1. Exploring the Religions of Our World
Chapter 5: Hinduism

2. Chapter 5, Introduction a

3. Chapter 5, Introduction cont.
The Basics
95% of Hindus live in India
Hinduism emerged as a religion, it did not begin with a founder or particular event
Hinduism shares no doctrinal statements
Hindus hold that no one religion can possibly claim knowledge of absolute truth , which is why Hinduism is often called a lifestyle rather than a religion

4. Chapter 5, Introduction cont.
Periods of Hindu History

5. Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism

6. Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.

7. You Tube Video: Hinduism
National Geographic: Religions of the World: Hinduism

8. Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Major developments of:
The Indus Valley Period ( BCE)
Emphasis on ritual purity
Focus on fertility and regeneration
The practice of meditation
Emphasis on peacefulness
Contributed the Vedas of divine knowledge

9. Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Major developments of:
The Brahminical Period ( BCE)
Ritual sacrifices by the Brahmins (priests)
Home ritual sacrifices
Gurus (teachers) train disciples in personal devotion to the gods
The gods Shiva and Vishnu gain in prominence
Rise of ascetical practices

10. Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Major developments of:
The Classical Period ( CE)
Establishment of Hindu temples
Growth of home-based rituals
The Vedas become the authoritative scripture
Emphasis shifts from the transcendent to the immanent
Emphasis on personal transformation
The concepts of karma and reincarnation emerge
The evolution of the caste system

11. Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Jainism:
Founded by Mahavira in the sixth century BCE
Contains elements of Hinduism and Buddhism
Practice non-violence or non-injury
Vegan, commitment to not harm any living thing

12. Chapter 5, Section 1 Review Questions
What was the Aryan influence on the origins of Hinduism?
Who were Brahmins & what was their main function?
What makes up the shruti?
Describe Jainism.
Why are the years 300 to 1200 CE known as the Classical Period of Hinduism?
What happened when the Muslims came to India?
What are some of the beliefs major Hindu figures of the nineteenth & twentieth centuries advocated?
Describe one movement of Hinduism that contributed to its expansion outside of India.

13. Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures
Shruti—more sacred; revealed by gods to ancient seers; don’t change; “that which is to be heard”
Smriti—“that which is to be remembered”; less authoritative; passed orally; more popular
Shruti Scriptures
Vedas—earliest; Aryan era; hymns; fire sacrifice; 4; exclusive; priests; memory
Rig Veda—oldest; most sacred; 1,000 hymns & mantras; Sanskrit; 1300 BCE
Soma Veda—900 BCE; sacrificial hymns
Yajur Veda—prose; priestly sacrificial instruction
Atharva Veda—700 BCE; domestic hymns; healing for sacrificial mistakes
Upanishads—personal action & cycle of rebirth; liberation; relationship between Brahman (Ultimate Reality) & atman (soul); “to sit down beside”; guru to student
Svetaketu—father instruction; being & soul not seen, heard, thought; salt water; Chandogya Upanishad

14. Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont.
Smriti Scriptures
Mahabharata—Hindu epic; 200k verses; family war over inheritance; Krishna; avatar of Vishnu; 9 avatars & 10th end of world; supports family
Bhagavad Gita—contained in; most popular; brother Arjuna; fight as warrior caste or non-violence; debate with charioteer Krishna; disinterested love in personal duties
Ramayana—2nd greatest Hindu epic; Prince Rama; exiled with wife & brother; Ravana kidnaps wife; Rama rescues & becomes king
Puranas—stories about 3 Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, & Shiva; creation; world’s history; popular with lower castes; miracles & personal devotion
Knowledge of the Heart
Svetaketu—12 years of studying; head knowledge but not heart; nyagrodha tree; fruit, seed, nothing; essence of all creation is nothingness & flow

15. You Tube Video: Hinduism
Hindu Scriptures

16. Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont.
Shruti Scriptures (the most sacred)
1. Rig Veda - hymns to various gods
2. Soma Veda - hymns chanted at sacrifices
3. Yajur Veda - instructions for priests regarding sacrifices
4. Atharva Veda - hymns, charms, spells and incantations for domestic use
The
Vedas
The
Holy
Vedasc

17. Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont.
Shruti Scriptures – also…
The
Upanishads
The
Upanishads
Concerned with the cycle of rebirth
The mystical relationship between Brahman (Ultimate Reality of all living things) and atman (soul)
Often shared in a dialogue between guru and student

18. Chapter 5, Section 2 Review Questions
What are shruti scriptures?
What are smriti scriptures?
What is the dilemma of
Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita?
What are the Puranas?

19. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices

20. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.

