Hinduism: Origins, Essence, and Scriptures

• Hinduism originated from India
• It has a rich history and a wide variety of practices and styles of worship
• Hinduism has directly influenced other religions like Buddhism and Jainism
• Believers refer to Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma or the Eternal Religion

Origins

• Hinduism dates back to 1500 B.C.E. among the Indo-European-speaking people of South Asia, in present-day India.
• It has transformed into a religious system with theology and philosophical schools

Essence of Hinduism

• Hinduism is a religion of Dharma
• Dharma represents the timeless order of life, correct practice, duty and truth
• Hindus find it a privilege to uphold Dharma's teachings
• Adherence to Dharma means acknowledging diverse aptitudes, capabilities, and roles in maintaining social order
• Emphasis on Dharma positions Hinduism as a religion of action rather than just belief
• An important portion of the Hindu scripture, the Vedas, highlights the cultivation of virtues

Sacred Scriptures

• Hinduism has two types of scripture: Shruti and Smriti
• Shruti means "that which is heard"
• Smriti means "that which is remembered".

Shruti Scripture

• The Shruti scriptures, meaning "that which is heard," are known as the four Vedas
• The four Vedas are considered divinely inspired, revealed to sages (called rishis) through deep reflection

Vedic Religion

• Hinduism is also called Vaidika Dharma or "Religion of the Vedas."
• Hinduism preserves essential teachings in sacred texts that contain doctrine, morality, and worship elements

The Vedas

• The term "veda" in Sanskrit translates to "knowledge".
• They were initially memorized and passed down by sages to disciples before being written down.
• The Vedas comprise two volumes: a collection of hymns to the gods and dialogues.

The Four Vedas

• Rig Veda is the earliest form of Veda
• Sama Veda is the earliest reference for singing
• Yajur Veda is called the book

Smriti Scripture

• Smriti, meaning "that which is remembered," is considered secondary scripture
• Smriti scriptures are of human origin
• Hindus believe that Smriti scriptures help expound the Vedas' teachings

Smriti scriptures:

• Mahabharata
• Ramayana
• Dharma Shastras
• Bhagavad Gita
• Puranas

Gods

• Hinduism believes there are many gods and goddesses in the universe
• Example, Ganesha is portrayed as an elephant and Shiva is potrayed with more than two arms
• Kali is portrayed as holding a head while standing on corpses

Trimurthi (Trinity)

• Aside from worshiping many gods and goddesses, Hindus believe in the Trimurthi or the trinity.
• Brahma is the Creator
• Vishnu is the preserver
• Shiva is the destroyer

One Divine Principle

• Vedas say all deities/gods are manifestations of one Divine Principle
• Upanishads state that this Divine Principle is Brahman

Brahman

• Brahman is the eternal, uncreated, and all-pervasive reality
• Brahman has no form and keeps the universe in existence, referred to as a single Absolute Reality (Universal Soul)

The Doctrine of Atman

• Hindus believe in an individual soul or the Atman
• Atman is the innermost-self and the life principle; nothing can exist without it

Connection Between Souls

• There's a connection between the individual soul/Atman and the universal soul/Brahman
• The Atman becomes Brahman-atman when experiencing Moksha.

Moksha

• Moksha is the liberation or freedom of an individual soul from the cycle of life (Samsara)

Samsara

• Hindus believe in reincarnation or the cycle of life
• When a person dies, their soul will move to another object and experience another life cycle
• Samsara is the reincarnation of one's soul

Samsara and Karma

• Karma is the result of one's actions, whether it is reward or concequence
• Good Karma is the reward of good actions
• Bad Karma is the consequence of bad actions

Way of Worship

• Puja is the most common way to express worship for deities
• Puja involves offering material goods and performing rituals at the altar of a god or goddess

Yoga

• Yoga main purpose is to achieve a sattvi (real existence) state
• Yoga is associated with bodily practices to achieve a healthy lifestyle

Types of Yoga

• Bhakti Yoga: the path of devotion.
• Karma Yoga: the path of action in the world.
• Jnana Yoga: the path of the rational wind and concentration.
• Raja Yoga: the path of physical and psychic practice.

Festivals

• There are countless festivals in India that are devoted to deities.
• Certain festivals are popular for their connection to important gods

Festivals of Hinduism

• Divali: the festival of light, the New Year, also known as Deepavali or Diwali
• Holi: the festival of spring and colors, some consider Holi as the time for forgiveness
• Makara Sankranti: festival of the harvest.
• Lohari: a midwinter festival.