hinduism slides for religious study

1. HINDUISM
RELIGIOUS STUDY
Afifaturrahma
h
050.16001
Batch V

2. What is Hinduism?
• Hinduism has no founder, it developed out of
Brahminism.
• Hinduism is the oldest religion, it may date to
prehistoric times.
• Hinduism is the world's third most popular
religion, with around 750 million followers.
• The religion of Hinduism originated in Northern
India, near the river Indus, about 4000 years ago
and is the world's oldest existing religion.
• Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of
India's population.
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism

3. Hinduism is often labelled as a
religion, but it is actually more than
that: it is a vast and complex socio-
religious body which, in a way,
reflects the complexity of Indian
society.

4. Beliefs about sacred matters--God, soul and cosmos--are essential to one's
approach to life. Hindus believe many diverse things, but there are a few
bedrock concepts on which most Hindus concur.
 Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both
immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality.
 Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, the world's most
ancient scripture, and venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These
primordial hymns are God's word and the bedrock of Sanatana Dharma,
the eternal religion.
 Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation,
preservation and dissolution.
 Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each
individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
9Beliefs In Hinduism…

5.  Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births
until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the
cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be deprived of this
destiny.
 Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple
worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals create a
communion with these devas and Gods.
 Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or satguru, is essential to
know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good
conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, meditation and surrender
in God.
 Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and
therefore practice ahimsa, noninjury, in thought, word and deed.
 Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above
all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God's Light, deserving
tolerance and understanding.
9Beliefs In Hinduism…

7. What are some of the key
beliefs of Hinduism?
For many Hindus, religion is a matter of
practice rather than of beliefs. It's more what
you do, than what you believe.
Hindus believe in a universal soul or God
called Brahman. Brahman takes on many
forms that some Hindus worship as gods or
goddesses in their own right.
Hindus believe that there is a part of

8. What are some of the key
beliefs of Hinduism?
Hindus believe in reincarnation - a belief that
the soul is eternal and lives many lifetimes, in
one body after another. The soul is sometimes
born in a human body, sometimes in an animal
body and sometimes in a plant body etc..
Hindus believe that all forms of life contain a
soul, and all souls have the chance to
experience life in different forms.
Samsara means going through the cycle of
repeated births and deaths

9. What are some of the key
beliefs of Hinduism?
 A universal spirit is present within all living
things—Brahman. This is thought to be the
mighty spirit that creates and destroys life
– The Brahman is One but expresses itself
as Many
– Everything in nature is tied together by
Brahman

10. What are some of the key
beliefs of Hinduism?
One aspect of Brahman is the Self, or
the Soul, called Atman. The Atman is
everywhere, though you can’t see it
Nothing that lives ever dies entirely
– When a living thing dies, it is reborn in
another form,

11. • Hindus actually only believe
in one God, Brahman, the
eternal origin who is the cause
and foundation of all existence.
The gods of the Hindu faith
represent different forms of
Brahman. These gods are sent
to help people find the universal
God (Brahman).
Why are there so many Hindu
Gods?
• Most Hindus have a personal god or
goddess such as Shiva, Krishna or Lakshmi
to whom they pray regularly

12. The Trimurti
The three most important Hindu
gods (forms of Brahman) are:
 Brahma - known as the
Creator.
 Vishnu - Known as the
Preserver
 Shiva (Siva)- known as the
Destroyer.

13. Brahma
the creator god
• He has four faces.
• The creator of the four Vedas, one from each of
his mouth.
• While Brahma is often credited as the creator of
the universe and various beings in it, several
Puranas describe him being born from a lotus
emerging from the navel of the god Vishnu.
Other Puranas suggest that he is born from Shiva
or his aspects, or he is a supreme god in diverse
versions of Hindu mythology.
• Brahma does not enjoy popular worship in
present-age Hinduism and has lesser importance
than the other members of the Trimurti,
Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is revered in ancient
texts, yet rarely worshipped as a primary deity in
India.
• Very few temples dedicated to him exist in India

14. Vishnu
the preserver god
Incarnates as ten
avatars (descents)
including:
 Rama (featured
in the
Ramayana)
 Krishna
(featured in the
Mahabharata)
(Each shown with
his consort, Sita
and Radha,
respectively)

15. Shiva
god of constructive destruction
(the transformer)
• Appears as Shiva
Nataraj,
lord of the dance
of creation…
• and with his wife,
Parvati, and son
Ganesha
(the elephant
headed remover of
obstacles)

16. TheGoddesses
Devi– the feminine divine
• Saraswati, goddess of
wisdom, consort of
Brahma
• Lakshmi, goddess of good
fortune, consort
of Vishnu
• Parvati, divine mother, wife
of
Shiva

17. • Durga, protectress
• Kali, destroyer of demons
• Plus about 330 million other deities
TheGoddesses
Devi– the feminine divine

