Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism
I. Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1.) Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues
of Hinduism

II. Subject matter

Topic: Hinduism

Reference: Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems (HUMSS_WRB12-

I/IIIj-II/IVa8.1, HUMSS_WRB12- I/IIIj-II/IVa8.2, HUMSS_WRB12- I/IIIj-II/IVa8.3,
HUMSS_WRB12- I/IIIj- II/IVa8.4)

Materials: White Board

III. Procedure

 Introduction
Good day class! Today, we will be going to discuss about the brief history, core teachings,
beliefs and related issues of Hinduism.

 Review of the past lesson

Before we start our new lesson let us have a short recap. From the previous quarter , we
discussed about the three Abrahamic religions namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

 Motivation
Before we proceed in our lesson, kindly please answer this question:

What is the oldest Religion in the world?

 Lesson proper
CHAPTER THREE
DHARMIC RELIGIONS

One major commonality of dharmic religions is that they all emerged from the vast subcontinent
of India, a land of complexity and diversity in terms of people, culture, practices, customs, and traditions.
These religions include Hinduism and the two branches of Buddhism, the Theravada and Mahayana
schools of thought. Central to their fundamental teachings are the belief in the dharma with each religion
having their own special meaning for the term.

LESSON 1: HINDUISM
 Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. It also exists among
significant populations outside of the subcontinent and has over 900 million adherents. In
some
Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd
Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism
ways, Hinduism is the oldest and most complex religion in the world, and it is closely associated
with other Indian religions, such as Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
 Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder. No single scripture, and no
commonly agreed set of teachings. Throughout its extensive history, there have been many key
figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these reasons,
writers and religious scholars often refer to Hinduism as “a way of life” or a “family of religions”
rather than a single religion.
 The term Hindu originated from the Persian word hindu (in Sanskrit sindhu) which means
“river.” It also refers to the people of the Indus Valley— the Indians .The name Hinduism
was given in the nineteenth century to describe the wide array of belief systems in India.
Hinduism was originally known as “Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way.”

SACRED SCRIPTURES

The sacred texts of Hinduism have been principally passed down throughout generations by way
of music, recitation, dance, and drama. Sanskrit has been the language of the earliest writings. The sacred
writings of the Hindus are categorized into two classes, the shruti and smriti.

Shruti

 Shruti literally means “that which is heard.” They are regarded as eternal truths that were passed
orally until the beginning of the present age wherein there came the need to write them down.
The four collections of texts of the Vedas form the shruti and are considered primary sources and
the most authoritative texts of the Hindu faith. Other writings that form part of shruti include the
Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and a few Sutras.
 Vedas -The four basic Vedic books, which are sacrificial hymns compiled from an earlier oral
tradition, are composed of Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, and Atharva-veda. The word Veda
means “knowledge” or “sacred lore.”
 Each Vedas consists of four main parts, the Mantras, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.
Mantras are hymns and chants for praising god. Brahmanas are explanations of the Mantras with
detailed descriptions of the sacrificial ceremonies related to them. Aranyakas are meditations that
explicate their meaning. Upanishads or secret teachings transcend rituals to elucidate the nature
of the universe and human’s connectedness to it.
Shmriti

 Smriti literally means “that which has been remembered.” These writings serve to reinforce
shruti and are interpreted by sages and scholars alike. Most of these texts are sectarian in
nature and considered of lesser importance compared to shruti, such as stories and legends, codes
of conduct for the society, and guidebooks for worship. The great epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata, which contains the philosophical poem Bhagavad Gita, are part of shmriti. These
are national epics of India and considered to be the sacred texts of the masses where they draw
their values and ideals Ramayana -The Ramayana, translated as the “Story of Rama” or “Rama’s
Journey,” is a Sanskrit epic poem written by the poet Valmiki.

Mahabharata- Another major Sanskrit literature of old India is Mahabharata which is composed
of around one hundred thousand verses making it the word’s longest poem.

Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd

Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism

Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd

Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism
BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES

The Hindu faith offers its followers many paths to salvation. They may find liberation from the
cycle of life through devotion to one or more gods. Gods and goddesses can be worshipped at their
temples. In temples, devotees can pray and offer sacrifices so that they can gain favor from deities and
assist them in their struggle for salvation. Bhakti stands for the soul’s longing for and clinging to god.

Devotion to the Trimurti

Central to Hinduism is the Brahman who is the ultimate reality, one and undivided. The Brahman
is often seen in three forms or functions. Called the Trimurti, these are creation, preservation, and
destruction. These functions are expressed in god forms, namely;
- Brahma- the creator
- Vishnu- the preserver
- Shiva- the destroyer.

