Hinduism

HINDUISM

Hinduism Overview

• Oldest religion in the world.

• Polytheistic: believes in many gods.

• Guru: a Hindu spiritual teacher or guide.

Key Beliefs

• Brahma: A mighty spirit that creates and destroys all lives everywhere, in everything.

• To become one with Brahman (Moksha), one must purify oneself.

Most Important Hindu Gods

• Vishnu: The Preserver.

• Shiva: The Destroyer.

• Brahma: The Creator.

History of Hinduism

• Originated from the oral tradition of the Dravidians of the Indus Valley civilization.

• No single founder.

• Codified by the Aryans in the late Vedic Age (800-400 BCE).

• The Vedas: The religious texts of Hinduism, written in Sanskrit.

• Epic poems (Mahabharata, Ramayana) teach lessons of heroism, romance, and adventure.

Key Beliefs

• Reincarnation: After death, the soul returns in another body.

• Karma: The quality of life lived determines the caste into which the soul reincarnates.

• Dharma: Duties or the "right way of living" within one’s caste.

Caste System

• A complex set of divisions within Indian society based on purity.

Features

• Higher castes were considered more “pure” than lower castes.

• Inter-caste mariage and sharing food were prohibited.

• Each caste had its own occupation and dharma.

Proverb

• “Better to do one’s own duty badly than to do another’s duty well.”

History of the Caste System

• Originated from the Aryans who settled in India around 1500 BCE, initially based on skin tone between Aryans and Dravidians.

• Social hierarchy developed around occupations and social roles.

• Outlawed in 1948.

The Castes

• Brahmins: Priests, spiritual leaders, teachers.

• Kshatriyas: Rulers, military elite, nobility, property owners.

• Vaishyas: Merchants, traders, agriculturalists, money-lenders, smiths.

• Sudras: Peasants and serfs.

• Dalits (Untouchables): Carry out unpleasant jobs, e.g., grave diggers, sewer cleaners.

The Vedas

• Hindu priests called Brahmins gathered epic poems, hymns, prayers, and rituals into four holy books known as the Vedas.

• Brahmins are at the top of the social hierarchy.

Reincarnation

• Every action affects one’s karma and future of the soul.

• No deed is forgotten.

• A future life is built through actions in the present one.