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History Of Hinduism

History Of Hinduism. One of oldest religions 3 rd largest religion makes up 4/5 of the religions faith in India (1 billion) Derivative of word Hindu is the geographical term ( Sindu River or Indus Valley) No specific founder

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History Of Hinduism

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  1. History Of Hinduism • One of oldest religions • 3rd largest religion • makes up 4/5 of the religions faith in India (1 billion) • Derivative of word Hindu is the geographical term (Sindu River or Indus Valley) • No specific founder • For thousands of years the region assimilated many cultural customs and practices

  2. Hindu Beliefs & Deities Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing: • POLYTHEISTIC= worships multiple deities: gods and goddesses • MONOTHEISTIC = it recognizes only one supreme God: the panentheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well • HENOTHEISTIC= recognize a single deity, and recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God • MONISTIC=Ultimately, Hinduism is monistic—everything goes into the ‘one’, Brahman

  3. -is the supreme being-entity without form or quality-soul of universe-divine, invisible, unlimited HINDU TRINITY Preserver Destroyer Creator

  4. Beliefs and Goals • The ultimate aim of all Hindu thoughts is to attain the universal soul or divine wisdom called Brahman • Hindu’s believe in the freedom to individually worship and guide own spiritual experience. • The goals of Hinduism consist of personal conduct and righteous living which equals to dharma • Goal to achieve moksha, (liberation) from endless cycle of rebirths called Samsara and reunite atman with Brahman

  5. GODS AND GODDESS Indian Holy Trinity - The Hindus believe in three major gods who represent the supreme reality. They each look after a particular part of the human experience- creation, preservation, and destruction. Brahma is the god of creation. He is believed to have created the world. Although he is not worshiped much by Hindus, he is believed to be the most important of the three figures of the trinity. Vishnu is the god of preservation. He is all knowing and merciful. He is believed to have appeared on earth nine times, coming back each time in a different incarnation. His most famous incarnation was Prince Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. Shiva is the god of destruction. He is also associated with the life and transformation that comes through death. He is often shown either meditating or dancing.

  6. Ten Avatars Vishnu has many AVATARS (incarnations)who appear on earth as humans or animals to conquer evil and establish righteousness7th- Rama 8th- Krishna 9th- Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) 10th – Kalki (yet to come)

  7. Life Cycle of the Cosmos in Hinduism In Hinduism, the universe is continually created and destroyed in an infinite cycle. Within this cycle individual life cycles, and reincarnation cycles happen. The universe is created. While there is a lot of good energy, the Gods emerge. As good energy lessens, demons emerge and Vishnu comes to earth to protect. As negative energy increases, Shiva comes to destroy, and then creation begins again. All the while, individual reincarnations are occurring all the time. [See Overhead Visual]

  8. Son of Shiva and Parvati Human body and an elephant’s head with only one short tusk Worshipped as the remover of all obstacles Milk Miracle GANESHA

  9. Indus Valley 4000 – 2200 BCE Built houses for worship Stone sculptures and charms to ward off evil Fire altars & animal sacrifices Still practiced today: ritual bathing, worship of goddess. Agricultural people and matriarchal society – placing a high importance on the role of women. Aryans 1700 BCE Not agricultural people and a patriarchal society, worshiping only male gods. Poems and ritual texts called VEDAS (early sacred writings) Rig Veda Atman Origins of Hinduism

  10. Sacred Texts VEDAS • Oldest scripture • Written in Sanskrit • Most important Veda is the Rig Veda • 1000 hymns known as mantras (prayers) • Describe how to worship and perform rituals

  11. Sacred Texts UPNISHANDS • The last part of each Veda is the Upnishands • Written by ascetics, who revolted against the role of the priests (Brahmins) • Upnishands means “sitting beside” a guru (spiritual teacher) • These texts differ from earlier writings as they intended to inspire and welcome everyone, despite their status • Central to the Upnishands is the belief in the atman (soul) and how one can attain moksha.

  12. Sacred Texts EPICS • Ramayana • Sacred poem about Prince Rama, an Avatar of Vishnu • BhagavadGita [“song of the Lord”] • Best loved of the Hindu scriptures and a part of the greater epic called Mahabharata LEGAL CODES • Laws of Manu • Contains some of the most important laws of Hinduism, such as : caste system, male/female relationships, rules for priests and punishments for certain crimes

  13. Caste System mouth arms thighs feet

  14. People are born into a caste. The caste defines: • your social status • Your occupation • Your dress • your eating habits • How you worship • Your marriage partner

  15. Traditional Hindu Village Structure Mandir (temple) Brahmins Chiefs and warriors (Kshatriyas) Skilled workers (Vaisyas) Unskilled Workers (Sudras) Untouchables (Pariiahs)

  16. Depending on your karma you accumulate during your life it will affect which caste you will be born into during your next life. If you generate a lot of good karma you will be born into a caste high up on the pyramid. If you generate a lot of bad karma you will be born into a caste lower in the pyramid.

