Hinduism

HinduismHinduism• Makes up 80% of Makes up 80% of

population of Indiapopulation of India• Belief in many godsBelief in many gods• Belief in Belief in reincarnationreincarnation

(the rebirth of souls (the rebirth of souls after death)after death)

• KarmaKarma – moral – moral consequences of consequences of peoplepeople

The world's "oldest extant The world's "oldest extant religion"religion"

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There are approximately 1 billion Hindus, There are approximately 1 billion Hindus, making Hinduism the third largest religion in making Hinduism the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam, of whom the world after Christianity and Islam, of whom approximately 890 million live in Indiaapproximately 890 million live in India

World Religions MapWorld Religions Map

HinduismHinduism

It originated on the It originated on the Indian Indian subcontinent with subcontinent with foundations in the foundations in the Vedic civilization, but has no known founder, being itself a conglomerate of diverse beliefs beliefs and and traditions.traditions.

सना�तना धर्म� (Sanskrit(Sanskrit))

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

Sanskrit: भगवद्�‌ग�ता –

The "Song of God" is The "Song of God" is an ancient Sanskrit an ancient Sanskrit text comprising 700 text comprising 700 verses from the verses from the Mahabharata. Mahabharata. Krishna, as the Krishna, as the speaker of the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita is Bhagavad Gita is referred to within as referred to within as Bhagavan.Bhagavan.

Hindu TempleHindu TempleHouses of worship for Houses of worship for followers of Hinduism. followers of Hinduism. They are usually They are usually specifically reserved for specifically reserved for religious and spiritual religious and spiritual activities.activities.

Who is Hindu?Who is Hindu?

When we think of the Hindu religion, we find it When we think of the Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one God; it does not subscribe to worship any one God; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion of creed. It may broadly features of any religion of creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more. be described as a way of life and nothing more.

- Chief Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar- Chief Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar

Five Major DoctrinesFive Major Doctrines• TruthTruth is one, Sages call it by different names is one, Sages call it by different names • All Mankind is All Mankind is One FamilyOne Family • Law of KarmaLaw of Karma - As you sow, so shall you - As you sow, so shall you

reap reap • That mode of living which is founded upon That mode of living which is founded upon

total harmlessness towards all creatures or total harmlessness towards all creatures or upon a minimum of such harm, is the highest upon a minimum of such harm, is the highest morality morality

• Whenever there is a decline of virtue, God Whenever there is a decline of virtue, God incarnates Himself on earth to uphold incarnates Himself on earth to uphold righteousness righteousness

VishnuVishnuShivaShiva

MMandalaandalaA plan, chart or A plan, chart or geometric pattern geometric pattern which represents the which represents the cosmos cosmos metaphysically or metaphysically or symbolically, a symbolically, a microcosm of the microcosm of the universe from the universe from the human perspective. human perspective.

This denotes an action that brings back This denotes an action that brings back results in this life or in the future life. The results in this life or in the future life. The doctrine of karma (karmavada) is based upon doctrine of karma (karmavada) is based upon the theory of cause and effect. According to this the theory of cause and effect. According to this doctrine, God is not responsible for the pleasure doctrine, God is not responsible for the pleasure or pain of His creatures. They suffer or enjoy or pain of His creatures. They suffer or enjoy owing to the consequences of their own bad or owing to the consequences of their own bad or good deeds.good deeds.

Castes in IndiaCastes in India

The Indian caste The Indian caste system has been in system has been in use for many years.  use for many years.  StillStill today the values today the values of of the caste system the caste system are held strongly.  are held strongly.  It has kept a sense It has kept a sense of order, and peace of order, and peace among the people. among the people.  •Varna is a person's natural and Varna is a person's natural and right position in society. right position in society. •The caste one has must The caste one has must dictate his or her role in life.dictate his or her role in life.

