1. Hinduism By: Sienna, Annika and Bella

2. ● unknown specific origin o only known area is in present day Pakistan 4,000 years ago ● exits prior to recorded history ● earliest documents 1500 B.C. Origin

3. 5 Beliefs ● believe in a creator who creates many gods o Vaishnavism worships Vishnu o Saivism worships Shiva o Shakta worships goddesses o Smarta worships Bhraman ● reincarnation:the religious or philosophical concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body ● karma: refers to the principle of causality where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual ● nirvana: a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self; the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth ● rebirth: the process of being reincarnated or born again ● caste system: system locking people into particular social classes, imposing restrictions on lower castes

4. Caste System ● 5 castes o Brahmans (priests & top administrators) o Kshatriyas (warriors) o Vaisyas (merchants) o Shudras (agricultural workers and artisans) o Dalits (outcast or untouchables) ● been ethically challenged since 1800s, since implemented by British o neglects untouchables health and economic problems o have been historically discriminated against o quota system being put into place by Indian government giving more power and places in country’s university to the untouchables

5. Universal or Ethnic? ● Ethnic o appeal to one group of people in one place (India) o lack of diffusion o lack of missionaries to diffuse religion

6. Diffusion Over Time ● Originated in Indus Valley 4,000 years ago o Diffused to Southeast Asia (mostly India) & island of Bali in Indonesia The yellow space shows the diffusion of Hinduism over time.

7. Hinduism Distribution Map

8. Hierarchical or Autonomy? ● Autonomy o self sufficient religion o worship done alone or with family o share ideas through pilgrimages and written scriptures

9. Distribution Today ● more than 750 million followers today o highly concentrated in India ● 90% of Hindus are in India o the rest are in Nepal and Bangladesh

10. Sacred Spaces & Places ● Temples- small, dimly lit room with a statue of a god in the center o sometimes has a pool for ritual worship o size can depend on wealth of individual who has a temple ● bathe in Ganges River (holiest river) to gain purification ● Pilgrimages to Mt. Siva

11. Main Deities ● Brahma- The creator ● Vishnu- The preserver (80% Worship) ● Shiva- The destroyer ● Surya- The sun ● Gods worshiped depend on occupation, beliefs and what the value important

12. Citation "Core Beliefs of Hindus." For Dummies. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014. Geography." The Hindu. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. Religions: Diffusion and Origin." (n.d.): n. pag. Teacher Web Sheets. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. Rubenstein, James M. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print. The Geography of Hinduism." The Geography of Hinduism. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.