HINDUISM No formal founder No formal church roots lie in the beliefs and practices of the ancient Aryans –Hindu-Kush Mtns –crossed thru the Khyber Pass into South Asia from Caucasus Mtns –brought Hindu beliefs Khyber Pass

ARYAN Culture migration took 100s of years invented Chariots brought Hinduism –developed Sanskrit INDRA: warrior god also farmers & herders cattle as wealth Rajahs: hereditary chiefs that rule the villages

Aryan Migration into South Asia

SACRED TEXTS VEDAS: contain eternal truths that were revealed to wise men –ca BCE –contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India –give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago –4 VEDAS RIG VEDA: oldest YAJUR VEDA SAMA VEDA ATHARVA VEDA

SACRED TEXTS UPANISHADS: helps to explain the Vedas the Epics - –Mahabharata: “the great story” longest written story –100,000 verses 12 yr war btwn two royal families Bhagavad Gita: “song of God” –Ramayana: “Rama’s Way” to avoid war, Rama places himself in exile, thus not becoming heir to the throne written in SANSKRIT

The CASTE SYSTEM Varna means color –suggest that caste was first determined by skin color Brahmins: –priests Kshatriyas: –warriors, rulers Vaisyas: –landowners, merchants, herders Sudras: –servants, peasants UNTOUCHABLES

The CASTE SYSTEM Varna means color –suggest that caste was first determined by skin color ______________________: –priests ______________________: –warriors, rulers ______________________: –landowners, merchants, herders ______________________: –servants, peasants ______________________: –So low, not part o/t caste system

Harijans (Untouchables or Dalits) Considered to by so lowly that –they do not have a caste. Perform the despicable tasks like killing animals, tanning hides, sweeping and cleaning. Gandhi called them the children of God 1950 Indian Constitution abolished untouchability…but still exists

4 Principles of Hinduism Dharma: duties & responsibilities according to one’s caste. Karma: one’s actions in this life, will effect the next lives (vice-versa) Samsara: Wheel of Life –birth, disease, death, rebirth –aka? _____________________ Moksha: –Hindu enlightenment –escape fm Samsara –becomes one w/ Brahman

4 Principles of Hinduism _______________: duties & responsibilities according to one’s caste. _______________: one’s actions in this life, will effect the next lives (vice-versa) ____________: Wheel of Life –birth, disease, death, rebirth –aka? _____________________ ______________________: –Hindu enlightenment –escape fm Samsara –becomes one w/ Brahman

The HINDU TRINITY Brahma: Creator God –all other gods come from Brahma –Monist Vishnu: Preserver God –ten avatars “incarnations” –returns to earth as avatars to bring justice/balance Shiva: Destroyer God –“The Cosmic Dance” –equivalent to the oscillating universe theory

The HINDU TRINITY ___________: Creator God –all other gods come from Brahma –Monist _________: Preserver God –ten avatars “incarnations” –returns to earth as avatars to bring justice/balance _________: Destroyer God –“The Cosmic Dance” –equivalent to the oscillating universe theory

Hindu Religious Symbols Sri Yantra –symbol of spiritual evolution –focal point for meditation –This form is the geometric expression of the divine sound of creation... OM OM or AUM –Main symbol of Hinduism –visual and verbal expression of god –transcend one’s thoughts & merge w/ god. –“a” = beginning –“u” = progress –“m” = dissolution –“reflects the POWER responsible for creation, development and destruction of the universe

Hindu Religious Symbols ____________________ –symbol of spiritual evolution –focal point for meditation –This form is the geometric expression of the divine sound of creation... OM _____________________ –Main symbol of Hinduism –visual and verbal expression of god –transcend one’s thoughts & merge w/ god. –“a” = beginning –“u” = progress –“m” = dissolution –“reflects the POWER responsible for creation, development and destruction of the universe

SHIVA The Destroyer God “The Cosmic Dance” –the dance of Shiva symbolizes the creation and destruction of the universe –equivalent to the oscillating universe theory –pg. 241