INTRODUCTION TO WORLD

RELIGIONS AND BELIEF

SYSTEMS
Quarter II- Week 1
The Elements of Hinduism
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Lesson 1
The Elements of Hinduism

MELC: Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues of
Hinduism.(Week 1)

Objectives: 1. Identify the elements, history, core teachings, and fundamental beliefs of Hinduism
2. Examine the core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues of
Hinduism

Hinduism is the oldest, organized religion that began on the Indian subcontinent with no specific
moment of origin and no specific founder. Hindu followers in their set of beliefs and practices accept the
pluralistic nature of their traditions.

Unlocking of Difficulties

Dharma- ( for Hindus)individual appropriate behavior or duty to be

fulfilled in observance of a custom or law. (For
Buddhists) it is a universal law or order.
Dharma religions includes Hinduism and the two branches of Buddhism –
Theravada and Mahayana schools of thought.
Hindu is a Persian word (in Sanskrit Sindhu) which means “river”. Hinduism- is a
name given in the 19th century to describe the wide array of beliefs in India. It is also
known as “Arya Dharma” or “Aryan Way”.

How did Hinduism arise and evolve in

Ancient India?

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 Founders: Hinduism has no identifiable founder.
Sacred texts: Shruti and Shmriti
Doctrines: Hindu faith offers many paths to salvation.
Elements of Hinduism
Gods: 330 million gods and goddesses, Brahman is the ultimate
reality, one and undivided.
Issues: Manusmriti and the Caste System

Hinduism is considered to be the oldest and more complex of all

world religions. It is believed that it may have started around the 3rd
millennium BCE and it has no identifiable founder.
Hindu means “river” to refer the people of the Indus Valley- the Indians.
Between 1750 BCE and 1200 BCE Aryan conquerors moved to the
Indus Valley and brought with them their own set of beliefs that
Brief history of eventually mingled with the religions of the natives.
Hinduism
Aryan based their beliefs on oral texts known as Vedas.
Veda means “knowledge” or “sacred lore”.

Followers of Hinduism are called Hindus.

Brahman is the central to Hindu faith who is the ultimate reality, one
and undivided

Brahman has three forms or functions called Trimurti-

creation, preservation and destruction.

Beliefs and Doctrines

Functions expressed in god forms:
Hindu faith offers many
paths to salvation
Bhakti stands for the
soul’s longing for and
clinging to god

Brahma Vishnu Shiva

the creator the preserver the destroyer

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 Shruti
Shruti literally means “that which is heard,” is the eternal truths
that were passed orally until the beginning of the present age wherein
there came the need to write them down. Vedas and Shruti are the
primary sources and most authoritative texts of Hindu faith.

Four Basic Vedic Books (oral tradition)

Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda and Atharva-veda
1. Rig-Veda is the most important and the oldest
2. Yajur-Veda or “knowledge of rites
3. Sama-Veda or “knowledge of chants”
Sacred Scriptures
Vedas Four Main Parts
1. Mantras – hymns and chants for praising god
2. Brahmanas- explanations of the Mantras with detailed
Other writings that form Shruti descriptions of the sacrificial ceremonies related to them.
are Samhitas, 3. Aranyakas- meditations that explicate their meaning.
Brahmanas,Upanishads and few 4. Upanishads or secret (Vedanta)
Sutras
Shmriti
 The sacred texts of
Hinduism have principally passed Shmriti literally means “that which has been remembered,” and
down throughout generations by reinfornces shruti. Texts are less important as compare to Shruti
way of music, recitation, dance particulary in terms of stories, legends, codes of conduct for the
and drama. society and guidebooks for worship.
 The sacred writings of
the Hindus are into two classes- Ramayana
the Shruti and Shmriti.
The “Story of Rama” or “Rama’s Journey” is a 3
anskrit epic poem written by the poet Valmiki
consisting of 24,000 verses, seven books and 500 cantos.
Rama was a king who was the avatar or incarnation of god
Vishnu and was exiled by his father before his coronation. Sita his
consort was abducted by Ravana the demon-king. Rama killed
Ravana. Finally, Rama and Sita reunited.

Mahabharata

Mahabharata is the longest 3 anskrit literature writteb by

Vyasa. It tells the struggle of the descendants of king Bharata.
Further, it talks about the family feud between Pandavas who are the
good ones and Kauravas who embodied the evil-ones. Kauravas
cheated their cousins Pandavas which resulted to an intense battle but
with the help of Krishna, the Pandavas won the battle but lost their
sons and kins.

Bhagavad Gita
It is the celebrated episode within the Mahabhrata. Bhagavad
Gita (simply Gita) and is translated as “the Lord’s Song”. It is one of
the holiest books.

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 Subdivisions
It is important to note however that while these gods have different names, Hindus all worship one
supreme being-Brahman.
Shaivism Shaktism Vaishnavism Smartism

Lord Shiva, the She is the supreme
Compassionate Goddess for Shaktas.
One. The divine mother who
is gentle or a fiery
deity.
Lord Vishnu is God for Smartas are left to
the Vaisnavites, choose their own
especially in his deity in one of six
incarnations Krishna and manifestations-
Rama. Ganesha, Siva, Shakti,
Vishnu,
Surya and Skanda.

