Introduction to Hinduism

What is Hinduism? the oldest major world religionIt is 5000 years old and is the 3rd largest It is the traditional religion of India, originated in the Indus Valley.The religion is based on God-given truths or laws, and is a way of life based on universal principles

World’s Largest Hindu Temple in New Delhi

Faith Spreads Beyond India

About 1000 years ago, the faith was carried along trade routes to lands to the east.

Hindu influences remain in Thailand, Malaysia and Bali, in Indonesia

The World’s Oldest Living Faith

It has no founder therefore it is not based on the teachings of a person or group of people; most likely the Indus Valley people

Archeologists have found many statues of a female figure in the homes of Indus Valley people.

A collection of beliefs and practices developed over thousands of years

Hinduism is a polytheistic religion

The Arrival of the Aryans As the Indus Valley cities declined, the Aryans came

to India and settled along the Ganges river. The Aryans religious hymns, called the Rig Veda,

were adopted by the Hindus and are the most sacred writings of Hinduism.

In early days animal sacrifice to the gods was an important part of their religion but soon lost its popularity as the feeling grew that animals should not be killed for sacrifices.

Wisdom – Vedas: the Holy Writings

Vedas are a collection of Hindu writings

Considered to be world’s oldest writings

Word ‘Veda” means “to know”Vedas are believed to be divinely given (god given) or

revealed knowledgeVedas are divided into 4 scriptures: the Rig Veda,

Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda each Veda has 4 parts

1. “Mantras” – prayers and hymns2. Brahmanas “priests” – provide information and

explain the rituals, ceremonies and importance of saying prayers

Vedas: The Holy Writings 3. Aranyakas “ the forest books”–

written for hermits and saints who lived simple lives isolated in the forest

- contain meditations and asceticism 4. Upanishads “sitting down near” –

writings about the origins of the universe, characteristics of God and the presence of the atman or soul in all living beings

- are religious conversations between holy men that ordinary people could listen to

Rig Veda

Rig Veda – the oldest and most important section of the Vedas.

Vishnu

Shiva

- The Rig Veda tells of 33 gods, all of whom are born of one creator, Brahman. -the 3 gods, Brahman, Vishnu and Shiva form the Hindu trinity.

Brahman

A. How do Hindus Worship?

believe in one supreme being, whom they call Brahman

worship that one God in various forms, according to the different functions they believe He performs.

believe that God is omnipresent (always present) everywhere in all living things.

They believe that the deity may be represented in masculine and feminine ways.

Worship

How do Hindus Understand God? Some Hindus say that the three letters of

the word G-O-D relate to the deities’ three main

functions

1. G: Generator – this represents God’s ability to create things

2. O: Operator – this represents God’s ability to preserve things and keep them going

3. D: Destroyer – this represents God’s ability to destroy things.

Hindus believe that these three roles are fulfilled in the Hindu Trinity.

B. The Hindu Trinity The Hindu Trinity is

composed of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

Hindus believe in more than one god or deity. They are polytheistic.

Worshippers will devote themselves to one god, their personal deity

Household shrines feature pictures and statues of the chosen gods

Worship

Brahma: The Creator –

supreme presence, or God

all other gods originate from Brahma.

Vishnu: The Preserver of the universe

Maintains balance between good and evil.

Appears in 10 different forms or avatars

Shiva: The Destroyer

Worshipped as the destroyer or reproducer

-fire represents cycle of birth and death

Crushes dwarf to symbolize ignorance

holds the flame of destruction, purification, and renewal

His hands symbolize blessing and protection.

snakes symbolizes his power over evil forces.

C. How do Hindus Worship?Worship in the Home have a small shrine that contains an image of

the family’s chosen god, and objects associated with them.

has flowers, jewelry and other decorations to show

that the god is honoured and special. perform activities such asprayer, Meditation, recite mantras and study sacred writings. Images are washed regularly.

Worship in the Home Puja is the name given to the ritualistic worship The shrine in the house contains a Puja tray Items on the Puja tray symbolize different things Bell: rung to let the deity know that worship is about to

start Dish containing sandalwood paste: used to mark the

worshipper’s forehead as a symbol of devotion, blessing and protection of God

Food: offerings of rice, nuts, sweets, Fruit that symbolizes an exchange of Love between the worshipper and deity Holy Water: used for purification andCleansing. Sometimes water is from the River Ganges. Incense stick: lit to purify the air Lamp: represents the elements of theUniverse: earth, air, fire, water, ether

Puja Tray

D. Worship in the Mandir

The Hindu place of worship is called a mandir or temple.

The mandir is considered to be the “home of God”

each mandir is dedicated to a god or deity

World’s largest Hindu temple in Delhi

4 Basic Hindu Beliefs

1. Dharma

Dharma is the moral balance of all things

Dharma is played out in all aspects of life: religious, social, family 2. Karma

Karma is the belief that a person experiences the effects of his or her actions—that every act or thought has consequences.

Hindu Beliefs3. Samsara

Reincarnation “Samsara” – represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma a person may experience effects of past lives and a

worldly status depends upon actions in a past life. Good thoughts and actions can liberate a person.

4. MokshaLike heaven for the Christian, Hindus strive to reach

moksha or a state of changeless bliss. This is achieved by living a life of religious devotion or moral integrity. The ultimate reward is a release from samsara and union with God.

E. The Caste System

The caste system is the basis for social divisions in Hinduism

Each Hindu is born into a caste group Whether one is born into a high or

low cast depends on the cycle of rebirth and depends on the deeds of one’s previous life

The Four Classes – Caste System

Fifth level = the untouchables or polluted

did all the dirtiest jobs