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HINDUISM
Key Person(s)
or Founder(s),
Dates,
Locations
Main types of Hinduism are: Vaishnavism (Vishnu worship), Shaivism (Shiva worship), & Shaktism (Mother-Goddess worship)
Began to develop from a variety of traditions around
1800s – 1000 B.C. in India
No one founder began Hinduism.
KEY WRITINGS
Upanishads sacred writings
expounding the Vedas in predominantly mystical
and monistic terms
Vedas – Oldest Hindu scriptures, written in early
Sanskrit and containing hymns,
philosophy, and guidance on ritual for
the priests of Vedic religion
Bhagavad-Gita – 700 verses of Hindu scripture from Mahabharata (Prince Arjuna & god Krishna)
View of
God & The
Universe
The Pantheon
Estimated 330 million different gods
Each deity is one part of “Ultimate Reality” (Brahman)
Each god has “avatars” (manifestation of deity)
Brahman – “The Absolute” (ground or foundation of all reality)
Pantheism – belief that “all is god”
Vishnu – the preserver & protector of creation
Shiva – goodness, giving & destroyer
Brahma – supreme creator of all
Devi – Mother Goddess. Mother of all, many avatars.
Ganesh – remover of obstacles, patron of art,
science & wisdom
Hanuman – Monkey god with monkey
armies
Avatars
Human
Nature,
Situation &
Purpose
Atman – soul of a person
Dharma – the moral law and spiritual discipline that guides life. It is specific to each person.
Karma – the total of a person's actions in one life that decide their fate in the next life
SAMSARA– continual “rebirth” of the soul into a new body (reincarnation)
Moksha “liberation” or
“release” from the endless cycle of reincarnation
Understanding you are one with Brahman
Can take many lifetimes. Once achieved your atman is absorbed or united with Brahman (drop of water falling into the ocean)
Moksha can be achieved through good actions, yoga & meditation.
What is Our
Destiny?
(Afterlife)
Tilak – “third eye” a mark worn by a Hindu on the
forehead to indicate caste, status, or sect, or as an
ornament.
Other Key
Practices &
Beliefs
Bindi - red dot used for decoration, religious ceremony and marital status
Oum or Aum – Sacred
syllable & symbol.
Yoga - breath control, meditation, bodily postures.
To bring health, relaxation & spiritual connection
guru - teacher
Other Key
Practices &
Beliefs
Diwali – Festival of lights. (Oct. or Nov)
Victory of light over darkness, hope over
despair, good over evil
Other Key
Practices &
Beliefs
CASTE SYSTEM Castes – social class
one is born into 4 caste levels plus
the Untouchables
Other Key
Practices &
Beliefs
Karni Mata Temple
(Sacred Rat Temple)