HINDUISM

HINDUISM

Not a single, unified religion with

a founder or central authority, but a diverse

family of philosophies, beliefs, and rituals (a

way of life) that originated in the Indian

subcontinent.

HINDU

comes from the

Sanskrit word Sindhu (the Indus River). It was

originally a geographical term used by

outsiders.

SANATANA DHARMA

The term many Hindus

prefer, meaning "the eternal law" or "the

eternal way."

hinduism

has no known founder and there is no

consensus on when it was established.

Hinduism is the oldest living religion on Earth, If the Indus

valley civilization (3rd–2nd millennium BCE) was the

earliest source of these traditions, thousands of years

before Jesus or Muhammad lived.

Hinduism is the third-largest religion worldwide, after

Christianity and Islam

BRAHMAN

is regarded as the ultimate reality and the supreme divine

force that underpins all existence.

Three Major Gods of Hinduism

brahman and the trimurti

• Brahma (the creator)

• Vishnu (the preserver)

• Shiva (the destroyer)

TRIMURTI

Brahma (the creator)

• Vishnu (the preserver)

• Shiva (the destroyer)

BRAHMA

The creator. (Not

to be confused

with Brahman).

Less commonly

worshipped.

VISHNU

The preserver or

sustainer.

Descends to Earth

in avatars

(incarnations) to

restore Dharma.

• Key Avatars:

Rama, Krishna.

SHIVA

The

destroyer (of

ignorance and the

ego, making way

for new creation).

Represents

asceticism and

cosmic power.

The Core Philosophical Pillars

DHARMA

KARMA

SAMSARA

MOKSHA

DHAARMA

refers to the

religious and moral laws

governing all people’s actions

and lives.

SAMSARA

the continuous cycle of life, death, and

reincarnation

KARMA

is the belief that

every action a person takes has an

effect on their future. In Hindu

Dharma, it is thought that good

behaviour that follows the dharma

will have positive outcomes. Poor

behaviour, or actions taken against

dharma, will result in bad outcomes.

Every incarnation is based on how

someone has lived in their previous

life.

MOKSHA

the liberation from the cycle of samsara

(birth, death, and rebirth),

• the ultimate goal of spiritual life.

• It represents freedom from suffering

and desires, allowing the soul to

achieve a state of eternal bliss and

unity with the Supreme Being,

Brahman.

• Moksha is attained by overcoming

ignorance and selfishness through

practices like meditation, fulfilling

dharma (one's duty), detaching from

worldly desires, and gaining

enlightened understanding

SHRUTI

("heard") are sacred writings containing

eternal truth "heard" from the gods, i.e., divine

revelation.

Considered divinely revealed, eternal knowledge.

SMRITI

("remembered") are lesser sacred texts with

privileged knowledge as "remembered" and handed

on by ancient human sages.

SACRED TEXTS

SHRUTI

SMRITI

THE VEDAS

The Vedas (meaning "knowledge,“) are ancient spiritual texts

foundational to Hinduism, representing divine knowledge

transmitted orally for centuries before being written in Sanskrit.

RIG VEDA shruti

contains hymns about their mythology; the largest and considered the most important

of the collection, containing 1,028 hymns divided into 10 books called mandalas

SAMA VEDA shruti

consists mainly of hymns about religious rituals;

YAJUR Veda shruti

contains instructions for religious rituals;

Atharva Veda shruti

consists of spells against enemies, sorcerers, and diseases

VEDAS

the oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism, revered as the

foundation of spiritual and philosophical thought in Indian tradition

The Mahabharata: smriti

Includes the

Bhagavad Gita ("The Song of

God"), a central text where Lord

Krishna explains key concepts of

duty, devotion, and right action.

THE RAMAYANA smriti

The story of Lord

Rama, an ideal king, and his wife

Sita, an ideal of devotion and virtue.

PURANAS smriti

A genre of texts that includes 18 major Puranas and

many more minor ones. They contain mythological

stories, cosmology, and information about deities.

DHARMA SHASTRAS smriti

guidelines on moral and legal duties

MOKSHA

the ultimate goal, representing liberation

from samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth)

GURU

Sanskrit word for "dispeller of darkness"

is a personal spiritual teacher or guide, embodying divine wisdom

and helping disciples attain moksha (liberation) and self-realization.

MANDIR

holy places of worship, are often adorned with elaborate sculptures

and statues

Dharmachakra or " Dharma

Wheel"

symbolizes the religious

discipline and order that Hindus

follow to maintain cosmic

balance and fulfill their duty

(dharma). The wheel's

association with the god Vishnu,

who is known for preserving

order, highlights its role in

restoring and maintaining

balance in the world. The word

"Dharma" itself comes from the

Sanskrit word "dhr," meaning "to

hold and maintain

OM (AUM)

the most sacred symbol in Hinduism. It

represents the ultimate reality or the

universal sound. It is often chanted during

meditation and prayers

LOTUS FLOWER

symbol of purity

and enlightenment. It is often associated

with various deities, particularly Lord

Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.

:SWASTIKA

The trident is a symbol associated with Lord

Shiva. It represents the three aspects of

creation, preservation, and destruction.

TRISHUL

The trident is a symbol associated with Lord

Shiva. It represents the three aspects of

creation, preservation, and destruction.

SRI YANTRA

This is a sacred geometric pattern used in

meditation and worship. It represents the divine

feminine and the interconnectedness of all things.

DIWALI

The "Festival of Lights."

Celebrates the victory of

light over darkness, good

over evil.

HOLI

The "Festival of

Colors." A spring

festival celebrating joy

and love.

Navaratri/Durga Puja:

A nine-night festival

worshipping the

Goddess Durga.

MURTI

as a sacred symbol, not an idol.

• a sacred sculpture of a deity in Hinduism

• In Sanskrit, murti means "form" or "embodiment,"

signifying that the image is not the god itself but

a channel where the deity's spirit resides

Hinduism is Not Monolithic:

It is not a monolithic faith but a diverse family of

practices and philosophies united by concepts like

dharma (righteous living), karma (actions and their

consequences), and samsara (reincarnation)

Mahatma Gandhi

Regarded as the “Father of India”

born Mohandas Karamchand

Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948), was a

prominent leader in the Indian independence

movement against British colonial rule. He is widely

regarded as a symbol of nonviolent resistance and a

key figure in India's struggle for independence. The

honorific title "Mahatma" means "great soul.“

Karma Yoga

Path of selfless action and service.

Jnana Yoga

Path of knowledge and intellectual inquiry.

Bhakti Yoga

Path of devotion and love for a deity.

Raja Yoga

Path of meditation and mental discipline.

JATI (Lived Social Reality)

A rigid, birth-based system with thousands of

endogamous subgroups. Historically led to

discrimination against Dalits ("outcastes").

Note: The Indian constitution has abolished

untouchability, though caste-related disparities

can still persist in practice.

Brahmins

priests & teachers

Kshatriyas

— warriors & rulers

VARNA (Theoretical Framework)

A theoretical, four-tiered model of social duties,

ideally tied to a person's aptitude and dharma

— not strictly by birth.

Brahmins

• Kshatriyas

• Vaishyas

• Shudras

Vaishyas

merchants & farmers

SHUDRAS

LABORERS