HINDUISM ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT GRADE 9 SS AISG 2016

Key Words Aryan Sanskrit Dharma Moksha Karma Vedas Brahman Reincarnation Ramayana Mahabharata Ahimsa Varna Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Sudra Untouchable

Ancient India Human origins in India began in the Indus Valley Ancient cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro These civilisations ended around 1800 BCE With the decline of the Harappan civilisation, Indus Valley was invaded and settled by the Aryans. Aryan civilisation would be the basis of Hinduism

The Beginnings of Hinduism New ideas surfaced as Aryan culture mixed with existing culture Hinduism One of the major world religions - 850 million people practice Hinduism in India today Oldest practiced religion in the world No single founder Worship many gods and goddesses Brahman- one single spiritual power which lives in everything More than one path to truth - People are different so they need many different ways of approaching god

HINDUSIM Based on Aryan Practices and traditions Vedas - holy texts - books of knowledge - written in Sanskrit Dharma - responisbilities Karma - consequences Samasara - reincarnation or rebirth Caste System

The Trimurti Three main deities: Shiva the destroyer Brahma the creator Vishnu the maintainer

Hindu Gods and Goddesses All the gods stand for a different part of Brahman The most important gods are: Brahma- The Creator Vishnu- The Preserver Shiva- The Destroyer Hindu gods take many different forms Avatar- representation of a Hindu god or goddess in human or animal form

Religious texts Two main Hindu Holy Books: Shruti – ‘that which is heard’ (Vedas, prayers and philosophies) Smriti – ‘that which is remembered’ (aphorisms, stories, and histories) Stories are part of the Smriti in a book called ‘Puranas’ – they take form of long poems. Sanskrit Epics – Ramayana + Mahabharata

A Hindu’s Duties Dharma- religious and moral duties of each person Must be obeyed Duties depend on class, age, and occupation EX: Man must protect the women in his family Ahimsa- nonviolence All people and living things must be treated with respect Many do not eat meat and try to avoid harming living things