1. HINDUISM ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
GRADE 9 SS
AISG
2016

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

3. 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

5. The Beginnings of Hinduism
New ideas surfaced as Aryan culture mixed with existing culture
Hinduism
One of the major world religions 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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