HINDUISM. Indus River and Ganges River in Northern India.

HINDUISM

Indus River and Ganges River in Northern India.

900 million Hindus in the world. Most live in India.

India: largest democracy and second largest country after China

3rd largest world religion/oldest

Hinduism= Sanatana Dharma

Hindu means “river” (Indus) in Sanskrit.

Hindus share their diversity!

3 Sacred Texts: 1. Vedas (knowledge)

2. Upanishads

3. Bhagavad Gita

Hinduism is hard to define:

• 1. No single founder or prophet• 2. No single sacred text• 3. No commonly agreed upon set of teachings

Hindu Beliefs: MONISMall reality is one! (interconnected)

BRAHMAN: supreme spirit, creator

UNION/MOKSHA

• Liberation or freedom from the constraints of this world and union with Brahman

ATMAN = universal Brahman found within all people/spirit/divine soul

ATMAN is BRAHMAN!!

REINCARNATION

Hindu view on time

• Westerners view life as linear: birth, life, death, eternity with God

• Hindus view life as cyclical: birth, death, rebirth, death, rebirth…samsara…many births, many deaths

KARMA

• Literally means “actions” or “deeds”• The force from what we do: our decisions, our

actions• “What goes around comes around, baby!”

Hindus are MONOTHEISTIC, believing in one supreme god with many “faces”!

330 million gods and goddesses

BRAHMA CREATES.

Vishnu preserves

Shiva destroys

Ganesh(a): god of good fortune and overcoming obstacles

Cow Veneration in India

Puja means worship.

Arti Ceremony/Hindu shrine

Mandirs: Hindu temples

MANDIRS: Hindu temples

Swamis are spiritual teachers.

The Caste System

DALITS are Untouchables

Mahatma Gandhi

Four Stages of Life:1. Student

2. Householder

3. Forest Dweller

4. Wandering Ascetic

Four Paths To Salvation:1. Works/Karma Yoga

2. Path of Knowledge/Jnana Yoga

3. Meditative Exercises/Dhyana Yoga

4. Path of Devotion/Bhakti Yoga

Hindu Birth Ritual

Ceremony of the Sacred Thread

Hindu marriages are often arranged by parents.

Bathing in the sacred Ganges River

Diwali

Holi

Kumbh Mela

Namaste!

Sari

Bindi

Tilak

Henna on bride’s hands

OM: Sound of creation