1. Many Rivers to One Ocean
Hinduism
Many Rivers to One Ocean

2. What is Hinduism? A religion of ancient origins
Term “Hindu” originally referred to people living in the Indus Valley region.
(Hindu derived from the Sanskrit word, “sindhu” means river).
“Hinduism”: all religious beliefs and practices of the people of India who were not Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Parses, Muslim, Jew or Christians.
It is a harmony of many different beliefs and practices, all aiming for the common goal of salvation

3. What is Hinduism? The Basics 95% of Hindus live in India
Hinduism emerged as a religion, it did not begin with a founder or particular event
Hinduism shares no doctrinal statements
Hindus hold that no one religion can possibly claim knowledge of absolute truth

5. Ganges River

6. History of Hinduism

7. The Indus Valley Period 3000-1500BC
Characteristics
emphasis on ritual purity
focus on fertility and regeneration
the practice of meditation
emphasis on peacefulness
Possible devotions to particular gods
Not distinct until the Aryans came in India from the North
Brought their language and scriptures (Veda)

8. The Brahminical Period 1500-300BC
900BC-More elaborate civilization developed south of the Ganges River
Brahmins (Hindu priests)
Ritual sacrifices
Composed commentaries on rituals
These commentaries and the Veda were included in the Shruti (authoritative)
Development of home ritual sacrifices
BC-Gurus (Hindu teachers and philosophers) trained bhakti (personal devotion to the gods)
the gods Shiva and Vishnu gain in prominence

9. Classical Period 300BC-1200AD
establishment of Hindu temples (recognized religion)
growth of home-based rituals
the Vedas become the authoritative scripture
emphasis shifts from the transcendent to the immanent
emphasis on personal transformation
the concepts of karma and reincarnation emerge
Sanskirt (ancient language of Hinduism and the Vedas) translated so that common people could understand

10. Classical Period 300BC-1200AD
Concepts of karma and reincarnation emerged
Caste system (social class) developed
The castes are 1) brahmin or priests 2) kshatriya or warriors and administrators 3) Vaishya or producers (farmers, merchants, artisans and 4) Shudra or servants and laborers. Outside of the caste system were the Untouchables the lowest group of people

11. The Hindu-Muslim Period 1200-1600AD
Prior to this time Muslims had conquered the northwest section of India.
No forced conversions, only taxes
In the 1500s, the Mughals expanded Islam further into India
Some tolerant, others destroyed temples and statues
There were some discussion at syncretizing religions, most unsuccessful
Nanak ( ) began new religion Sikhism, a synthesis of Hinduism and Islam

12. The Modern Period 1600-present
18th century, British defeated the Muslim rules in India
Influence of Western culture
Affected Hinduism socially
1947-Muslims broke away from India and established Pakistan as a separate Muslim country
Christian Missionaries
19th century brought Hindu reformers of the religion, ex Ghandi

13. The Modern Period 1600-present
Hinduism exposure in the West
The First Parliament of Religions-Chicago 1893
Swami Vivekananda-missionary
Beatles
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi-
Transcendental Meditation

14. Hindu Concept of God
Hindus believe that all reality (God, universe, us) is essentially one thing
Analogy: many rivers flowing into one ocean
Hindus worship many gods through various masks of god
This concept is called monism

15. Monism Monism is the concept that all reality is ultimately one
Everything shares a common essence- this is called Brahman
Brahman is discovered through serious contemplation- it is without characteristics that can be seen or heard or even really thought about
According to the Upanishads, ancient Hindu philosophical texts, Brahman is “not this, not that” it is pure spirit

16. Monism
Upanishads also teach that the ultimate reality can be understood through looking inward
This ultimate reality within yourself is called Atman (The Eternal Self)
“Atman” stays with you through each life and thus, in a sense it is Braham.
Brahman: ultimate reality understood through the contemplation of the universe
Atman: ultimate reality understood through contemplation of inner self

17. Sacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures
Shruti Scriptures (the most sacred)
1. Rig Veda - hymns to various gods
2. Soma Veda - hymns chanted at sacrifices
3. Yajur Veda - instructions for priests regarding sacrifices
4. Atharva Veda - hymns, charms, spells and incantations for domestic use
The
Vedas
The
Holy
Vedasc

18. Sacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures
Shruti Scriptures – also…
The
Upanishads
The
Upanishads
concerned with the cycle of rebirth
the mystical relationship between Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and atmon (soul)
often shared in a dialogue between guru and student

19. Examples of Smriti Scriptures
Puranas
Puranas
Mahabharata
Mahabharata
stories of the gods:
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
a Hindu epic poem

20. Sacred Stories and Scriptures
Shruti
Smriti
The Vedas “Sacred Knowledge” from gods
Rig Veda-collection of more than 1000 hymns to various gods
Soma Veda-hymns that are chanted during sacrifices
Yajur Veda-prose, instruction for the priest
Atharva Veda-hymns for domestic use
Upanishads-writings about the cycle of rebirth, they were often stories shared in dialogue form.
Less authoritative
Focus on re-birth and importance of a person’s actions.
Present Hindu morals and lessons in stories or epics
Ex Bhagavad Gita

21. Hinduism Beliefs:
Ultimate Goal for Hindus: Salvation through liberation from the constraints of the human condition
Liberation is a distant goal-for most people, it won’t happen in this life
Hindus believe in the concept of reincarnation: rebirth in new life forms
Hindu believe liberation can take many lifetimes

22. Liberation ~ Ending the Cycle
Hindu term for liberation is moksha
Moksha literally means “release”- it is a release from the ordinary limited realm of existence
With moksha, reincarnation ends and Hindus are returned to the sacred source forever, becoming one with Brahman
This source is Infinite bliss, awareness and being

23. Three Paths to Liberation (Moksha)
1) Karma Marga: “The Path of Works”
-Living in accordance with dharma
- Gandhi was a proponent of this path
-Marked by an attitude of unselfishness
-Perform right actions but don’t seek credit
-Avoid attachment to the results of our actions

24. Three Paths to Liberation
2) Jnana Marguh: “The Path of Knowledge”
-Need a talent for philosophical reflection (mainly subscribe to by brahmin class)
-Emphasizes the attaining knowledge of the true nature of reality
-Only found through the profound contemplation of the innermost self
-Generally there are three schools of philosophy

25. Three Paths to Liberation
3) Bhakti Marga: “Path of Devotion”
-Bhagavad Gita example of this path
loving reverence for one’s chose god or goddess
-Best suited for those to whom emotional attachment comes easily
-Instead of looking inward (“Path of Knowledge”), the Path of Devotion directs spiritual energy outward through worship of a deity
-gods and goddesses favor devotees and answer their prayers
-Worship leads people away from selfish concerns towards focusing on the divine, which helps lead to moksha