Hinduism SLMS/08 Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions. It dates back to the era of the Indus River Valley Civilizations of 2500 BCE, but really began to take on its more modern shape around 1500 BCE with the invasion of the Aryans. The Aryans mixed their gods and beliefs with that of the natives of India, and the result was Hinduism. The Caste System Basic Beliefs of Hinduism •When the Aryans arrived in India they im- •Hindus believe in reincarnation , or the life, plemented a strict social class system death and rebirth of the soul. They believe based on varna (color). that the soul carries with it the effects of •There were four basic varna. past lives, and that it takes many lifetimes The Brahmins (priests) were to reach enlightenment. at the top, then the Kshatriyas •The idea that the soul carries (warriors & princes), the Vai- the effects of past deeds or past shyas (merchants & artisans) lives is known as karma . From and finally the Shudras the Hindu perspective, karma (farmers & laborers). The top dictates the type of reincarna- three varna were reserved for tion you receive. If you have bad the light skinned Aryans, karma from bad deeds in a past while the lowest varna was comprised of life, you may be reincarnated into a diffi- darker skinned Indians. cult life as a form of cosmic pay-back. •Below the Shudras was a group known as •Dharma is the divine order and balance of the DalitDalit, who were outside the caste sys- things. Each individual has the responsibil- tem (ie. out-castes) and known as untouch- ity to maintain order and balance in their ables. They were forced to do spiritually own lives. Often this balance and order is unclean tasks. People would not associate dictated by a Hindu’s position in society. with Dalit because they were polluted. •Therefore, if a person maintains his •Within each varna there were thousands dharma , he will have good karma at the of jati (castes), or sub-levels. Each varna end of his life, and will receive a good rein- and jati had its own rules and expectations. carnation . Each reincarnation should bring To live within these rules or expectations a Hindu closer to the ultimate goal, which was to achieve dharma . is moksha , or enlightenment. Moksha is at- •The caste system became closely tied to tained after living a life of religious devo- Hindu beliefs because as one achieved tion without attachment to worldly things. dharma , and had good karma as a result, It usually takes many lifetimes within the one would be reincarnated into a higher wheel of life to achieve moksha. varna , and thus get closer to moksha . Polytheistic or Monotheistic? Impact on Hindu Lives •Hindus typically believe in •Hindus worship at a temple called a over 33,000 gods and god- mandir . These mandirs are usually dedi- desses. The three main gods cated to one god or goddess, and contain a are Brahman (the Creator), shrine of that god inside. Hindus perform Vishnu (the Protector), and daily puja , or worship. Many Hindus have Shiva (the Destroyer). They such shrines in their own homes. are sometimes referred to as the trinity. •For Hindus, the cow is a sacred animal. •Many Hindus worship only Vishnu or only There are two main reasons for this: First, Shiva, and see the other gods and god- the cow provides enormously useful prod- desses as aspects of Vishnu or Shiva. These ucts like milk and dung. The dung is used as Hindus comprise two different sects of Hin- a fertilizer and is burned as a duism known as Vaishnavism and Shaiv- fuel. Second, in Hindu scrip- ism. tures, one of the forms Lord Krishna took while visiting Sacred Symbols & Books Earth was that of a cow. •The world’s oldest scriptures and the basis •As a result, Hindus do not eat beef and are of Hinduism are the Vedas . The oldest & often vegetarians. Cows can frequently be most popular part of the Vedas, the Rig- found wandering in city streets and in tem- Veda , is written in Sanskrit and defines the ples unmolested. principal gods & goddesses of Hinduism. •The Ganges river is also considered sacred. Other important scriptures include the Again, in Hindu legend the Upanishads , the Bhagavad Gita , and the goddess Ganga who had the epic poem The Ramayana . power to purify anything, de- •One of the most recognizable Hindu sym- scended to earth and became bols is the “Om” or “Aum”. Hin- the Ganges river. Hindus from dus repeat the word while pray- all over India make pilgrim- ing or meditating to clear their ages to the banks of the Ganges to be puri- minds. The “a” represents the be- fied in its waters. ginning, the “u” represents pro- •Cremation is also