HINDUISM

Introduction to World Religion and Belief System

ORIGIN

The term "HINDUISM" is

also called "SANATANA
DHARMA which means
"Eternal Faith"
ORIGIN

The term "HINDUISM" is

derived from the Persian
Word "Hindu" and the
Sanskrit word "Sindhu" which
means "river"
ORIGIN

Hinduism began 4000 years

ago in India
It was an religion of the
ancient people known as the
"Aryans" (term for noble
people)
THE HOLY VEDAS

The Sacred text of the Hindu

people containing the recorded
philosophy, religion, and customs
• The name "Hinduism" was
given in the 19th century
to describe the wide array
of beliefs in India
• It is originally known as
"Aryan Dharma" or "Aryan
Way"
• Between 1750 B.C.E and
1200 B.C.E
The Sacred texts of Hinduism that are
passed down throughout the generations
It can be a:
• Music
• Dance
• Drama
• Recitation

THE SACRED SCRIPTURES

Literally means that "which is
heard"eternal truth that were passed
orally until the present age wherein the
Aryans came to write them down
SHRUTI
Means "knowledge" or "Sacred of love" The
four basic vedic books which are sacrificial
hymns compiled from an earlier oral tradition
are composed of RIG-VEDA, SAMA-VEDA,
YAJUR-VEDA, and ATHARVA-VEDA
VEDAS
A collection of thousands of hymns and verses
that are dedicated to the Aryans pantheon of Gods
It is considered as the oldest and most important
book that dates back around 1500 B.C.E
RIG-VEDA
It is a compilation of materials recited
during rituals and sacrifice to deities
It is also called "Knowledge of rites"
YAJUR-VEDA
"Knowledge given by the sage Atharva"
• Upanishads - secret teaching transcend
Contains rituals used in homes and popular prayers to
Gods. Atharva contains numerous spells and
rituals to elucidate the nature of the
incantations for medical purposes and magical aids to universe and humans connectedness to
battle, among others. it
• Mantras - The hymns and chants for praising God
• Brahmanas - the detailed explanations of the
mantras and descriptions of the sacrificial
ceremonies related to them
• Aranyakas - are meditations that explicate their
ATHARVA-VEDA
meaning
"That which has been remembered" Worlds longest poem and another Sanskrit
Most of the text are sectarian and of lesser literature of India which is composed of around
importance that shruti 100,000 verses

SMRITI MAHABHATARA
Translated as "The Lord's Song"
Story of Rama or "Rama's Journey" Considered as one of the Holiest books by Hindu

RAMAYANA BHAGAVAD-GITA
DEVOTION TO THE TRIMURTI Brahma - The God of Creation in a form
of four heads and eight hands
Vishnu - The God of Preservation in a
Brahman is observed in three forms
form of Incarnation or Avatars
known as the Trimurti
Shiva - The God of Destruction even
(Creation, Preservation, and
though Shiva has no form, Shiva takes
Destruction)
form of everything that we perceive and
These Functions are expressed in God's
that which all perceive
form

THE BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES

THE ROUTES OF MOKSHA

From the Upanishads one may find the 3

principal and inter-related Doctrines
• Samsara
• The moral law of Karma
• A soul may escape the cycle of birth
and rebirth and attain moksha
YOGA
JNANA YOGA
(THE WAY OF KNOWLEDGE)
BHAKTI YOGA
(THE WAY OF LOVE)
KARMA YOGA
(THE WAY OF WORK)
RAJA YOGA
(THE WAY OF MEDITATION)
For all Hindus, there are four
desirable goals of life or
Purushartha
Dharma - the appropriate behavior
Artha - the pursuit of legitimate
wordly success
Kama - the pursuit of legitimate
pleasure
Moksha - the release from rebirth
WORSHIPS AND OBSERVANCES
Most Hindus worship individually
involving mantras or vibrating
sounds that summon the deity and
the Prasad or gift offering
The Diwali or festival of lights is
the biggest and most important
holiday in India
THE CASTE SYSTEM
One of the major distinguishing features
of Indian culture
This social class is composed of
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and
Shudras. opportunities are based on their
family origins
THANK YOU!
THIS IS THE REPORT OF GROUP 2