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HINDUISM

HINDUISM. HINDUISM. No formal founder No formal church roots lie in the beliefs and practices of the ancient Aryans crossed thru the Khyber Pass into South Asia from Caucasus Mtns brought Hindu beliefs. Khyber Pass. Indus River Valley Civilizations. 2500 -1500 BCE over 1000 miles

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HINDUISM

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  1. HINDUISM

  2. HINDUISM • No formal founder • No formal church • roots lie in the beliefs and practices of the ancient Aryans • crossed thru the Khyber Pass into South Asia from Caucasus Mtns • brought Hindu beliefs Khyber Pass

  3. Indus River Valley Civilizations • 2500 -1500 BCE • over 1000 miles • worlds largest early civ • Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro most important cities • capital cities • well organized gov’ts • checkered board pattern streets • walled fortress • supply warehouses • sewer system • taxed in form of food • traded w/ ancient Sumer of Mesopotamia

  4. Archaeology • Theories for decline of Indus Valley Civ’s • natural causes • too dry for farming • over-farmed land • floods? • invaders from the north • Scholars believe that the DRAVIDIANS are descendents from the ancient Aryans

  5. ARYAN Culture • migration took 100s of years • invented Chariots • brought Hinduism • developed Sanskrit • INDRA: warrior god • also farmers & herders • cattle as wealth • Rajahs: hereditary chiefs that rule the villages

  6. Aryan Migration into South Asia

  7. SACRED TEXTS • VEDAS: contain eternal truths that were revealed to wise men • ca. 6000 - 1500 BCE • contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India • give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago • 4 VEDAS • RIG VEDA: oldest • YAJUR VEDA • SAMA VEDA • ATHARVA VEDA

  8. SACRED TEXTS • UPANISHADS: helps to explain the Vedas • the Epics - • Mahabharata: “the great story” • longest written story • 100,000 verses • poem @ 12 yr war btwn two royal families • Bhagavad Gita: “song of God” • Ramayana: “Rama’s Way” • to avoid war, Rama places himself in exile, thus not becoming heir to the throne • written in SANSKRIT

  9. The CASTE SYSTEM • Varna means color • suggest that caste was first determined by skin color • Brahmans: • priests • Kshatriyas: • warriors, rulers • Vaisyas: • landowners, merchants, herders • Sudras: • servants, peasants • UNTOUCHABLES

  10. Harijans (Untouchables or Dalits) • Considered to by so lowly that • they do not have a caste. • Perform the despicable tasks like killing animals, tanning hides, sweeping and cleaning. • Gandhi called them the children of God • 1950 Indian Constitution abolished untouchability…but still exists

  11. Weakening of theCaste System • Greater educational opportunities • Movement of people to cities • blurs caste lines. • Constitutional changes: • all people have the right to vote. • The work of Gandhi • Globalization • Growth of industry and need for jobs • Technology Cities Gandhi

  12. 4 Principles of Hinduism • Dharma: duties & responsibilities according to one’s caste. • Karma: one’s actions in this life, will effect the next lives (vice-versa) • Samsara: Wheel of Life • birth, disease, death, rebirth • Moksha: • Hindu enlightenment • escape fm Samsara • becomes one w/ Brahman

  13. HINDU Beliefs • Brahman “single supreme force” • universal soul • formless & unlimited • ATMAN “essential self is part of the universal soul” • unity of ALL life • Reincarnation thru KARMA-SAMSARA • “wheel of life” • good deeds bring joy • bad deeds bring sadness • Maya: illusion

  14. The HINDU TRINITY

  15. BRAHMA • The Creator God • all other gods come from Brahma • four faces represent the four corners o/t universe • He holds • a sacrificial ladle • the four Vedas • jar of holy water from the Ganges River • necklace of prayer beads

  16. VISHNU • “The Preserver God” • greatest of the gods • maintain balance of good and bad • ten avatars “incarnations” • returns to earth as avatars to bring justice/balance • Krishna • Buddha

  17. The Destroyer God “The Cosmic Dance” the dance of Shiva symbolizes the creation and destruction of the universe equivalent to the oscillating universe theory pg. 241 SHIVA

  18. SRI YANTRA • symbol of spiritual evolution • focal point for meditation • 9 triangles intersect to form 43 triangles • 3 concentric circles • framed by a square • This form is the geometric expression of thedivine sound of creation... OM

  19. OM or AUM • Main symbol of Hinduism • visual and verbal expression of god • transcend one’s thoughts & merge w/ god. • “a” = beginning • “u” = progress • “m” = dissolution • “reflects the POWER responsible for creation, development and destruction of the universe”

  20. SRI YANTRA This form is the geometric expression of thedivine sound of creation... OM

  21. SIKHISM • Combination of Hinduism and Islam • reincarnation • Allah • Founder: Guru Nanak • Holy book: Guru Granth • Place of worship: Gurdwara

  22. SIKHISM symbols • Khanda • God’s universal and creative power • Five K’s • Kesh: Uncut Hair and Beard • honors the way of nature • A TURBAN covers the head of males • most visible symbol • sign of Sikh power • Kangha: Comb holding hair in place • keeping the spirit in place

  23. SIKHISM symbols con’t • Kara: Steel bracelet • worn on right wrist • symbolizes strength • unity of god Kirpan: double edged dagger or sword • duty to defend Sikhism • Kaccha: trousers worn by warriors • symbol of modesty and moral restraint

  24. Sikh Golden Temple Amritsar, Punjab

  25. Sikh Discrimination • Discriminated against by Muslims & Hindus • Tried to stay neutral during India – Pakistan partition • Current Prime Minister of India is a Sikh: • Manmohan Singh • Sikh diaspora

  26. THERAVADA BUDDHISM • “Doctrine o/t Elders” • conservative branch • The Little Wheel • less followers • Buddha is a teacher • Spread to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand

  27. THERAVADA BUDDHISM • ideal is arhat • become an enlightened saint • wisdom • few possessions • begging bowl • three colored robes • a belt • a mending needle • fan to cover face • razor to shave head • water strainer

  28. MAHAYANA BUDDHISM • “Great Vehicle” or “Big Wheel” • majority of followers • non-monastic life • Buddha is a god • Spread to China, Tibet, Korea & Japan • ideal is compassion • can attain nirvana through assisting others • Bodhisattva: holds back on attaining nirvana to help others

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