1. Hinduism
Unit 1: World Religions

3. Breakdown by Continents

4. Polytheism vs. Monotheism

5. Hinduism Founder: Age: Developed over centuries Atman Brahman
There is no one founder
Age: Developed over centuries
Name comes in the 16th century
In order to differentiate from Muslims
4,000 years of tradition
Atman
Individual Soul
Brahman
World Soul
Contains all Atmans

6. Indian Early Society 1 – Priests and Teachers 2 - Warriors
3 – Merchants, Farmers
and Landowners
4 – Peasants

7. Every Action has an Equal and Opposite reaction
Concepts of Hinduism
Karma:
Person’s action in life determine future state of their soul.
Bad Actions against Dharma
Newton’s Law
Every Action has an Equal and Opposite reaction

8. Concepts of Hinduism Dharma-has many meanings Applications
One’s role you play or position in life OR
Set of rules that must be followed to be promoted
Applications
Different people have different rules
What’s right for one may not be right for another
Where you live, who you marry, profession etc.

9. Caste System Untouchables – Butchers Grave diggers Trash collectors –
Caste system determines:
Work
Marriage
people whom you could dine with, etc
Untouchables –
Butchers
Grave diggers
Trash collectors –
Exist outside the caste system
It can be changed through reincarnation

10. Caste System – Social Stratification
Main Castes:
Priests (Brahmins)
Warriors (Kshatriyas)
Landowners (Vaishyas)
Servants-Peasants (Sudra)
Untouchables
More then 3,000 Sub Castes

11. Concepts of Hinduism Reincarnation:
Upon death, a person’s soul moves into another living thing.
Moksha=Goal
End of Death and Rebirth Cycle
Over come desire.
Perfect understanding

12. How do you achieve Moksha
Three ways to end the cycle of reincarnation
Be devoted to any of the Hindu Gods or Goddesses
2. Meditation. Acknowledge life as an illusion and realize that Brahman is the only real thing – Yoga
3. Dedicate oneself to various religious ceremonies

13. Hinduism’s impact on Society

14. Caste System Today Untouchables Cities Villages
Outlawed in modern India in1950
Gov’t jobs given to ex-untouchables
Cities
Lines beginning to blur
Universal suffrage
Globalization
Villages
Still strong
Change is slower

15. The Hindu Gods
Polytheistic

16. Hindu Gods Brahma: Least worshiped God First God Created the World
Created all creatures
Least worshiped God
Obsessed with Shatarupa – his female creation
Punishment was not to be worshiped.

17. Hindu Gods Second God Preserver/Protector of the Universe
Vishnu
Second God
Preserver/Protector
of the Universe
Appeared 9 times on earth

18. Hindu Gods Third God Destroy the Universe in order to rebuild
Shiva (Siva)
Third God
Destroy the Universe in order to rebuild

19. Religious Texts Vedas Sacred Literature
4 collections of prayers, magical spells and instructions for performing rituals
Most important – Rig Veda
Upanishads
Teacher’s comments
Were written down as discussions between students and a teacher

20. Major Religious Practices
Holy Pilgrimages to Benares
On Foot
Wash hands & Feet before Prayer
Bathe in Sacred rivers like Ganges

21. Major Religious Practices
Person Cremated the same day that they die.
All life is sacred
Especially cattle
Most Hindus are vegetarians

22. Hinduism Meaning of Life
Dharma
Ones Role in society
Karma
Good and Bad deeds
Moksha
Release from the
Reincarnation Cycle

23. Sikhism Founded 15th Century in Punjab region of India
Founder attempted to combine Hinduism with Islam
Monotheistic (Muslim) but
with Hindu traditions