Exploring the Religions
of Our World
Chapter 5: Hinduism
Chapter 5, Introduction
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Chapter 5, Introduction cont.
The Basics
• 95% of Hindus live in India
• Hinduism emerged as a religion, it did not
begin with a founder or particular event
• Hinduism shares no doctrinal statements
• Hindus hold that no one religion can possibly
claim knowledge of absolute truth , which is
why Hinduism is often called a lifestyle rather
than a religion
Periods of Hindu History
Chapter 5, Introduction cont.
Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism
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Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
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You Tube Video: Hinduism
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National Geographic: Religions of the
World: Hinduism
Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Major developments of:
The Indus Valley Period (3000-1500 BCE)
• Emphasis on ritual purity
• Focus on fertility & regeneration
• The practice of meditation
• Emphasis on peacefulness
• Contributed the Vedas of divine knowledge
Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Major developments of:
The Brahminical Period (1500-300 BCE)
• Ritual sacrifices by the Brahmins (priests)
• Home ritual sacrifices
• Gurus (teachers) train disciples in personal
devotion to the gods
• The gods Shiva & Vishnu gain in prominence
• Rise of ascetical practices
Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Major developments of:
The Classical Period (300-1200 CE)
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Establishment of Hindu temples
Growth of home-based rituals
The Vedas become the authoritative scripture
Emphasis shifts from the transcendent to the
immanent
• Emphasis on personal transformation
• The concepts of karma & reincarnation emerge
• The evolution of the caste system
Chapter 5, Section 1: A Brief History of Hinduism cont.
Jainism:
• Founded by Mahavira in the sixth century BCE
• Contains elements of Hinduism & Buddhism
• Practice non-violence or non-injury
• Vegan, commitment to not harm any living
thing
Chapter 5, Section 1 Review Questions
1.
2.
3.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
What was the Aryan influence on the origins of
Hinduism?
Who were Brahmins & what was their main
function?
What makes up the shruti?
Describe Jainism.
Why are the years 300 to 1200 CE known as the
Classical Period of Hinduism?
What happened when the Muslims came to India?
What are some of the beliefs major Hindu figures of
the nineteenth & twentieth centuries advocated?
Describe one movement of Hinduism that
contributed to its expansion outside of India.
Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures
 *Shruti—more sacred; revealed by gods to ancient seers; don’t change; “that
which is to be heard”
 Smriti—“that which is to be remembered”; less authoritative; passed orally;
more popular
Shruti Scriptures
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Vedas—earliest; Aryan era; hymns; fire sacrifice; 4; exclusive; priests; memory
Rig Veda—oldest; most sacred; 1,000 hymns & mantras; Sanskrit; 1300 BCE
Soma Veda—900 BCE; sacrificial hymns
Yajur Veda—prose; priestly sacrificial instruction
Atharva Veda—700 BCE; domestic hymns; healing for sacrificial mistakes
 Upanishads—personal action & cycle of rebirth; liberation; relationship
between Brahman (Ultimate Reality) & atman (soul); “to sit down beside”; guru
to student
 Svetaketu—father instruction; being & soul not seen, heard, thought; salt water;
Chandogya Upanishad
Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont.
Smriti Scriptures
 *Mahabharata—Hindu epic; 200k verses; family war over inheritance;
Krishna; avatar of Vishnu; 9 avatars & 10th end of world; supports family
 Bhagavad Gita—contained in; most popular; brother Arjuna; fight as
warrior caste or non-violence; debate with charioteer Krishna; disinterested
love in personal duties
 Ramayana—2nd greatest Hindu epic; Prince Rama; exiled with wife &
brother; Ravana kidnaps wife; Rama rescues & becomes king
 Puranas—stories about 3 Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, & Shiva; creation;
world’s history; popular with lower castes; miracles & personal devotion
Knowledge of the Heart
 Svetaketu—12 years of studying; head knowledge but not heart; nyagrodha
tree; fruit, seed, nothing; essence of all creation is nothingness & flow
You Tube Video: Hinduism
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Hindu Scriptures
Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont.
Shruti Scriptures (the most sacred)
1. Rig Veda - hymns to various gods
The
The
Holy
Vedas
Vedasc
2. Soma Veda - hymns chanted at
sacrifices
3. Yajur Veda - instructions for priests
regarding sacrifices
4. Atharva Veda - hymns, charms, spells
& incantations for domestic use
Chapter 5, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont.
