1. Hinduism: A Way of Life

2. Hinduism Basics World’s oldest organized religion.
1 billion followers.
Does NOT have a specific founder, beginnings lie in the tradition of the Vedas.
It appears polytheistic, but it is not….
Gods are merely different forms of the supreme god Brahman.
Hinduism is complex, sometimes contradictory, and reveals the nature of life.

3. Sacred Texts
The Vedas ~ Contain eternal truths that were revealed to wise men during the Vedic Age.
The Upanishads ~ Help to explain the ideas in the Vedas.
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Epics used to explain moral laws of Hinduism as well as law codes.

4. Brahman
The nameless, formless and unlimited basic divine essence that fills the world.
All other Hindu gods and goddesses are forms of this one supreme god.
Only a few people can truly understand Brahman.

5. Overview of Hindu Gods/Goddesses
There are thousands of Hindu gods/goddesses.
We will focus on:
Brahma
Vishnu
Siva/Shiva
Ganesh
Hanuman
The Hindu Trinity

6. Brahma The “Creator” God
Creates the cycle of light and dark throughout the day.
Create the world and the human race by creating a goddess out of himself.
Usually shown with four heads, (and sometimes) 4 faces and arms.
Usually holds the 4 Vedas.

7. Vishnu Preserver and protector of creation.
Preserves the universe and maintains cosmic order.
Embodiment of mercy and goodness.
Vishnu is seen in many different manifestations
Forms of the same god

8. Siva (Shiva) The destroyer of the world.
Goddess Ganga is trapped
In Shiva’s hair to prevent
The Ganges River from
Flooding the world.
The destroyer of the world.
The god of change, which can be good.
Getting rid of bad habits.
Often represented in dance to represent the creation and destruction of universe
Cycle of birth, death and re-birth
Final destruction of creation.
Crushes the demon of ignorance.

9. Ganesh (Ganesha) Human form with the head of an Indian elephant
Symbolizes perfection
Large head symbolizes wisdom and understanding.
Trunk = Strength
Right Tusk = Wisdom
Broken Left Tusk = Emotion
Conquer emotion with wisdom to attain perfection.

10. Atman The essence of an individual person
Similar to the concept of a “soul.”
Each person’s atman (soul) is part of a larger, universal soul.
All humans are part of the same soul.
Because of this, atman and brahman are one and cannot be divided.

11. What is this a picture of?

12. Maya The world known to our senses is an illusion.
Our senses will deceive us
Will bring us sorrow and pain.
We can be delivered from suffering if we can identify maya. (The illusions.)
Unfortunately this can take lifetimes.
People suffer from pain and sorrow because they pursue false goals, material riches and personal pleasure.

13. Role of Animals in Hinduism
Cows are seen as sacred
They provide the power for the plow, food, fuel and fertilizer.
50% of Hindus are vegetarian.
Not a requirement for Hinduism
Recommended as a “purifying lifestyle.”

14. Role of Animals in Hinduism
Other animals play a key role in Hinduism.
Elephant, Monkeys, Turtles, Tigers, Snakes, Crocodiles, Rats, etc
Hindus have a strong belief in the sacredness of all forms of life
Many of their deities take the form of animals.

15. Sacredness of all life. . .

16. Reincarnation Official name is “Samsara”
Cycle of birth, death and re-birth.
Refers to the rebirth of the soul, or when the soul enters the body of another being
Either human or animal
This stresses the importance of respecting all life forms.
The GOAL is to reach MOKSHA
Free the soul from the cycle of reincarnation & the soul can unite with Brahman.

17. Dharma
The fulfillment of one’s moral DUTY in this life so that the soul can make progress toward Moksha in the next life.
DUTIES & OBLIGATIONS refer to:
Obedience to caste rules and moral laws.
Offer hope of a better life in the future.
Encourage Hindus to behave morally.

18. Karma Comes from the Sanskrit word for “To do”
It is the positive or negative force generated by a person’s actions that will determine his/her status in the next life.
Good deeds bring you happiness; evil deeds will bring you sorrow.
A person’s present situation is a result of deeds or misdeeds done in a past existence.

19. How does KARMA work?
People who fulfill their dharma are rewarded with good karma and are reborn into a higher social group.
If you don’t live a moral life, you will be reborn into a lower social group, or potentially animals or insects.
Do we see any examples of this in U.S. society?

20. The Goals of a Good Hindu:
Fulfill your DHARMA.
Be rewarded with good KARMA.
End cycle of SAMSARA (Reincarnation).
Attain salvation (Be saved by Brahman).
Enable your soul to reunite with the universal spirit, Brahman. This would be MOKSHA.

21. Why is the Ganges sacred?
Ganges is believed to be “life-giving” water.
Bathing in its water washes away sin.
To die along the banks assures eternal peace to the soul.

22. Funeral Rituals For married persons, cremation is the norm.
Usually cremated on the bank of a river and the ashes are deposited in the river.
Family members remain in the home for 10 days (the length of time it takes for the soul of the deceased to acquire a new body).

23. Hindu Temples The interior is highly decorated and colorful.
Idols to the Hindu gods are prominently displayed.
This is a house of worship, prayer and meditation.

24. Hinduism and the Swastika
Holy symbol that represents the creator god, Brahma.
It points in all 4 cardinal directions: N,S,E,W
Represents stability and groundedness
Used as a decoration for religious purposes.

25. Hinduism and the Swastika
Used to decorate temples, signs, and altars.
The use by Nazi went against the original intent.
Ancient Hindus used it for almost 5,000 years before Nazism even existed.

26. The Bindi The bindi is a colored dot It symbolizes the “Third Eye”
Focuses inward toward God.
Generally worn by women
Black representing that you are single and Red that you are married.
Nowadays, any color is accepted and is sometimes simply matched to clothing to be fashionable.

27. YOGA!
Physical and mental discipline to harmonize the body and the soul.
Goal is to shut out the illusionary world of maya and free the mind of bodily concerns.