : happiness and peace

Its wrong to kill or injure a cow in india

(Cont.)

Milk from cows help the rich,poor, young,old,healthy and not healty people

The penalty for hurting or cows is 2 years in jail or even worse for killing

(Cont.)

Women Sari: bright colored cloth

hung over shoulder

Short blouse, underskirt

Tummy might be shown, but legs are covered

9. Special Clothes the Hindus WearWedding

Sari(red silk), makeup, jewelry, decoration (Mehndi pattern on hand & feet)

Mehndi=HennaHenna patterns=decorated on women’s hands, arms, feet when special event

Henna

BindioDot btw/ eyebrow, on the foreheadoIf married Red // not married Black

Trad. Clothes:

Loose pants, jacket w/ buttons, normal pants, long tunic

Down the frontwear special collar (=Nehru)

Sacred thread: when ceremony at btw/ 9~11 yrs. Old

• Has to wear it through whole life

(Cont.)

END