Hinduism

• Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to many

scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than
4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers,
Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity
and Islam. Roughly 95 percent of the world’s Hindus live in
India.
• Because the religion has no specific founder, it’s difficult to
trace its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it’s
not a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and
philosophies.
• Some basic Hindu concepts include:
 Hinduism Beliefs
• Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this
reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a
“family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized
religion.
• Mostforms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means
they worship a single deity, known as “Brahman,” but
still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers
believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.
 Hinduism Beliefs
• Hindusbelieve in the doctrines of samsara (the
continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and
karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
• Oneof the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or
the belief in soul. This philosophy holds that living
creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the
supreme soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or
salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become
part of the absolute soul.
 Hinduism Beliefs
• Onefundamental principle of the religion is the idea
that people’s actions and thoughts directly determine
their current life and future lives.
• Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of
living that emphasizes good conduct and morality.
• Hindusrevere all living creatures and consider the
cow a sacred animal.
 Hinduism Beliefs
• Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat
beef or pork, and many are vegetarians.
• Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions,
including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
 Symbol

A swastika symbol featured on a tile at Hindu temple on

Diu Island, India. The symbol is one of good luck and
good fortune.
John Seaton Callahan/Getty Images
 Symbol
• There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism,
the om and the swastika. The word swastika means "good
fortune" or "being happy" in Sanskrit, and the symbol
represents good luck. (A diagonal version of the swastika
later became associated with Germany’s Nazi Party when
they made it their symbol in 1920.)
• The om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters and
represents three sounds (a, u and m), which when
combined are considered a sacred sound. The om symbol is
often found at family shrines and in Hindu temples.
Symbol
 Symbol
• There are two primary symbols associated with
Hinduism, the om and the swastika. The word swastika
means "good fortune" or "being happy" in Sanskrit, and
the symbol represents good luck. (A diagonal version of
the swastika later became associated with Germany’s
Nazi Party when they made it their symbol in 1920.)
• The om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters and
represents three sounds (a, u and m), which when
combined are considered a sacred sound. The om symbol
is often found at family shrines and in Hindu temples.
 Hinduism Holy Book
• Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one
holy book.
• The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were
composed around 1500 B.C. This collection of verses and
hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations
received by ancient saints and sages.
 Hinduism Holy Book
The Vedas are made up of:

• The Rig Veda

• The Samaveda
• Yajurveda

• Atharvaveda
 Hinduism Holy Book
• Hindus believe that the Vedas transcend
all time and don’t have a beginning or an
end.
• The
Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, 18
Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata are
also considered important texts in
Hinduism.
 Origins of Hinduism
• Most scholars believe Hinduism started
somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in
the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan.
But many Hindus argue that their faith is
timeless and has always existed.
• Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one
founder but is instead a fusion of various
beliefs.
 Origins of Hinduism
• Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the
Indus Valley, and their language and culture blended with
that of the indigenous people living in the region. There’s
some debate over who influenced whom more during this
time.
• The period when the Vedas were composed became known as
the “Vedic Period” and lasted from about 1500 B.C. to 500
B.C. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were common
in the Vedic Period.
 Origins of Hinduism
• TheEpic, Puranic and Classic Periods took
place between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. Hindus
began to emphasize the worship of deities,
especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.
• Theconcept of dharma was introduced in new
texts, and other faiths, such as Buddhism and
Jainism, spread rapidly.
 Hinduism & Buddhism
• Hinduism and Buddhism have many similarities.
Buddhism, in fact, arose out of Hinduism, and both
believe in reincarnation, karma and that a life of
devotion and honor is a path to salvation and
enlightenment.
• But some key differences exist between the two
religions: Buddhism rejects the caste system of
Hinduism and does away with the rituals, the
priesthood and the gods that are integral to the
Hindu faith.
 Hindu Caste System
• Thecaste system is a social hierarchy in India
that divides Hindus based on their karma and
dharma. Many scholars believe the system
dates back more than 3,000 years.
 Hindu Caste System
• Many subcategories also exist within each
caste. The “Untouchables” are a class of citizens
that are outside the caste system and
considered to be in the lowest level of the social
hierarchy.
• Forcenturies, the caste system determined
every aspect of a person’s social, professional
and religious status in India.
 Hindu Caste System
• When India became an independent nation, its
constitution banned discrimination based on
caste.
• Today,the caste system still exists in India but
is loosely followed. Many of the old customs are
overlooked, but some traditions, such as only
marrying within a specific caste, are still
embraced.
 Hindu Gods

An early 18th century depiction of Devi revered by

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Ashmolean Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images
 Hindu Gods
• Hindusworship many gods and goddesses in
addition to Brahman, who is believed to be the
supreme God force present in all things.
• Some of the most prominent deities include:
• Brahma:the god responsible for the creation of
the world and all living things
 Hindu Gods
• Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the
universe
• Shiva:the god that destroys the universe in order to
recreate it
• Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
• Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
• Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
• Saraswati: the goddess of learning
 Hindu Places of Worship
• Hindu worship, which is known as “puja,” typically takes
place in the Mandir (temple). Followers of Hinduism can visit
the Mandir any time they please.
• Hindus can also worship at home, and many have a special
shrine dedicated to certain gods and goddesses.
 Hindu Places of Worship
• The giving of offerings is an important part of Hindu
worship. It’s a common practice to present gifts, such as
flowers or oils, to a god or goddess.
• Additionally,many Hindus take pilgrimages to temples and
other sacred sites in India.
 Sects of Hinduism
• Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes divided into
the following:
• Shaivism (followers of Shiva)
• Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu)
• Shaktism (followers of Devi)
• Smarta (followers of Brahman and all major deities)
• SomeHindus elevate the Hindu trinity, which consists of
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Others believe that all the
deities are a manifestation of one.