rs- hinduism

KEY:

key beliefs

stories and folklore

key words

history

definitions

the majority of hindus come from India, or identify as Indian. This is because Hinduism was (most likely) started in the Indus Valley which is in Northern India and Pakistan. This dates back to around 3300-1300 BCE.

Hinduism was started by a group called the Indo- Aryans.

Many Hindus use the phrase- Sanatana Dharma which means ‘eternal law (truth) to describe their faith.

Hinduism is a very diverse culture and religions. Some of the reasons for this are:

  • india is vast, so many different cultures and ideas have formed throughout history

  • India has many cultures, languages and traditions which all merged together to create the larger religion of Hinduism

  • Hinduism has no central religious authority, which lets people choose their own path and make up their own ideas about the beliefs.

a story which helps illustrate this is the story which follows:

6 blind- folded men were touching an elephant. Each man thought he was touching something different, but when they opened their eyes they saw that they were all touching the same thing. this represents the fact that Hinduism is diverse and lots of people brought their own beliefs and ideas to form Hinduism.

there are many other stories in Hindu folklore. Another is as follows:

There was once a demon king called Hiroanyakshyapu. He ruled the world ruthlessly and without mercy. He wanted everyone and everything to worship him as the one sole ruler. However, his son refused to worship him. The demon king was very angry and ordered for his son to be killed. However when he tried to kill his son, his son was saved by Vishnu. The king was still very angry and ordered his daughter to burn his son. the daughter took her brother to burn but he wouldn’t burn, because he had been blessed by Vishnu. In the end, the sister burns and dies whilst the brother survives and continues to praise Vishnu.

this story represents that good always triumphs over evil and that if you pray to the deitys, they can help you.

Like most religions, Hinduism has a belief about God.

They believe there is one supreme God, called Brahman, or the ‘all- pervading force’. Other Gods or deities represent the different qualities of this God.

The starting point of this is called Trimutri. this is the idea of breaking down Brahman into ideas that human beings can understand. Trimutri means ‘three forms’

the Trimutri are:

  • Shiva

  • Vishnu

  • Brahma\

then these 3 are broken down into three and them into three and so on. This creates many different deitys.

the Trimutri represent 3 ideas that Hindus believe represent Brahmans qualitys. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer.

Ganesha is an example of a deity and he is the deity of luck and fortune. Hindus can pray to individual deities for specific things or Brahman for overall things.

like in christianity, and other religions, there are images used to describe Brahman’s qualities. these images are called the murtis.

Hindus pray to statues of deitys or Brahman. there is a special set up which Hindus use to pray. they have these things listed below:

  • deity- statue

  • bells

  • vimana- shrine

  • arti lamp

  • shankha- conch

  • pujari- preist

these can be in hindu temples or at home.

Hindus also have beleifs about their purpose in life. Hindus have 4 aims of life:

  • Dharma- duty

  • Artha- success/ wealth + riches

  • Kama- pleasure/ peace of mind + soul

  • Moksha- liberation/ complete peace and self love

all of these regulate each other and Hindus believe that you will get reincarnated until you can achieve Moksha.

Hindus beleive in the Cycle of Samsara. this is like the circle of life. the first stage is birth, then child, then adult, then elderly, then death, then re-birth- if you have been good then you will be reincarnated as a human to achieve Moksha, but if you have been bad, you will be reinarnated as an animal or plant.

there are also other words for the 4 stages of life. they are Brahmacharya- students, Grihastha- raises family, Vanaprastha- retirement, Sannyasa- spiritualness/ moksh.

Varnashramadharma is concerned with the material nature. Often focuses of the individual’s position in society an stage of life. it is individualistic.

Varna is the hindu’s social hierarchy. at the top is Brahmin- priests, acedemics, teachers, then it is Kyshatryia- warriors, kings, leaders. After that is is Vaishya- merchants, land owners, farmers. finally at the bottom is Sudra- commoners, peasants, servants. another word for this is the ‘class system’.