Hinduism

The Historical Basis of Hinduism

Hinduism is not founded by one particular person

Because it is not confined to one person’s beliefs, it absorbed ideas and practices that suited the social and cultural framework over thousands of years in India

Hinduism as we know today is the product of the various people who have occupied India throughout time

The Historical Basis of Hinduism

The term "Hinduism" derives from a Persian word that refers to the Sindhu (or Indus) River in northwest India

“Hindu" was first used in the 14th century by Persians to describe the peoples of the region

By the end of the 19th century, "Hinduism" was adopted by the British colonial administration in India to describe the various religious beliefs and practices of the majority of India's population

The Indus Valley Civilization

3000 and 2500 BCE at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa which is located in present day Pakistan

Impressive builders and town planners

Larger buildings were found and believed to be places of worship

Fire alters and pits, amulets and charms, and other religious items have been founded scattered around the cities

Arrival of the Aryans

Around 1500 BCE thousands migrated into India from the northwest which destroyed the Indus Valley civilizations

Migrated down around the Ganges

Settlers were known for writing poems and texts on rituals and philosophy

Arrival of the Aryans

Religious thought flourished from 1500 to 500 BCE and was embodied in a collection of hymns, thoughts and texts called the Vedas- the earliest collection of sacred writings on Hinduism

The Vedas are written in verse and show the interpretations and understandings of human existence

Arrival of the Aryans

The Aryans lived in awe of the magnificent forces of nature and worshipped them in the form of deities

Worship and prayer of these deities formed the core of early Hindu practices

The notion of prayer was combined with the philosophical inquiry into atman- the human soul, the breath of human life

Religious Beliefs

Hinduism can be referred to as a “non-dogmatic” religion meaning that there is no one specific set of doctrines or ideas a person has to follow

A person is free to allow their conscience to guide their beliefs

Hindus are expected to follow certain rules regarding personal conduct and performance of daily duties but these interpretations change

Hinduism is a complex web of diverse beliefs and practices that are generally held together by a mutual respect and tolerance of humanity and the world

Hindu Deities

The concept of “god” in Hinduism is very complex as some see it as: Polytheistic: multiple gods

Monotheistic: one true god

Monistic: god is an impersonal and unknowable entity

The hymns of Rig-Veda show praises of natural forces such as fire, thunder, water and the Vedas show that each is represented by different manifestations of supreme beings

Hindu Deities

Brahman is considered the highest god and is an all-knowing and all-powerful entity

Hindus believe that Brahman is the supreme spirit who takes many forms and pervades the whole universe

Most Hindus believe that Brahman contains everything: creation and destruction, male and female, good and evil

The concept of Brahman has been divided into the Hindu trinity

Beliefs

Reincarnation Hindus believe the soul does not die along with the

body but enters into another body to carry on its existence

The endless cycle of rebirth or reincarnation is called samsara

All of life is caught in this cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Beliefs

Karma Karma is the totality of one’s actions in life and it

determines the form that an individual will take when he or she is reborn after their death

The accumulation of bad karma will result in rebirth at a lower station of life

Hindus work to attain salvation through achieving higher stations in life until they achieve moksha

Beliefs

Moksha The goal of Hindus is the achieve moksha, which is

liberation from the endless cycle of rebirths into the physical world and to unite one’s atman with the Brahman

Beliefs

Paths to Salvation A Hindu can follow one of four paths to salvation

depending on their nature or inclinations

A person can achieve salvation if their devotion is sincere and true

Bhatki Yoga (Path of Devotion) Involves devotion and love towards a person deity

(ex: Shiva, Lakshmi, etc.)

Provides the opportunity to worship Brahman in a concrete way rather than an abstract entity

Deities help the follower focus their devotion through prayer and rituals

Karma Yoga (Path of Action) The key to this path is good deeds and thoughts

which lead to the accumulation of good karma

Good deeds must be unselfish actions that are not done for rewards but because they are morally right

Jnana Yoga (Path of Wisdom) Calls for guidance from a guru or teacher

Followers learn about the relationship between Brahman and atman, and about the nature of the universe

By knowing writings and teachings, followers gain insight necessary for salvation

Raja Yoga (Path of Meditation) Followers achieve salvation through deep meditation

and contemplation on Brahman

Intense meditation leads to a trance-like state in which the individual acquires knowledge of the Truth

This is a difficult path as it requires strict physical and spiritual discipline

Practices and Rituals

Hindu worship rituals are passed down from generation to generation

Daily worship takes place mainly at the home and a child learns these processes through observation and practice

Many Hindus purify themselves with water before participating in a religious ritual

Practices and Beliefs

The syllable om is chanted at the beginning of prayers and readings as a representation of the supremacy of Brahman

In a practice called japa, worshippers chant the names of deities and sacred phrases called mantras

Ex: “I meditate on the brilliance of the sun; may it illumine my intellect.”

