Hinduism: An Introduction to the Ancient Religion

Hinduism
INT-244 | World Religions | Topic 4

Indus River Valley
Sindhu (Sanskrit)
Hindu (Persian)
India (Greek)
India
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Origin of the Name
“Hindu”

Sanatan Dharma
The eternal path
India
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Hindus call their religion:

World Religions
Christianity 2.5 billion 32%
Islam 1.9 billion 24%
Hinduism 1.1 billion 15%
Buddhism 533 million 7%
Chinese Folk 466 million 6%
World Religion Database. (2020). https://worldreligiondatabase.org

Demographics
• Considered oldest religion
• Worldwide 1.1 billion
• 15% of world’s population
• 3rd largest religion in world
worldreligiondatabase.org (2021)

Demographics
• Worldwide 1.1 billion
• India 999 million
• United States 1.6 million
• Arizona 33,000
(worldreligiondatabase.org; AZCentral, 2014)

Periods of History
1. Indus Valley Period (2700 to 1500 BC)
2. Vedic Period (1500 to 500 BC)
3. Second Urbanisation (500 - 200 BC)
4. Early Classical (200 BC to 320 AD)
5. Classical Period (320 AD to 500 AD)
6. Medieval to Early Modern (500 - 1757)
7. Modern Period (1757 to 1947)
8. Independent India (1947 to present)

Periods of History

Indus Valley Civilization 2700-1500 BC

Calkins, P. B. , Raikar, . Sanat Pai , Srivastava, . A.L. , Wolpert, . Stanley A. , Thapar, . Romila , Alam, . Muzaffar ,
Champakalakshmi, . R. , Spear, . T.G. Percival , Allchin, . Frank Raymond , Dikshit, . K.R. , Schwartzberg, . Joseph E. and
Subrahmanyam, . Sanjay (2023, February 22). India. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/India
1500 BC
Indus River
Valley
INDIA

Aryan Migration
1500 BC — Early Vedic Period
Introduced the Sanskrit Language
Mark, J. (2020) World History Encyclopedia

Aryan Migration
Central Asian civilization
Aryan is not a race
“Aryan” means “free men”
Mark, J. (2020) World History Encyclopedia

Periods of History
7. Modern Period (1757 - 1947)

Modern Period
1757 - 1949
• British Occupation of India
• English East India Company
• Christian Missionaries
• Modernization of India

Periods of History
7. Modern Period (1757 - 1947)
8. Independent India (1947 - Present)

India’s Independence
1949 - Present
• Mahatma Gandhi, first Prime Minister
• Hinduism state religion
• Modernization of Hinduism
• Elimination of the Caste System

Abrahmic Religions v Hinduism
Mt. Sinai
Moses
The Gospel
Jesus
Quran
Muhammad

Abrahamic Religions
• One God
• Created the Universe
• Revealed Himself to prophets
• Reveals Himself through Scripture (OT, NT, Quran)
• Time is linear (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration)
• World Messiah will restore the world one day
• Day of Judgement for all people

Hinduism : Truth is Discovered
• Shruti — revelation is “heard”
• Vedas — revelation is recorded over time in
multiple texts (infallible)
• No single prophet or revelation
• Truth is Pre-existent

Hinduism : Time is Cyclic
• Humans go through cycles of reincarnation
• Universe is endlessly cyclic

Seven Beliefs
1. Brahman
2. Atman
3. Karma
4. Moksha
5. Yuga Cycle
6. Dharma
7. The Vedas

1. Brahman
• Universal Soul
• Material everything’s made from
• Energy pervading the universe
• Impersonal Force

2. Atman
Humans made up of
• Physical Body
• Mind
• Soul
• Atman - transcendent Self

3. Karma
Cosmic Justice
Good and bad actions impact:
• Society
• Us later in life
• Us in the next life

Past Life Present Life Future Life
3. Karma

1. What do you agree with?
2. What do you disagree with?
3. What is a bridge to explain the gospel to a Hindu?

4. Yuga Cycle
Aka Kalpic Cycle

Mahayuga महायुग
1 Mahayuga
1 cycle of the universe
4 Yugas
4.32 Million Years

Duration
Satya 1,728,000 yrs
Treta 1,296,000 yrs
Dwapar 864,000 yrs
Kali 432,000 yrs

