HINDUISM

Introduction
• Hinduism is one of the oldest religions
in the world, but it is relatively
unknown in the Philippines.
• It has a rich history and a wide variety
of practices, schools of thought and
styles of worship.
Introduction
• Most people would be hard-pressed to describe the
basic beliefs of the Hindu religion, but they could easily
identify the influence of Hinduism in our popular culture,
mainly because…
• • Everybody knows what it means to have good
karma, something that is very much a part of
Hindu culture.
• • All kinds of people (including many movie
stars and rock musicians) practice yoga, a
mainstay of Hinduism.
• • The Hindu practice of meditation is a recurring
theme on television and in the movies.
Origins of Hinduism
• Hinduism has no specific founder or historical
event to mark its beginning, so it’s nearly
impossible to come up with a date for when
Hinduism began.
• Scholars know that about 4000 years ago a
highly developed civilization known as the
Mohenjo-Daro was flourishing in the Indus River
Valley in northwest India.
Origins of Hinduism
• The people of this civilization were known as
Dravidians. From archaeological digs we know
they were fairly- advanced and probably pacifists
(there’s no evidence of weaponry).
• This apparently made the Dravidians easy
pickings for the invading Aryans, who, it is
thought, came down from Persia (present-day
Iran) in 1500 B.C. and basically assimilated the
Dravidian culture into their own
Origins of Hinduism
The Aryan religious practices were mixed
with those of the Dravidians, producing
these fundamental principles:
 belief in reincarnation
 the worship of a diverse group of
gods who took various forms
 belief in the essential spiritual unity
of humankind
Origins of Hinduism
You can see elements of polytheism
(literally, “many gods”) and monism
(there is only one ultimate reality, and
we are all part of it) in these early
beliefs that formed the foundation for
Hinduism.
Symbols of Hinduism
The Aum
The “AUM” symbol (or OM – the symbol in
the center) symbolizes the Universe and the
ultimate reality. It is the most important
Hindu symbols. At the dawn of creation,
from emptiness first emerged a syllable
consisting of three letters – A-U-M (often
written as OM).
Swastika
The word swastika derives from an
ancient Sanskrit term for well-being. It
later became associated with the
pleasures of this life, with spiritual
truth, and with endless birth and
rebirth in this world. In Hinduism it
often denotes the blessings that come
from Ganesha, the god of good
beginnings.
Swastika
The Tika
The Tika (Tilak or Tilakam or Pottu)
is a symbol put on the forehead of between
the eyebrows. It basically gives the wearer
the feeling of sacredness and reveals the
particular guide the wearer worships. It also
has non-religious uses. Hindu female uses
the Bindu or Bindi (dot) as part of their
makeup and red dot as a mark of being
married. (Mabaquiao, Jr.)
The Tika
The Vedas
The Vedas are the religious texts which inform the
religion of Hinduism (also known as Sanatan
Dharma meaning “Eternal Order” or “Eternal
Path”).
The term veda means “knowledge” in that they
are thought to contain the fundamental
knowledge relating to the underlying cause of,
function of, and personal response to existence.
They are considered among the oldest, if not the
oldest, religious works in the world.
The Vedas
They are commonly referred to as “scripture”,
which is accurate in that they can be defined as
holy writ concerning the nature of the Divine.
Unlike the scriptures of other religions, however,
the Vedas are not thought to have been revealed
to a certain person or persons at a specific
historical moment; they are believed to have
always existed and were apprehended by sages in
deep meditative states at some point prior to c.
1500 BCE but precisely when is unknown
The Vedas
The primary sacred texts, known as the
Vedas, were composed around 1500 B.C.
This collection of verses and hymns was
written in Sanskrit and contains revelations
received by ancient saints and sages. Hindus
believe that the Vedas transcend all time
and don’t have a beginning or an end.
The Vedas
The Vedas are therefore regarded as Shruti
in Hinduism meaning “what is heard” as
contrasted with other texts designated
Smritis (“what is remembered”), accounts
of great heroes and their struggles in works
such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and
Bhagavad Gita (although some sects of
Hinduism regard the Bhagavad Gita as
Shruti).
The Shruti Scriptures (That
which is Heard)
The sacred texts of Hinduism are divided into two
main categories: Shruti, which literally means
“what is heard,” and Smriti, which literally
means “what is remembered” (Matthews
2010, 68-69; Urubshurow 2009, 384).
Shruti refers to all Hindu sacred texts containing
revealed knowledge (or knowledge based on
direct experience),
while Smriti refers to all Hindu sacred texts
containing remembered knowledge (or knowledge
based on the recollection of the experience).
The Shruti Scriptures (That
which is Heard)
The Shruti texts (“revealed texts”)
therefore are primary sources that contain
truths that are eternal and unchanging and
of divine origin, while the Smriti texts
(“remembered texts”) are secondary
sources that contain truths that may change
over time and are of human origin. Shruti
texts are true by themselves while Smiriti
texts are true only in so far as they conform
to the Shruti text
The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)

