Hinduism

1. Hinduism Hinduism is a way of life, a way of light, and a way of truth...  

2. The beginnings of Hinduism • Hinduism means “inhabitant of India” • India is where Hinduism began

3. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with more than 900 million followers. About 84 percent of the population in India is Hindu. It is also one of the oldest, with roots tracing back over two thousand years. Groups that are predominantly Hindu include Indians, the Balinese of Indonesia, and the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. Many Hindus also live in Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa, and the West Indies. Where is Hinduism practiced?

4. Other religions in India • About 10% of Indians are Muslim • Other religions include Christians (2%), Sikhs (2%), Buddhists, and Jains. A Jain temple. Jainism is closely related to Hinduism. It began as a protest by Hindus against certain Hindu practices.

5. Symbols of Hinduism The swastika is considered extremely holy and auspicious by all Hindus. It can be seen on the sides of temples and on religious scripture to gift items and letterhead. The swastika is a symbol of the sun god Surya, a representation of the four directions (and thus symbolizing groundedness), and a symbol of Brahma, the creator god. This memorial marks the spot where Gandhi was born.

6. Bindi One of the most recognizable symbols in Hinduism is the bindi, a colored dot on the forehead. Traditionally, it is worn on the forehead of married Hindu women. It symbolizes female energy and is believed to protect women and their husbands. More recently, however, it has become primarily a decorative accessory and is worn by unmarried girls and non-Hindu women.

7. The Teachings of Hinduism • Unlike other major religions, Hinduism has no founder such as Jesus, Mohammed, or Buddha. It has no single sacred book like the Bible or Koran. • It is a religion that evolved, gathering beliefs from many groups of people. • Hinduism has 33 million gods. But also one god. • At the center of the religion is Brahma, the Universal Soul, the source of all life, formless and eternal. Because Brahma has no shape, no image can be made of this god.

8. Multiple Gods • Brahma—the creator. Brahma reflects God's divine work of creating the universe · • Vishnu—the preserver. Vishnu reflects God's work in keeping the universe in existence.

9. More Gods • Shiva—the destroyer, who carries a trident and a snake and rides on Nandi, the bull. In the center of his forehead is a powerful third eye. Shiva reflects God's work in destroying it. Shiva has appeared 9 times – Hindus await the tenth appearance of Shiva. • The Devis, or Goddesses, stand alone in Hinduism. They possess shakti, the strength and power behind all things in the universe—including their male counterparts.

10. Temples in India The Taj Mahal – a Muslim temple

11. Hindu Temples

12. Common Beliefs • Moksha is the belief that the soul is born many times on Earth, or reincarnated, until it gains release—moksha—never to be born again. This happens when the soul realizes its oneness with the Universal Soul. • Atman is the sacred principle that honors all living beings. It is the basis for the respect that Hindus pay to all living things. It is also the basis for the principle of ahimsa, nonviolence, that Gandhi advocated. • Dharma is duty or right conduct. It is defined by caste, gender, and stage of life. • Karma stipulates that each deed performed by an individual has consequences. Good deeds produce good results, and bad deeds have bad consequences, either in this life or the next.

13. Karma • Birth within a certain caste is determined by Karma in previous lives. The better the Karma the higher the caste.

14. Hinduism Is in Every Aspect of Life • Most families have a shrine in their home (the shrine may simply be a picture of their deity). • The vast majority of Hindu households begin their day with a morning puja, or prayer. • Puja is generally performed at dawn and at dusk. Flowers and fruit are offered, incense is lit in front of the image of the deity and then the worshiper meditates and prays.

15. Daily Prayer and Bathing • Puja is generally performed individually by anyone in the family who pleases. However, it is considered part of a woman's duty to pray for her family's well-being. • Whenever there is a special request to be made or the day is particularly auspicious, many people will go to a temple and pray to the deity there. • Daily bathing takes on a religious significance within the belief of purity and pollution. This concept is also demonstrated in the simple and practical ritual of removing one's shoes before entering a house so as not to bring in the pollution of the streets.

16. Bathing in the Ganges

17. Caste System • Caste is the division of society into groups, each with its own social and religious framework. A Hindu is born into his or her caste and will generally marry into the same caste. Caste also determines how one worships.\ • There are four main castes, each with its specified dharma, or duty: • Brahmins are the priests and educated people who must uphold religion and learning. • Kshatriyas are the warriors and rulers who must defend and govern the country. • Vaishyas are the traders and merchants. • Shudras are artisans, farmers and laborers. Children are taught their caste values from a very young age.

18. Untouchables Today • At the bottom of the caste system are found the Dalits, or “untouchables.” • These people are outcasts (pariahs) and make up as much as 20 percent of the Hindu community.

19. Dalits (Untouchables) • They live beyond village or city limits and do mostly those jobs that are considered the most unclean, such as working with leather, cremating dead bodies, butchering, cleaning latrines, etc. • They are called untouchables literally because they are considered to be so. • Contact with such a person used to mean one could lose his own caste. • Even stepping on an untouchable’s shadow was considered a risk of losing one’s caste.

20. Dalits (Untouchables) • More than 160 million people in India are considered "Untouchable“ — people tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure, less than human. • Human rights abuses against these people are many. A random sampling of headlines in mainstream Indian newspapers tells their story: • "Dalit boy beaten to death for plucking flowers“ • "Dalit tortured by cops for three days“ • "Dalit 'witch' paraded naked in Bihar“ • "Dalit killed in lock-up at Kurnool“ • "7 Dalits burnt alive in caste clash“ • "5 Dalits lynched in Haryana“ • Nearly 90 percent of all the poor Indians and 95 percent of all the illiterate Indians are Dalits.

21. Important Holidays in Hinduism • Because of Hinduism's innumerable gods, there are many holidays in the Hindu year. The importance people place on these holidays depends on the deity they worship and the area in which they live. Two of these holidays: • Diwali (mid-November) Diwali is known as the festival of lights when Laksmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshipped. As with most Hindu festivals, sweets are prepared and distributed. Firecrackers are lit at night in a big celebration. • Holi (late February or March) Holi is the remembrance of Lord Krishna. The playfulness of Krishna is symbolized in the throwing of colored water. On Holi, all roles are reversed. Children can throw colored water at their teachers or elders, and wives can douse their husbands. The streets are full of rambunctious color-throwers.

22. The Elephant • This is a symbol of good luck • Elephants can call up rain during times of drought

23. Cows in India • As the sheep is to Christianity, the cow is to Hinduism. Lord Krishna was a cowherd, and the bull is depicted as the vehicle of Lord Shiva. • As opposed to the West, where the cow is widely considered as nothing better than walking hamburgers, in India, the cow is believed to be a symbol of the earth - because it gives so much yet asks nothing in return.

24. India is called the “subcontinent” because it is a large part of the Asian continent. There is no agreement on what constitutes a subcontinent. Generally, however, a subcontinent is split from the rest of a continent by something like a mountain range or by tectonic plates. What mountain range separates India from the rest of Asia?

25. India • The population is over 1 billion. • That is 5 times that of the United States. • India is only 1/3 the land size of the United States, so it seems mostly crowded (especially in towns). There are some largely unpopulated areas, however.