Introduction to Hinduism the social order in a form of a hierarchical

ordering of groups in a society.

Hinduism- World’s third largest religion by
population after Christianity and Islam. Principles of Hinduism

- Dominant religion in India, Nepal, and
Mauritius
- Has significant numbers of followers in
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bali,
Indonesia
- Has no single founder, no single
scripture and no commonly agreed set
of teachings
- Regarded as world’s oldest religion
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the
term Hinduism “became familiar as a designator
of religious ideas and practices distinctive to
India with the publication of books such as
Hinduism (1877) by Sir Monier Monier-
Williams, the notable Oxford scholar and author
of an influential Sanskrit Dictionary”
 Belief in one, all pervasive Supreme
Reality
 Belief in the cyclical nature of time
 Belief in alternate realities with higher
beings
 Belief in enlightened master or gurus
 Belief in nonaggression and nonajury
(ahimsa)
 Belief that all revealed religions are
essentially correct
 Belief that the living being is first and
foremost a spiritual entity

Hindu- derived from the Sanskrit word

“Sindhu”, which refers to the river in
the Indus Valley (Indus River)

- their religion is Sanatina Dharma which

means “the everlasting law”

Dharma- speaks not just about religious

obligations but of a social and cultural
obligations as well

Hinduism- pays much attention to human

behavior than belief

Characteristics of Hinduism

The Vedas as the source of Hindu Belief- Vedas

is the earliest among the sacred Hindu text

Belief in Karma and Reincarnation- Hindus

belief that life is an endless cycle

Belief in the Social Class System known as

Caste- Caste System, which is traditionally
called varnashrama, is a guide that systematizes