HINDUISM Pages 130-135

HINDUISM•Hinduism: The largest religion in India today.•Hindus believe in many gods or polytheism.•Brahman created the universe and all things in it. From him come the other gods.

•The three main Hindu gods are:•Brahma: The creator•Siva: The destroyer•Vishnu: The preserver

HINDU GODS: BRAHMA• Brahma: Creator of the universe• He is the least worshiped god in Hinduism

today.• He is seen with four heads that represent

the four Vedas.• He also has four arms and a beard.• He is married to Saraswati

the goddess of knowledge.

HINDU GODS: VISHNU•Vishnu: Preserver and protector of the universe.•His job is to restore the balance of good and evil.•He is seen with a human body with blue colored skin and four arms.•His hands always have four objects in them which are the four things he is responsible for:

• Conch: ‘Ommm’ sound represents the sound of creation• Lotus flower: existence•Mace (club): mental and physical strength• Chakra: mind

HINDU GODS: VISHNU

HINDU GODS: SHIVA•Shiva: the destroyer•Hindu’s don’t see his job as a bad thing. He restores balance.•Shiva has a third eye that represents wisdom and insight.•He is often seen in the yoga position or dancing.•He is depicted with a blue face and throat.

HINDU GODS: SHIVA•He wears a cobra necklace that represents his power. Some say the cobra represents reincarnation as well.•Shiva’s wife is called Parvati. •She is the goddess of love and devotion.•Shiva has two sons Ganesh and Karhkeya•Ganesh has the head of an elephant.

HINDUISM & WORSHIP•Hindu people worship at a temple or at home•At the center of worship are statues of the god that the temple is built for.•People bring offerings of flowers, body oils, food or incense.•People usually only go to temples on religious holidays.

HINDUISM TODAY•It is the third largest religion in the world. Approximately 900 million people follow the beliefs and customs of Hinduism. (nhsf.org)•Hindus believe in reincarnation or the idea that souls are re-born many times.•Karma is the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul. Hindu’s believe that a person with bad karma will be re-born into a lower caste.

HINDUISM•Most people have a ‘puja room’ or a room with a shrine to the god they worship.