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Hinduism

Hinduism. The Oldest Faith. The True Name. Known by followers as Sanatana Dharma Sanatana= Righteousness Dharma= Forever Given name of ‘Hinduism’ by invading Persians Where did they get the name? One of the world’s oldest faiths Evidence points to a faith almost 6000 years old

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Hinduism

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  1. Hinduism The Oldest Faith

  2. The True Name • Known by followers as Sanatana Dharma • Sanatana=Righteousness • Dharma=Forever • Given name of ‘Hinduism’ by invading Persians • Where did they get the name? • One of the world’s oldest faiths • Evidence points to a faith almost 6000 years old • Mixture of beliefs of variety of Indus Valley cultures!

  3. The Origin • No one founder • Grew out of Dravidian, Aryan, and other Indus Valley cultures • No one book of faith or way of practice • Very individualistic

  4. One God or Many? • Traditionally viewed by Westerners as polytheistic • IT’S NOT! • Henotheistic • Recognize ONE god with many different forms • AVATARS= Forms of God

  5. The Avatars of Brahman

  6. Who or What is God? • BRAHMAN • eternal, genderless, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, yet indescribable. • beyond time, space, and causation • permeates everything and every being • Generally, Brahman has three main Avatars for most Hindus • Brahma the Creator • Vishnu (Krishna) the Preserver • Shiva the Destroyer

  7. Brahma the Creator • One who created and transcended the universe • Assumes many different shapes or forms when visiting man • Not popularly worshipped today

  8. Vishnu the Preserver • Preserves and Protects Creation • Assumes one of Ten incarnations while on Earth • Main goal is to maintain dharma • Eternal order, righteousness, religion, law, duty

  9. Shiva the Destroyer • Destroys evil • Consumes the sins of man • makes throat BLUE! • Destroys the world for it to be reborn again • Symbolizes the cycle of birth and rebirth!

  10. The Three Avatars • The worship of the three main Avatars of Hinduism is generally known as worshipping the Trimurti • TRINITY! • Hinduism is one of the most tolerant faiths in the world • Why? • “Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti” • “The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names” • How might Hindus view other faiths?

  11. The Holy Books • Some texts older than the Old Testament! • Primary Texts are the Vedas • Rig Veda (Oldest; about 4000 BC) • Sama Veda • Yajur Veda • Atharva Veda • Contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from Ancient India • Written in Sanskrit

  12. The Upanishads • Deal with Vedic philosophy • Elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the Ultimate Truth (Brahman) • Contemplation, meditation, karma

  13. The Main Beliefs • Transmigration of the Soul • Creates a continuous cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth (reincarnation) • SAMSARA • Ultimate goal is moksha • Release from samsara • Perfect understanding of all things • Depends upon Karma

  14. Karma • The sum of your good and bad deeds • You will pay for your sins in the next life • Determines how you will live your next life • How might you get to a higher level? • Pure acts, thoughts, and devotion • Goal is to reach moksha and end reincarnations! • How might you get to a lower level? • Bad deeds, impure thoughts and actions • Why might some people be rich and some people be poor?

  15. Four Aims of Hindusim • Dharma • Righteousness in religious life • Artha • Success in economic life; wealth • Kama • Gratification of the senses • Moksha • Liberation from samsara • Becoming part of Brahman

  16. The Caste System • Thousands of Jats (communities) in early India • Grouped into four Varna (social castes) plus a fifth (untouchables) • Jat determined jobs or professions • Persons from different Jats could not eat, drink, smoke together • Marry within Jat

  17. Four Main Castes • Brahmins • Priests and Academics • Kshatriyas • Rulers and Military • Vaishyas • Farmers, Landlords, Merchants • Sudras • Peasants and Servants

  18. The Dalit • Outcasts! • Worked in worst jobs • Considered untouchable by four main castes • Even contact with a shadow of an untouchable was considered bad! • Why would you be born into this poverty?

  19. Castes within Castes • Patidars, which are traditionally, traders • Mochis, which are traditionally, shoemakers • Lohanas, which are traditionally, traders • Anavil Brahmins, which are traditionally, agriculturalists • Khattris, which are traditionally traders • Rarhi Brahmins, which are traditionally, priests • Baidyas, which are traditionally, doctors

  20. Questions to Consider • Why act properly and justly if there is no heaven or hell in the Hindu faith? • What relationship is their between the Hindu religion and the Hindu social structure? • How does one influence the other? • Why might the caste system lead some to reject Hinduism?

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