RE

Hinduism

Year One
RE | KS2 | Hinduism | Holy Books | Lesson 5
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 Aim
• I can explain that Hindus have multiple holy books.

Success Criteria
• I can understand that Hindus have more than one holy book.
• I can demonstrate understanding of the different holy books.
 Holy Books
Why are they
What are holy books? Which holy books do important to followers
you know of? of the different
religions?
 Hinduism - Holy Books
Hinduism does not have a single
Neither is there any one person
holy book, but several holy
who wrote the main ideas down.
scriptures (holy books or texts.)

Together they support and guide

They have also contributed to the
Hindus in their daily life, family
way in which Hindus worship.
and in society.
 Hinduism - Holy Books
There are two main categories of Holy Books:

Shruti Smirti
(That which is heard.) (That which is remembered.)

composed of 4 Vedas (Veda means consists of Dharma Shastras,

knowledge), which contain the Puranas and the folk/historical
Upanishads. legends known as the Mahabharata
and Ramayana.
 Hinduism - Holy Books
The god Brahma, is believed to have created the 4 Vedas.
The Vedas are holy books that were passed on orally for centuries.

The four Vedas are:

Rig Veda Yajur Veda

Focuses on deities. Instructions for rituals.

Sama Veda Atharva Veda

Melodies and songs to be Hymns and incantations to

sung during rituals. be said during rituals.
 Hinduism - Holy Books
Each of these texts is divided into four sections:

Samhitas Brahmanas
Oldest part of the text – contains These include myths, legends and
mantras and hymns. explain some of the rituals. These
are written as prose (written in
spoken language, unlike poetry).

Aranyakas Upanishads
Describe how to perform rituals and This part explains spiritual ideas
ceremonies. like Brahman (ultimate soul), ātman
(individual soul) and reincarnation.
 Hinduism - Holy Books
Smirti

Dharmashastras Puranas
These texts are
about the duties, These texts
rights, laws, contain myths
behaviour and how and legends
to live life in the relating to the
right way for major Hindu
Hindus. deities.
 Hinduism - Holy Books
Smirti

Mahabharata Ramayana
This is the longest known poem ever This is the story of
written. It is an epic story about the Rama and Sita (which
Kurekshetra War for the throne of the is celebrated during
Hastinpura Kingdom. One part of this, Diwali). It was also
called the Baghavad Gita, contains written as a poem.
Krishna’s teachings to one of the Rama is seen as an
princes, which explains the different example of dharma -
ideas in Hinduism contained in the the ‘right way to live
Vedas. The Baghavad Gita is seen as a one’s life’.
concise guide to Hindu philosophy and
a practical guide to life.
Hinduism - Holy Books
 Themes in Stories
A common theme in Hindu
stories is good overcoming evil.
Hindus believe that there is
good and bad in everything and
when evil becomes too
powerful good has to overcome
it.

Which Hindu stories do you know where these messages are contained?

What other stories (religious or non-religious) contain similar themes?

Why is it important to explore these ideas?

 Aim
• I can explain that Hindus have multiple holy books.

Success Criteria
• I can understand that Hindus have more than one holy book.
• I can demonstrate understanding of the different holy books.