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HINDUISM

HINDUISM. “ Hinduism is as much a way of life, as it is a religion. ”. General. Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest and most complex religions. Practiced by over 900 million people , mainly in India

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HINDUISM

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  1. HINDUISM

  2. “Hinduism is as much a way of life, as it is a religion.”

  3. General • Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest and most complex religions. • Practiced by over 900 million people, mainly in India • There are a wide variety of deities and practices, it is often considered an “umbrella” religion

  4. History • Hinduism evolved over thousands of years blending of different cultures • Mainly native Indian and invading Aryan religious beliefs

  5. History Continued... • There is no single “correct” way of worshipping • no single founder • no single holy book

  6. Brahman • ब्रह्म • Omnipotent, and omnipresent • The world soul • *Brahman just is…everywhere and everything…and is not worshipped specifically

  7. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva • The creator • The preserver • The destroyer

  8. The Vedas • Sacred Hindu texts – originally oral– a collection of traditions, rituals • The oldest of the Hindu texts.

  9. The Upanishads • sacred Hindu texts that help to explain/interpretthe ideas contained within the Vedas • They use stories, and poems to help common people understand the the Vedas

  10. The Ramayana • Epic poems containing Hindu mythology and beliefs, morals and a guide on how to live one’s life…dharma • It depicts the duties of ideal characters, such as the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife, and the ideal king

  11. Beliefs, Practices, Rituals & Customs

  12. Atman • The “life-force” or “soul” of ALL living things • A part of the universal life-force, Brahman contained within all living things

  13. *Because all living things contain atman – all atman is the same – thus to Hindus all life is valued although some more than others – one reason why many Hindus are vegetarian

  14. Ahimsa • Hindu ideal of non-violence – respect for life – which stems from the beliefs about atman.

  15. Caste* • Hereditary social classes • Ancient custom

  16. Reincarnation • Belief in the rebirth of the atman in various new earthly life forms. It is the cycle of birth-death-rebirth • Occurs over many lifetimes, in many forms • Hindus strive to break this cycle • The form that one’s next incarnation will take is determined by how they live this life… determined by karma

  17. Moksha • Ultimate goal of all Hindus • to rejoin one’s atman with Brahman • the permanent freeing of one’s soul – or atman– from the body or earthly existence • The breaking of the cycle of reincarnation– this may take thousands of lifetimes– or not at all

  18. Karma & Dharma • Determine one’sfuture caste or life-form

  19. Dharma • “Duty,” doing one’s obligation, or what is expected of them in this lifetime, according to the code of conduct for one’s caste

  20. Karma • ‘Fate’; process of performing good and bad deeds during your lifetime that determines the fate of your atman/reincarnation in your next lifetime • Too many bad deeds and you will move down in caste, or life-form • a pure, good life and you many move up or possibly reach Moksha.

  21. Puja • Daily rituals and worship– can be done either at home or in a temple…bathe, recite prayers, light fires, make offerings of food & drink – sometimes fast.

  22. The Ganges River • Ganges River is sacred • Bathing in the Ganges River is thought to be spiritually cleansing – and will remove accumulated sin

  23. Holidays / Festivals

  24. Diwali • Hindu festival of light– renewal –new year’s celebrations

  25. Holi • The celebration of spring – • brightly colored paint, chalk or water is thrown on people, animals and sacred objects

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