1. HINDUISM The Oldest World Religion

2. SOUTH ASIAN SUBCONTINENT 2500 -1500 BCE The Aryan Invaders Mixed with the Indus River Valley Civilization Himalaya Mts. Hindu Kush Mts. Indus River Valley Ganges River Deccan Plateau Monsoons PAKISTAN, INDIA, BANGLADESH, NEPAL

3. ARYAN INVADERS MIXED THEIR BELIEFS WITH LOCAL INDUS VALLEY DRAVIDIAN BELIEFS

4. POLYTHEISM

5. The Gods Brahman - Creator Vishnu- Preserver Ganesha- wisdom and remover of obstacles Shiva- Destroyer Rama

6. Vedas Upanishads Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita. Hinduism has no single holy books but many sacred writings,

7. KARMA ·Your past life actions have an influence on your current life.

8. What goes around comes around. ·Do your dharma to get good karma.

9. REINCARNATION ·THE REBIRTH OF THE SOUL IN NEW FORM. EACH SOUL IS A TINY BIT OF BRAHMAN. REBIRTH IS AUTOMATIC AS A PLANT OR ANIMAL. ONCE HUMAN, IT DEPENDS ON KARMA.

10. The Goal: MOKSHA An end to the cycle of rebirth and suffering. To rejoin with Brahman (the Universal Soul or God).

11. HINDU PRACTICES Caste System ·Based on Job ·Based on Heredity ·Must do one’s dharma (caste duties) to progress. ·Provided order and social stability

12. THE CASTES BRAHMIN: priests and teachers KSHATRIYA: warriors and administrators VAISHYAS: producers, craftsmen, farmers SHUDRAS: menial workers UNTOUCHABLES:Garbage workers, sewer workers, grave diggers

13. AHIMSA - Nonviolence

14. Jainism ·Hurt no creature