Identify these Hindu terms: Brahman, Atman, karma,
dharma, guru, yoga, reincarnation and moksha.
Identify key Hindu texts: the Vedas, the Upanishads
and the Bhagavad-Gita.
Explore the belief systems of Buddhism including :
nirvana, 4 Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path to
Enlightenment, and the life and teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama, (Buddha).
Compare and contrast the religion of Hinduism with
Buddhism.
•The dominant
religion in India
is Hinduism
which was
brought in by
the original
Aryan invaders.
•Aryans brought
with them a strong
oral tradition, and
religion.
•This became the
foundation for the
religion of
Hinduism.
•No human
founder. Believe
that “All religions
are a path to God.”
•No set dogma or
rules.
•A collective,
universal, God.
•Hindus believe the
Ganges river is the
holiest of rivers.
•The river is
worshipped as a
goddess. Prayers are
said, and flowers are
floated down river.
•A blend of Aryan
traditions, and a
collection of hymns
and rituals called the
Vedas, form the
backbone of this
religion.
Krishna first reveals the Vedic
knowledge to Brahma.
•The 4 Vedas are the
primary Hindu texts.
•The Vedas contain
hymns, incantations,
and rituals from ancient
India.
•They tell us about
everyday life in India
4,000 years ago.
•They are the oldest
texts in the world.
•Other Key Texts include:
•The Upanishads.
•The Laws of Manu – Manu
was the 1st man of the
Hindus, sort of like Adam.
•This is a collection of laws
attributed to Manu.
1.Which two religions began in India?
2.What is the holiest of rivers to the
Hindus?
3.Is there a human founder for Hinduism?
4.What are the primary scriptures or
religious texts of the Hindus?
5.Who was the “Hindu Adam?”
•There are 2 Epic
Poems, the
Mahabharata and the
Ramayana.
•These are the oldest
and the longest
poems in the history
of the world.
•The Bhagavad-Gita tells
of ancient warriors and
includes a dialogue
between Krishna and
Arjuna.
•This text contains the
philosophies of the
Hindu faith: selflessness,
duty, devotion, and
meditation.
•The Vedas
•The Upanishads
•The Laws of Manu
•The Mahabharata
•The Ramayana
•The Bhagavad-Gita
•Collectively, these works are the
Hindus’ sacred texts.
•The top gods and
goddesses of the
Hindus are:
•1.Brahman – the
creator of the Universe
and the god of wisdom.
•It was said that he was
born from a lotus
blossom.
2.Vishnu – the Preserver.
•He descends to earth in
human or animal form,
and brings balance
between good and evil.
•Many Hindu heroes are
believed to have been
the incarnate form of
Vishnu.
3.Shiva – the
Destroyer or
Purifier.Who
destroys the world
when it is in chaos or
ungodly.
•He is the Lord of the
Dance and also the
lord of beasts.
•Shiva as the Lord of
the Dance.
•Halo of fire represents
the cycle of birth and
death.
Shiva as Lord of the
Dance.
•He crushes the demon
of ignorance, and holds
the flame of
destruction.
List the top 3
Hindu gods
here…
1.What is unique about the epic poems, the
Mahabharata and the Ramayana?
2.Who is dialoging in the Bhagavad-Gita?
3.List a Hindu value taught in the
Bhagavad-Gita.
4.Who are the top 3 Hindu gods?
5.Which one is the “Lord of the Dance?”
•Many scholars view this
religion as polytheistic,
but Hindus regard
themselves as
monotheistic.
•The early Vedas speak
of One god, and that all
gods “Strive towards the
One.”
•Guru – a spiritual
master, a teacher, a holy
man.
Yoga teacher.
•Yoga – “to yoke” people
are to have discipline in
their lives. They are able
to achieve this discipline
by meditating and
keeping rituals.
•Key Symbols:
•The Om or Aum- it is
the main symbol for
Hindus.
The Om symbol above, is
both written and spoken.
•Om reflects the power
responsible for the
creation, development
and destruction of the
universe.
•The swastika –
ancient symbol for
good fortune and
protection.
•It also represents the
eternal wheel of life.
The Swasti- or Swastika
•The Nazi’s reversed
this symbol many
centuries later.
•The Lotus Bud –
born in water,
symbolizing the birth
of the universe.
The Lotus Bud
•It is a symbol of the
sun, and purity and
fertility.
•It is also the chosen
seat of the gods.
•The cow is sacred to
all Hindus. An
offspring of the
celestial cow created
by Krishna from his
own body.
The Sacred Cow
•Products of the cow
are used in rituals of
atonement.
1.What is a guru?
2.What does yoga mean?
3.What is the primary Hindu symbol?
4.What did the swastika originally
mean?
5.Which animal is sacred to the Hindus?
•Key Vocabulary:
•Atman – the innermost
self, or soul, tries to
unite with the ultimate
truth, Brahman.
The creator god,
Brahman.
•To unite with the
universal soul, one must
meditate and have good
karma.
•Dharma – the ultimate
moral balance of things.
•There is a divine order
in nature and in human
lives.
•One has a responsibility
to maintain that balance,
or dharma.
•Karma – “Deed or
action.” The combined
effect of a person’s
actions over their life time.
•Whatever actions one
takes, will bring them
good or bad
consequences in this life
or the next.
•Reincarnation –
“Samsara” meaning
cycle of births and
deaths.
The cycle of reincarnation.
•A person’s next birth
(and status), are
determined by their
karma in a previous
life.
The cycle of reincarnation may include a
person’s next life is that of an animal or insect.
•Atman is achieved by doing
three things:
•Good Dharma and KarmaWorks, or rituals.
•The way of knowledge –
reflection and meditation.
•The way of devotion –to the
god you choose to follow.
Gsarawt
•A person’s soul is
reincarnated over and
over until the soul
finally reaches a state
of Moksha.
•Moksha - the soul has
joined the Universal
soul, or Brahman.
The cycle of reincarnation or
rebirth.
•Moksha means that the
soul is freed from
suffering, and earthly
desires.
Meditation to achieve
moksha.
•Once moksha is
achieved, the soul is no
longer reincarnated. It is
released into the
universal soul.
1.What is the Hindu term for a person’s
soul?
2.This is the ultimate moral balance…
3.Define karma.
4.Define reincarnation or samsara.
5.If a Hindu’s soul has achieved this,
they are no longer reincarnated….