Shruti Scriptures – also…
 Concerned with the cycle of
rebirth
The
The
Upanishads
Upanishads
 The mystical relationship between
Brahman (Ultimate Reality of all
living things) & atman (soul)
 Often shared in a dialogue
between guru & student
Chapter 5, Section 2 Review Questions
1.
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4.
What are shruti scriptures?
What are smriti scriptures?
What is the dilemma of
Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita?
What are the Puranas?
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices
 No absolute beliefs & practices but some that most hold:
 Beliefs—deities, cycle of rebirth, sacredness of life
 Practices—communal life, caste system, stages of life
Deities
 330 million = so many that they cannot be counted
 All images of Brahman = Absolute Reality, all pervading life force of the
universe, material & immaterial, one essence
 Human attributes but not Brahman which is transcendent
 Even 5 senses fall short!
 Primary forms = life cycle—Brahma (Create), Vishnu (Preserve), Shiva
(Destroy)
 Avatars—incarnation of a deity, form of Brahman along with primary forms
 Krishna & Rama are avatars of Vishnu
 Gautama the Buddha also of Vishnu—founder of Buddhism
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Female Goddesses
 Female forms of Brahman
 Parvati—Shiva; love, fertility, devotion, divine power & strength or standing
alone Devi = Great Goddess, Durga = Warrior, Kali = justice deliverer
 Saraswati—Brahma; learning, literature, & music
 Lakshmi—Vishnu; prosperity, good fortune, & beauty
Atman
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Individuals essential nature, real self, & innermost soul
Identical to Brahman; goal is union with Brahman = union with atman
Moksha = liberation from the endless cycle of rebirth
Hidden & elusive so physical & mental discipline
Body, mind, emotions not included since are maya = illusions & passing
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Cycle of Rebirth
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Life is cyclical not linear; nature exemplifies
Karma determines cycle; moral law of cause & effect; consequences
Samsara = cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth (reincarnation or transmigration)
Eternal atman lives on in another body determined by karma
Determined not by judge but by nature; seed
Moksha = liberation from samsara by removing karmic residue due to rebirth
Yoga = 3 disciplines or practices for doing so; training of entire person; body,
mind, spirit; goal is to make an identity between Brahman & atman
 Karma yoga (Path of Action)—selfless service to others; purge motives;
even desire for liberation; action
 Jnana yoga (Path of Knowledge)—learning, thinking, & viewing self in 3rd
person; meditation
 Bhakti yoga (Path of Devotion)—pure, long devotion to Brahman; most
Hindus; stresses immanence over transcendence
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
The Sacredness of Life
 Brahman is in all things so all things are sacred
 Ahimsa = desire to not harm any form of life; basis of non-violence,
vegetarianism, & cows being sacred
 Satyagraha = application by Mohandas Gandhi to British attacks in liberating
Caste System
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Diverse beliefs but more uniform actions
4 stages & 4 pursuits of life in context of 3-4-5 castes; high to low
Tolerant of individual beliefs but not of straying from castes
Aryans introduced 3, 4th added later, 5th so low not even part of
Related to karma & samsara—caste depends on actions of previous life
Brahmins—priests; highest; pure, wise, learned families
Kshatriyas—warriors; protect & rule
Vaishya—farmers & merchants; provide
Shudra—servants; lowest; serve other castes; no scripture study
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Caste System cont.
 Asprishya—“untouchables”; defiled families; degrading work; garbage men;
vile actions in previous life; Gandhi sought to raise; discrimination illegal now
 Caste system still has a strong hold today; bound by birth until death to caste
& duties of caste (clothing, habits, religious practices)
 How one lives differs but not reasons for living
 Dharma—social & caste duties
Artha—material/political wealth
 Kama—artictic, recreational, sensual Moksha—liberation from cycle
The Stages of Life
 Ashramas; 4; general patterns of life; Hindu males traditionally; women called
to be daughters, wives, & mothers under the protection & support of a man; 1st
3 castes; most only 2; must fulfill 1 & 2 if going to pursue 3 & 4
 Bhahmancarin—learn Hindu traditions from a guru
 Grihastha—householder, marry, family, contribute to society
 Vanaprastha—”forest dweller”, slowly move away from life as a hermit
 Sannyasin—spiritual pilgrim, renounce all, pursue moksha
You Tube Video: Hinduism
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Crash Course: Hinduism
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Most Hindus hold these beliefs in common, though
they are not “doctrines”:
The caste
system
Millions of
gods &
goddesses
The sacredness
of life
The cycle of
rebirth
The four stages
of life
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Brahman = one Ultimate Reality or Absolute Reality which:
Cannot be
grasped by
the five senses
Is manifested
in gods &
goddesses
Is
transcendent
Includes everything material
and immaterial
Has no
attributes
Is the “lifeForce” of the
universe
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
3 primary
forms of
Brahman
1. Brahma is the Creator god
2. Vishnu is the Preserving god
3. Shiva is the Destroying god
An avatar is the incarnation of personification of a
god or goddess e.g. Krishna & Ganesh
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Atman:
• Is the “real self” (mind, body, & emotions are
“maya” or illusions)
• Hindus strive for release from maya in order to
achieve union with Brahman/atman
• Moksha (liberation) is achieved through
rigorous physical & mental discipline
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Samsara - the cycle of rebirth
Rebirth
Breaking the cycle:
 Knowledge
Birth
Karma
Death
 Good deeds
 Devotion
Chapter 5, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Moksha
The major pursuits of life:
Pursuit of liberation
from the cycle of
rebirth through
actions, thoughts,
& devotions
Artha
Dharma
One’s duties in life,
especially as dictated
by caste
Pursuit of both
material &
political wealth
Kama
Pursuit of artistic,
recreational, &
sensual pleasure
Chapter 5, Section 3 Review Questions
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6.
