1. HINDUISM

2. Founder/Origin/Location
Aryans/No one in particular
BCE
India

3. Holidays/Clothing/Holy Book/Branches
Holidays – Diwali, Holi, Dusserah, Navaratri
Clothing – women wear saris though now more cultural; priests wear dhotis
Holy Book – Vedas, Mahabarata (Bhagavad Gita), Ramayana
Vaishnavites and Shaivites (branches)

4. Creation Myth/Nature of God/Relationship
Brahma created all
Hindu Trinity – Brahma (creator), Vishnu(preserver), Shiva (destroyer)
Relationship – being, awareness, bliss

5. Holy Cities/Today/Hierarchy/Other Beings
Ganges River, Varanasi
Temple or Mandir
900 million followers mostly in India
Issues – w/Muslims in India, caste system, women’s rights
Caste System – 1.) Brahmin (priests), 2.) Kshatriya (warriors), 3.) Vaisya (craftsmen), 4.) Shudra (laborers)
Untouchables
Patriarchal Society; 33,000 deities

6. Basic Beliefs
Samsara – reincarnation, which ends when one understands the relationship between Atman and Brahman
Atman – individual soul
Brahman – universal soul
Karma – “soul’s deeds” which affect samsara & influences specific life circumstances
Dharma – divine law that requires all people to do their duty

7. Rules/Rituals/Rites of Passage
Sacred Thread ceremony – coming of age for boys
Marriage – walk around a fire 7 times; often arranged
Death – cremation
Puja – ceremonies of Hindu worship
Yoga – “union” – method of training designed to lead to union with Brahman
Image or icon – worship at home or in temple

8. Salvation/After life
Liberate the soul from illusions, disappointments, & mistakes of everyday existence
Goal is to reach Moksha (when atman unites with Brahman)
Reincarnation until one reaches moksha