1 / 36

Hinduism

Hinduism. By Abbas Hussain AREPP. Objectives. By the end of the presentation learners will be able to Know about the origin of Hinduism as religion and the origin of word it self. Understand the caste system in Hindu religion Discuss upon the 4 stages of life of a Hindu man

ronny
Download Presentation

Hinduism

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Hinduism By Abbas Hussain AREPP

  2. Objectives By the end of the presentation learners will be able to • Know about the origin of Hinduism as religion and the origin of word it self. • Understand the caste system in Hindu religion • Discuss upon the 4 stages of life of a Hindu man • Identify sacred texts and their importance with Hindu teachings. • Conceptualize the idea of rebirth and liberation • List down different Hindu observances like ritual purification, pilgrimage and festivals.

  3. Origin The Aryans noble man or land lords • Civilization of 2500 BCE • Areas of Indus valley • Religion of aryan was arya-dharma • Hindus consider them as their source and inspiration.

  4. Cont…. • The term Hindu is corruption of word Sindhu • It is the Sanskrit name for Indus River • Today applied to members of Hindu religion • Some preferred to be called by caste or community. • Most common description is sanatana dharma the eternal law

  5. Social structure Caste Social stratification called varna (color) Caste system develop due to multiracial society others says Imposed by lighter skin aryans when they conquered darker ones Highly complex system comprising of 3000 groups

  6. Four major classes • Brahmana or brahmin • Kshatriya • Vaisya • Sudra

  7. Brahmins • Central place of power • Priests, the spiritual and intellectual leaders • Spent time in studying, teaching, performing sacrifices and officiating religious services.

  8. Kshtriyas • Rulers • Warriors • Nobles protected • Administrative • Promote material welfare of soceity

  9. Vaisyas • Farmers • Merchants • Traders • Contribute to economic well-being

  10. Sudras • Laborers • Servants • Supply service to first three groups

  11. Chandalas • The fifth category • Untouchables • Status is so low that does not belong to any class • Excluded from communal rituals • not permitted to draw water from public wells

  12. Justification for social stratification • Karma the action • Samsara the reincarnation • Birth in particular class determine past life karma “Those who conduct here on earth has been good will quickly attain some good birth-birth as brahmin, birth as kshatriya, or birth as a vaisya. But those whose conduct here has been evil will quickly attain some evil birth- birth as dog,birth as pig,or birth as chandala.” (Chandogya Upanishad 5.10.7)

  13. The stages of life • Ashrama the stages of life • The specific set of duties and responsibilities of male Hindu of three upper class • The stages are youth adult hood middle age old age

  14. Youth (brahmacarin) • A student • Age between eight and tweleve • Disciplined and instructed by guru • Serve guru with absolute humility

  15. Adult hood (grishashta) • A house holder • Live an active married life • Apply three ideals of social living like observance of accepted religious duties accumulation of wealth and enjoyment of sensual pleasure

  16. Middle age (Vanaprastha) • Forest dweller • Hairs turns grey or first grandson born • Lead a life of reflection and meditation • Expected for complete detachment from material life

  17. Old age (sannyasin) • Renouncer • Life of wandering ascetic • Goal is to attain liberation from rebirth or reincarnation

  18. Hindu sacred text • No single definitive text • Still classified in to two parts Shruti Smriti

  19. Shruti (hearing) • Group of writing having eternal and sacred knowledge • Revealed to rishis or seers • Transmitted orally to brhamin generations • It has four major texts the Vedas the Brahmanas the Aranyakas the Upanishads

  20. The Vedas (bodies of knowledge)

  21. The Brahmanas • Have mystical meanings of many rites • Describe detail ritual

  22. The Aranyaks (forest books) • Written for religious aesthete • Esoteric in content • Express innermost nature of human kind and universe

  23. The Upanishads • Basic philosophy of hinduism • Viewed as culmination of sacred knowledge

  24. Smriti (memory) • Represent tradition • Examples are The Epic The Code of Manu The Puranas

  25. The Epic

  26. The code of Manu • Marriage laws • Dietary regulations • Duties of various caste • Civil and criminal laws • Daily rites and scarifies • Ethical subjects

  27. The Puranas • Gnealogy of gods, sages and kings • Description of creation, destruction and recreation of universe • Scriptures of the common folk

  28. Hindu teachings • Absolute reality

  29. The Mantras • Formulation of truth in sound • Internalized speech of truth

  30. Rebirth • Every living form is subject to an indefinite series of lives and existences • Future existence is determine by law of karma “well then…I shall tell you about this profound and eternal Brahman and also about what happens to the atman (soul) after meeting death. Some soul enter the womb for the purpose of re embodiment and some enter into stationary objects-according to their work (karma) and according to their knowledge.” (Katha Upanishads2.2.6-7;3.4).

  31. Liberation • Four basic needs of human life • First two are pleasure and wealth (path of desire). • Last two are moral duty and liberation (path of renunciation) • Ultimate satisfaction of their duty is moksha, liberation from cycles of rebirth

  32. Hindu observances • Devotional obligations a hindu should make five offering daily, to gods, to ancestors, to seers, to animals and to the poor. private devotion also consist of tending sacred house hold fire, recitation of text, repetition of mantras, meditation and yoga exercises. ceremonial awakening and bathing of the deity and invocation of name of deity.

  33. Hindu observances • Ritual purification concepts of cleanliness and contamination. two aspects of internal and external purification • External: washing and bathing • Internal: esoteric techniques by prescribed formulas or yogic posture.

  34. Pilgrimage • Visiting holy places • Many hope to die in the precincts of varansai (benares).

  35. Festivals • Acts of worship, fasting vigils, bathing, recitation of chants, taking of vows, lightening of lamp, fairs, games, drinking, gambling and offering gifts to Brahman. • Divali or Dipavali: cluster of lights • Holi or Hutashami

  36. References: • Nigosian.S.A. 2000. World religion a historical approach, Hinduism. 3rd edition. • Basu. D.A. 2002. The essence of Hinduism

More Related