18. All these
deities are
but
Manifest
forms
(attributes
and
functions)

19. Sacred Texts and Traditional
Tales
Shruti (“heard”) – oldest, most
authoritative:
Four Vedas (“truth”) – myths, rituals, chants
Brahmanas - as commentaries on the four Vedas. As
such, each Brahmana is attached to a specific Veda.
Upanishads - metaphysical speculation
Plus other texts

20. Smriti (“remembered”) – the Great
Indian Epics:
Ramayana - Each of the main figures of the story
represent an ideal type in Bhakti.
Mahabharata (includes Bhagavad-Gita)
The Puranas - The eighteen major Puranas are
collections of stories about the gods and their activities.
Plus others……

21. Also, they
encouraged the
practice of
yoga—which
combines
physical and
mental exercises
to reach a state of
tranquility

22. In Hindu culture, there are many famous rivers that
we hold dear because of their spiritual significance.
Ganga is one of them.
The Ganga has an
important position in
Hindu culture. It is
mentioned in the Vedas,
the Purans, the Ramayan
and the Mahabharata.
Ganga is the daughter of
the mountain god Himavan
or Himalaya.

23. We also believe that bathing in the river is said to wash away one's sins,
and water from the river is used extensively in rituals. It is auspicious to
drink from the Ganga in the hour before death, and many Hindus ask to
be cremated along the Ganga and to have their ashes immersed in the
river. As we have seen, this river holds a special significance in the hearts
of Hindus.

24. Worship in Hinduism
Hindus usually perform worship to
achieve some specific end or to integrate
the body, the mind and the spirit in order
to help the performer evolve into a
higher being.
A tray of diva oil lamps, part of
the Divali festival
A Bengali religious print depicting puja
(Hindu worship ritual) with devotees and
priest around.

25. Pūjā or alternative transliteration Pooja (Sanskrit: reverence,
honour, adoration, or worship) is a religious ritual performed by
Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or
special guests. It is done on a variety of occasions and settings,
from dailypuja done in the home, to temple ceremonies and large
festivals, or to begin a new venture. The puja ritual is performed by
Hindus worldwide.
Darśana or Darshan is a Sanskrit term meaning
"sight" (seeing or beholding;), vision,
apparition, or glimpse. It is most commonly
used for theophany - "manifestation / visions
of the divine" in Hindu worship, e.g. of a deity
(especially in image form), or a very holy
person or artifact. One could also "receive"
darshana or a glimpse of the deity in the
temple, or from a great saintly person, such as
a great guru.
Darśana

26. Aarti is generally performed one
to five times daily, and usually at
the end of a puja (in South India)
or bhajan session (in North
India).
It involves the circulating of an 'Aarti plate' or 'Aarti lamp' around
a person or deity and is generally accompanied by the singing
of songs in praise of that deva or person (many versions exist).
In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power
of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those
present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and
then raise their palms to their forehead - the purificatory
blessing, passed from the deva's image to the flame, has now
been passed to the devotee.
Aarti

27. Homa, Havan and Yajna
Homa (also known
as homam or havan) is
a Sanskrit word which refers to any
ritual in which making offerings
into a consecrated fire is the
primary action. At present, the
words homa/homam and hayan ar
e interchangeable with the
word yagna.
It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes. An essential element is
the sacrificial fire - the divine Agni - into which oblations are poured, as everything
that is offered into the fire is believed to reach the gods.
The duration of a yajna depends on the type; some can last a few minutes, hours or
days and some even last for years. Some yajnas are performed privately, others with a
large number of people in attendance.

28. Substances and objects
Substances that are commonly used in Hindu worship
Prasad
Prasād is a mental condition of generosity, as
well as a material substance that is first offered
to a deity and then consumed.
The prasad has the deity's blessing residing
within it. In contemporary Hindu religious
practice in India, the desire to getprasada and
have dashan are the two major motivations of
pilgrimage and temple visits.

29. Substances and objects
Substances that are commonly used in Hindu worship
The tilaka, tilak or tika is a mark worn on the forehead and in some cases to the upper part of the
head. Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only, depending on
different customs. The tilaka symbolizes the third eye, or mind's eye, associated with many Hindu
gods, and the idea of meditation and spiritual enlightenment. In the past, tilakas were usually worn
by gods, priests, ascetics, or worshippers, but is now a common practice for most Hindus. It can
express which Hindu tradition one follows. It may be made with sandalwood paste, ashes
(vibhuti), kumkum, sindoor, clay, or other substances.
Tilaka

30. Substances and objects
Substances that are commonly used in Hindu worship
Tree worship
There are three species of sacred trees, pipal, banyan, and neem.
The trunks of the neem trees will be wrapped in decorative red
cloth that has been offered to a goddess and a brass human mask
will be added to the tree. Decorative paint is applied to the face,
while garlands of marigolds and jasmine flowers are strung
around the tree. People worship the neem tree as Shitala for good
health and protection from dangerous sicknesses.

31. Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable,
word, or group of words that is
considered capable of "creating
transformation" (cf. spiritual
transformation).[Its use and type
varies according to the school and
philosophy associated with the
mantra.[Mantras originated in the
Vedic tradition of India. The most
basic mantra is Aum, which in
Hinduism is known as the
"pranava mantra," the source of
all mantras.

32. Festivals
Hindus observe sacred occasions by festive observances. All
festivals in Hinduism are predominantly religious in character and
significance. Many festivals are seasonal. Some celebrate harvest
and birth of God or heroes. Many are dedicated to Shiva and
Parvati, Vishnu and Lakshmi and Brahma and Saraswati

33. Indus Valley Civilization…
Origins of Hinduism

34. Hinduism, unlike most major religions, does not have a central figure upon
whom it is founded. Rather, it is a complex faith with roots stemming back
five thousand years to the people of the Indus Valley, now part of Pakistan.
When the Aryan tribes of Persia invaded the Indus Valley around 1700 BCE,
the groups' beliefs merged and Hinduism began to form.

35. Most of what we know of the Indus people (also called Dravidians) comes
from archaeological findings. Artifacts and relics dating back as early as
2000 BCE tell the story of a civilization flourishing with craftsmanship,
agriculture, and religious life. As we will see, many of these early practices
and beliefs still shape Hinduism.
For example, the Indus put great importance on cleanliness or ritual bathing.
MohenjoDaro, one of the major Indus cities, contained a huge water tank for
public bathing. Today, many Hindu temples feature such tanks.

36. What is the Caste
System ?
A caste is a division of
society based on occupation
and family lineage. Hindu
caste system recognized four
distinct classes or divisions
among people based on
these criteria and enforced it
through a rigid code of
conduct that was specific to
each class and rooted in the
dharmashastras (law books)
of the later Vedic period. The
four main castes recognized
by traditional Hindu society
based primarily on
hereditary occupation.

37. 1. Brahmins. They are the priestly class, who
are entitled to study the Vedas, perform rites
and rituals for themselves and for others and
obliged to observe the sacraments. They are
the middle men between gods and men. The
act as temple priests and invoke gods on
behalf of others. According to Manu, the law
maker, a Brahmin was an incarnation of
dharma (sacred tradition), born to serve and
protect the dharma.
2. Kshatriyas. They are the warrior class, who are
commanded (by tradition) to protect the people,
bestow gifts to the Brahmins, offer sacrifices to
gods and ancestors, study the Vedas, dispense
justice, and, according to Manusmriti, abstain
themselves from sensual pleasures.

38. 3. Vaisyas: They are the merchant
and peasant classes, who are
expected to tend cattle, offer
sacrifices, study the Vedas, trade,
lend money and cultivate the land.
They had the right to perform and
participate in certain Vedic rituals
but they were not allowed to
marry women of higher castes.
4. Shudras: The are the labor
class, whose only duty is to serve
the other three castes. They were
not required to observe any
Vedic rituals or samskaras except
a few. They were not allowed to
study the Vedas or even hear the
sacred chants. They were not
allowed to eat food in the
company of higher castes or
marry their women.

39. Chandalas: The lowest of the Shudras
were called chandalas or the impure
ones. They were treated as
untouchables because of their gory
religious practices, penchant for
sacrifices, magical rites and unclean
habits. In ancient times they were not
allowed to enter a village or city
during day time or walk in the same
street where men of other castes
walked. Even their shadow was
considered impure and their very sight
as a bad omen. So they lived mostly
on the fringes of society, unknown and
uncared for, following some esoteric
religion of their own and working
mostly in the graveyards and
cremation grounds or as hunters,
butchers and professional cleaners of
human waste.
The Untouchable
Impure

40. How the Caste System was Enforced
 Heredity. The caste system was based on birth. People
inherited caste from their parents and passed it on to
their children. Individuals had no right to change their
caste as long as they practiced the Vedic religion.
 Caste Rules. The caste rules were enforced strictly
through the fear of political and religious authority.
 Marriage. The caste system
prohibited marriages outside one's caste to avoid inter
mixture of the castes (varna samkaram), which was
considered to be a sign of decline of dharma and the
very reason why the caste system was devised.
Marriages between a higher
caste men and lower caste
women were less objectionable
than Marriages between sudra
males and higher caste females
and marriages between men of
upper castes and sudra women.

41. The Belief in
Rebirth
According to Hinduism, a soul reincarnates again and
again on earth until it becomes perfect and reunites
with it Source. During this process the soul enters into
many bodies, assumes many forms and passes
through many births and deaths.

42. Each caste had its particular
duty or set of obligations
called dharma
The individual’s wishes did
not matter
It was better to do your duty
badly than to do someone
else’s duty well
To earn good rebirth a person had to
be a good member of his or her caste

43. Hindus believed in an ethical
law of cause and effect called
karma
- Moral behavior in one
life guaranteed rebirth in
a higher caste
- Immoral behavior
automatically dropped a
reborn soul to a lower
caste

44. THANK YOU 
धन्यवाद