Caste-SystemCaste-System• System of social System of social

classesclasses• BrahmansBrahmans – Priests – Priests

and scholarsand scholars• Kshatriyas Kshatriyas – rulers – rulers

and warriorsand warriors• VaisyasVaisyas – farmers – farmers

and merchantsand merchants• SudrasSudras – artisans and – artisans and

workers workers

• Dalits Dalits - untouchables- untouchables

BrahmansBrahmans

Highest class:Highest class: priests and priests and wise men of the society wise men of the society origin:origin: Mouth of Brahma Mouth of Brahma

A A handcolored handcolored engraving of engraving of BrahmaBrahma

Brahma carving at Brahma carving at a temple in a temple in Halebidu Halebidu

soldiers/landowners soldiers/landowners origin:origin: Arm of Brahma Arm of Brahma

Lord Sri Rama with Lord Sri Rama with wife wife Sita, brother , brother Lakshmana and and devotee devotee Hanuman. . Rama and Rama and Lakshmana are Lakshmana are always shown to always shown to be ready for battle be ready for battle as it is their as it is their Kshatriya Kshatriya dharma to fight. to fight.

KshatriyasKshatriyas

VaisyasVaisyasArtisans/merchantsArtisans/merchantsorigin:origin: thighs of thighs of BrahmaBrahma

A A VaishyaVaishya is a is a member of the member of the second of the four second of the four classes of traditional classes of traditional Indian society. In society. In Bhagavad-Gita their Bhagavad-Gita their duties are stated as duties are stated as cow protection, cow protection, agriculture and agriculture and business.business.

Cattle are sacred in India, yet can be used as Cattle are sacred in India, yet can be used as work animals, for their milk, and for their dung work animals, for their milk, and for their dung fertilizer. These farmer/laborer caste men are fertilizer. These farmer/laborer caste men are cutting grass.cutting grass.

SudrasSudras

Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu castes is castes is technically illegal. But try telling technically illegal. But try telling that to the 160 million Untouchables that to the 160 million Untouchables (dalits), who face violent reprisals if they (dalits), who face violent reprisals if they forget their place.forget their place.

Even now, this rejected caste is left to clean Even now, this rejected caste is left to clean the streets and do other dirty work.the streets and do other dirty work.

DalitDalit

Bull templeBull temple

Shiva’s bull, Shiva’s bull, NandiNandi

SwastikaSwastikaThe swastika is The swastika is considered considered extremely holy extremely holy and auspicious and auspicious by all Hindus, and is regularly by all Hindus, and is regularly used to decorate all sorts of used to decorate all sorts of items to do with Hindu culture. items to do with Hindu culture.

It symbolizes Peace and It symbolizes Peace and Harmony, Lord Ganesh Harmony, Lord Ganesh has it on his right hand. has it on his right hand. Differs from other uses Differs from other uses of swastika by the four of swastika by the four dots inside each of the dots inside each of the four arms.four arms.

YogaYoga Statue of Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation

One of the six One of the six schools of Hindu schools of Hindu philosophy, focusing philosophy, focusing on meditation as a on meditation as a path to self-path to self-knowledge and knowledge and

liberation.liberation.

A system A system of of Yoga that is seen that is seen as a as a preparatory preparatory stage of stage of physical physical purification that renders purification that renders the body fit for the the body fit for the practice of higher practice of higher meditation.

Hatha Hatha YogaYoga

Concept of GodConcept of God• The The Truth Truth (Ultimate Reality) is one, Sages call it by (Ultimate Reality) is one, Sages call it by

different names - there is one God, (Supreme Reality) different names - there is one God, (Supreme Reality) perceived differently.perceived differently.

• Supreme RealitySupreme Reality is worshipped in male and female is worshipped in male and female form.form.

Hindu Deities represent Hindu Deities represent

various perceptions of various perceptions of

a one God: a one God:

““monotheistic monotheistic

polytheism,” rather polytheism,” rather

than polytheism.than polytheism.

Hindu TrinityHindu TrinityThree manifestations of the Supreme RealityThree manifestations of the Supreme Reality

Brahma : Creation Vishnu : Preservation Shiva : Destruction Shiva : Destruction

•Three Faces of DivineThree Faces of Divine•Three Cosmic Functions of the Three Cosmic Functions of the Supreme LordSupreme Lord•Creation + Preservation+ DissolutionCreation + Preservation+ Dissolution•GGenerator + enerator + OOperator + perator + DDestroyer = estroyer = GODGOD

Lord Brahma, The creator God of the Trinity

Lord Vishnu, The Preserver god of the Trinity

Lord Rama, Destroyer of Evil

Lord Shiva, The "giver" god.

