1 / 13

Hinduism

Explore the origins and foundations of Hinduism, one of the world's oldest religions. Discover the sacred Vedas, the caste system, and the concepts of karma and dharma. Learn about the culture and practices that shape the beliefs of over 800 million followers today.

helenclay
Download Presentation

Hinduism

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Hinduism

  2. The Roots of Hinduism • One of the world’s oldest religions • Grew out of the beliefs of the Aryans • Today, nearly 800 million followers

  3. The Vedas • Sacred songs passed down by the Aryans to Harappans • “Books of Knowledge” • Songs were considered holy and contained hymns and prayers praising deities, or gods and goddesses • Written in Sanskrit • 1st building blocks of Hinduism • Told Hindus how they should live and explained life

  4. Hinduism and Culture • Vedas explained how Hindus believe people were created and what is the proper way to live • “ The Priest was his mouth; The princes became his arms; His legs produced the Professionals and Merchants; His feet gave birth to the servant. • 1. Brahmins- priest and scholars • 2. Kshatriyas- warriors and rulers • 3. Vaisyas- workers (average Joe) • 4. Sudras- servants

  5. The Caste System • A way of organizing people into hundreds of different levels • A person’s place in society is determined by the rank of the family he or she is born into. • E.g. People born in priestly caste of India have the highest rank and respect.

  6. Do people have any control over their caste? • YES!!! • The Vedas state that people move in a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. • REINCARNATION • Bad deeds done in one’s lifetime must be paid for in the next life.

  7. What does that mean? • People born as servants are paying for wrongs done in a past life. • Priests have done many good things in past lives. • This is KARMA! • Karma is a force created by each person’s good and bad acts.

  8. EQ: What are the main beliefs and practices of the Hindu religion?

  9. How did Hindus know what was right and wrong? • They followed the dharma of their caste. • Laws and Duties • 100s of rules that instructed the Hindus how to live • Vedas told each caste what jobs they could and could not do

  10. What happens if I break a law? • Following dharma helped keep society orderly. • The Vedas warned that not following dharma would result in disorder. • E.g.- people who married against the rules of the caste or who did a job outside their caste were forced to live outside of all castes • “outcastes” “untouchables”

  11. Outcastes • Looked down upon by others • Said to be impure • Hindu priests performed a cleansing ceremony if they were touched by even the shadow of an outcaste • Had few rights • Because the children of outcastes were born outside of all castes, they were outcastes

  12. Hinduism Today • 800 million followers • Still worship many gods and goddesses. • Favorite gods are: Vishnu, “The One That is The All,” Shiva, “ The God of Time and Destruction,” and Devi, “ The Mother of All Creation.” • Most Hindus worship at home, temples, or special festivals • Vedas are still important, as well as other epics

  13. MAJOR CHANGE TODAY • In 1950, the Indian government made it illegal to mistreat or to show disrespect for Hindu “outcastes.”

More Related