  17. The caste system is a later development in Hinduism. It comes from the Law of Manu (scripture). The untouchables caste developed later and is not part of the scripture. These five castes are basic division and each caste is further subdivided.

  18. The caste system is illegal in India but it is still practiced in certain regions. For example, people in certain villages are not allowed to drink the well water from other villages of a higher caste for fear that they will contaminate the water as well as the others who drink from it.

  19. Reflection / Discussion: • How is Toronto similar and/or different to the caste system? • How is Catholicism similar and/or different to the caste system?

  20. View of Reality DHARMA Dharma stands for the ultimate moral balance of all things. A Hindu’s dharma is played out in all areas of life: religious, social, and familial. If a person makes a promise, the promise must be kept at all costs. Likewise, the faithful maintain their religious rituals while attending to their family’s needs.

  21. BUT WHAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL GOES ASTRAY? This leads to the next major Hindu belief, karma.

  22. KARMA Have you ever heard someone say, “What goes around comes around”? What about, “You reap what you sow”? Both of these saying mirror the Hindu concept of karma. Basically, karma is the belief of cause and effect (all actions have a consequence).

  23. HOW CAN A HINDU HOPE TO FIND REDEMPTION FROM WRONGDOING? The answer lies in samsara.

  24. SAMSARA Samsara is commonly known as the endless cycle of reincarnation. It is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma. Good actions build up good karma and bad actions build up bad karma. When a person dies, if they have built up more good karma than bad karma, they are reborn into a higher caste (i.e. a farmer might be reincarnated as a merchant). If they have built up more bad karma, they are reborn into a lower caste (e.g. a priest might be reincarnated as a merchant).

  25. WHAT HAPPENS, THEN, WHEN A PERSON BECOMES PURIFIED? IS REINCARNATION AN ETERNAL PROCESS, OR IS THERE ANOTHER REALM? The answer lies in moksha.

  26. MOKSHA Moksha is the liberation from samsara (reincarnation) and the uniting of ATMAN (human soul) with Brahman (ultimate soul --- which is truly real). However, true reality is obscured by MAYA– the illusion and distraction that stops us from perceiving reality.

  27. SO HOW DOES ONE ESCAPE FROM THE MAYA --- THE ILLUSION AND DISTRACTIONS OF LIFE? According to Hindu’s there are 3 paths to salvation.

  28. PATH OF KNOWLEDGE: Salvation is attained through “enlightenment”, which is achieved through deep meditation or yoga (joining of mind, body, and spirit). Physical Meditation: Through physical exercise and controlled breathing. Mental Meditation: By concentrating on certain images (mandals) or specific sounds (mantras – ex. OM).

  29. PATH OF DEVOTION: Salvation is attained by giving total devotion or love to a particular god. This devotion involves rituals, prayers, and offerings to this god. PATH OF ACTION: Salvation is attained fulfilling one’s duty to society followed by self-denial. This path is open only to those people of higher castes. It has 4 basic stages: Student Householder Retiree Spiritual Pilgrim / Wanderer

  30. SUMMARY If you live your dharma (duties) according to your karma (law), then you will achieve moksha (liberation) from samsara (reincarnation). To do this you must leave behind all maya (illusions).

  31. OM • ॐ । असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ।। • OMAsato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya, mrityormāmritam gamaya • "OM (Lead me) from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality." • Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism and Vedas • Used in mediation and prayer as sound gives supernatural power • Represents the original sound of creation • To chant “om” will steady and elevate the mind

  32. MEDITATION VIDEO CLIPS OM MANTRA Instructions: Clear your desk and close your eyes. Keep them close and listen closely to the sound as it soothes your soul. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE8n4U_tmuY&feature=related

  33. MEDITATION VIDEO CLIPS HARE KRISHNA MANTRA This video provides instructions as to how to chant the “Hare Krishna” mantra. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcj5hD-3DpE&feature=related This video offers in-depth information on the “Hare Krishna”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LazF7U8MRQ This video is George Harrison’s (from the Beatles) popular version of “Hare Krishna” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVMgEupff-E&feature=related

  34. Good luck symbol representing “well being” Usually illustrated in red Used on wedding invitations, drawings Used in rituals to bring good luck and protect against evil Swastika

  35. 4 Paths to Salvation 4 Stages of Life 4 Goals of Life Caste System Puja Upanayana Vegetarianism “holy cow” Arranged Marriages Diwali Ahimsa Yoga HINDU PRACTICES

  36. Best known Hindu in world Fought to end discrimination against Indians in South Africa Tolerant of all religions Religious ideals on duty, truth, non-violence (ahimsa) and spiritual liberation (moksha) Negotiated independence of India in 1947 Opposed social injustice of Hindu society (ie. untouchables) Assasinatied in 1948 Mahatma Gandhi

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