1. Rig Veda: The Rig Veda is the oldest

of the works comprised of 10 books (known
as mandalas) of 1,028 hymns of 10,600
verses. These verses concern themselves
with proper religious observance and
practice, based on the universal vibrations
as understood by the sages who first heard
them, but also address fundamental
questions regarding existence. Sama Veda
The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)
2. Sama Veda: The Sama Veda (“Melody
Knowledge” or “Song Knowledge”) is a work of
liturgical songs, chants, and texts meant to be
sung. The content is almost wholly derived from
the Rig Veda and, as some scholars have observed,
the Rig Veda serves as the lyrics to the melodies of
the Sama Veda. It is comprised of 1,549 verses and
divided into two sections: the gana (melodies) and
the arcika (verses). The melodies are thought to
encourage dance which, combined with the
words, elevates the soul.
The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)
3. Yajur Veda: The Yajur Veda (“Worship
Knowledge” or “Ritual Knowledge”) consists of
recitations, ritual worship formulas, mantras, and
chants directly involved in worship services. Like
the Sama Veda, its content derives from the Rig
Veda but the focus of its 1,875 verses is on the
liturgy of religious observances. It is generally
regarded as having two “sections” which are not
distinct parts but characteristics of the whole. The
“dark Yajur Veda” refers to those parts which are
unclear and poorly arranged while the “light Yajur
Veda” applies to the verses which are clearer and
better arranged
The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)

4. Atharva Veda: The Atharva Veda

(“knowledge of Atharvan”) concerns itself
with magical spells to ward off evil spirits or
danger, chants, hymns, prayers, initiation
rituals, marriage and funeral ceremonies,
and observations on daily life. The name is
thought to derive from the priest Atharvan
who allegedly was well-known as a healer
and religious innovator. It is comprised of 20
books of 730 hymns some of which draw on
the Rig Veda.
The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)
The Upanishads are considered the “end of the Vedas”
as in the last word on the texts. The term Upanishads
means to “sit down closely” as a student would with a
master to receive some information not intended for the
rest of the class Each of these is further divided into types
of text included within them:
 Aranyakas - rituals, observances
 Brahmanas - commentaries on said rituals
 Samhitas - benedictions, prayers, mantras
 Upanishads – philosophical narratives and
dialogues
The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)
The Upanishads are the best known and
most often read of the Vedas because their
discourse is presented in dialogue/narrative
form and they were the first to be
translated into other languages.
The Smriti Scriptures (That which is Remembered)
 Mahabharata. An epic poem that is 15
times longer than the Bible, narrates the
story of an ongoing war among family
members. It highlights the importance of
virtues and devotion to the Gods,
particularly to Krishna.
 Ramayana. A shorter epic poem about
kingship and royal virtues. It one of the
epics that depict the battle between good
and evil.
The Smriti Scriptures (That which is Remembered)

