Do Now: What two major powers have controlled India? What is a “Raj”? What is a caste system?

• Deity- a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion). • Karma- (in Hinduism and Buddhism) the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.

• Objec+ve:CompleteWarm-Up,discussDo-Now,completeoutlinenotesonHinduism

Thursday, February 23, 17 WorldReligions:Hinduism

Hinduism

Religions of India Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 900 million adherents

It is also the oldest known religion in the world today The origins cannot be ascribed to any single founder or a specific time or a single place

Hinduism

Sacred Text • The Vedas The oldest and most important is the Vedas (in 4 parts) First in the form of oral histories

• The Bhagavad Gītā (400 BCE) It is perhaps the most famous, and definitely the most widely-read text of ancient India.

Hinduism

Pantheon of Gods • Hindus believe in many deities • Key: These very interesting looking gods are not to be taken literally • There is one big God •  The Vedas depict Brahman as the Universal Soul •  The Hindu Trinity (the big 3): “Trimurti”- Three forms

Shiva Brahma Vishnu

•  After this top tier, there is a virtually endless list of second-string deities

Hinduism

Deities-Shiva •  Shiva is the Destroyer •  Even though he represents destruction, Shiva is viewed as a

positive force •  Shiva also has many benevolent and fearsome forms. In benevolent

aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life, and in fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons.

Hinduism

Deities-Brahma •  Brahma is the Hindu God of Creation •  Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads and four faces and four

arms. •  Brahma does not enjoy popular worship in present-age Hinduism and has

lesser importance than the other members of the Trimurti, Vishnu and Shiva.

Hinduism

Deities-Vishnu •  Vishnu is the Preserver, he is most famously identified with his human

and animal incarnations •  He manifested Himself as a living being in ten avatars. •  The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or

Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth.

Hinduism

Deities- Kali •  Kali is the kick-a** goddess of destruction •  Kali wears a a necklace made from men's skulls •  The name of Kali means black one and force of time, she is therefore

called the Goddess of Time, Change, Power, Creation, Preservation, and Destruction.

•  She is often portrayed standing or dancing on her consort, the Hindu god Shiva, who lies calm and prostrate beneath her.

Hinduism

Deities- Ganesha •  Ganesha is one of the most well-known and venerated representations

of God

•  Although he is known by many attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify.

•  Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom.

Hinduism

Beliefs: Reincarnation •  Based on the idea that every living being has an eternally existing spirit •  Reincarnation is the soul's cycle of birth and death until it attains

Moksha and is governed by Karma •  Samsara is the wheel of rebirth which means the soul is reborn from one

life form to another. •  People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower level of existence

depending on their karma from their present life. •  People may be reborn as plants or animals or they may be elevated to a

higher caste as a human.

Hinduism

Beliefs: Karma •  Karma rests on the idea of human free-will •  One’s actions determine the course of one’s life cycle & rebirth •  You can't refine your soul overnight, however. Hindus believe it

takes many lifetimes to achieve moksha •  Every action produces a justified effect based on its moral

worthiness. •  Karma determines all the particular circumstances and Situations

of one’s life. •  Dharma: Ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. The

word is the closest equivalent to “religion.”

Hinduism

Social: The Caste System •  The caste system is a painfully rigid system of class oppression •  The caste system has come to be seen as a manifestation of karma •  Your next lifetime is your only hope for rising through the castes •  There are four hereditary castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas,

Shudras, and the Untouchables.)