an important practice of gress, and the “m” stands for dissolution. Hindus. Like the holy trinity of birth, life & Thus the sound represents the creation, de- death, cremation completes the process of velopment and destruction of things, or the destroying the body to release the soul to three parts of the holy trinity. be reborn. Many Hindus want their ashes •One of the most misunderstood thrown into the Ganges river, believing the and misrepresented Hindu symbols waters will purify their souls. is the swastika. It is an ancient •Finally, the caste system has had a tre- symbol of good fortune or protection. mendous impact on Hindu lives. Caste dic- •The lotus flower is a beautiful tates what job you will work, where you flower that blooms in swampy may live, and who you can marry. Hindus water, symbolizing birth. do not aspire to change their caste — to do so would violate dharma . Global History Name ___________________________________ Hinduism 1. What is the history of the origin of Hindu- 5. What are the 4 basic varna & what are ism? their jobs? 2. What are the basic Hindu beliefs about: a. Reincarnation: 6. What are Dalit & what do they do? b. Karma: 7. How is the idea of dharma attached to caste? c. Dharma: d. Moksha: 8. How is caste tied to the Hindu beliefs in Question #2? 3. What is the relationship between the above 4 beliefs? 9. What are the 3 major Hindu gods & what are they sometimes referred to as? 4. What is the caste system and on what is it based? 10. How can Hinduism be considered mono- theistic when there are more than 33,000 gods/goddesses? 11. What are some of the Hindu Holy books? 15. Why is the cow a sacred animal for Hin- dus? 12. What is the “Aum” and what does it rep- resent? 16. Why is the Ganges a sacred river & what is the impact of this? 13. What are 2 other Hindu symbols & what do they represent? 17. Why do Hindus cremate their dead? 18. What is the impact of caste on Hindus? 14. Where do Hindus worship? Analysis: 19. Even in modern times, it has been difficult to get untouchables to pursue medical care (despite life-threatening illness). Why do you think that might be? 20. How has Hinduism prevented modern social mobility? Global History Name ___________________________________ Hinduism Key 1. What is the history of the origin of Hindu- 5. What are the 4 basic varna & what are ism? their jobs? The religion dates back to 2500 BCE, but The Brahmins (priests) were at the top, then really began to take on its more modern the Kshatriyas (warriors & princes), the Vai- shape around 1500 BCE with the invasion shyas (merchants & artisans) and finally the of the Aryans. The Aryans mixed their gods Shudras (farmers & laborers). and beliefs with that of the natives of India, and the result was Hinduism. 6. What are Dalit & what do they do? The DalitDalit, were outside the caste system (ie. 2. What are the basic Hindu beliefs about: out-castes) and known as untouchables. a. Reincarnation: the life, death and They were forced to do spiritually unclean rebirth of the soul. They believe that the tasks. People would not associate with Dalit soul carries with it the effects of past lives, because they were polluted. and that it takes many lifetimes to reach enlightenment. 7. How is the idea of dharma attached to caste? b. Karma: the idea that the soul carries One’s jati (caste) duties were the dharma ex- the effects of past deeds or past lives pected, and the dharma dictated karma and reflected the reincarnation. Thus one’s cur- c. Dharma: the divine order and bal- rent life (or caste) reflected one’s past life. ance of things. Each individual has the re- sponsibility to maintain order and balance 8. How is caste tied to the Hindu beliefs in in their own lives. This balance and order is Question #2? dictated by a Hindu’s position in society. As one achieved dharma , and had good karma as a result, one would be reincarnated d. Moksha: enlightenment into a higher varna , and thus get closer to moksha . 3. What is the relationship between the above 4 beliefs? 9. What are the 3 major Hindu gods & what If a person maintains his dharma , he will are they sometimes referred to as? have good karma at the end of his life, and The three main gods are Brahman (the Crea- will receive a good reincarnation . Each rein- tor), Vishnu (the Protector), and Shiva (the carnation should bring a Hindu closer to Destroyer). moksha . 10. How can Hinduism be considered mono- 4. What is the caste system and on what is theistic when there are more than 33,000 it based? gods/goddesses? It is a system of social control or discrimina- Many Hindus worship only Vishnu or only tion.