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Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism

Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism

Hinduism

  • Aryan Migration – 1750 BCE
  • Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from The Vedas
  • The Vedas – A collection of hymns from early India, passed down for thousands of years until they are written down between 1500 and 500 BCE (Rigveda is the oldest)
  • Aryan Social Structure:
    • Gods
    • Bhramin – Priests, Academics
    • Kshatryia – Warriors, Kings
    • Vaishya – Merchants, Landowners
    • Sudra – Commoners, Peasants, Servants
    • Untouchables – Outcast (Out of Caste), Street sweepers, latrine cleaners
  • The caste system was ultimately based on your birth/parents. It was initially based on skin color and occupation.
  • Aryan Rules:
    • No marrying outside of your caste
    • No eating with someone from a lower caste
    • Breaking rules can make you an untouchable
  • Hinduism developed slowly over a long period of time
  • No single founder or founding date
  • Goal: Liberate the soul of worldly pains
  • This goal is known as Moksha
  • Hinduism is monotheistic, has one God with multiple “avatars”
  • Vedic hymns were written down to create the Upanishads
  • The Upanishads explore how one can liberate themselves from desire and suffering
  • Moksha is achieved through the perfect understanding between atman and Brahman
  • The soul is released from the cycle of life once Moksha is achieved
  • Atman – An individual’s soul
  • Brahman – The world soul, united all atman
  • Samsara – The cycle of death and rebirth
  • Dharma – The moral responsibility that you hold within your life/caste level
  • When you fulfill your Dharma, your soul will hold more Karma
  • Karma then dictates your rebirth
  • Caste – a social group in a traditional Indian society
  • Castes maintained social order and gave people a sense of identity.
  • Hindus worship a variety of deities who are gods and goddesses that are forms of Brahman
  • Brahma – The creator of the universe
  • Shiva – The destroyer, restarts the universe’s cycle through destruction
  • Vishnu – The preserver of the universe, preserves harmony in between the cycle of creation and destruction
  • The Avatars of Vishnu:
    • Rama – 7th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of chivalry and virtue
    • Krishna – 8th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of love, joy, and playfulness
    • Ganesh – remover of obstacles, god of intellect and wisdom
    • Kali – goddess of time, doomsday, death, mother of all children
    • Hanuman – leader of monkey armies in Ramayana, helped Rama recover his wife Site from the demon king Ravana

Jainism

  • Ancient Indian religion
  • Unique religion, not derived from another religion
  • Based on the practice of Ahimsa, which is a principle of non-violence
  • Ahimsa, honesty, self-discipline, and lack of attachment to material objects
  • Jains are generally vegetarian, fast often and consistently, and are very focused on the practice of meditation
  • Jains believe that everything has a soul and should not be harmed
  • Jains are one of the wealthiest groups in Modern India because they often chose to work in trade
  • This is in order to avoid harming any creature or being in their work
  • The swastika was a symbol used for positive meaning in Jainism before Hitler stole it and adopted it.

Sikhism

  • Based on the teaching of Guru Nanak
  • Progressed during the religious persecution of the Mughal Empire
  • Believe that no one holds Absolute Truth
  • Basic Beliefs:
    • Faith and meditation in the name of one single creator
    • Divine unity and equality in all of mankind
    • Selfless service, honesty, and justice for the benefit of everyone
AC

Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism

Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism

Hinduism

  • Aryan Migration – 1750 BCE
  • Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from The Vedas
  • The Vedas – A collection of hymns from early India, passed down for thousands of years until they are written down between 1500 and 500 BCE (Rigveda is the oldest)
  • Aryan Social Structure:
    • Gods
    • Bhramin – Priests, Academics
    • Kshatryia – Warriors, Kings
    • Vaishya – Merchants, Landowners
    • Sudra – Commoners, Peasants, Servants
    • Untouchables – Outcast (Out of Caste), Street sweepers, latrine cleaners
  • The caste system was ultimately based on your birth/parents. It was initially based on skin color and occupation.
  • Aryan Rules:
    • No marrying outside of your caste
    • No eating with someone from a lower caste
    • Breaking rules can make you an untouchable
  • Hinduism developed slowly over a long period of time
  • No single founder or founding date
  • Goal: Liberate the soul of worldly pains
  • This goal is known as Moksha
  • Hinduism is monotheistic, has one God with multiple “avatars”
  • Vedic hymns were written down to create the Upanishads
  • The Upanishads explore how one can liberate themselves from desire and suffering
  • Moksha is achieved through the perfect understanding between atman and Brahman
  • The soul is released from the cycle of life once Moksha is achieved
  • Atman – An individual’s soul
  • Brahman – The world soul, united all atman
  • Samsara – The cycle of death and rebirth
  • Dharma – The moral responsibility that you hold within your life/caste level
  • When you fulfill your Dharma, your soul will hold more Karma
  • Karma then dictates your rebirth
  • Caste – a social group in a traditional Indian society
  • Castes maintained social order and gave people a sense of identity.
  • Hindus worship a variety of deities who are gods and goddesses that are forms of Brahman
  • Brahma – The creator of the universe
  • Shiva – The destroyer, restarts the universe’s cycle through destruction
  • Vishnu – The preserver of the universe, preserves harmony in between the cycle of creation and destruction
  • The Avatars of Vishnu:
    • Rama – 7th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of chivalry and virtue
    • Krishna – 8th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of love, joy, and playfulness
    • Ganesh – remover of obstacles, god of intellect and wisdom
    • Kali – goddess of time, doomsday, death, mother of all children
    • Hanuman – leader of monkey armies in Ramayana, helped Rama recover his wife Site from the demon king Ravana

Jainism

  • Ancient Indian religion
  • Unique religion, not derived from another religion
  • Based on the practice of Ahimsa, which is a principle of non-violence
  • Ahimsa, honesty, self-discipline, and lack of attachment to material objects
  • Jains are generally vegetarian, fast often and consistently, and are very focused on the practice of meditation
  • Jains believe that everything has a soul and should not be harmed
  • Jains are one of the wealthiest groups in Modern India because they often chose to work in trade
  • This is in order to avoid harming any creature or being in their work
  • The swastika was a symbol used for positive meaning in Jainism before Hitler stole it and adopted it.

Sikhism

  • Based on the teaching of Guru Nanak
  • Progressed during the religious persecution of the Mughal Empire
  • Believe that no one holds Absolute Truth
  • Basic Beliefs:
    • Faith and meditation in the name of one single creator
    • Divine unity and equality in all of mankind
    • Selfless service, honesty, and justice for the benefit of everyone
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