REL/133 v8 Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism REL/133 v8 Page 2 of 4 Religion Comparison Part 1: Hinduism Overview Hinduism has no founder, but an integration of different beliefs. Its development was influenced by the nomadic Aryan Indo-European races that occupied Northern India. The religions originated from Russia and Central Asia as they attacked the Harappans residing in the area. Veda is the oldest scripture in Hindu that means wisdom and knowledge. It has hymns, prayers and ritual texts introduced during in the ancient times. The secret teachings in Hindu are known as the Upanishads, and it includes the mystical concepts of man and the universe. Hinduism has a term known as Ramayan and is one of the significant Indian tales. Puranas is a vital source used to understand Hinduism, and it includes the legends, gods, and demons. A common feature between Hinduism and other religions is that most of its festivals fall in two classes (Doniger, 2010). There are those who celebrate saints and others celebrating notable scriptural events. Om is a symbol in Hinduism and used in meditation. The swastika is another symbol associated with a negative connotation in other parts across the world while in Hinduism, it is a sign of luck and fortune. Part 2: Compare and Contrast Two Religions Religion 1 Hinduism Religion 2 Jainism Similarities Differences Points of origin Jainism and Hinduism came from India. Moreover, they are all knows as the traditional faiths of the Indians. The existence of Atma The two religions accept the reality of Atma, also known as the soul. They believe in the immortality of the soul. In the contexts of both religions, the physical body can die, but the spirit that inhabits it lives on and leads to reincarnation. The ideas of Moska, Karma, and Reincarnation Jainism and Hinduism both believe in Karma. Karma can refer to the good or bad. They also believe in reincarnation, the idea of life after death (Babb, 2015). Both religions also believe in moska, the liberation from the cycle of life and death. However, the meaning of these concepts is different in each religion. Temples and Idols The religious activities in both religions are similar. They both have temples and conduct idol worshiping. They also have times when they fast as a way of worship and purification of the soul. The concept of Karma In Hindu, Karma is an essence of transgression to atone for blessings to get in the next life. Jains consider Karma a kind of activity that attaches to the soul in each life. While Hindus try to do the right thing to atone for the spiritual debt, Jains follow actions intended to clean the soul of a polluting nature. The idea of Moksha Hindus believe that Moksha and liberation take place where the soul meets the universal soul and results to eternal life in Vishnu’s territory. The Jains considers moksha an activity-less and tranquil that is said to take place in Siddhabhumi. Animal Sacrifices Jainism do not engage in ani.

1. REL/133 v8
Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism
REL/133 v8
Page 2 of 4
Religion Comparison
Part 1: Hinduism Overview
Hinduism has no founder, but an integration of different beliefs.
Its development was influenced by the nomadic Aryan Indo-
European races that occupied Northern India. The religions
originated from Russia and Central Asia as they attacked the
Harappans residing in the area. Veda is the oldest scripture in
Hindu that means wisdom and knowledge. It has hymns, prayers
and ritual texts introduced during in the ancient times. The
secret teachings in Hindu are known as the Upanishads, and it
includes the mystical concepts of man and the universe.
Hinduism has a term known as Ramayan and is one of the
significant Indian tales. Puranas is a vital source used to
understand Hinduism, and it includes the legends, gods, and
demons. A common feature between Hinduism and other
religions is that most of its festivals fall in two classes
(Doniger, 2010). There are those who celebrate saints and
others celebrating notable scriptural events. Om is a symbol in
Hinduism and used in meditation. The swastika is another
symbol associated with a negative connotation in other parts
across the world while in Hinduism, it is a sign of luck and
fortune.
Part 2: Compare and Contrast Two Religions
Religion 1
Hinduism
Religion 2
Jainism
Similarities
Differences

2. Points of origin
Jainism and Hinduism came from India. Moreover, they are all
knows as the traditional faiths of the Indians.
The existence of Atma
The two religions accept the reality of Atma, also known as the
soul. They believe in the immortality of the soul. In the
contexts of both religions, the physical body can die, but the
spirit that inhabits it lives on and leads to reincarnation.
The ideas of Moska, Karma, and Reincarnation
Jainism and Hinduism both believe in Karma. Karma can refer
to the good or bad. They also believe in reincarnation, the idea
of life after death (Babb, 2015). Both religions also believe in
moska, the liberation from the cycle of life and death. However,
the meaning of these concepts is different in each religion.
Temples and Idols
The religious activities in both religions are similar. They both
have temples and conduct idol worshiping. They also have times
when they fast as a way of worship and purification of the soul.
The concept of Karma
In Hindu, Karma is an essence of transgression to atone for
blessings to get in the next life. Jains consider Karma a kind of
activity that attaches to the soul in each life. While Hindus try
to do the right thing to atone for the spiritual debt, Jains follow
actions intended to clean the soul of a polluting nature.
The idea of Moksha
Hindus believe that Moksha and liberation take place where the
soul meets the universal soul and results to eternal life in
Vishnu’s territory. The Jains considers moksha an activity-less
and tranquil that is said to take place in Siddhabhumi.
Animal Sacrifices
Jainism do not engage in animal offering because they value all
kinds of life and appreciates them through non-violence. Hindus
allow the concepts of violence provided it helps reach
enlightenment
Belief in creator