Ratios
Satya 4
Treta 3
Dwapar 2
Kali 1

Satya Yuga
• AKA Krita Yuga
• 1,728,000 years
Jones & Ryan. (2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism
SATYA

Satya Yuga
• Brahma the Creator Rules
• Golden Age
• No Castes
• No Distinctions

Satya Yuga
Dharma the Bull has 4 legs

Treta Yuga
1,296,000 years
TRETA

Treta Yuga
• Brahma the Creator Rules
• Silver Age

Treta Yuga
• Human Civilization
• Humans became greedy
• Brahma has to create a caste
system to maintain order

Treta Yuga
• Dharma the Bull has
three legs

Dwapar Yuga
• 864,000 years

Dwapar Yuga
• Vishnu the Maintainer
rules
• Bronze Age

Dwapar Yuga
• Secularization of Civilization
• Neglect of the Caste System
• Neglect of the gods
• Truth is no longer followed

Dwapar Yuga
• Vishnu has to intervene in the
world to maintain order.
• He sends his avatar Krishna

Dwapar Yuga
two legs

Kali Yuga
432,000 years

Kali Yuga
• SHIVA the Destroyer Rules
• Iron Age

Kali Yuga
• Materialism - Warfare
• Age of Darkness
• Civilizations ends in destruction
• Shiva Dances and world ends

Kali Yuga
one leg, then none

World is Destroyed
World is recreated
Cycle starts again

Kalpa क
ल्प
1,000 Mahayugas
4.32 billion years
1 Day in the life of Brahma

5. Dharma
One’s duty in life performed
with the proper action
Mark, J. J. (2020, June 08). Hinduism. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/

5. Dharma
When one performs their
duty, they and all society
experience harmony &
balance

6. Moksha
Release from Samsara
The endless cycle of birth,
death and rebirth

Samsara
Endless cycle of birth-life-death-rebirth

Moksha (release)
How do we achieve Moksha?

3 Purusharthas (Goals)
1. Dharma — Performing one’s duty in life
2. Artha — career, home life, acquire material wealth
3. Kama — Love, sexuality, Pleasure

3 Gunas (helps or hindrances)
1. Sattva — wisdom, goodness, detachment
2. Rajas — passionate intensity, aggression
3. Tamas — darkness, confusion, helplessness

7. Vedas
The sacred texts of Hinduism

Seven Beliefs
1. Brahman
2. Atman
3. Karma
4. Moksha
5. Yuga cycle
6. Dharma
7. The Vedas

1500 BC
Indus River
Valley
Aryans created caste to separate ruling from working classes

Caste System in History
• Aryan Invasion
• Castes created based on skills & abilities
• 5th Century BC laws fixed the castes by ancestry
• Rule #1 - Brahmins are Lord of Castes
• Rule #2 - Hindus cannot change caste

• 400 AD — Dalit (outcaste) emerged
• Possibly in response to Buddhism’s revolt
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, October 27). untouchable. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/untouchable

• British exploited castes (1757 - 1930s)
• British established laws to protect (1930s - 1947)
• Ghandi ended caste system (1947)
• Castes continue as social discrimination

(KING 5 News)_
Seattle becomes
fi
rst city to outlaw caste discrimination

11 When they divided Brahma how many portions did they make?
What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?
12 The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rājanya made.
His thighs became the Vaiśya, from his feet the Śūdra was produced.
Rig Veda 10:90 https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10090.htm
Creation Myth in the Rig Veda

Caste
Created by Krishna the Preserver
To maintain social order

Caste
Born into a caste because of Karma.
It is your Dharma (duty) to fulfill the
role you were born into

Brahmins
Priests, Teachers
Kshatriyas
Warriors, Princes
Vaishyas
Merchants, businessmen
Shudras
Laborers, factory workers
Dalits
Street sweepers, Latrine
Cleaners

Brahma’s Body
• Brahmins - priests, Brahma’s mouth
• Kshatriyas - warriors, Brahma’s arms
• Vaishyas - merchants, Brahma’s legs
• Shudras - laborers, Brahma’s feet

If you planted a church in India, how would you
engage the caste system in your church?

