By: Megan Mesler

Date founded: earliest forms dated to the 1500 BC or earlier

Date founded: India Founder: noneReferred to as Sanatana Dharma"Hindu" is derived from the name of River

Indus, which flows through northwestern India. the river was called the "Sindhu", but the

Persians who migrated to India called the river "Hindu,"

the land "Hindustan" (Sanskrit, Hindi), and its inhabitants "Hindus"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_India

Hinduism God is OneHinduism believes that man are divine in

nature They believe in reincarnation and rebirthBelieve in incarnation concept with GodDon’t believe in converting from one faith to

another faith They believe in Reincarnation, Karma, and

Dharma

Shiva the

destroyer

Brahma the creator

GodVishnu

the most powerful

godwww.ict.mic.ul.ie/.../3%20main%20Gods.htm

three pathsBhaktimarga (the path of devotion), Jnanamarga (the path of knowledge or philosophy), Karmamarga (the path of works and action).

traditional Hindus are expected to pass through four stages over the course of their life:Brahmacharga, which takes place during the school

years, is focused on acquiring knowledge and developing character;

Grastha, the middle years, is focused on worldly pursuits and pleasures such as marriage, family and career;

Vanaprastha, when one's children reach adulthood, is a time of increased focus on spiritual things; and

Sanngasu, in the last years of life, one may abandon the world entirely for a life of contemplation.

Vanaprastha, when one's children reach adulthood, is a time of increased focus on spiritual things; and

Sanngasu, in the last years of life, one may abandon the world entirely for a life of contemplation.

Daily Ritual: Offerings to the gods, to all being, and the departed souls householder is expected to perform oblations both in the

morning and in the evening. morning rituals include bathing or physical self-

purification, offering prayers to the Sun, chanting the Gayatri mantra, applying certain specific religious marks on the body etc.

practicing meditation and yoga, recitation of holy scriptures, reading religious books, participating in "satsang" or visiting the company of holy men

They think if any activity they do, it will bring them closer to the Gods.

They say that the temples are the Gods home on Earth

They hold festivals in celebration of the gods.

Temple in India

www.ict.mic.ul.ie/.../3%20main%20Gods.htm

They offer what they call “The Caste System”Brahmin=priest and religious official=Born

twiceKshatriya=ruler and warriors=Born twiceVaishya=farmers, merchants, traders, and

craftsmen= born twiceShudra=servants of upper casts and peasants=

not born twiceThey have stages in life. Which are the same

within the ritual

Lawsuits are trying to change how Hinduism is taught to children in California. (March of 2006)

They think Hinduism is demeaned by depictions of women's inferior status and of the untouchable class

3 Main Gods of Hinduism.ict.mic.ul.ie

Burress, Charles. "CALIFORNIA / Lawsuit Challenges How

Hinduism Is Taught / Board Had Rejected Textbook

Changes Foundation Sought." (17 Mar. 2006).

Hearts Newspaper, 17 Mar. 2006. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.

<http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-03-17/bay-

area/17287904_1_textbooks-indian-culture-final-approval>.

Flesher, Paul. "Hinduism - Social Organization." Hinduism

Social Organization. Pual Flesher, 8 Feb. 1997. Web. 21

Apr. 2010.

<http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/HORG

S.H TM>.

V, Jayaram. "Main Concepts, Beliefs and

Practices of Hinduism." Hinduism,

Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism,

Zoroastrianism and Other Resources. 2000-

2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.

<http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism.asp>.