Hinduism and Reaching Out to The Hindus

HINDUISM

• The principle religion of India.

• Approximately 900,000,000 adherents.

Ganesh: a Hindu deity

God of wisdom and intellect

Hindu-Trinity• Brahma - Chief god • Shiva - God of destruction.

Vishnu - Preserver and protector.

Shiva : The Destroyer Shiva Linga

Krishna – Bhagavad Gita

Ram[Rama] : Ramayana

Characters in RamayanaSita – Wife

Lakshman – Brother

Hanuman – Monkey God

Ravana – King of Lanka who abducted Sita

Luv & Kush – Twins born to sita during her banishment

Ganesh

Ganesha was created by Parvati using clay to protect her and Shiva beheaded him when Ganesha came between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva then replaced Ganesha's original head with that of an elephant.

He is popularly worshipped as a remover of obstacles

Ganesh Festival – Procession in Mumbai

For Immersion after 10-12 days

Laxmi

Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of wealth, prosperity, fortune, and the embodiment of beauty. She is the consort of the God Vishnu.

Scriptures of Hinduism Vedas : Poems. Ritualistic, priestly. 1500-1000 BC.

Especially the Rig Veda. Include the Brahmanas.

• Upanishads : Highly philosophical essays about brahman, atman, transmigration of atman, karma and so forth. 800-600 BC.

• Epics : (Ramayana, Mahabarata, Bhagavad Gita) Mythic adventures of Rama, Krishna and others.

• Puranas: Largely local legends, myths, many local deities. AD 400-1000. This is the “scripture” of most local Hindus.

• Tantras : Religious discussions/teachings.

Important Questions to askWhich god do you worship?

Who is your favorite god?

What do you like about your god?

Do you go to temple? Which one? What takes you there or Why you go there?

Tell me about your family?

Who is the dominant person in your family? Who are you scared of? Who is incharge ?

Acts 1724 “The God who made the world and everything

in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else

Acts 1729 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we

should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Psalm 13515 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

made by human hands.

16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see.

17 They have ears, but cannot hear,

nor is there breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them.

Jer 10:5Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,

their idols cannot speak;

they must be carried

because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them;

they can do no harm

nor can they do any good.”.

Deut 58 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the

form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them;...............

1 Cor 1014 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

Rev 218 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the

murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

John 424 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship

in the Spirit and in truth.”

Pray for 1 Billion Hindus to turn to Jesus