Hinduism PDF

**Intro to World Religion and Belief System // 2^nd^ Quarter Hinduism** **Hinduism** - Hinduism is a world religion centred on the nature of life, the divine, and establishing a lasting connection with it. Its fundamental doctrines provide a framework for understanding personal, soci...

**Intro to World Religion and Belief System // 2^nd^ Quarter Hinduism** **Hinduism** - Hinduism is a world religion centred on the nature of life, the divine, and establishing a lasting connection with it. Its fundamental doctrines provide a framework for understanding personal, social, and cosmic aspects of life. - The name "Hinduism" is itself relatively recent. The term was introduced by Persians in the 9^th^ Century BCE to refer people residing near the and beyond the eastern side of the Sindhu (Indus) River. **Sanatana Dharma** - It means Eternal Religion where it **refers to Hinduism** which it is believed to be one of the oldest religions in the world. The beginnings of the Hinduism date as far back as 1,500 BCE among the Indo-European-speaking people of South Asia (present-day India). **Dharma** - Timeless order of life - According to Hindu belief and practice, is what holds the universe together, and it means "duty", "correct practice", and "truth". - It can be translated into **Proper Behavior.** All things in the world have their role that must be played to maintain the social and cosmic balance of the universe. - It makes the Hinduism a religion of action rather than religion of action. **Om (Aum)** - Hindu sacred symbol - Most basic sound of the universe **Vedas** - Significant portion of the Hindu scriptures - It emphasizes the cultivation of virtues according to the person's standing in society. - Oldest texts of Hinduism **Veda** - It means **"knowledge"** in Sanskrit. **Vaidika Dharma** - Religion of the Vedas **Sanskrit** - It is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that is the **classical language of India and of Hinduism**. **Two Types of Scriptures in Hindu Traditions** 1. **Shruti Scripture** - It means **"that which is heard"** - Considered to be divine origin as revealed to sages (called rishis) who received these truths through deep meditation. - **Samhitas** -- songs dedicated to gods and goddesses. - **Brahmanas** -- explications of the samhitas and other ritual acts performed by priests. - **Aranyakas** -- philosophical interpretations of ritual acts. - **Upanishads** -- explantions of general philosophical knowledge. 2. **Smriti Scripture** - It means **"that which is remembered"** - It contains stories and advice from sages - It is considered to be human origin - **Mahabharata --** epic poem that is 15 times longer than the Bible, narrates the story of an ongoing war among family members. It highlights the importance of virtues and devotion to the gods, particularly to Krishna. - **Ramayana** ­-- a shorter epic poem about kingship and royal virtues, tells the story of the battles that Rama had to fight in order to save his wife Sita from the demon Ravana. It is one of the epics that depicts the battle between good and evil. - **Dharma Shastras** -- legal treatises that emphasizes the importance of practicing virtue. - **Bhagavad Gita** -- it means "Song of the Lord", is one of the books in Mahabharata. It is considered by many Hindus as an important religious text that extols the power and benevolence if Krishna and his instructions to Arjuna. - **Puranas** -- are stories that depict the sectarian divisions within Hinduism. There are multiple creation stories, legends, and war stories by different Hindu sects. **Many Gods, One Divine Principle** **Goddess Ganesh** - Portrayed as an Elephant - God of Beginnings - Patron of intellectual, bankers, scribes, and authors. **God Shiva** - Portrayed with more than two arms - God of Destructions **Goddess Kali** - Portrayed holding a severed head and standing on corpses - Associated with time, change, creation, power, destruction and death in Shaktism Some temples enshrine particular deities with other "minor deities": Vishnu and Shiva is the most common deity found in temples. Images of favorite gods and goddesses are enshrined in the family shrine or altars in one's home. When worshipping, Hindus usually pay their respects to each enshrined image by bowing to them one by one. **Trimurthi (Trinity)** **Brahma** -- The creator **Vishnu** ­-- The preserver **Shiva** ­-- The destroyer **Saraswati** - The goddess of speech - Consort to Brahma **Lakshmi** - The goddess of wealth - Consort to Vishnu **Parvati** - Mother Goddess - Consort to Shiva **The Brahman** - The **eternal, uncreated, and all-pervasive reality** that has no form and keeps the universe in existence. - Brahman is not seen by Hindus as a direct object of worship although it is seen as the most supreme of all beings. **Atman** - Hinduism believes in the doctrine of the Atman, which claims that there is a "soul" (atman) in each and every living creature. In the conventional sense, it is the atman that assumes a physical body through reincarnation, depending on the merits of one's deeds. **Brahman-Atman** - The fundamental link that all beings have with the absolute principle. **Samsara** - Because the atman transfers into another material receptacle, another cycle of life is started, which will repeat itself again and again. This cycle sometimes called **wheel of birth-death-rebirth**. **Moksha** - ­It is the freedom from the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. **Caste System** - Traditional social structure that follows Hindu principles of karma and samsara. **Jati** - It is a social classification system that determines one's rank on the basis of the family's occupation. **Four Main Jatis in Different Varnas** 1. **Brahmins** -- Highest hierarchy and are regarded as the purest of all caste. 2. **Kshatriyas** -- Political rulers and warriors, those who administer justice and defend the territory against invaders. 3. **Vaishyas** -- Responsible for providing food and other goods and exchanging them in markets for everyone's benefits. 4. **Shudras** -- Impure because of the nature of their job, which includes garbage collectors, embalmers, and undertakers. **Mahatma Gandhi** - The one who attacked the Caste System - Called the Shudras as "Harijans" or "Children of God". **Puja** - Act of offering material goods and the act of performance of rituals at the altar of a god or goddess. **Festival in Hinduism** 1. **Divali** -- Festival of Light 2. **Holi** -- Festival of Spring and Color 3. **Dussehra** -- Victory of Rama over the demon Ravana 4. **Makara Sankrani** -- Festival of Harvest 5. **Lohari** -- A midwinter Festival celebrating the symbolic shunning of evil. **Four Yoga of Hinduism** 1. **Karma Yoga** -- action and selfless services 2. **Bhakti Yoga** -- devotion 3. **Raja Yoga** -- meditation 4. **Jnana Yoga** -- will and intellect