Brahma Vishnu Shiva
Krishna - Vishnu’s Avatar Ganesh Murugan

Hindu Trimurti
1. Brahma - The Creator
2. Vishnu - The Preserver
3. Shiva - The Destroyer
Brama Vishnu Shiva

Brahma Vishnu Shiva
The Trimurti (Three Gods)
The Creator The Preserver The Destroyer

Sources for your essay
Brahma https://www.worldhistory.org/Brahma/
Vishnu https://www.worldhistory.org/Vishnu/
Shiva https://www.worldhistory.org/Vishnu/

Trimurti (history)
Earliest record:
Poem Kumarasambhava “the Birth
of the War God” (500 BC)
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia (2020, February 21). Trimurti. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/trimurti-Hinduism

Trimurti (history)
Earliest depiction:
Sadashiva Stone relieve on a cave
temple on Elephant Island, India

Trimurti (history)
Historians claim the Trimurti, was
an attempt to reconcile different
legends and different gods from
the Vedic period into one meta
narrative.

1. Brahma
The Creator
Not equal to Brahman
Holds book of knowledge

Brahma
• Four Heads
• Vedas (sacred texts)
• Mala (beads) symbolizing time
• Pitcher for water, where all creation came from
or
• Alms bowl
• Seated on Lotus from which he sprung
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, November 14). Brahma. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahma-Hindu-god

Four Heads
Four Vedas
Four Yugas (epochs)
Had a 5th head but Shiva cut it off

Brahma (history)
• Earliest description 700 BC
• Primary God (500 BC - 500 AD)
• Earliest description in Mahabharata
• Called the Grandfather
• Called Prajapati (the first god)
Cartwright, M. (2015, May 16). Brahma. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Brahma/

Brahma (Mythology)
• Born from a comic golden egg (or)
• Born from a Lotus in Vishnu’s Naval
• Created good/evil; light/darkness
• Created: gods, demons, ancestors,
and men
• Created Manu, the first man

Brahma (Mythology)
• Created plants & animals on earth
• Created night & day
• Created demons to rule night
• Created good gods to rule the day
• Then abandoned his body became spirit

Brahma (Mythology)
• Brahma looked with lust at a goddess
and Shiva cut his 5th head off.
• Brahma lied and lost most of his
worshippers and that’s why he has
few devotees
• Vishnu made him the creator with no
other responsibilities.
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

Brahma (Hinduism)
• Two temples in India to Brahma:
Pushkara, and Rajasthan.
• Does not come to earth
• Sleeps during this Yuga
• Rarely involved
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

Saraswati
Brahma’s wife
Goddess of learning

2. Vishnu
The preserver
Preserves world until destroyed
Discis is weapon to cut down those
who upset Dharma

Vishnu (history)
• Earliest mention in Vedas
• Main God in the sacred texts
• Mentioned 64 times in Rig Veda
• Oldest story: Vishnu saved world
from a great flood
• Late Veda period, Became equated
with Vasudeva, a minor god in
Western India.
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Vishnu” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 492

Vishnu (history)
• In the Vedas, Krishna is his
• Later the other legends are joined
to his story: the other gods
become incarnations of Vishnu
• Later, it is taught he has 10
avatars (10 stories joined with
Vishnu)
• In Bhagavad Ghita a following of
devotees develops and becomes
(Vishnuism)

Vishnu (Art)
• Dark Blue—blue aura, blue energy,
• Four arms
• Atop the Cobra Sheshtnag
representing the many desires of
the mind. He sits over them
showing he has control.
• Sometimes seated over throne
• Conch: produces sound “OM” the
primeval sound of creation.
• Discus: cut down abhorrent men or
symbolizes the mind
• Lotus: glorious existence
• Mace: mental & physical strength.

