Hinduism

Goal of Hinduism

To achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of reincarnation

Main Hindu Gods

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are traditionally identified as major Hindu deities

Brahma

Hindu deity traditionally associated with creation

Vishnu

Hindu deity associated with preservation and protection

Shiva

Hindu deity associated with destruction and transformation

Hindu Holy Texts

The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and other sacred writings

Hindu Place of Worship

Temples or shrines in the home

Brahmins

The traditional priestly and scholarly class

Kshatriyas

The traditional warrior and ruler class

Vaishyas

The traditional merchant, farmer, and business class

Shudras

The traditional laborer and service class

Dalits

People historically placed outside the four

Caste System

A traditional hereditary social system in which social position was largely determined by birth

Social Mobility in the Traditional Caste System

Movement between castes during a person's lifetime was traditionally extremely limited or impossible

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

Samsara

The continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

Dharma

A person's religious, moral, and social duties

Karma

The belief that a person's actions have consequences that influence their present or future existence