Hinduism

By Wade, Field, Pop, Bam A

#1002
Origins of Hinduism
- Majority of people in India and Nepal (~900 million)

- Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and

no agreed set of teachings.

- Variety of core beliefs and different sect and different

followers believe
- different gods varies from shiva, Atman, or Brahman
Key Beliefs 3 Main Gods

Brahma Vishnu Siva

Creator of the worlds Preserver and Maintainer Destroyer of the worlds
of the world's
Key Beliefs
Belief in Reincarnation

- Like Buddhism, Sixhism and others believes in soul is

immortal, and death is only of body. Souls travel from
one body to another until it forms the ultimate soul
These are some basic and major beliefs of Hinduism:

Belief in Soul (Depend on the past life)

- Each living creature got a soul and in this life we try

to achieve the ultimate soul, Nirvana. After death
body enter a new one until it can reach Nirvana

Belief in Karma

- Now that we are here is because of the result of

karma. Whoever that done the bad karma will get
punished for it in present life or next life until it gets
the ultimate soul
Key Beliefs The goal of the individual soul is moksha--Moksha is
liberation: the souls release from the cycle of death and rebirth. It
occurs when the soul unites with Brahman by realizing its true
Individual souls are immortal--A Hindu believes that the
nature. Several paths can lead to this realization and unity: the
individual soul (atman) is neither created nor destroyed; it has
path of duty, the path of knowledge, and the path of devotion
been, it is, and it will be. Actions of the soul while residing in a
(unconditional surrender to God).
body require that it reap the consequences of those actions in the
next life the same soul in a different body.

The process of movement of the atman from one body to

another is known as transmigration. The kind of body the soul
inhabits next is determined by karma (actions accumulated in
previous lives).
Original Scripture & Text
The Vedas was believed to be received by scholars direct from Gods. It was
introduced by the Aryans in India. It is divided into 4 main sections.

1) The Samhitas: most ancient part with traditions, includes hyms to praise
god
2) The Brahmanas: contains rituals and prayers to guide priests
3) The Aranyakas: is about worship and meditation
4) The Upanishads: include mystical and philosophical teachings
Practices before 2000 BCE
Pray / Worship
-Praying is usually an individual act. However, worshiping is usually done
together with family members. Many homes have a shrine to offer water,
fruits, flowers, and incense to the gods.

Pilgrimage
-Going to sacred sights in india or where the gods appeared / created
Practices before 2000 BCE
Ritual baths
-At Kumbh Mela festival, every 12 years, ritual bathing at Allahabad
(where Gange and jumma river is combined) done to wash away sins.

Sacrifices
-They were usually animal sacrifice.
Turning Points of the Religions
The turning points of Hinduism are including:

- As Muslims and Hindus were hated each other, they

caused the riots in Calcutta city, or known as The Riots of
Calcutta in 1992 and ended in 1993, resulted in high
casualties for hindus and muslims in the city of Calcutta,
British India.

- The independence movement of India from The UK, which

had Mahatama Gandhi leading the people of India
(including Hindus) for this great revolution.
Turning Points of the Religions (Continue)
- Next, An Indo-European Invasion, which
resulted in the new form (sky-forms) of
Hindu Gods and the transferring of Hindi
language to the Hindus.
- Lastly, the Political Independence
movement lead the Sri Aurobindo,
the famous Indian nationalist and
philosopher.

- Then, the Rig Veda, the oldest scripture

of Hinduism, written all in Sanskrit. The
scripture itself contains texts that are
used in many rituals of the religion (which
many of them are involved in sacrificial
rituals)
Change in Hinduism as it spread from one place to
another
- Hinduism doesnt really change the way the religions believed. However,
as the religions spread to new areas, the people in the new area perform
a different practice styles than what had been originated.

*** Hinduism spread mostly at the Southeast region of Asia, minor population
to other corners of the world. ***
Hinduism Today
-Hinduism is continuation of traditions practiced thousands of years ago

-There are now 1.2 billion followers of Hinduism

-98% of the followers live in India, but people who worship are of all races,
genders, and political affiliations.

-Also, many followers take parts in the Hindu Pilgrimage

-Hindus celebrate culture by indulging in the news of their fellow worships

Pilgrimage
Hindus people also had events that invited people of their
religions to gather together for a special announcements or
for traditional beliefs. Some events like:

Kanwar Pilgrimage: One of the largest pilgrimage of

Hindus and the world, only happens every 12 years at
Ganges river.

Shakti Peethas: The pilgrimage where people came to

worship their Mother Goddess.
Today Practice
-Animal sacrifices are now prohibited

-Practice dietary laws which have these followings restrictions:

- Offers food in praise of God before every meal

- Dont include meat, fish, poultry, and eggs in the meal

- Avoid beefs out of respect of cows