1. Aim: What does it mean to be Hindu? Do Now: What do you know about Hinduism? What would you like to know? NY State Learning Standards 2 Common Core RS 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and WS 1, 2

2. I How did Hinduism begin? A) Aryans (light skinned nomads) invaded Northern India in 1500 BCE. Their beliefs combined with those of the people by the Indus River, which led to the beginning of Hinduism. B) *There was no single founder.

3. II Hindu Beliefs A) Hindus believe in one god Brahma, who can take different forms. B) Hinduism is a monotheistic religion, as they believe in only one god. *Be aware that the Regents still considers it to be polytheistic. Yes, the Regents can be wrong! Lord Brahma

4. All these deities are different forms of Brahma, the one Hindu god.

5. Hindu beliefs continued… B) After death, our soul is reincarnated into a new earthly body. Who or what you come back as depends on your karma. C) If you had good actions in this life, you will have good karma, and your next life will be better than this one; you will move up the caste system. If you have bad karma in this life, your next life will be worse than this one and you will move down the caste system. *The caste system has been illegal in India since 1948. Unfortunately many people of the lower castes are still discriminated against. The Hindu Caste System

6. Untouchables/ Dalits “The Dalits, also known as the “untouchables” make up nearly one quarter of India’s 1.2 billion society.. In 70% of India’s villages, for example, non-Dalits will not eat or drink with Dalits. After drinking their tea, they are expected to crush the cup on the ground so that no other person risks being polluted by the cup the Dalit touched.” The UN experts say Dalit women and girls are particularly vulnerable and are exposed to multiple forms of discrimination, sexual violence and trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of children in India are forced to eke out a living to support their families by sweeping streets, cleaning toilets and clearing garbage from public places. www.dalitnetwork.org

7. Hindu beliefs continued… D) The goal of Hinduism is moksha, the escape from the cycle of reincarnation. E) Cows are sacred animals, which is why Hindus do not eat beef.

8. III Sacred Hindu Texts A) The Vedas “Books of Knowledge” are the most sacred Hindu texts, written in Sanskrit (an ancient language of India). The Rig Veda is one of the oldest surviving texts in the world! (circa 1500 BCE) B) The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are both sacred Hindu epic poems. The Mahabharata explains the important goals of a human in his or her mortal life. The Ramayana explains Hindu beliefs on life and death, and good vs. evil. In the end, good and truth will triumph. “A person who performs good Karma (deeds) is always held in high esteem. ” – Rig Veda “Intelligence is the mightiest and nothing is beyond its reach. ” – Rig Veda

9. IV Hindu Symbols A) The ohm represents Brahma. B) The swastika is a Hindu symbol of peace. The Nazis used this symbol and twisted its meaning. C) A mandala is a sacred shape to Hindus. The square symbolizes the earth, while the circle symbolizes the heavens.

10. Hindu Symbols Continued… D) The bindi represents the third eye. It is a reminder to look inward to find god.

11. V Hindu Practices A) Yoga is a form of meditation. Meditation is quiet time in thought or concentration.

12. Hindu practices continued… B) Hindus pray in temples, as well as at shrines. Temples are built in the sacred shape of the mandala. Swaminarayan Akshardham is the largest Hindu temple in the world, New Delhi, India

13. Hindu practices continued… C) Hindus consider the Ganges river to be sacred. Many Hindu rituals are performed in or near the river.

14. VI Hindu Holidays A) Diwali is the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, and of knowledge over ignorance. B) Holi is a Spring festival of color. Diwali CelebrationHoli Celebration

15. Spread of Hinduism

16. Summary Fill in your religion chart for Hinduism. Which facts about Hinduism do you find the most interesting and why?

17. Key Vocabulary Aryans Bindi Brahma Brahmins Caste System Diwali Ganges River Hierarchy Hinduism Holi Indus River Valley Karma Mahabharata Mandala Meditation Moksha Ohm Ramayana Reincarnation Sanskrit Swastika Untouchables Vedas Yoga