Hindu Origins… It has no founder or formal church. Hinduism is the chief religion of India& is over 4,000 years old; its roots are in Aryan beliefs called “VEDAS” (hymns & religious ceremonies passed generationally). It has no founder or formal church. The Vedas: contain eternal truths that were revealed to wise men

HINDU BELIEFS…polytheistic Nameless Formless Unlimited

BRAHMAN Each of the thousands of gods takes many forms. India, has many sects, religious groups that worship one or another of these gods or their many wives and children. Atman: the essential self of each person (a soul) which is part of a universal soul--including all things in nature--and Brahman.

Reincarnation and Karma Moksha: freeing of the soul from the body to unite with Brahman Karma Karma Karma

HINDU PRACTICES… MEDITATION/YOGA – a method of training developed by the Hindus that is supposed to lead to oneness with BRAHMAN (the single supreme force of the universe that is nameless, formless & unlimited.) VEGETARIAN DEVOTION to gods & goddesses at Hindu Temples (called PUJA – it was prayer and small sacrifices of flowers, food, etc. to the deities for your own salvation & for your daily life to run smoothly).

DHARMA Dharma aka “The Divine Law” requires all Hindus to do their duty – which is directly related to your societal status. Sometimes the higher classes had more restriction/obligations (priests couldn’t eat meat) but often the lower classes had the worst “duties” to fulfill; Reincarnation was tied into dharma in that if you fulfilled your duty well you might improve your condition in the next life; so this did give hope to those at the lower end of the social scale. Still it also helped to create prejudice & discrimination against the lower castes.