Vishnu (Mythology)
• Bhagavata Purana epic, has most
of the Vishnu stories.
• He becomes pre-existing god
• Gives nectar of immortality to
other gods
• Story: gods wanted nectar of
eternal life. Vishnu helped produce
it. Demons tried to run off with it.
Vishnu created Maya (illusion) to
distract them, give nectar to gods.
Physical world to this day is MAYA,
illusory.
Cartwright, Mark. (2012). “Vishnu”. In World History Encyclopedia

Vishnu’s Wives
Lakshmi
Bhu Devi
Garuda (his eagle)
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, September 1). Lakshmi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://
www.britannica.com/topic/Lakshmi

Lakshmi
Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune
Appears with him in each incarnation
Very popular among Hindus today
Often small statues of her in homes
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, September 1). Lakshmi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://
www.britannica.com/topic/Lakshmi

Bhudevi
Goddess of the earth
Worshipped by farmers
Gives life to the earth
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/bhudevi

Vishnu’s Avatars
Avatar means to descend
Ten Avatars
Divine appearances of gods
Intervene to repair Dharma

Krishna
Primary Avatar
a. when earth was flooded he dragged
earth out from under the sea
b. Born on earth (like Jesus) spent life
fixing things

Krishna & the Cow
Lives in Vrindavan where there are
cows
When born on earth, is born a cow
herder as a child.
Reason why Cows are sacred

Kalki
Last Avatar who will appear in the
end
Appear riding on a white horse
End the final Yuga

3. Shiva
• Means “The Auspicious One”
• Known as the Destroyer
• Depicted as both male & female
• At end of Yuga cycle will perform a
dance to destroy the world.
• Brought Ganges river to earth from the
Milky Way.
Doniger, W. (2021, May 6). Shiva. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shiva

3. Shiva
3rd eye bestows inward vision, but
also destruction when focused on
someone or something
Skulls around neck = death
Serpent around neck
Riding tiger = victory of animal
instincts.
Doniger, W. (2021, May 6). Shiva. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shiva

Shiva (History)
• Shiva (the auspicious,
beneficent)
• Earliest found 2600 BC in a royal
seal
• Originated Northern India
• First appears in the Ramayana
(600 -300 BC) and then
Mahabharata (700 BC - 100 AD)
• Described in Shvetashvatara
Upanishad (300 BC) as highest
deity.
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Shiva” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 406

Shiva (Mythology)
• First Appears with wife Sati
• Sati dies, is reincarnated as
Parvati, his 2nd wife.
• They have a son, Ganesha.
• Then son Karttikeya, the god of
eternal youth.

Shiva (Art)
• The gods recognize his power and
recruit him to fight the demons
• His power is in “dancing”
• Four arms: 4 directions
• At the end of Yuga cycle he will
dance the world out of existence.
• He is also the Lord of Chaos
• He is also God of destruction

Shiva’s Wives
Paravati & Sati

Shiva’s sons
Ganesha (remove obstacles)
Murugan (god of war)

Hindu Flood Narrative
• Brahma fell asleep
• A Demon tried to destroy the world
with a flood
• Vishnu became Matsya a fish
• Tells Manu to build a big boat
• Manu saves animals and life
• Manu repopulates the earth

Sacred Texts
• The Four Vedas
• The Upanishads
• The Great Sanskrit Epochs
• The Puranas

The Four Vedas
1500 - 1200 BC
Vedic Period of India
Orally transmitted
Divine Texts
Doniger, W. (2023, January 4). Veda. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Veda

The Four Vedas
1. Rig Veda
2. Sama Veda
3. Yajur Veda
4. Atharva Veda

1. Rig Veda
Songs & Poems
Truth, Reality, Universe
War, Weddings, Rituals

2. Yajur Veda
Sacrificial rites
Rituals

3. Sama Veda
Sweet song that destroys sorrow
Praises to the gods

4. Atharva Veda
Curses, spells, blessings

13 Upanishads
800 - 500 BC
Divine Texts
Answers philosophical questions
in the Vedas

2 Great Sanskrit Epics
400 BC - 400 AD
1. Mahabharata
2. Ramayana
Doniger, W. (2022, December 2). Mahabharata. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mahabharata

