Clenth, Wilma (HUMSS11) Joshua (GAS11)
Edu D. Sumi-og
Introduction to World Religion and Belief System
Hinduism - is the oldest religion in the world and the third largest religion in the world. Hinduism can be
defined as a collection of the religion, culture, and philosophy of ancient India.
Sanatana Dharma - term used to denote the “eternal” or absulote set of duties for every individual regardless
of his caste, class, or sect.
Dharma - is the timeless order of all life. Dharma, according to Hindu belief and practices, is what holds the
universe together, and means “duty”, “correct practice”, and “truth”.
Hinduism Sacred Text
The Vedas - is also referred to as Vaidika Dharma or “Religion of the Vedas”.
The Vedas teach the origin of and reason for existence and some of oldest religious scriptures in
the world.
Types of Vedas
1. Rig Veda - is an Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns
2. Samaveda - is the Veda of melodies and chants
3. Yajurveda - is the Veda primarly of prose mantras for worship rituals
4. Atharvaveda - is the “knowledge storehouse of atharvanas, the procedures for everyday life”.
Types of Scriptures
 Shruti Scripture (meaning “that which is heard”), which contains fundamental elements of Hindu
philosophy and morality. The Shruti Scriptures, which are primarily the four Vedas, are considered to
be of divine origin as revealed to sages (called rishis) who received these truths through deep
meditation.
Each Vedas are subdivided into four types:
1. Samhita, hymns dedicated to gods and goddesses
2. Bramanas, explication of the Samhita and other ritual acts performed by priests
3. Aranyakas, philosophical interpretation of ritual acts
4. Upanishads, explanation of general philosophical knowledge
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The Smriti (meaning “that which is remembered”) are concidered “secondary scriptures” and mostly
contain stories and advice from sages
1. Mahabharata, an epic poem that is 15 times longer than the Bible, narrates the story of an ongoing
war among the family members.
2. Ramanaya, a shorter epic about the kingship and royal virtues, tells the story of the battle of Rama
in order to save his wife Sita.
3. Dharma Shastras, legal treaties that emphasize the importance of practicing virtues.
4. Bhagavad Gita, meaning “Song of the Lord”, is actually one of the books in Mahabharata.
5. Puranas, these are stories that depict the secretarian divisions within Hinduism.
Hinduism Concept of God
 Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with a variety of beliefs, its concept of God is complex and
depends upon each individual and the tradition followed. It is sometimes referred to as henotheistic.
 Henotheistic means the worship of one God without denying the of other gods.
God of Hinduism
Brahman- or the absolute. The Brahman is the eternal uncreated and all-pervasive reality that has no form,
and keeps the universe in existence.
Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism
In Hinduism, there is a belief in three highest deities who fulfill different functions in the universe. This is
called:
Trimuthi (or Trinity)
1. Brahma (The Creator)
2. Vishnu (The Preserver)
3. Shiva (The Destroyer)
Atman (Soul)
Hinduism believes in the Doctrine of the Atman, which claims that there is a “soul” (called Atman) in each
and every living creature. The atman is the life principle or essence of life itself, and without it nothing can
remain in existence.
The Doctrine of Atman is linked to Hinduism’s view of God. The Brahman-atman or the Absolute Self, points
to the fundamental link that all beings have with the Absolute. This is the reason why Hinduism is against
killing of any of living being (practice of ahimsa, or non violence to all beings).
Karma, Samsara, and Moksha
The use of the word “karma” in Philippine languages is interesting to say the least.
The origin of the word karma is Sanskrit, but it does not primarily mean misfortune or bad
luck. Karma simply means “action” but more so, the consequences of one’s action. The
law of karma which is adhered to in Hinduism, means that the person’s actions in the
present will have consequences and thus will shape the person’s future.
- Reincarnation happens when the atman (soul) leaves its material receptacle (body) and
finds another life cycle. (transmigration of soul).
- This cycle (sometimes called wheel) of birth – death- rebirth is called Samsara. An atman
that has not achieved the sufficient level of enlightenment and detachment from material
receptacles. The goal of spiritual practice therefore, is to end this cycle and stop the wheel
of samsara.
The Caste System
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It is the traditional social structure that closely follows Hindu principles of karma and
samsara. The word “caste” is not Indian in origin; it is actually Portuguese, which means
“chaste” or “pure”.
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Among the Indians, the term they use is Jati, a social rank one receives upon birth. Jati is
a social classification system that determines ones rank on the basis of the family’s
occupation.
There are four (4) main Jatis in different Varnas (social group)
1. Brahmins – are the highest in the hierarchy and are perceived to be the purest
among all castes.
2. Kshatriyas – consist of political rulers and warriors, those who administer
justice and defend the territory against invaders. This class forms most of the
nobility and their vassals in India.
3. Vaishyas – makes up the economic specialists and merchants. They are
responsible for producing food and other goods and exchanging them in
markets for everyone ‘s benefit.
4. Shudras – consists of manual laborers.