There are 330 million gods or devas according to their

scriptures

Worship and Hindu worship or puja involves:

Observances  Murtis – images
 Mantra- prayers
 Yantras- diagrams of the universe
Hindu festivals

 Holi
 Diwali
 Dusserah
Diwali or the “ Festival of Lights” is India’s biggest and
most important holiday of the year held in October or
November which like Christmas for Christians.

In the Manusmriti or the “Laws of Manu” it states that women

should be honored in Hindu society on the contrary, women have
always been considered inferior to men in all aspects of life.

Caste System
 A social class composed of the Brahmins,
Related/Selected Issues of Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras
Hinduism  The most deplorable group is the Dalits-“outcasts” or
“untouchables.
 The present condition may have been caused by their
accumulated karma from the past.
 By fulfilling their duties and accepting their Dharma they
may be born to a better caste in their next live.

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 Directions: Identify the elements of Hinduism in each number and write your
answer on the space provided before each number. Choose your answer from the
box.

Diwali Yantras Brahma

Bhagavad Gita Vishnu Dalit or untouchable

1. It is the biggest and most important holiday in India.

2. It is translated as “the Lord’s Song”.
3. Hindu worship involves murtis, mantras and .
4. He is known to be the god creator.
5. This group is considered to be deplorable ones.

Directions: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is
wrong. Underline the word/s that makes the statement false.

1. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion.

2. The term Hindu has originated from an Indian word which means “river”.

3.The word Veda means “wisdom” or “sacred lore”.

4. The term Shruti literally means “ that which is heard”.

5. The past of the individual for Hinduism is important for it determines one present condition
and this is called karma.

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Directions: Match column A with the correct answer on column B. Write the letter of your answer on
the space provided before each number.

Column A Column B

1. The founders of Hinduism. A. Vishnu

2. It is the translation of the Hindu B. Founders, Sacred texts, Doctrines, Gods

term samsara and Issues

3. The elements of Hinduism C. Shiva

4. He is the god whose primary D. Reincarnation

concern is humanity in itself

5. Who is the god of death and a E. Have no one identifiable persons or beings.
destroyer

Directions: Read each statement carefully and write the letter of the correct
answer on the space provided before each number. Choose your answer in the
box below.

A. Hinduism C. Manusmriti E. Trimurti

B. Karma D. Sutras F. Shiva
1. What is the Hindu term for “Laws of Manu”?
2. What do you call is the caused of the present condition of an individual?
3. What is originally known as “Arya Dharma” or “Aryan Way?
4. These are the other writings that forms shruti: Samashitas,Brahmanas, Upanishad and
?
5. What do you call the three functions or forms of Brahman?

In the caste system the untouchables are the no value group of people and have to be avoided. Can you
think of any incident in the past of which you felt unwanted or ostracized for any reason, and how did
you deal or cope with it?

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Directions: Complete the statement by filling the blanks. Select your answer from the box.

Devas Hindus Smartas Hindu faith Bhakti

Shiva Brahma Dusserah Caste system Shakt

1. Followers of Hinduism are called .

2. offers its followers many paths to salvation.
3. stands for the souls’s longing for and clinging to god.
4. is the central to Hinduism who is the ultimate reality, one and
undivided.
5. There are 330 million gods in the Hindu scriptures who are also called .
6. He is the Compassionate Lord, the God of Saivites, .
7. is the divine mother and gentle one or fiery deity.
8. are left to choose their own deity in one of six manifestations.
9. is a social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
10. These are the main festivals in Hinduism Holi, Diwali and .

1. He was the prince and later portrayed as an avatar or incanation of god Vishnu.
A. Rama C. Iliad
B. Sita D. Odyssey

2. It is one of the fundamental teachings of Hinduism.

Directions: Read carefully the questions and supply the letter of the correct answer on the
space provided before each number.

A. Karma C. Torii Gate

B. Shmriti D. Sacred Scriptures

3. Which of the following is the literal translation of the word “shmriti”?

A. Sacred Scripture C. “sitting close to”
B. Reincarnation D. “that which has been remembered”

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4. What are the earlist known Sanskrit literatures from Brahmanic period and the oldest
scriptures of Hinduism?
A. Karma C. Smriti
B. Vedas D. Mantras

5. It is the word which literally means “ sitting down near”.

A. Atman C. Samsara
B. Moksha D. Upanishad

6.What is the name of the demon-king who abducted Sita in the story of Ramayana?
A. Odyssey C. Ravana
B. Rama D. Vishnu

7. What is the Hindu term used for “reincarnation”?

A. Atman C. Upanishad
B. Samsara D. Worship

8.What epic poem that is translated and known as the “ Story of Rama” or “Rama’s
Journey”?
A. Iliad C. Ramayana
B. Odyssey D. Ravana

9.What is present within every human that is being reborn many times?
A. Atman C. Samsara
B. Karma D. Yogas

10. What are the two souces of the sacred writings of Hinduism?
A. Iliad and Odyssey C. Shmriti and Shruti
B. Rama and Sita D. Vishnu and Siva

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