1. Mahabharata
400 BC - 400 AD
Longest poem in the world
200,000 verses (lines)
Epoch story
5 x Bible

Bhagavad Gita
1st or 2nd Century AD
“Song of God”
Mahabharata ch 23-40
Doniger, W. (2023, January 5). Bhagavadgita. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bhagavadgita

Bhagavad Gita
Setting:
Epoch War story
Krishna appears to Arjuna
Teaches Arjuna about Dharma
We all must act obey to Duty

Bhagavad Gita Teachings
Commentary on Upanishads
1. Explains Yoga
2. Dualism of soul and physical body
3. Reincarnation
4. Who to attain moksha (release)
5. Achieving nirvana (extinction)

6.Amass record of karma (good actions)
7.Meditation
8.Amassing jnana (knowledge)
9.Following path of Bhakti (devotion)
10. Kama (desiring fruits of action)

2. Ramayana
600 - 300 BC
2nd Longest poem
24,000 verses
Epoch story of Prince Rama
From Ayodhya in Kosala
14-year exile

Puranas
3rd - 10th Century AD
“Ancient”
Encyclopedias of Hindu Beliefs
Doniger, W. (2022, August 15). Purana. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Purana

Puranas
Describes
• Yoga
• Caste System
• Taxation
• Civil Law

Puranas
Five Subjects
1. First Creation
2. Recent Creation
3. Genealogy of gods
4. Reign of Manus, the first man
5. History of sun & moon

Terms for Religious leaders
• Swami
• Guru
• Maharishi
• Yogi
• Pundit or Punjaris

Guru
Any Spiritual teacher, or guide
One who initiates followers,
“Guru” means “the weighty one”
Bears weight of wisdom.
Used for a common teacher
including Yoga teacher
Parrinder, G. (1984). In Hinduism. World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present. Facts on File.

Swami
Hindu Holy Man
“Swami” means Master
Teacher of Hindu philosophy
Mastery over “self”
Teacher with many followers and
a reputation

Yogi
Hindu teacher of Yoga
Teacher is bound by a code of moral
conduct and restraint similar to a
monk. Often involves celibacy. Myths
surround Yogis that can accomplish
physical tasks like levitation.

Maharishi
Term bestowed specifically on
Brahmins
Means “Great Seer”
Implies divine revelation

Pundit or
Pujaris
Hindu Priests
Ceremonial role

Namaste
Greeting
Said with slight bow and
Hands together
K V Singh (2015). Hindu Rites and Rituals: Origins and Meanings. Penguin Books. pp. 123–124.

Namaste
• Sanskrit “means I bow to you”
• Namas “to bow”
• Te “to You”

Namaste
• Recognition of Atman
• The Atman in me
• salutes the atman in you

How do you feel about using it as a greeting in India?

Chakra
The seven focal points on the body that align with the centers
of energy, and are the focus of meditation
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, November 14). chakra. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://
www.britannica.com/topic/chakra

The Third Eye
Ajhna (3rd Eye)
Spiritual Sight
Aligns with Chakra
Someone having spiritual sight

Vegetarianism
Hindus value Non-violence
Maintains Dharma with nature
Vegetarianism purifies soul

Why are cows sacred
1. Because most Hindus are vegetarian therefore depend on milk
2. Because cows are like a mothers who gives life
3. Because cows are associated with mother goddesses
4. Because were sacred in the Vedas
5. Because Krishna, when he was on earth, was a cattle herder

Homa होम
• Vedic Fire Ritual
• Performed by Hindu Priest
• Offerer asking gods for
something
Axel Michaels (2016). Homo Ritualis: Hindu Ritual and Its Signi
fi
cance for Ritual Theory. Oxford University Press. pp. 237–248.

Homa होम
• Offer food
• Grain
• Ghee (clarified butter)
• Incense
• Seeds
fi

Homa होम
• Offered for the home
• At weddings
• Special occasions
fi

Self-Realization
Fellowship Yoga International Fellowship
Of Krishna Consciousness
Hinduism in America

Yoga
Bhagavad Gita
Vaishnavism Branch

Yoga
Join, Unite
1. Bhakti Yoga — chanting, prayer
2. Hatha Yoga — physical postures
3. Karma Yoga — acts of service

Yoga
Chicago (1893)
Swami Krishnamacharya
Father of Modern Yoga

Yoga
Hollywood (1947)
Indra Devi
Yoga Studio

Maharishi Mahesh
Introduced in 1955
Popularized 1960s & 70s

The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh (1968)

Self-Realization
Fellowship
Los Angeles, 1920
His teaching on Bhagavad Gita
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893 - 1952)

Self-Realization
Fellowship
Los Angeles, 1920
His teaching on Bhagavad Gita
Los Angeles Temple on Hollywood Blvd.