Worship at Home

Often, homes would have shrines set up that serve as an alter for worship- adorned by images of deities in pictures or sculptures

The most common form of home worship is called puja, a form of thanksgiving in which offerings are made to the deities

Traditionally, a puja follows 16 steps and concludes with the waving of a lamp called arati

Worship at the Temple

Worship in a Hindu temple is not a requirement or necessity

Hindus usually visit temples during festivals or for special functions

Worship is conducted by a priest and his helpers each day

Worship at the Temple

In the mornings, the priest:

Rings the temple bells

Prepare the deities

Offer fresh flowers, incense and food sacrifices on behalf of the members of the temple

In the evenings, members sing hymns and share in the arati

Temples are a place of learning and community

Significance of the Cow

Most Hindus refrain from eating beef since they consider the cow sacred to their culture and belief

Hindus adore the cow as a manifestation of something that is good and precious

Cows are also seen as providing sustenance to humans without taking away from them

Pilgrimages

Pilgrimages to holy places are seen as a key act of devotion

One holy place all Hindus strive to visit at least once is Varanasi which is located on the bank of the holy Ganges River

Bathing in this river is very important as Hindus believe the river fell from heaven so the water is believed to cleanse the sins of a person

Sacred Writings

Unlike many other religions, Hinduism has a number of written texts or books that are considered holy

Hindu scriptures consist of over 200 books that were composed over 3000 years

Sacred Writings

Hindu scriptures are classified as shruti or smriti

Shruti is knowledge that is revealed or discovered by the seers of Hinduism (contained in the Vedas)

Smriti is “human-made” literature, or knowledge that is remembered

The Vedas would be comprised of 4 collections including the Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda

Sacred Writings

The Puranas (myths) are smritis that form a distinct category of literature that describes the exploits of the deities through legends and myths

The Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) is an ancient Hindu law book and it is used to help guide matters such as inheritance, family matters, marriage, etc.

Sacred Writings

While the Vedas are considered shruti texts, India has 2 great epics which are considered smriti texts

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are both popular texts for spreading Hindu ideals on moral conduct

These epics have massive appeal in Indian society as they have been turned into TV shows and comic strips

Festivals

Diwali:

This holiday honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune, and Vishnu, who defeated the demon Naraka

The festival also commemorates Rama’s return to his kingdom after defeating Ravana, the evil king who had kidnapped Sita in the epic Ramayana

Festivals

Diwali:

This festival of lights in Hinduism’s most popular celebration

In India, it is normally celebrated over five days at the end of October or beginning of November

During this festival, Hindus set off fireworks, decorate their houses, give gifts and wear new clothes to celebrate the triumph of good and knowledge over evil and ignorance

Festivals

Holi:

According to Hindu legend, the young Prahalad was resented by his wicked father for being pious and God-fearing so his aunt tried to burn him in a fire

Instead, the aunt was burned to ashes

This festival is a spring event in which Hindus begin by lighting a fire which signifies the burning of evil

Hindus join in the festival the following day by squirting coloured water and coloured powers on friends and family

Festivals

Mahashivaratri:

This event takes place on the day of the new moon in February

It is not a festival or a feast, but rather a special event to show devotion to Shiva

Devotees worship him and fast for 24 hours in an expression of devotion and worship

Overnight, devotees worship by repeating him name and placing flowers and grains on his image

Festivals

Navaratri:

“Nine night” festival is held in the spring and autumn

Hindus worship Durga, a manifestation of Parvati, who washes away laziness and evil thoughts for the first 3 nights

The next 3 nights include offering puja to Lakshmi

The final 3 nights are dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning

A tenth day can be used to observe “Vijayadasami” or the Day of Victory

Four Stages of Life

Student

Discipline mind and body

Gain knowledge

Learn rules and rituals of Hinduism

Show respect toward elders

Householder

Marry and have a family

Provide for family

Give to charity and care for others

Practice social and religious traditions

Four Stages of Life

Forest dweller

Retire and transmit household duties to wife or son

Read and study

Participate in religious pilgrimages

Ascetic

Give up worldly life

Wander

Meditate

Attain salvation

Four Goals of Life

Dharma: conducting one’s duties with compassion toward all beings

Artha: earning money by honest means to provide for the family

Kama: pursuing love and physical pleasures to balance life

Moksha: leading the soul to salvation