1. Basics of Hinduism
religion of the majority of people in India and __________________ (80%)
over ___ million people practice Hinduism
____ living religion – origins Indus/Aryans
closely linked to other Indian religions like Jainism, _______________, and Sikhism
no single founder, no single holy book, and no commonly agreed set of ________

2. How does a Hindu Creation Myth compare to others we have seen?
What similarities and differences do you see between the Hindu myth and the myths of the Middle East (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Old Testament)?
What might the myth tell us about the religion of Hinduism?

3. What are Hindu beliefs about God?
Many Hindus believe in a supreme spiritual force, ___________, the “universal soul”.
Brahman is __, but has many incarnations.
Many Hindus believe that all the Hindu gods are different aspects (_______) of Brahman.
“God is one – but wise men know it by many names.”
Each living being has a soul that is part of ________________.
Polytheism or Monotheism?

4. What do other Hindu gods look like?
Describe another Hindu god:
What do Hindu gods remind you of?
Hindu “trinity”:

5. Brahma
“creator”
Vishnu
“preserver”
Shiva
“destroyer”

6. Primary Source: the Soul
Read the excerpt from “Isha”, chapter two of The Upanishads (a Hindu holy book).
Describe the “self” (soul, Atman):
If you were to draw a picture to symbolize the “self”, what would it be?

7. Beliefs about Life
Hindus believe in reincarnation: a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by ______.
karma: Hindus believe that the soul is reborn into other social classes based on your behavior in your previous life, “________________”.
You can be reborn in human, god, or animal form.
moksha: your GOAL = _______ from the cycle of reincarnation

8. Caste System caste = _________ *______________________________*
________________________________
jati - occupation
varnas - ________
*______________________________*
Brahmins
“Priests and Scholars”
Kshatriyas
“rulers and warriors”
Vaisyas
“farmers and merchants”
Sudras
“laborers, crafts workers, servants”
Dulits/Pariahs  Untouchables “impure” jobs

9. Hindu Beliefs Do you have a sense of dharma in your own life? Explain.
Does our society have a sense of dharma? If so, how is it maintained?
How is the story, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” an example of karma? Can you think of any other examples?
Describe a book or movie that contains the idea of samsara.

10. Holy Scriptures: The Vedas
one of _____ Hindu holy books
written from BCE in ____________
included in the Vedas:
hymns and poems
religious prayers
magical spells
lists of the gods and goddesses
Other Hindu Holy Books

11. What are some Hindu festivals/celebrations?
Ganges River:
Holi:
Diwali:

12. What do Hindu places of worship look like?
puja = worship
may take place in a ________
or at home with a family ____________