1. Hinduism is a very ancient religion. It teaches its disciples that the principles of life can be discovered through meditation. It is a polytheistic religion that originated in South Asia The 3 rd largest religion in the world. Most popular in India and Nepal. There are about one billion Hindus in the world.

2. I. Hinduism 1. Began in India around 500b.c. 2. Oldest organized religion 3. No single founder-combination of beliefs 4. One of the most complex religions A. Countless gods and goddesses B. Many forms of worshipping

3.  God is one-but goes by many names  Brahman-all of the universe is a part of Brahman  Most important Hindu Gods  Brahma the creator  Vishnu the preserver  Shiva the destroyer

4.  Each of the Gods is a form of one supreme being.  Believed in reincarnation: a person’s soul is reborn as another living thing. This creates an endless cycle of rebirth for each soul.  Caste System:  Very strict  Group you are in according to class, occupation, or gender.

5.  Vedas  Collection of religious texts  Ganges River  Washed away sins and evil  The Cow  Considered sacred and religious  Hindus do not eat beef  Karma: People who lead a good life will be reborn into a higher caste, while those who do not are reborn in a lower caste.