1. Learning About Hindu Beliefs
Chapter 15
Learning About Hindu Beliefs

2. Objectives:
To discover the origins of Hinduism in ancient traditions and how these beliefs affected life in ancient India and today.

3. I can:
• Explain the relationship among Vedic religion, Brahmanism, and Hinduism
• Outline the social structure of the caste system
• Describe important beliefs in Hinduism and discuss their influence on daily life
• Assess the impact of ancient beliefs and practices on life in modern India

5. Vocabulary: Hinduism Vedas Sanskrit Brahmanism caste dharma Karma
reincarnation
pilgrimage

6. Academic Vocabulary
affect
specific
interpret
divine
cycle

7. What would your dharma be?
Law, obligation, duty
To follow one’s dharma:
to perform one’s duties and so to live as one should
What would your dharma be?

8. Dharma usually means “right conduct or behavior”
Dharma usually means “right conduct or behavior”. But remember that what is right conduct for a king may well be quite different from what is right conduct for a farmer.

9. Hinduism is a religion that developed over time from ancient Indian traditions.
Its followers have many beliefs, deities, and practices that differ from place to place.

10. Sacred text:
Ramayana
Tells about life in ancient India
Offers models in dharma
Central Figure:
Rama
Lives by the rules of dharma
Young boy = loyal son
Adult= loving husband, responsible ruler

11. Key Hindu Beliefs:
Brahman
Deities
Karma
Samsara
Dharma

12. 15.2
Aryans brought the first parts/elements of Hinduism to India
All Hindus follow the basic beliefs of Hinduism that are laid out in the Vedas.

13. 15.2 the Origins of Hinduism (Key Terms)
Vedas – Early Hindu religion which included sacred texts, hymns, and prayers
Sanskrit – An ancient language of India… The Vedas were written in Sanskrit.
Brahman – A class of priests or religious scholars that interpret the Vedas.
Brahmanism – Vedas develop into Brahmanism after the Brahman priest bring a standard way of worshipping the Vedas.

14. The way society was organized Way of life
15.3 The Caste System
The way society was organized
Way of life
Four main social classes known as varna

15. (servants, farmers, laborers)
Shudras
(servants, farmers, laborers)
Brahmins
(priests)
Kshatriyas
(Rulers, warriors)
Vaishyas
(Herders, merchants)
Untouchables (out of caste/outcast)

16. Born into a certain caste
Could never be changed
Could only marry in their own caste

17. Turn & Talk Can you identify each caste correctly?
What is each caste’s dharma?
What does the middle picture represent?

18. Circle = cycle of life, death, rebirth NOT resurrection
Beliefs about Brahman
Atman = soul
Circle = cycle of life, death, rebirth NOT resurrection
Work of Brahman

19. Samsara:
The cycle of birth, death and rebirth
Law of Karma:
the good and evil done in a person’s past life determines what happens to one’s soul in the next life
Determines a person’s caste

20. As long as people are a part of samsara, = people will know pain, suffering and death
Reincarnation: when a person’s soul is reborn into a new body after death
Samsara ends when the soul escapes from the cycle of rebirth.
reunited with Brahma, the supreme force of the universe

21. Pilgrimages: a journey to a holy place
People travel to sacred places like the Ganges River
Believe the difficulty of the journey would cleanse them of their sins

22. As Brahma (the Creator),
Vishnu (the Preserver),
Shiva (the Destroyer)
Together known as the Trimurti (3 forms)

23. http://www. iskcondesiretree

24. Shiva (destroyer)

25. Vishnu
preserver

26. Swastika http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/swastika.htm
The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been found worldwide, but it is especially common in India. Its name comes the Sanskrit word svasti (sv = well; asti = is), meaning good fortune, luck and well-being.
The swastika is most commonly used as a charm to bring good fortune (in which case the arms are bent clockwise), but it has a variety of religious meanings as well.

27. What connections can you make from what we have studied previously?
Hinduism