world religion hindusim

when did Hinduism begien

3500-2500 BCE (5000 yrs ago) in Indus Valley

how was Hinduism developed

out of religious ideas-of the people who lived in India and the aryan nomads who migrated to India

whos is Brahaman

the supreme god

are there are 33 million Hindu gods and goddesses?

yes!

Male deities have female counterparts. Without the feminine side, the deities are seen as incomplete?

yes! and yes!

All gods and goddesses have an energy known as shakti?

NO ONLY FEMALES

Some deities have avatars (a deity who has descended into the world in earthly form)?

YES!!!!

Hindus have the option to worship all gods and goddesses?

YESSIR

what are some fun facts about Brahman

Is an entity without form or being/ it is the soul of the universe/ It is everything and everywhere/ It is divine, invisible, infinite and indescribable/ Hindus worship different deities that are manifestations or expressions of Brahman

whos apart of the Hindu trinity?

Brahma (the creator), shiva (the destoryer), vishnu (the preserver)

funfacts about Brahma

Brahma is the creator of the universe/ Has red clothes, four heads, four faces, four arms, and often a white beard/ He wears a crown, holds a scepter, a bow, a string of prayer beads and the Vedas/ Brahma uses the swan as his carrier or vehicle/ He sits on a lotus

fun facts about shiva

Destroyer and restorer of the universe/ Associated with creative energy/ Spiritually evolved individual/ Holds a trident, prayer beads, and a gourd/ Vehicle is a bull/ Also known as the god of dance/ Has matted locks, three eye and wears a snake around the neck

fin facts about Vishnu

Lord Vishnu is the Preserver of the universe/ Loving and forgiving figure who brings salvation/ Conquers evil/ Vishnu's powers appear in ten mortal incarnations known as Avatars/ The avatars balance the effect of good and evil upon the earth/ Usually has a pale blue complexion, four arms./ Holds a lotus flower, a mace, a conch and a discus

how many avatars does vishnu have

10

What do Hindus believe in?

non-violence (ahimsa)

what is ahimsa related to?

cow protection in india (why most ppl are vegatain)

what is om?

a mystic symobol -the first sound of the universe -a symbol for Brahman -most scared chant in Hinduism

what is Atman

• term for the human soul -is eternal and immortal -when someone dies the atman lives and enters a new body

what do hindus call reincarnation

samsara

what is karma

actions determine form in the next life

what dose BAD karma result in?

rebirth at a lower station in life such as an animal

what dose good karma result in ?

rebirth at a higher station in life and closer to salvation

what is moksha

the goals of hindus, freedom from the cycle of rebirth (moksha mean freedom)

how does one archive moksha

by fulfilling ones dharma, when this achieved the atman reunites with Brahman

whats dharma

duty, and it refers to a Hindus duties in life

what dose doing ones duties well result in

good karma

what are the 4 path to salvation

devotion (Bhakti yoga), Action (karma yoga), Wisdom (Jnana yoga), Medtation (raja yoga)

what is devotion

Devotion to a personal deity - singing and praising him/her

action

good deeds and thoughts with no expectation of reward, leading to good karma

wisdom

meditate and study the scriptures with a Guru (teacher) to learn about the Brahman and atma

mediation

Intense meditation (trance state) on Brahman -the most difficult path

what is the caste system

categories in Hindu society

what are the sacred places of worship

Mandir (temple), home, Ganges river

what do they do when they worship at home

Hindus worship at a home shrine (like an altar)- There might be a statue or a picture of the god or goddess (Murti) -The shrine also contains offerings of things which represent the five senses (food, flowers etc) -The most common form of worship is called Puja, a form of thanksgiving with offerings to the gods -A bell is rung to help focus the mind and worshipers follow 16 steps

what is a Mandir

mandir (temple) is dedicated to a particular god or goddess (deity) and is considered the god's home on earth -Mandirs are often decorated with the figures of gods and goddesses -Worshippers go whenever they want -When entering a temple, visitors must take off their shoes and women can choose to cover their heads to show respect -In the Mandir Hindus perform Puja

what steps dose puja involes at the mandir

-Praying -Viewing the statue of the god or goddess they are honoring -Offering fruit, flowers and incense to a priest who blesses the offerings and presents them to the deity -Have their foreheads marked with a red dot or blessing called a tilak -Circle the inner shrine with their right hand raised in respect to the deity.

what is the ganges rivers

-a very sacred place to Hindus -Hindus go on pilgrimage to bathe in its sacred waters -Hindus also like to have their ashes scattered in the Ganges after cremation

what do hindu priest do (religious role)

perform services such as weeddings

what do gurus do (religious role)

The guru has saintly qualities and enlightens the mind of his disciple -the guru also instructs in rituals and religious ceremonies -Sometimes called Swami

what are Sahus (religious role?)