21. You Tube Video: Hinduisma

22. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Most Hindus hold these beliefs in common, though they are not “doctrines”:
The caste
system
The cycle of
rebirth
The sacredness
of life
Millions of
gods and
goddesses
The four stages
of life

23. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Brahman = one Ultimate Reality or Absolute Reality which:
Is manifested
in gods and
goddesses
Cannot be
grasped by
the five senses
Includes every-
thing material
and immaterial Is
transcendent
Is the “life-
Force” of the
universe
Has no
attributes

24. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
3 primary
forms of
Brahman
1. Brahma is the Creator god
2. Vishnu is the Preserving god
3. Shiva is the Destroying god
An avatar is the incarnation of personification of a god or goddess e.g. Krishna and Ganesh

25. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Atman:
Is the “real self” (mind, body, and emotions are “maya” or illusions)
Hindus strive for release from maya in order to achieve union with Brahman/atman
Moksha (liberation) is achieved through rigorous physical and mental discipline

26. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Samsara - the cycle of rebirth
Rebirth
Breaking the cycle:
Knowledge
Good deeds
Devotion
Birth
Karma
Death

27. Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Moksha
Pursuit of liberation
from the cycle of
rebirth through
actions, thoughts,
and devotions
The major pursuits of life:
Artha
Pursuit of both
material and
political wealth
Dharma
One’s duties in life,
especially as dictated
by caste
Kama
Pursuit of artistic,
recreational, and
sensual pleasure

28. Chapter 5, Section 3 Review Questions
What is meant by Brahman? How is Brahman linked to atman?
What are the three primary forms of Brahman?
Describe the Hindu cycle of rebirth related to the three paths of liberation.
Name & describe the four stages of life for Hindu castes; also define “untouchables”.
Name & describe the four stages of life for Hindu males.
What are the four life goals for a Hindu male in the first three castes?

29. Chapter 5, Section 4: Sacred Times

30. Chapter 5, Section 4: Sacred Times cont.

31. You Tube Video: Hinduisma

32. Chapter 5, Section 4: Sacred Times cont.
Sikhism
A blending of Hinduism and Islam
Is monotheistic
Beliefs: karma, samsara, moksha, equality
Rejects: caste system, idol worship
Signs of devotion: unshorn hair, comb, short pants, steel bracelet, short sword
Many have a desire to found and establish their own homeland

33. Chapter 5, Section 4 Review Questions
How do Hindus compensate for the different number of days between solar & lunar calendars?
What do the festivals of Diwali & Holi celebrate? How are they celebrated?
Name & explain at least two of the sixteen stages of the Hindu life cycle.

34. Chapter 5, Section 5: Sacred Places & Spaces

35. Chapter 5, Section 5: Sacred Places & Spaces cont.

36. You Tube Video: Hinduisma

37. Chapter 5, Section 5: Sacred Places & Spaces cont.
Temples
many images of
gods/goddesses
Home shrines
many images of
gods/goddesses
Puja
honoring the gods
Ganges River
symbol of life w/o end
ritual bathing

38. Chapter 5, Section 5 Review Questions
Why is everything sacred to Hindu’s?
Describe a home puja and its purpose?
How does a temple puja differ from a home puja?
Why is the Ganges River the most sacred place for Hindus?

39. Chapter 5, Section 6: Hindusim Through a Catholic Lens

40. Chapter 5, Section 6: Hinduism through a Catholic Lens cont.

41. You Tube Video: Hinduisma

42. Chapter 5, Section 6: Hinduism through a Catholic Lens cont.
Similarities:
Toleration of religious diversity
Pursuing social issues
Honoring Jesus and his teachings
The tradition of depicting and venerating religious images

43. Chapter 5, Section 6: Hinduism through a Catholic Lens cont.
Differences:
Karma
Reincarnation
The caste system
Jesus as the one and only incarnation of God

44. Chapter 5, Section 6 Review Questions
In dialoguing about human dignity, what topic in particular do Hindus have in mind?
Name at least three views of Jesus that can be found among Hindus.
Name similar views Catholics and Hindus have about Jesus.
List three functions of religious imagery.

45. Chapter 5: Conclusion a

46. Chapter 5: Hinduism Vocabulary
Brahmins
Shruti
Gurus
Bhakti
Sanskrit
Karma
Caste system
Mantra
Hare Krishnas
Avatar
Brahman
Transcendent
Atman
Maya
Samsara
Yoga
Satyagraha
Puja
Iconoclasm
Devas

47. Chapter 4 Islam – Vocabulary Definitions
a – a

48. Chapter 5 Review Questions (Extra Credit)
Section 1: a

49. Chapter 5 Review Questions cont. (Extra Credit)
Section 2:
Section 3:

50. Chapter 5 Review Questions cont. (Extra Credit)
Section 4: a
Section 5:
Section 6: