• KARMA – LAWS OF ACTION

THIS DENOTES AN ACTION THAT BRINGS BACK RESULTS IN THIS

LIFE OR IN THE FUTURE LIFE. THE DOCTRINE OF KARMA IS BASED
UPON THE THEORY OF CAUSE AND EFFECT.

• REINCARNATION – WHEEL OF LIFE

ACCORDING TO HINDUISM A SOUL REINCARNATES AGAIN AND
AGAIN ON EARTH TILL IT BECOMES PERFECT AND REUNITES WITH
IT SOURCE.
NIRVANA
THE END OF REINCARNATION CYCLE. THE SOUL IS FREE FROM
PAIN AND MERGES WITH BRAHMAN. THIS IS THE GOAL OF ALL
HINDUS.
CASTE SYSTEM
 Brahmins
Priest

Kshatriya
kings/rulers, warriors

Vaisyas
merchants, craftmans,
landowners, skilled workers

Sudra
Farm workers, unskilled workers, servant

UNTOUCHABLE
STREET SWEEPER, CLEAN UP HUMAN/ ANIMAL WASTE
 BRAHMIN
: THEY ARE THE PRIESTLY CLASS, WHO ARE ENTITLED TO
STUDY THE VEDAS, PERFORM RITES AND RITUALS FOR
THEMSELVES, FOR OTHERS AND OBLIGED TO OBSERVED
THE SACREMENTS. THEY ARE THE MIDDLE MEN BETWEEN
GODS AND MEN.
 KSHATRIYAS
THE WARRIOR CLASS, WHO ARE COMMANDED (BY
TRADITION) TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE, STUDY VEDAS
BESTOW GIFTS TO THE BRAHMIN, OFFER SACRIFICES TO
GODS AND ANCESTORS, DISPENSE JUSTICE.
 VAISYAS

: THE PRODUCERS, THE CRAFTSMEN, ARTISANS,

FARMERS. THEY ARE THE MERCHANT AND PEASANT
CLASSES, WHO ARE EXPECTED TO TEND CATTLE, STUDY
VEDAS, OFFER SACRIFICES, LEND MONEY AND CULTIVATE
THE LAND.
 SHUDRAS

• THEY ARE THE LABOR CLASS, WHOSE ONLY DUTY IS TO

SERVE THE OTHER THREE CASTES.
 UNTOUCHABLES
: THE LOWEST OF SHUDRAS WERE CALLED
UNTOUCHABLES OR THE IMPURE ONES. THEY WERE
TREATED AS UNTOUCHABLES BECAUSE OF GORY
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, PENCHANT FOR SACRIFICES,
MAGICAL RITES AND UNCLEAN HABITS.
 FOUR GOALS OF LIFE IN
HINDUISM
1. DHARMA – MEANS BEING VIRTUOUS. IT IS A WAY OF LIVING. THE
DEFINITION OF VIRTUE DEPENDS ON CASTE AND THE ASHRAMA.
EVERY PERSON WAS EXPECTED TO DO THE WORK ALLOTTED TO
HIM AS PER HIS CASTE. IT ALSO DEPENDED ON THE STAGES OF
LIFE OR ASHRAMA
2.ARTHA - IS ACHIEVEMENT OF SUCCESS. IT IS EARNING OF
WEALTH AND POWER FOR MAN NEEDS BOTH.
3. KAMA - IS ALL KINDS OF PLEASURES INCLUDING ARTISTIC
PLEASURES. THIS INCLUDES ARTS, MUSIC DANCE, DRAMA,
LITERATURE, POETRY, PAINTING AND SEX.

4. MOKSHA – IT IS STRIVING FOR SALVATION; FOR RELEASE FROM

THE CYCLE OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS. WE ARE NOT BORN TO JUST
EAT, SLEEP, WORK AND CONTINUE OUR LINEAGE.
 4 HINDU STAGES OF LIFE/
ASHRAMA
1. BRAHMACHARYA( THE STUDENT) – MEANS CELIBACY
IS THE FIRST STAGE IN HINDU LIFE. THIS IS THE STUDENT
STAGE OF LIFE. THIS IS THE STAGE IN WHICH A YOUNG HINDU MAN
LEAVES HIS FAMILY HOME AND GOES TO LIVE WITH A GURU AND
SPEND MOST OF HIS TIME STUDYING THE SACRED HINDU TEXTS,
KNOWN AS THE VEDAS.
2.GRIHASTHA( THE HOUSEHOLDER) – IT IS THE SECOND STAGE OF
LIFE . THIS IS THE STAGE OF LIFE WHEN THE PERSON IS MARRIED
AND HAS TO FULFILL ALL HIS DUTIES TOWARDS HIS WIFE, CHILDREN,
FATHER AND MOTHER

3. VANAPRASTHA( THE HERMIT) – MEANS GOING TO THE FOREST.

THIS IS THE THIRD STAGE OF LIFE. THIS IS THE STAGE WHEN THE
PERSON IS TO RETIRE, GIVE UP SEXUAL LIFE, GIVE UP ALL THE
POSSESSIONS TO CHILDREN AND ENTER THE FOREST.

4.SANNYASA- MEANS COMPLETE RENUNCIATION. THIS IS THE LAST

STAGE OF LIFE AND MAY START AT 75 YRS OF AGE BUT THERE IS NO
RESTRICTION OF AGE. HE IS DEDICATE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO
SPIRITUALITY. HE IS TO LIVE ON FRUITS AND ROOTS FOUND IN THE
JUNGLE.
 HOLY PLACES OF HINDUISM
SAPTA PURI - MEANS SEVEN HOLY CITIES IN HINDUISM. IT
INCLUDES: AYODHYA, MATHURA, HARIDWAR, VARANASI,
KANCHIPURAM, AND DWARKA
ARE PLACES OF BIRTH RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL
MASTERS AND PLACES WHERE GODS HAVE DESCENDED AS
INCARNATIONS.
AYODHYA
MATHURA
HARIDWAR
VARANASI
KANCHIPURAM
DVARAKA
 HINDU MATRIMONY: EIGHT
TYPES OF MARRIAGE
BRAHMA MARRIAGE - IS WHERE A BOY IS ABLE TO GET MARRIED
ONCE HE COMPLETED HIS STUDENTHOOD OR BRAHMACHARYA.
BRAHMA MARRIAGE HAS THE MOST SUPREME POSITION OF THE
EIGHT TYPES OF HINDU MARRIAGE
DAIVA MARRIAGE - IT IS THE TYPE OF MARRIAGE THAT IS
CONSIDERED INFERIOR BECAUSE IT IS DEGRADING TO
WOMANHOOD
ARSHA MARRIAGE – IS WHERE THE GIRL IS MARRIED TO THE
SAGES. THE BRIDE WILL GIVEN IN EXCHANGE FOR TWO COWS.

PRAJAPATYA MARRIAGE – IS WHERE THE BRIDE’S FATHER

SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT MATCH FOR A GROOM.

GANDHARVA – THIS IS WHERE A GROOM AND HIS BRIDE WILL

WED WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS KNOWLEDGE.

ASURA MARRIAGE – IN THIS THE GROOM IS NOT AT ALL

SUITABLE FOR THE BRIDE; HE GIVES MUCH WEALTH TO GIRL’S
FAMILY AND MARRIES HER.
RAKSHASA MARRIAGE – IS MUCH LIKE A FAIRYTALE. THE GROOM
WILL FIGHT BATTLES WITH BRIDE’S FAMILY, AND IF HE WINS HIM
FORCEFULLY CARRIES THE BRIDE AND PERSUADE HER TO MARRY
HIM.

PAISHACA MARRIAGE – IS THE LAST TYPE OF HINDU MATRIMONIES,

IT IS PROHIBITED MARRIAGE TYPE. EVEN IF THE GIRL IS UNWILLING
TO MARRY, SHE IS FORCED TO MARRY AGAINST HER WISH. MEN
WOULD MARRY A GIRL WHOM HE SEDUCED WHILE SHE WAS ASLEEP
OR INTOXICATED.