International Society for
Krishna Consciousness

ISKS
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Vaishnava Branch
Sri Chaitanya of Bengal (1500)
Devotion to Krishna
Bhagavad Gita
ISKS on Hollywood Blvd

ISKS
Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada (1966)
San Francisco Counterculture

ISKS
Public Dance
Promote Vegetarianism
Veneration of Lord Krishna
Chanting “Hare Krishna”

My Sweet Lord (George Harrison, 1969)

Four Branches
1. Vaishnavas
2. Shaivas
3. Smartas
4. Shaktas

1. Vaishnavism
• Devotion to Vishnu
• Vishnu is the manifestation of Brahman
• Incarnations: Rama, Krishna, (others)
• Vishnu defends Dharma (moral law)
• Goal is moksha (liberation) spend eternity
in Vishnu’s presence
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, December 28). Vaishnavism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vaishnavism

Srivaishnava Sect
• Doctrine of Vishishtadvaita (non dualism)
• The phenomenal world is illusory
• But it is the medium to access Krishna

Madhva Sect
• Followers of the philosopher Madhva
• Doctrine of Dvaita (dualism)
• God & the Atman are separate entities
• Atman depends on Brahman but is not
equal to it.

Pushtimarg Sect
• Followers of Vallabhacharya
• Phenomenal world is NOT illusory but real

Gaudiya Sect
• Followers of Chaitanya
• Phenomenal world is NOT illusory but real
• Relationship between Brahman and the
world is inconceivable (we can’t
understand).

2. Shaivism
• Devotion to Shiva
• (1) Pluralism - many realities
• (2) Monism - only one reality
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2015, March 5). Shaivism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaivism

Shaiva-Siddhanta
• Shiva philosophical system in South India
• Dated 5th to 9th Century
• Three Universal Realities
1. Pashu - the individual soul (not Atman)
2. Shiva - the Lord, ultimate reality
3. Pasha - soul’s bondage to the body
• Ignorance - we are all ignorant of realities
• Freedom obtained by (a) acts of service, (b)
worship ( c) Yoga - spiritual discipline, and
(d) deep learning.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2016, April 6). Shaiva-siddhanta. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaiva-siddhanta

3. Smartas
• Traditional sect
• Members of the Brahman, Kshatriya, and
Vishya sect
• Follow the Smriti Texts
• Follow Shankara (8th Century teacher)
• Head monastery in Karnataka, India.
• Follow 5 deities: Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti,
Surya, and Ganesha.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2007, March 1). Smarta sect. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Smarta-sect

4. Shaktas
• Worship goddess Shakti (means power)
• Mostly in Bengal and Assam
• Shakti was wife of Shiva
• The Divine mother
• Absolute surrender to her power
• Shakti is a coiled serpent within each
person that is released upon surrender to
the goddess Shakti.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2015, January 19). Shaktism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaktism

Holi
Festival of Color (spring)

Maha Shivaratri
Venerates Shiva

Raksha Bandhan
Honoring brothers & sisters

Krishna
Janmashtami
Birthday of Krishna

Ganesh Chaturthi
Birth of Ganesha

Navrati
Feast of Nine Nights
Rama’s Victory over Ravana

Rama Navami
Birth of Lord Rama

Hindu Adoptions of
Christian Narratives

Jesus in India
Nicolas Notovitch (1887)
Swami Abhedananda (1922)
Levi Dowling (1908)
Nicholas Roerich (1925)

Reincarnation
of Krishna
Similar stories
Similar teachings
Allegedly both Avatars

Hinduism: An Introduction to the Ancient Religion

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Hinduism: An Introduction to the Ancient Religion