HINDUISM

Founder/Origin/Location Aryans/No one in particular 3000-2000 BCE India

Holidays/Clothing/Holy Book/Branches Holidays – Diwali, Holi, Dusserah, Navaratri Clothing – women wear saris though now more cultural; priests wear dhotis Holy Book – Vedas, Mahabarata (Bhagavad Gita), Ramayana Vaishnavites and Shaivites (branches)

Creation Myth/Nature of God/Relationship Brahma created all Hindu Trinity – Brahma (creator), Vishnu(preserver), Shiva (destroyer) Relationship – being, awareness, bliss

Holy Cities/Today/Hierarchy/Other Beings Ganges River, Varanasi Temple or Mandir 900 million followers mostly in India Issues – w/Muslims in India, caste system, women’s rights Caste System – 1.) Brahmin (priests), 2.) Kshatriya (warriors), 3.) Vaisya (craftsmen), 4.) Shudra (laborers) Untouchables Patriarchal Society; 33,000 deities

Basic Beliefs Samsara – reincarnation, which ends when one understands the relationship between Atman and Brahman Atman – individual soul Brahman – universal soul Karma – “soul’s deeds” which affect samsara & influences specific life circumstances Dharma – divine law that requires all people to do their duty

Rules/Rituals/Rites of Passage Sacred Thread ceremony – coming of age for boys Marriage – walk around a fire 7 times; often arranged Death – cremation Puja – ceremonies of Hindu worship Yoga – “union” – method of training designed to lead to union with Brahman Image or icon – worship at home or in temple

Salvation/After life Liberate the soul from illusions, disappointments, & mistakes of everyday existence Goal is to reach Moksha (when atman unites with Brahman) Reincarnation until one reaches moksha