Routes to Moksha
From the Upanishads one may find the three principal and inter-related doctrines within the Indian
religion.
Samsara- every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form
Atman- eternal soul that is being reborn many times and in various forms in accordance to the moral law
or karma
Karma- the word comes from a root that means “to do”. Moral consequences follows every act “What
goes around comes around”
Moksha- this term means freedom or liberation. It comes from the root meaning “to be released”. This
particular liberation can be achieved through the four yogas that involve a system of practices aimed at
producing spiritual enlightenment. The word yoga is derived from the root word yuj which translates as
“to yoke” or “to join.”
The Four Yogas Practices
Jnana Yoga (The Way of The path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection, and
Knowledge) contemplation
Bhakti Yoga (The Way of Love) The path of devotion, emotion, love, compassion, and service to
God and others
Karma Yoga (The Way of Work) The path of action, service to others, mindfulness, and
remembering the levels of our being while fulfilling our actions
or karma in the world
Raja Yoga (The Way of Meditation) The path of meditation that directly deals with the encountering
and transcending thoughts of the mind

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Hindu scriptures state that there are 330 million gods or devas. These include manifestations of
natural phenomena, evil forces, and even illnesses. Others are venerated humans or town deities. Hindu
worship or puja involves images (murtis), prayers (mantras), and diagrams of the universe (yantras).
Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd
Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism
Integral to Hindu worship are the sacred images and temples believed to house and represent the deities.
These images can be revered in homes or temples with a host of intermediary priests, holy men, and
religious teachers.

Hindus celebrate a number of festivals that are based on the Hindu calendar and often related to
seasonal changes. Main festivals include Holi, Diwali, and Dusserah. The Diwali or “Festival of Lights”
is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year held in October or November that is similar to
the Christmas holiday of the Christians. Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that
safeguards the people from evil forces.

SUBDIVISIONS
Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and practices, including reverence to a particular
god. Presently, there are four principal denominations within the Hindu faith. These are Shaivism,
Shaktism, Vaishavism, and Smartism. It is important to note, however, that while these gods have
different names, Hindus all worship one supreme being.
 Shaivism -Lord Shiva, the Compassionate One, is God for the Saivites. Followers of Shaivism
value self-discipline and philosophy. They worship in temples and practice yoga.
 Shaktism- The Goddess Shakti is supreme for Shaktas. She is the divine mother and assumes
many forms, be it a gentle one or a fierce deity. Believers use chants, magic, and yoga to
summon cosmic forces.
 Vaishnavism - Lord Vishnu is God for the Vaishnavites, especially in his incarnations Krishna
and Rama. Adherents have multitudes of saints, temples, and sacred texts.
 Smartism- For the Smartas, devotees are left to choose their own deity in one of six
manifestations, namely, Ganesha, Siva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, and Skanda. Smartas are known
as liberals as they embrace all major Hindu gods.

SELECTED ISSUES

Hinduism continues to be the religion of almost 80% of the Indian people. While mostly
comprised of Hindu followers, India is a secular state that remains neutral in issues involving religious
convictions
Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd
Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism
and practices of its citizenry. All Indians are allowed to follow and propagate their own set of beliefs.
Being a country with the largest adherents of Hinduism, India is presently facing numerous challenges
that are religious in character, some of which are below.

Hinduism and Women

Even though the Manusmriti or the “Laws of Manu” states that women should be honored in
Hindu society, women have always been considered inferior to men in almost all aspects of life. A
woman's life revolves around the men in her life, to be taken care of by her father in childhood, by her
husband in married life, and by her sons upon old age. Thus, women are relegated to performing
household chores and are expected to become loyal to their husbands, even after their husbands die. In
traditional society, women are expected to perform sati or suttee wherein widowed women are expected
to jump on the funeral pyre of their husbands to prove their loyalty and help save the soul of their
husbands in the afterlife. In spite of the fact that sati was already demolished by the British in India, there
are still cases of sati being reported in modern times.

Caste System

The caste system is one major distinguishing feature of Indian culture that still affects modern-
day society. A system of social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras,
opportunities are based upon family origin. One person belongs to a caste by being born to parents of that
particular caste.

IV. Evaluation

Instructions: Choose the letter that best corresponds the answer, then write it on the answer sheet
provided in your module . AVOID ERASURES.

1. It is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal.

a. Confucianism b. Judaism c. Hinduism

2. The term “Hindu” means .

a. river b. sea c. ocean

3. This term means freedom or liberation .

Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd

Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism
a. Samsara b. Moksha c. Karma

4. A class or category of Hindus sacred writings which literally means “that which is heard”.

a. shruti b. shmriti c. Mahabhrata

5. This word comes from a root that means “to do” and this moral consequences follows every act

“what goes around, comes around”.

a. moksha b. karma c. samsara

6. It is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year that is similar to the Christmas holiday

of the Christians.

a. Diwali b. Pentecost c. Dusserah

7. One of the denomination of Hinduism where the Lord Vishnu is god for the Vaishnavites.

a. Shaivism b. Shaktism c. Vaishnavism

8. It is the system of social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shrudas.

a. hierarchy b. atman c. caste system

9. In the four yogas, this is the path of knowledge, wisdom, and contemplation.

a. Jnana Yoga b. Bhakti Yoga c. Raja Yoga

10. For the Hindus, this is the one who is the ultimate reality, one and undivided.

a. Vishnu b. Brahman c. Shiva

Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd

Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region III-Central Luzon
Schools Division of Bulacan
Asian Institute of Science and Technology
Plaza Naning Victoria Bldg. Baliwag, Bulacan
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Lesson 1: Hinduism

Prepared by:
Charlene V. Villadarez
Teacher

Submitted to:

Mrs. Noelyn F. Tiemsin

Guidance Coordinator

Approved by:

Editha A. Bulos
School Principal

Date:

Date: November 6-10 , 2023 Week: 1 Quarter: 2nd

Introduction to World
Subject: Grade: 12 Semester: First
Religion and Belief Systems