Hinduism Notes:

What was the religion of Hinduism and how did it affect ancient India?

Hinduism Basics: -Major religion of India -Believe that many people live many lives until they reach spiritual purity -3rd most popular religion in the world -750 million followers -Practiced by more than 80% of India’s population

Symbol: -“Aum” -Sound heard in the deepest state of meditation -Stated to be the most suitable name for God

How is it different from other religions we have learned about? -No founder, No single teacher or prophets -It grew out of and evolved from Aryan tradition of the Vedas

Vedas: -One of the world’s oldest religious writings -Explains in detail the foundations of the Aryan religion, Hinduism

Brahmanism: -Vedas came to form the major beliefs of Brahmanism -Braham was the Supreme god -900 BC Brahmanism developed into an early form of Hinduism

Hindu Beliefs: -Hinduism was believed to have formed out of early beliefs of Brahmanism -Karma: the result or consequence of a person’s actions -Dharma: one’s moral duty within the caste system -Reincarnation: a belief that after a person dies, he or she will be reborn into a new life -Atman: both animals and people have atmans, or souls, that are reborn into other beings -Samsara: going through the cycle of repeated deaths and births -Moksha: spiritual purity; only those who reach moksha can escape the cycle of birth and rebirth

Caste System: (Social System) -Brahmans: were priests and scholars -Kshatryas: were soldiers and warriors -Vaisyas: skilled labor jobs….merchants and professionals -Sudras: unskilled labor jobs….laborers and servants

-Untouchables: not considered part of the caste system: did the work that was unclean -One could not move up and down the social pyramid

Vegetarians: -Widespread practice in Hinduism -Believe in nonviolence towards animals and people

-To many Hindus, religion is a matter of practice rather than of beliefs!!!

Hindu Place of Worship: -Shrine: can be a room, a small altar, a simple picture, or a statue -Murti: a sacred statue of a god or goddess -Hindus make offerings to the murti in the shrine

-Mandir: a Hindu building for communal worship: a Hindu Temple

Gods: -Polytheistic-believe in many gods -Most important Gods:  Brama= the creator  Shiva= the Destroyer; god of death and time; becomes the lord of dance  Vishnu (Narayana) = the Preserver of the Universe

Hindu Festival -“Divali” / “Diwali” -Hindu Festival of Lights -Symbolizes victory of good over evil -Mid-October to Mid- December 12/14