 Bhagavad Gita. Meaning Song of the

Lord, which is actually one of the books in
Mahabharata. It is considered as an
important religious text that extols the
power and benevolence of Krishna and his
instructions to Arjuna.
 Paranas. These are the stories that
depict the sectarian divisions within
Hinduism. These are the multiple creation
stories, legends and war stories by the
different Hindu sects
The Smriti Scriptures (That which is Remembered)
The Creation in Rig Veda 10:129 The Paradox of
Origin Rig Veda, Mandala 10, hymn 129 Creation.
Nasadiya Sukta ("Not the non-existent")
Hindu Gods and Deities
Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to
Brahman, who is believed to be the supreme God force
present in all things. Some of the most prominent deities
includes:
Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the
world and all living things
Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to
recreate it
Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
Saraswati: the goddess of learning
The Big Three (Trimurti)
• Brahma—This is the main god, known
as the “Impersonal Absolute” and the
“Ultimate Reality”. By 1000 B.C., Brahma
had become so important that an entire
order of priests known as the Brahmins
developed.
The Big Three (Trimurti)
• Vishnu—Here is Apu’s god, the champion of all
good causes. Vishnu rules in heaven and rules over
earth as the preserver. According toreligious
expert George Braswell, Vishnu has been
compared to the Christian concept of God.
Vishnu has taken many human forms (also known
as avatars), the most popular of which is Krishna.
Visnu’s most important feature is as preserver and
protector of the universe, which he accomplishes
through his many incarnations, known as avatars.
The Big Three (Trimurti)
• Shiva—The third god of the Hindu Big
Three takes on many roles, including creator
and destroyer. Shiva signifies the eternal
life-death rhythm of the universe. A popular
Hindu idol or image of Shiva shows him with
four arms.
Hindu Caste System
The caste system is a social hierarchy in
India that divides Hindus based on their
karma and dharma. Many scholars believe
the system dates back more than 3,000
years
Hindu Caste System
The four main castes (in order of
prominence) include:
 Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual
leaders
 Kshatriyas: the protectors and public
servants of society
 Vaisyas: the skillful producers
 Shudras: the unskilled laborers
Reincarnation, Karma and Moksha
The Wheel of Misfortune
Even though the philosophies of Hinduism
can vary widely, there are two beliefs you
can count on when talking to a practitioner
of the Hindu religion: reincarnation and
karma.
 Reincarnation
Hindus believe there are two types of souls.
There is the individual soul, known as
atman, which is eternal and uncreated. And
there is the Universal Soul, known as
Brahman. One of the major goals of
Hinduism is for the individual soul to unite
with the Universal Soul, and therefore
become one with the ultimate reality.
 Reincarnation
In order for this to happen, the atman must die
and be born again time after time into the world in
different bodies (some Hindus believe you can
come back as an animal or a plant). This
deathbirth cycle is called reincarnation, or the
“transmigration of the soul.” In Hindu terms it’s
called samsara. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to
break free from this wheel of misfortune by
uniting with the Universal Soul. This is called
moksha. How does this happen? That’s where
karma comes in
Karma
Karma—The law of karma has to do with good
works and bad works (or if you prefer, good karma
and bad karma). The more good karma you can
produce, the better your chances of attaining
freedom from the reincarnation nightmare.
However, if the individual soul produces more bad
karma than good karma, then you are destined to
die and come back as a horsefly. The bad news
about bad karma is that it carries over into the
next life. But then, good karma also carries over,
so there’s motivation to produce good works
Moksha
Moksha, the ultimate goal of the Hindu is to attain moksha,
which is freedom from samsara when you finally unite with
Brahman. This happens when you’ve got way more good
karma than bad karma. So far, so good. And how do you
pick up the good karma? Well, there are three classic ways
(called margas) in Hinduism to attain good works: the way
of activity (karma marga), the way of knowledge (jnana
marga), and the way of devotion (bhatki marga). Braswell
writes, “One may choose one or several of these ways in
hope of breaking the birth cycle and experiencing ultimate
freedom.” (Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)
Karma and the Caste System
One of the unfortunate effects of the Hindu belief in reincarnation and
karma is that it has perpetuated the caste system in India. The only
way to move up to a higher caste is to be reincarnated into that caste.
And the only way to do that is to be obedient to the rules of the caste
you are in. For example, I move up to the level of a Vaisyas, he would
have to be a very good Shudra and hope for a promotion in his next
life. Winfried Corduan writes, “To shortcut the system and attain a
higher standard of living would violate the structures of the caste and
thereby only incur worse karma.” The reality of karma is that it
prevents people from attempting to rise to a higher caste or help
members of other castes. f a Shudra wanted to
Yoga
When we hear the word “yoga,” we immediately
associate it with bodily practices that help achieve a
healthy lifestyle. This is true, but yoga is much more than
health.
Yoga is actually Hindu in origin, and its main purpose is to
achieve a sattvic state, which is characterized by spiritual
calm, virtue, and joy. Yogas enable an individual to
activate his/her sattvic qualities and escape the influence
of raja and tama, which are lower qualities. There are
four main yogas that suit temperaments and consider
of different people.
1. Raja Yoga.
• The path of physical and psychic practice. Raja Yoga consists of
doing bodily exercises, and the most well known outside India.
• A yogi (practitioner of yoga) engaged in this type of resorts to
asanas, postures that are meant to purify the body and achieve
physical balance.
• The purpose of the exercises is to facilitate the flow of prana
(invisible psychic energy) along the different chakras (energy
centers) of the body. The most important chakra is the kundalini,
which is located at the crown of the head.
• Advanced yogis who have purified their bodies experience a sense
of peace and oneness with the Divine because prana easily flows
into the kundalini chakra. This may also be achieved by chanting
mantras, which are syllables pronounced to achieve a certain level
of spiritual awareness. The most common mantra in Hindu practice
is the OM
2. Jnana Yoga.
• The path of the rational mind and concentration, Jnana
Yoga consists of doing meditative practices that aim to
clear the mind of impurities and attain a rational and
calm disposition.
• A yogi engaged in this type sees ignorance as the most
problematic of human problems, the cause of which are
blocks in the mind that hinder the individual from
cultivating insight.
• Although connected to acquiring knowledge, the Jnana
Yoga is not restricted to the intellectual sphere; the
ultimate goal of the practice is spiritual.
• The yogi engages in meditative exercises that overcome
doubt and confusion, until he/she experiences the Divine
directly and gain spiritual insight from the encounter
3. Karma Yoga.
• The path of action in the world, Karma Yoga
appeals to people who have a strong desire to
work for the betterment of society.
• A discussion of Karma Yoga is found in the
Bhagavad Gita, wherein Krishna explains that
action should be offered to the Divine for it led
to liberation.
• Otherwise it enslaves the person in greed. This
means that yogis in this type seek to do good
deeds without expecting for anything in return.
4. Bhakti Yoga.
• The path of devotion, Bhakti Yoga is the
most popular form of yoga
practiced among Hindus in India.
• It is the practice of deep devotion and
love toward the Divine, and is mainly
expressed through ritual; acts such as puja
(offering).
• A yogi engaged in this type is called a
bhakta, and the ultimate wish of a bhakta
is a manifestation, that is, the appearance
of the god/ goddess to him/her.