Hinduism
By Allyssa Robertson, Edwin Nguyen, Makayla
Berndt, and Taylor Worsham
Introduction to
Hinduism
▹ Hinduism is the oldest religion out in
the world today.
▹ Hinduism is polytheistic and it is the
third largest religion.
▹ The three most important gods of
Hinduism are Brahma, Vishnu, and
Shiva.
▹ The place of worship for Hindus is
called Mandir.
▹ Hindu sacred texts are the Big Veda,
Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva
Veda.
Hindu Festivals
▹ Holi- Color Festival
▹ Diwali- Festival of Lights
How Hinduism
was originally
practiced,the
key beliefs
and its
scripture
How Hinduism was
originally practiced
Some practices of
ancient hinduism was
fire worship and fire
sacrifices.
Also some practices
included meditation.
Key beliefs of
Hinduism
1.Truth is eternal.
2.Brahman is truth and
reality.
3.The Vedas are the
highest authority.
4.Everybody should
strive to acquire
dharma.
5.Individual souls are
immortal.
6.The goal of the
individual soul is
moksha.
Hinduism
scriptures
The scriptures consist
of the Vedas,
Upanishads and the
Bhagavad Gita.
Some regional texts
are the Tantric
Agamas, Bhagavata
Purana and the
Yajnavalkya Smriti.
Major Turning
Points in
Hinduism
Major Turning
points for
hinduism
What are some major
decisions made by
leaders/followers of Hinduism
Indo-European
Invasion
▹ New Hindu gods
▹ Transferred the
Hindi language
Rig Veda
▹ The oldest
Hindu scripture
that can be read
▹ Written in
Sanskrit
Sri Aurobindo
▹ Political
independence
Mahatma Ghandi
▹ Independence
movement
The Spread of
Hinduism
Where Hinduism
started
Hinduism started on the
Indian subcontinent.
Had systems of
philosophy, belief, and
ritual.
Hinduism is the oldest
living religion on earth.
Where Hinduism
spread
Hinduism spread into
southeast Asia where
at times the gained
control over parts of
Indonesia and
Cambodia.
It is also a universal
religion.
Diffusion of
Hinduism
The religion did not spread
much. The majority of its
believers are in India.
In Hindu society there is a
caste system which divides
the society based on
occupation and family
lineage.
Where and how
is Hinduism
today
Where?
▹ Hinduism today is
mainly practiced in
India because of its
orientation.
▹ However,
Hinduism is also
practiced in Nepal,
Sri Lanka, most of
North America, the
Middle East,
Australia, South
Africa, Indonesia,
and in parts of
South America.
Where Hinduism is
located?
Mantra
How?
▹ Hindu’s practice
meditation, yoga,
sacrifices (mainly
food), fast, and sing
mantras to gods
that have meaning
to them.
▹ They also have to
fulfill dharma of
their position to
obtain good karma.
▹ They also believe in
rebirth.
● Hinduism is the oldest standing religion in the world.
● Unlike most religions, Hinduism also has no founder or specific
date of origin. Historians believe it may have started about 2,000
B.C.E.
● After all these years, it is still the third largest religion after
Christianity and Islam with about 900 million followers.
Beliefs
● Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual
creates his/her own destiny by their thoughts, words, and deeds.
● And they believe in dharma, the path of righteousness and living one’s life to the
codes of conduct.
● Thirdly they believe in the divinity of the Vedas, the world’s most ancient
scripture.These primordial hymns are God’s word and the bedrock of Sanatana
Dharma, the eternal religion which has neither beginning nor end.
● Lastly they believe the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all
karmas have been resolved, and moksha, spiritual knowledge and liberation
from the cycle of rebirth is attained.
Brahma, Vishnu, And
Shiva
The Hindu Trinity consists of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
These are their main gods.
Brahma - The Creator
Vishnu - The Preserver
Shiva - The Destroyer
Despite being The Destroyer, Shiva
is seen as a positive force
Saraswati, Lakshmi, and
Parvati
*Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati are the female
counterparts to the Hindu Trinity. They are called the
Tridevi.
● Sri Saraswati is the goddess of learning, knowledge, and
music
● Sri Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth.
● Sri Parvati is the goddess of power.
Lakshmi (left), Parvati (middle), Saraswati (right)
Hinduism and Politics
● In ancient India, priests (Brahmin) were at the top of the Caste
System. They were more powerful than the kings and warriors.
● Kings would have spiritual leaders who would help them do
their rituals and make sure they did them correctly
● Your karma also affected your position in the caste, if you make
bad decisions you might be an untouchable, but if you were
good you might rise to a king in your next life
Hinduism and Buddhism
n Almost 1500 years ago, the Hindu tradition accepted
the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu in a Hindu
family
 Many supressed people, untouchables, went to
Buddhism to escape their situations
Hinduism in India
● Hinduism is 84% of India’s population
● Hinduism remained much a religion of variety. It was less organized and
concerned with heresy than Christianity
● As early as the 4th century the movement called Bhakti, meaning love and
devotion of a personal or representational god by a devotee was forming
● That belief and many others formed inside the religion of Hinduism
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