What is meant by Brahman? How is Brahman
linked to atman?
What are the three primary forms of Brahman?
Describe the Hindu cycle of rebirth related to the
three paths of liberation.
Name & describe the four stages of life for Hindu
castes; also define “untouchables”.
Name & describe the four stages of life for Hindu
males.
What are the four life goals for a Hindu male in
the first three castes?
Chapter 5, Section 4: Sacred Times
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Chapter 5, Section 4: Sacred Times cont.
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You Tube Video: Hinduism
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Chapter 5, Section 4: Sacred Times cont.
Sikhism
• A blending of Hinduism and Islam
• Is monotheistic
• Beliefs: karma, samsara, moksha, equality
• Rejects: caste system, idol worship
• Signs of devotion: unshorn hair, comb, short
pants, steel bracelet, short sword
• Many have a desire to found and establish
their own homeland
Chapter 5, Section 4 Review Questions
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3.
How do Hindus compensate for the different
number of days between solar & lunar
calendars?
What do the festivals of Diwali & Holi
celebrate? How are they celebrated?
Name & explain at least two of the sixteen
stages of the Hindu life cycle.
Chapter 5, Section 5: Sacred Places & Spaces
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Chapter 5, Section 5: Sacred Places & Spaces cont.
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You Tube Video: Hinduism
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Chapter 5, Section 5: Sacred Places & Spaces cont.
Temples
Home shrines
many images of
gods/goddesses
many images of
gods/goddesses
Ganges River
symbol of life w/o end
ritual bathing
Puja
honoring the gods
Chapter 5, Section 5 Review Questions
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4.
Why is everything sacred to Hindu’s?
Describe a home puja and its purpose?
How does a temple puja differ from a home
puja?
Why is the Ganges River the most sacred
place for Hindus?
Chapter 5, Section 6: Hindusim
Through a Catholic Lens
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Chapter 5, Section 6: Hinduism through a Catholic Lens cont.
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You Tube Video: Hinduism
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Chapter 5, Section 6: Hinduism through a Catholic Lens cont.
Similarities:
• Toleration of religious diversity
• Pursuing social issues
• Honoring Jesus and his teachings
• The tradition of depicting and venerating
religious images
Chapter 5, Section 6: Hinduism through a Catholic Lens cont.
Differences:
• Karma
• Reincarnation
• The caste system
• Jesus as the one and only incarnation of God
Chapter 5, Section 6 Review Questions
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4.
In dialoguing about human dignity, what
topic in particular do Hindus have in mind?
Name at least three views of Jesus that can
be found among Hindus.
Name similar views Catholics and Hindus
have about Jesus.
List three functions of religious imagery.
Chapter 5: Conclusion
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Chapter 5: Hinduism Vocabulary
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Brahmins
Shruti
Gurus
Bhakti
Sanskrit
Karma
Caste system
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Mantra
Hare Krishnas
Avatar
Brahman
Transcendent
Atman
Maya
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Samsara
Yoga
Satyagraha
Puja
Iconoclasm
Devas
Chapter 4 Islam – Vocabulary Definitions
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Chapter 5 Review Questions (Extra Credit)
Section 1:
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Chapter 5 Review Questions cont. (Extra Credit)
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Section 2:
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Section 3:
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Chapter 5 Review Questions cont. (Extra Credit)
Section 4:
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Section 5:
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Section 6:
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