1. Hinduism Tiffany Geyer
“Om”-the first sound in the cosmos that led to creation.
Tiffany Geyer

2. The vedas & “Hindu”
Indian religious communities would regard the texts of the Vedas as eternal, perfect truth.
Written in Sanskrit
First holy texts of the Aryans, from Vedic Aryan civilizations (during Brahmanic period)
Veda means “knowledge.”
First, Hindu simply meant “Indian.”
Later Hindu characterized the most prominent religious & social institutions of India as a whole.

3. Hindu Tradition
Major developments that shaped a complex Hindu tradition:
Consolidation of the Caste system, Brahman ascendancy, & the “high” culture of Sanskrit learning.
The increasing dominance of theistic devotionalism (especially Vishnu & Shiva).
The intellectual reconciliation of these developments with older ascetic and speculative traditions deriving from the Upanishadic age.

4. Shiva Vishnu Hindu Deities
Vishnu = peace-loving deity, preserver of life.
Shiva = avenging & destroying deity.
Have many forms and names
Easily identified with other deities, who are then worshiped as 1 form of the Supreme Lord or Goddess.
Vishnu
Shiva

5. Hindu Deities Continued
Some main Indian Gods and Goddesses (Devas and Devis) have their own vehicles, mounts or vahanas-various types of animals and birds.
She is the destroyer of darkness and ignorance. She rides on a Lion donkey.
Lord Vishnu came down to earth to protect Gajendra, the Elephant from the clutches of Makara, the Crocodile and awards him moksha, or salvation.
Maa Kalratri

6. Sacredness of the Cow
Respected as the source of food and symbol of life and may never be killed.
The Vedas, Laws of Manu, chapter 5:
Rule 56. There is no sin in eating meat… but abstention brings great rewards.
Hindus stopped eating beef for both practical and spiritual reasons.
“Ahimsa”=noninjury to living beings.

7. “Bhakti” Means Loving devotion.”
Evident at 200 C.E., in the Bhagavad Gita’s treatment of Krishna.
Derives from Tamil-poets who first sang praises to Vishnu and Shiva as Supreme Lord.