Lord Ganesh, God of knowledge

Lord Krishna, Destroyer of Evil

Hindu celebration: Hindu celebration: VaranasiVaranasi

VaranasiVaranasiIt gets its name It gets its name from the two from the two tributaries of the tributaries of the Ganga, Varuna and Ganga, Varuna and Assi. This Assi. This enchanting city is enchanting city is said to have been said to have been founded by Lord founded by Lord Shiva.Shiva.

Ten Great ObservancesTen Great Observances• Patience, firmness and stability Patience, firmness and stability • ForgivenessForgiveness• Self-control and contentmentSelf-control and contentment• Not to steal or conceal, or be selfishNot to steal or conceal, or be selfish• Cleanliness, purity and honestyCleanliness, purity and honesty• Control over senses and sexual energy Control over senses and sexual energy • Right knowledge of the scripture Right knowledge of the scripture • Material and spiritual knowledge or study Material and spiritual knowledge or study • TruthTruth• Absence of angerAbsence of anger

Reincarnation Reincarnation Transmigration

The Wheel of TransmigrationThe Wheel of Transmigration

According to Hinduism According to Hinduism a soul reincarnates a soul reincarnates again and again on again and again on earth till it becomes earth till it becomes perfect and reunites perfect and reunites with it Source. with it Source. A being A being has to live many lives has to live many lives and undergo many and undergo many experiences before it experiences before it can attain perfection, can attain perfection, becoming one with the becoming one with the Divine.Divine.

NirvanaNirvanaIn Hindu tradition, In Hindu tradition, nirvana (more nirvana (more commonly called commonly called mokshamoksha) is the ) is the reuniting with reuniting with BrahmanBrahman, the , the universal God or universal God or universal soul. In universal soul. In traditional Hinduism, traditional Hinduism, a soul reaches this a soul reaches this state after living state after living many lives in which many lives in which it climbs up through it climbs up through the the varnavarna, or , or castecaste system. system.

A mandala showing A mandala showing The Sure Way to Nirvana

What is meant by this quote?What is meant by this quote?

"Just as a man discards worn out clothes and Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones."out bodies and wears new ones."

Rajput WeddingRajput Wedding

BrideBride GroomGroom

This Rajput marriage blends two important This Rajput marriage blends two important families. For traditional Hindus, the rituals of families. For traditional Hindus, the rituals of marriage are one of the most important marriage are one of the most important functions of life.functions of life.

A day before the A day before the wedding the palm wedding the palm and feet of the bride and feet of the bride are decorated with a are decorated with a henna design called henna design called “mehndi".“mehndi". A canopy A canopy

or or mandapa mandapa decorated decorated with with flowers is flowers is erected at erected at the place the place of of wedding.wedding.

Hindu Hindu WeddingWedding

The founder of The founder of Transcendental Meditation and and the TM Movement, Maharishi's meditation the TM Movement, Maharishi's meditation techniques have been taught to millions of techniques have been taught to millions of people around the world.people around the world.

TMTM

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

LinksLinks• http://www.hindupaintings.com/product/ZE69/• http://library.thinkquest.org/28505/hinduism/centr.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/28505/hinduism/centr.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu• http://www.exoticindia.com/product/TD16/aff10490http://www.exoticindia.com/product/TD16/aff10490• http://home.austin.rr.com/nayagam/bridal.htmhttp://home.austin.rr.com/nayagam/bridal.htm• http://www.uuottawa.com/hinduweddingsmain.htmhttp://www.uuottawa.com/hinduweddingsmain.htm• http://www.hennapage.com/henna/what/gallery/index.htmlhttp://www.hennapage.com/henna/what/gallery/index.html• http://www.krishna.org/ctfote/varnash.htmlhttp://www.krishna.org/ctfote/varnash.html