HINDUISM

Origins of HinduismFoundations of Hindu philosophy and theology emerged from the synthesis of the cultures of Indus Valley civilization and the Aryans.

The term Hinduism is inappropriate because it is an attempt by the West to create one tradition where in fact there are many.

The schools that emerged from the creative strand of Hindu thinking are the Vedas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads.

The Hindu MindThe first series of Vedas is the Samahitas and the oldest collection of hymns is the Rig Veda

The Hindu temples create the impression that there are many gods, however a monotheism starts to appear in the Rig Veda.

Numerous gods and goddesses ar responsible for different areas of human life.

TO ALL THE GODS1. Not one of you, gods, is small,

not one a little child; all of you are truly great.

2. Therefore you are worthy of praise and of sacrifice; you thirty three gods of Manu, arrogant and powerful.

3. Protect us, help us and speak for us; do not lead us into the distance far away from the path of our father Manu.

4. You gods who are all here and who belong to all men, give far reaching shelter to us and our cows and horses.

- Excerpt From The Rig Veda

• The thirteen principles of Upanishads from the Brahadranyaka Upanishad contain the three cardinal virtues also known as the three Da’s

• Hindu theology was an important component in the Independence movement.

• Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by “Ahimsa” and used it as a tool against the British

• He affirms the good in other religions and resist all that is mistaken

• Laws of Manu insist that a “women must never be independent”

• According to Hinduism the caste system provides a sense of order to the universe

• There is no agreed theory of creation of the world

The 3 Da’s are the foundation of all ethical thought• Damyata – Self Control• Datta – Giving • Dayadhavam –

Compassion

The Six Schools of Thought

Institution and Ritual

Modern Expression

Role of Women

Caste System

Second Brahmana

Ethical Expression

• Central to the Hindu tradition is the notion of sacrifice

• Hindus had an interest in controlling nature and the world through the use of rituals

• Rig Veda celebrates speech and the notion is that the very words of the ritual describe sounds of reality

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An Interesting Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpJ9CqhOvXQ

Thank You