Hinduism

The world’s oldest religion Key texts include the Vedas and the Upanishads (Rig Veda is the oldest) No one supreme deity, no set form of worship, Hindus share a common world view about how to liberate one’s soul from every day existence. They refuse any single interpretation of reality. There is no congregational worship or a particular day of worship.

BRAHMAN = supreme universal spirit Brahman is broken into three main parts BRAHMA (created the world) VISHNU (sustains the world) SHIVA (destroys the world) Each person has an individual soul (ATMAN)

BRAHMA

VISHNU SUSTAINS THE WORLD FOR 432 MILLION YEARS ONE OF THE TWO MAIN GODS WORSHIPPED BY THE MASSES PROVIDES COMFORT AND GUIDANCE FOR HUMANITY

SHIVA DESTROYS THE UNIVERSE AND THE CYCLE BEGINS ANEW ONE OF TWO MAIN GODS WORSHIPPED BY THE MASSES THIRD EYE OF HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS DRINKS MAN’S SINS

REINCARNATION UPON ONE’S DEATH, HIS/HER SOUL IS PLACED IN ANOTHER BODY THE CYCLE IS GOVERNED BY KARMA (ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES) WHICH DETERMINES WHICH STAGE IN THE CASTE SYSTEM THE SOUL WILL REAPPEAR. ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE – STAGE KNOWN AS MOKSHA.

GANGES RIVER SACRED RIVER TO HINDUS BELIEVE ITS WATERS HAVE HEALING POWER MANY TAKE PILGRIMAGES AND SAMPLES HOME

SACRED COWS

SACRED COWS YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO MAN PROVIDES MAN WITH FOOD AND MILK PROVIDES MAN WITH FUEL FOR FIRE CREATED BY BRAHMAN ON THE SAME DAY AS THE BRAHMINS SYMBOL OF MOTHERHOOD