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Hinduism
Hinduism • One of the world’s oldest
religions–Over 3,000 years old
• No single founder – Formed from the beliefs of the
diverse groups who settled in India• Original people of the Indus valley• Aryans
Origins• Developed from the
Vedas– 3500 – 2500 years
ago– Polytheism
• rituals and many gods– Sacred texts – The Caste System
Braham• One universal spirit• Appears as many different gods – This gave people a concrete way to
worship and understand an impersonal god
Atman • The individual
soul of human beings
Moksha • Ultimate goal of
Hinduism • Union with the
universal spiritual force (Brahman) – Release from
worldly cares and difficulties
• Atman + Brahman = Moksha
Reincarnation
• Sometimes called Samsara
• Atman is reborn into the world after death
• Continues until union with the Brahman
Dharma
• Spiritual and moral duties that must be followed
Karma • All of the deeds of a
person’s life• Allows people to continue
towards Brahman• Goods deeds– Reincarnated into a higher
castes• Bad deeds– Reincarnated into a lower
caste or stuck in the same level
Sacred Texts• Vedas • Upanishads–Nature of the world
and meaning of life• Ramayana and
Mahabharata – Epic poems –Discuss importance
of following dharma
Hindu Gods• Vishnu– The preserver
god• Appears as ten
different avatars
Krishna with his consort Radha ; appears in the Mahabharata
Shiva• God of destruction• Constructive
destruction
Shiva with his wife, Parvati, and his son Ganesha
How Ganesha got his Elephant Head
• Parvati (Ganesha’s mom) told him to stay outside her bath and allow no one to enter
• Shiva arrived, and because he had been away for a long time, Ganesha didn’t recognize his dad
• When Ganesha refused to allow Shiva to enter, Shiva cut off his head
• Parvati refused to allow Shiva into her bedroom unless Ganesha was returned to life
• Shiva took the head from the next animal to appear, and restored Ganesha to life with an elephant’s head
All of the many Hindu deities are manifestations of the spirit Brahman