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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Course Code : D5 EDUC 14
Course Description : The Teaching Profession
Schedule : 4:00 – 5:00 PM (MWF)
Course Facilitator :

Topic : Hinduism
Reporter : Juarizo, Stephane Joyce B.
Dumaliang, Gabriella Marie T.

HINDUISM
OBJECTIVES:
1. Define Hinduism
2. Discover the History of Hinduism
3. Determine the Three main gods of Hinduism
4. Identify the beliefs of Hindu’s
5. Justify the sculptures of Hinduism

 What is Hinduism?

 Hinduism is an Indian religion. Hinduism, major world religion originating on

the Indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems
of philosophy, belief, and ritual.  Hinduism, Oldest of the world’s major religions.

 Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, originating in Central Asia and

the Indus Valley, still practiced in the present day. The term Hinduism is what is
known as an exonym (a name given by others to a people, place, or concept) and
derives from the Persian term Sindus designating those who lived across the
Indus River.

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 History of hinduism
The Indus Valley Civilisation (before 2000 BCE)
The Indus Valley civilisation was located in the basin of the river Indus, which flows
through present day Pakistan. It had developed by about 2500 BCE although its
origins reach back to the Neolithic period. It had faded away by 1500 BCE.
The Indus Valley was a developed urban culture akin to the civilisations of
Mesopotamia. Two major cities have been uncovered, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa,
which has given us the alternative name of Harappan culture.
The Vedic Period (c.1500–c.500 BCE)
There have been two major theories about the early development of early south
Asian traditions.
The Aryan migration thesis that the Indus Valley groups calling themselves 'Aryans'
(noble ones) migrated into the sub-continent and became the dominant cultural
force. Hinduism, on this view, derives from their religion recorded in the Veda along
with elements of the indigenous traditions they encountered.
The cultural transformation thesis that Aryan culture is a development of the Indus
Valley culture. On this view there were no Aryan migrations (or invasion) and the
Indus valley culture was an Aryan or vedic culture.
The Epic, Puranic and Classical Age (c.500 BCE–500 CE)
This period, beginning from around the time of Buddha (died c. 400 BCE), saw the
composition of further texts, the Dharma Sutras and Shastras, the two Epics,
the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and subsequently the Puranas, containing
many of the stories still popular today. The famous Bhagavad Gita is part of
the Mahabharata.
The idea of dharma (law, duty, truth) which is central to Hinduism was expressed in
a genre of texts known as Dharma Sutras and Shastras.
Medieval Period (500 CE–1500 CE)
From 500 CE we have the rise of devotion (bhakti) to the major deities, particularly
Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. With the collapse of the Gupta empire, regional kingdoms
developed which patronised different religions. For example, the Cholas in the South
supported Shaivism.
The Pre-Modern Period (c.1500–1757 CE)
The development of Hindu traditions, most widespread in the South, was the rise of
Islam in the North as a religious and political force in India. The new religion of

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Islam reached Indian shores around the 8th century, via traders plying the Arabian
Sea and the Muslim armies which conquered the northwest provinces.
Muslim political power began with the Turkish Sultanate around 1200 CE and
culminated in the Mughul Empire (from 1526). Akbar (1542–1605) was a liberal
emperor and allowed Hindus to practice freely. 
British Period (1757–1947 CE)
Robert Clive's victory at the Battle of Plassey (1757) heralded the end of the Mughul
Empire and the rise of British supremacy in India.
At first, the British did not interfere with the religion and culture of the Indian
people, allowing Hindus to practice their religion unimpeded. Later, however,
missionaries arrived preaching Christianity. Shortly after, the first scholars stepped
ashore, and though initially sympathetic, were often motivated by a desire to
westernise the local population. Chairs of Indology were established in Oxford and
other universities in Europe.
Independent India (1947 CE–present)
The partition of India in 1947, and the resultant bloodshed reinforced nationalistic
tendencies and specifically notions of India as 'a Hindu country', and of Hinduism as
'an Indian religion'.
These tendencies have continued and, since then, communal violence has frequently
erupted. In 1992, Hindus were incited to tear down the Babri mosque in Ayodhya,
which they believe was deliberately and provocatively built over the site of Rama's
birth. Tensions have been exacerbated by attempts to covert Hindus to other
religions and reactions by the continuing hindutva movement.

 Three main gods of hinduism

Hinduism is a religion with various Gods and Goddesses. According to Hinduism,
three Gods rule the world. Brahma: the creator; Vishnu: the preserver and Shiva: the
destroyer. Lord Vishnu did his job of preserving the world by incarnating himself in
different forms at times of crisis.
 Hinduism Beliefs
Some basic Hindu concepts include:
-Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and
reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
-One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This
philosophy holds that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the

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supreme soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of
rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.
-Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
-Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many
are vegetarians.

References:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/history/history_1.shtml
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism

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