3. The Hindus believe in deities such as Vishnu, Shiva. They also
believe in the gods and acknowledge them as creators of the
universe, that they preserve the world and punish people who do
wrong (Long & Sullivan, 2011). The Jains do not believe in the
almighty God. They also don’t think that the universe is mighty
or in any laws of the world.
References
Babb, L. A. (2015). Understanding Jainism. Edinburgh: Dunedin
Academic Press.
Doniger, W. (2010). The Hindus: An alternative history.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Long, J. D., & Sullivan, B. M. (2011). Historical dictionary of
Hinduism. Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press
Hinduism overview
Hinduism is the oldest religion in the history of the world.
Hinduism dates back about four thousand years ago. Hinduism
is the third largest religion behind Christianity being the largest
religion and Islam being the second largest. Hinduism has been
a difficult religious tradition to find out any information about
because Hinduism has no founder. Hinduism doesn’t have the
makeup of the tradition has been on the scene for several
thousands of years even though there is no clear start date on
record. Hinduism is not a traditional religion, in fact, Hinduism
isn’t considered a religion at all. Hinduism is considered a way
of life that consists of but a compilation mixture of many
traditions and philosophies. Hinduism is a henotheistic religion,
who worships the supreme god who is responsible for the
creation of the world and all living things. Hindus believe in the
cycle of life, death, and reincarnation and both good and bad
karma. Hindus believe that karma is a reaction to all behaviors
to compensate for blessings to be received in the next life. One
of the key concepts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in the
soul. This means that living creatures have a soul and a subject

4. to the entities of the supreme god. The goal of Hinduism is to
achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths
to become part of the absolute soul. The most important sacred
text to the Hindu tradition is the Veda. The Vedas is an ancient
text that is made up of different verses and hymns by ancient
followers of Hinduism. There are two commonly known
symbols of the Hinduism tradition. One of them is the OM,
which is symbolic to the supreme god. The other is Swastika,
which means good luck and prosperity. The Hindu tradition
celebrates and honors many special days throughout the year.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights and a victory between
light and darkness. Navaratri is the Hindu celebration of the
harvest and good versus evil. Holi is a spring festival that
celebrates new life and energy and the coming of a new season.
Janmashtami is a birthday celebration to Lord Krishna. Rakhi is
a celebration of bonds and love between families. Maha
Shivaratri honors and celebrates the day Shiva saved the world
from destruction. To Hindus, rituals are meant to be a form of
devotion and religiosity as well as to bring God and spirituality
at the center of one’s life. There are several rituals that are
performed daily, weekly, and monthly in the Hindu tradition.
“Nitya rituals are performed daily and consist of offerings made
at the home shrine or performing puja to the family deities”
(Hinduism, 2009). Naimittika is rituals that are performed on
special occasions, such as the birth of a baby. Kamya are rituals
that used to achieve good karma or one’s specific wishes.
Compare and contrast Hinduism and Jainism
Similarities
Both Hinduism and Jainism originated in India. Jainism and
Hinduism both accept the existence of the soul, and they believe
in its immortality. Both religions celebrate holy days such as
Diwali. between Hinduism and Jainism is the support and
beliefs of reincarnation and karma. In the Hindu religion, they
believe that karma is a reaction to the experiences and actions
one makes during their lifetime. The goal of karma to the Hindu
religion is to do the right thing amongst people and spiritually

5. while on Earth so that the universe can payback their souls with
good karma in the afterlife. The Jainism religion also believes
in karma. Jainism believes that karma attaches itself to one's
soul during each phase of life. Jains are in the habit of
following specific practices that are to cleanse their souls of
any negative aspects as they come so that one can experience
positive karma. Both religions practice vegetarianism, meaning
that neither religion consume food that is produced or made up
of any type of animal.
Differences
Hindus believe in both a god and a soul and Jains believe in a
soul and no god. The number followers of Jainism have
decreased throughout the years. Hinduism has grown to be the
third largest religion in the world. The Hindus are a
henotheistic religion and believe that a god created the
universe. The Jains don’t believe in god and that the universe is
more powerful than god’s power. The Jains practice nonviolent
values all forms of life The Hindus have allowed the concept of
violence to can help one reach enlightenment. Hindus attempt to
build positive karma and pray the Gods take favor on them and
that they are chosen to be released to the reincarnation stage of
their souls. Janis do not believe the gods choose who may be
liberated. Jains believe it is the responsibility of the individual
to cleanse themselves of bad energy.
References
Chapple, C. K. (2009). Jainism. In J. B. Callicott & R.
Frodeman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and
Philosophy (Vol. 2, pp. 2-5). Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference
USA.
Deming, W. (2015). Understanding the religions of the world :
An introduction. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-

6. com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu
Eastern Family Part I: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism. (2003). In J.
G. Melton (Ed.), Encyclopedia of American Religions (7th ed.,
pp. 195-200). Detroit, MI: Gale
Hinduism(2009). Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/hinduism
Hinduism(2018). Retrieved from
http://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism
REL/133 v8
Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism
REL/133 v8
Page 2 of 2Religion ComparisonPart 1: Hinduism Overview
Write a 550-word overview of the history of Hinduism, as well
as the importance and role of the sacred texts. Include an
explanation of the rituals, symbols, holy days, and core beliefs
of Hinduism.
550 words
Part 2: Compare and Contrast Two Religions
Select two of the following religions to compare and contrast:
Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism.Identify the two religions in the
table below.
Religion 1
Enter text.
Religion 2
Enter text.
Describe at least two similarities and two differences between

7. the religions you selected in the table below. Some categories to
consider include rituals, symbols, holy days, and core beliefs.
Note: Write a minimum of 175 words for each section of the
table (similarities and differences).
Similarities
Differences
175 words
175 words
.
Include references formatted according to APA guidelines. You
may find helpful resources for completing your assignment in
the Center for Writing Excellence in the University Library.
References
Enter text.
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Copyright© 2018, 2016, 2015 by University of Phoenix. All
rights reserved.