HINDUISM

SPE02
VALERIA CASTREJÓN
 HINDUISM

• LOCATED IN INDIA- CENTRAL SOUTH ASIA SOME SAY IT IS NOT A RELIGION, IT IS

MORE A WAY OF LIFE
• SANATANA DHARMA- THE ETERNAL TRADITION

• HINDU AND INDIA COME FROM THE SAME WORD

• SINDHU RIVER THAT CHANGED THE S FOR H, SO THOSE WHO LIVED ON THE SIDE OF
THE RIVER BEGAN TO BE CALLED HINDU, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE GREEKS, THEY
CHANGED THE NAME TO INDIA.
THERE ARE 4 CASTES OR CLASSES YOU CAN BE BORN INTO:
• BRAHMINS - PRIESTS
• KSHATRIYAS – WARRIORS
• VAISHYAS - MERCHANTS
• SHUDRAS – MANUAL WORKERS
 BELIEFS

• DIVERSE GROUP WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO PRAYER AND OTHERS WHO DO NOT
BELIEVE IN ANY GOD BUT CONTINUE WITH THE TRADITIONS.

• BRAHMAN: UNIVERSAL SOUL, FORMLESS, GENDERLESS SOURCE OF ALL REALITY. IT IS THE

UNIVERSE AND MATTER. LIKE AN OCEAN AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE DROPS COMING OUT
OF THAT OCEAN, SEPARATED FOR A WHILE, BUT STILL PART OF IT.

• INDIVIDUAL AND IMMORTAL SOUL: SOULS ARE KNOWN AS “ATMAN”, ACTIONS IN A BODY
HAVE CONSEQUENCES IN THE NEXT LIFE, UPON DEATH, THE SOUL MOVES TO A NEW BODY.

• MOKSHA: LIBERATION FROM REINCARNATION.

VEDAS

·Rig veda
·Yajir veda
·Sama veda
·Atharva veda
 CYCLICAL TIMES

There is no beginning or end.

Each cycle contains 4 yugas: krita, treta,
dwapara y kali.
GODS: • BRAHMA: THE CREATOR. 4
HEADS, HE LOOKS IN EACH OF
THE DIRECTIONS TO
REPRESENT THE 4 VEDAS THAT
HE CREATED, HE HOLDS A
BOOK THAT SYMBOLIZES
KNOWLEDGE.

• VISHNU: THE CONSERVATIVE.

HE PRESERVES THE WORLD. HE
HOLDS A DISCUS THAT HE USES
TO STRIKE DOWN ANYONE
WHO TRIES TO DISTURB THE
DARHMA, AND A CONCH THAT
SYMBOLIZES VICTORY.
GODS: • SHIVA: THE DESTROYER.
HE DESTROYS THE
UNIVERSE AT THE END OF
EACH CYCLE TO PREPARE
IT FOR THE NEW
BEGINNING. HE HAS A 3RD
EYE.

• GANESHA: SON OF SHIVA,

HE IS THE HINDU GOD OF
WISDOM AND
KNOWLEDGE, OBSTACLE
REMOVER. ELEPHANT
HEAD, HE WAS BORN WITH
A HUMAN HEAD, BUT
AFTER SHIVA CUT IT OFF,
HE HAD TO REPLACE IT
WITH THAT OF AN
ELEPHANT.
• ELEPHANT HEAD: THE ELEPHANT REPRESENTS SAGACITY AND
WISDOM.
• FOUR ARMS: SYMBOL OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF NATURE OVER
WHICH HE HAS POWER.
• LOTUS FLOWER: IN EASTERN CULTURE IT IS CONSIDERED A SYMBOL
OF PERFECTION DUE TO ITS SYMMETRY AND BEAUTY. LIKEWISE, IT
IS A SYMBOL OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND INNER FULFILLMENT DUE
TO ITS HARMONY AND BALANCE.
• CANDIES (LADUU): REPRESENTS THE REWARD OR BENEFITS TO
DEVOTEES FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL ACTIONS.
• RAT: REPRESENTS THE DESIRES THAT MUST BE CONTROLLED. THIS
RODENT IS NAMED KAIAMUHAN. LEGEND HAS IT THAT IT WAS
ORIGINALLY A DEMON THAT GANESHA DEFEATED AND TURNED
INTO A RAT. SINCE THEN, WHEN HE DOES NOT APPEAR TO SERVE