-Sadhus are dedicated to achieving Mokṣha through meditation on Brahman -they live in monasteries or small huts or caves or wander the countryside -they wear yellow/orange robes -they wear a mark (Pundra) on their forehead -they take vows of poverty and celibacy -their only possessions are a staff, a water pot, an alms bowl, a rosary -Some Sadhus practice asceticism

ASCETICISM (religious role?)

Dedication of one's life to the pursuit of Moksha -Practice of extreme self-denial or self-mortification

what were hindus sacred texts written in?

Sanskrit, the language of ancient India

where have hindus developed their systems of worship and beliefs from?

from scriptures

what are the 2 main categories of scriptures

Shruti - knowledge that is discovered - means "that which is heard"- found in the four Vedas and Upanishads scriptures Smriti - is human made Literature - means "that which is remembered" - found in the traditional texts

what are the Vedas

-the oldest hindu scriptures (3000ish yrs old), -collection if hymens and prayers praising the gods -guide hindus in there life

upanishads

-concluding sections of the Vedas -These stories and parables are told by gurus (teachers) to their students

Mahabharata

-an EPIC POEM about a war between two royal families : Kauravas and Pandavas (The Bhagavad Gita is a part of this text)

The Bhagavad Gita

-teaches Hindus how to achieve the ultimate goal of moksha, or liberation from the eternal cycle of rebirths. -Krishna explains the importance of Dharma

RAmayana

a story of the god Rama and the rescue of his wife Sita from Ravana, the evil demon king

what are the sacred texts of HIndu

Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata (including Bhagavad Gita)

what is Diwali

festival of lights. This holiday is the Hindu new year, a festival of lights. It celebrates the victory of good over evil. ( 5 days long between oct and nov) (gods/ess worrshiped, Rama, Lakshmi, Krishna, Ganesha, Kubera, and Saraswati)

what is holi

festival of spring. Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the deities Radha and Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it commemorates the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu ( 2 days long in march)

what is Maha Shivaratri

Devotion to Shiva. It signifies the celestial union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, portraying the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction (February between March. 2 days long)

Navaratri

Nine nights, an autumn festival of worship and dance honoring the Goddess Durga

what are mile stones called?

Samskara

what are the 7 of the most important events that are lead by a pries

-Naming a child -child first outing -First solid food -First haircut -Thread initiation ceremony -Marriage -Death and cremation

how is at the top of the caste, what do they do

Brahmins, (the priestly caste) they study and teach in matter of faith and lead most key rituals.

who is under Brahmins?

Kshatriyas (the worrior caste), they protect people and run a fair government.

whos under Kshatriyas

Vaishyas (traders, merchants, farmers, artists, businesspeople) they take care of the economic needs of the community.

whos under Vaishyas

Sudras (lowest caste), they serve higher caste and are unskilled workers servents, and menial workers.

whos under sudras

untouchables, considered outsiders and may not interact in any way with members of the four castes - they did the dirtiest work in society and lived separately

what did gandhi do

he challenged the birtish empire with non violance

When did India gain independence? (important)

1947

what do the 4 stages of life represent? (Women do not enter the last two stages. Very few men enter the stage of ascetic.)

he social aspect of karma since they define the actions for which people are responsible for in society.

whats stage 1 of life

Student -Discipline the mind and body -Gain knowledge -Learn rules and rituals of Hinduism -Show respect toward elders

whats stage 2 of life

Householders -Marry and have a family -Provide for the family -Care for family elders -Practice social and religious traditions

whats stage 3 of life

Forest dweller -Retire and transmit household duties to wife or son -Read and study -Participate in religious pilgrimages

whats stage 4 of life

Ascetic -Give up worldly life -Wander -Meditate -Attain salvation