E. Napp Hinduism is the dominant religion of India. This is the Hindu symbol for Om. It represents the divine.

E. Napp The Aryans were nomadic invaders. They invaded the Indus River Valley in 1500 B.C. Hinduism is largely based on the religious beliefs of the Aryans.

E. Napp The Aryans called themselves “the noble ones”. They spoke the Sanskrit language which is still the religious language of Hindus and they considered the cow sacred.

E. Napp There is no single holy book in Hinduism but there are many sacred texts like the Upanishads, the Vedas, and the Bhagavad-Gita.

E. Napp Hindus believe in many gods. However, Hindus believe that every god is a manifestation of a single, Supreme Being.

E. Napp According to Hindus, all beings are part of Brahma. It is just that most humans are ignorant of their nature. They are trapped in an illusion. They are trapped in Maya.

E. Napp Therefore, according to Hindus, a person’s soul must be reborn again and again until the person realizes his true god self.

E. Napp Hindus believe in reincarnation.

E. Napp Of course, a person’s reincarnation is based on his or her deeds. This belief that what a person does in the present determines the future is a belief called karma.

E. Napp Yes, think of karma as what goes around comes around.

E. Napp Hindus also have a caste system. A caste system is a fixed social class system. A Hindu is born into his caste and remains in his caste a lifetime.

E. Napp Birth determines caste. If a baby is born to Brahmin parents, the baby is a Brahmin. Of course, according to Hindus, the baby’s karma determined his birth to Brahmin parents.

E. Napp Each caste has its dharma or rules of caste. For example, a person must marry within his caste.

E. Napp Hinduism still influences India today.