1. “Eternal Law” सनातन धर्म

2.  Oldest Religion Still Practiced  From  Ancient Vedic Religion  Combination of Diverse Traditions  No single founder  3 rd Largest World Religion  After  Christianity  Islam  1 Billion People  905 Million  India and Nepal  Other Countries with many:  Bangladesh  Sri Lanka  Pakistan  Indonesia  Malaysia  Singapore  Fiji  United Kingdom  Canada

3.  Beliefs  Extremely Diverse  Everyone has different beliefs  Agree  Main Ideas  Dharma  Ethics/Duties  Samsara  Continuing Cycle  Life, Death, Rebirth  Karma  Action and Reaction  Moksha  Liberation from Samsara  Yogas  Paths or Practices

4.  Only Religion  Polytheistic and Monotheistic  Believe:  Soul (Atman)  Eternal  Brahma  “Universal Consciousness”  Supreme Spirit that all souls are a part of  Become aware that oneself is part of the whole perfect soul of Brahma  Reach Moksha  Escape Cycle of Rebirth  Attain perfection  Gods  Triad of main Gods including  Brahma  Vishnu  Shiva

5.  God of the Universe

6.  Preserver of the Universe  Creator God

7.  God of:  Death  Reincarnation  As the Destroyer  Naked Ascetic  Train of Serpents  Necklace of Skulls  As the Reincarnation God:  White, Blue Throat  Seven Arms  Three Eyes  Carries Trident  Rides a White Bull

8.  Reincarnation  Supreme God Vishnu  Divine and Heroic  Defeated Monsters  Depicted as  Philosopher  Hero  Cowherd playing the flute

9.  God of  Success  Destroyer of Evil  Education  Wisdom  Knowledge

10.  Devas-Celestial Beings in Hindu scriptures  Depicted in mythology by:  Art  Architecture  Icons  Indian Epic P  Ishvaras-Idea of Supreme God in one (Deva) form  Choice based on:  Personal Choice  Family  Traditional Areas  Avatars-Decent of God to Earth in human form  In order to:  Restore Dharma in society  Guide humans to Moksha  Stories told  Hindu Epic Poems mostly about:  Krishna  Vishnu  Rama

11.  The Grihastha Dharma recognize four goals known as the puru ṣ hārthas. They are:  Kama  Sensual pleasure and enjoyment  Artha  Material prosperity and success  Dharma  Correct action, in accordance with one's particular duty and scriptural laws  Moksha  Liberation from the cycle of samsara

12.  Yogi- practioner of Yoga  Texts include:  Bhagavad Gita  Yoga Sutras  Hatha Yoga  Type of Yoga Practiced  Goal of Life  Bhakti  Goal  Spiritual Perfection  Jana Yoga  Goal  Pure Love

13.  Hindu Scriptures Divided  Sruti (Revealed)  Smriti (Remembered)  Developed over hundreds of years  Include  Theology  Philosophy  Mythology  Purpose  Spiritual Insights  Practice of Dharma

14.  Goal of Worship  Awareness of God  Blessings of a Deva  Worship occurs at  Home  Temple  Temples are dedicated to  Dieties  Most Hindus go  Only during Festivals  Hindus worship through --> Icons (Murtis)  Image  Link between  God and Worshipper  Image is  Manifestation of God  Hindu  Sacred Art with  Symbols from  Mythology  Literature  Cultural Traditions

15.  Om  Sound to which the universe was made

16.  Swastika Sign  Prosperity

17.  Tilaka  Dot on the forehead

18.  Lotus  Flower representing enlightenment

19.  Chakra  Energy Centers

20.  Veena  String instrument like a guitar or sitar

21.  Hindus practice their faith in everything they do  Do not simply go to church once a week  Most have rituals at home  Vary based on  Family  Traditions  Area lived in  Worship includes  Worship at family shrine  after meal at dawn  Leave food or gifts at shrine  Light candle or lamp  Rituals practiced daily by  Meditation  Prayer  Chanting  Mantras  Reciting Scripture

22.  Purpose of rituals  Get pure  rid pollution  Purification  Water  Sacrifice or Merit  Charity  Improves Karma  Reduces next life suffering  Vedic rights  Fire oblation (Yayna)  Chanting mantras  Weddings  Burials

23.  Religious life-cycle rituals  Annaprashan  Baby’s 1 st intake of food  Upanayanam  “Sacred Thread Ceremony”  For Upper Caste Children  Formal induction into education system  Shraadh  Treating people to feasts for the dead  Marriage and Engagement  Decided by parents  Dates chosen  Astrologers  Death  Cremation  Wrapped in cloth and burnt in a pyre

24.  Pilgramage  Not mandatory  Many undertake them  Holy cities:  Allahabad  Haridwar  Varanasi  Vrindavan  Notable temple cities  Puri  Vishnava Iagannath (Temple)  Rath-Yatra  Tirumala-Tirupati  Holy sites  Puri  Rameswaram  Dwarka  Badrinath Pilgramages to Shakti Peethas  Mother Goddess

25.  Celebrates  Mythology  Season Changes  Maha Shivatra  Great night of Shiva  Holi  Spring Festival of Colors  Ram Navai  Birthday of Hindu God Rama  Krishna Janmastami  Birth of the God Krishna  Ganesh Chathrui  Birthday of Lord Ganesh  Dussera  Very fun, colorful festival of the mother goddess  Durga Puji  Invokes the goddess Durga to protect the people against evil  Diwali  Festival of Lights  Victory of good over evil

26. Hindu society  4 classes  called Varnas  Brahmans  Teachers, pritests  Kshatryas  Warriors, nobles, kings  Vishyas  Farmers, merchants, buisnessmen  Shudras  servants, laborers  Untouchables  Can not escape caste  The caste born into  Determined by past life