1. Hinduism "When you hear about the Self,
meditate upon the Self, and finally realize the Self... you come to understand everything in life." --Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.5

2. Origins
Hinduism is an ancient religion with no known founder or known date of origin.

3. Origins
The term "Hinduism" simply derives from the word "India" and refers to a wide variety of religious traditions and philosophies that have developed in India over thousands of years.

4. Origins
Therefore, Hinduism is really an indigenous religion of India that has developed over time to become what it is today.

5. Adherents Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world.
Approximately 900 million people follow Hinduism worldwide.

6. Adherents
The followers of Hinduism are called: Hindus

7. Views
Hinduism embraces a great diversity of beliefs, a fact that can be initially confusing to westerners.
One can believe a wide variety of things about God, the universe and the path to liberation and still be considered a Hindu.

8. Views
There is a common misconception that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. While Hindu’s do worship many gods and goddesses, they are most often viewed as different manifestations of one supreme being, Brahman.

9. Three Major Forms of Brahman
Brahma the Creator

10. Three Major Forms of Brahman
Siva the Destroyer

11. Three Major Forms of Brahman
Vishnu the Preserver

12. Everyone has a soul or Atman
Common Hindu Beliefs
Everyone has a soul or Atman

13. Common Hindu Beliefs
The Ultimate Goal: To reunite one’s soul with Brahman, the universal spirit

14. Reincarnation - Souls are born and reborn many times
Common Hindu Beliefs
Reincarnation - Souls are born and reborn many times

15. Karma – the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul.
Common Hindu Beliefs
Karma – the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul.

16. Common Hindu Beliefs
Moksha – Salvation from the cycle of rebirth. This happens after building enough good karma.

17. Common Hindu Beliefs
Dharma – each person has a duty to accept his or her place in the world without complaint.

18. Life’s Purpose
Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape.
The purpose of life is to gain release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth, or at least a better rebirth.

19. Afterlife
Uniting with God (Brahman) as a drop of rain merges with the sea.

20. General Practices Yoga meditation worship (puja)
devotion to a god or goddess
pilgrimage to holy cities
live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role)

21. Holy Text(s) The Vedas (Book of Knowledge, most sacred)
Upanishads (means “Sitting near a teacher”)
Bhagavad Gita