Hinduism is one of the oldest religions that originated in India with no single founder or holy text. It formed from a combination of ancient cultures along the Indus River Valley. The Vedas and Mahabharata are two important texts, with the Mahabharata being an epic poem telling stories of family conflict. Hinduism believes in many gods led by Brahman, consisting of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Yoga and moksha involve different paths to enlightenment and union with God. Hindus follow dharma and are subject to karma, with good karma achieved through proper conduct. The caste system historically separated Hindus into priests, rulers,

1. Hinduism The Basics

2. Quick Overview of Hinduism Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and originated in India. It has no single founder, nor one single holy text. Hinduism formed from a combination of the Indus River Valley, Aryan, and Dravidian cultures. The religion is still evolving today.

3. The Vedas and the Mahabharata Most scholars believe that Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa composed the Vedas and later changed his name to compose the Mahabharata. The Mahabharata is a long epic poem, with over 1.8 million words, that tells many stories about the conflict between 2 families.

4. Hindu Gods Since Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, it has many gods. It has one main being called Brahman, which consists of 3 Gods. Brahma – The Creator Vishnu – The Preserver Shiva – The Destroyer

5. Yoga and Moksha Yoga is a path to enlightenment. The goal of Yoga is moksha. Moksha is union with God, or Brahman. There are 4 different Yogas, including Work, Knowledge, Meditation, and Love.

6. Dharma and Karma Dharma (duty) is how you should conduct yourself and live your life. Karma is your actions that affect your next life. To have good karma, one must perform his or her dharma.

7. The Caste System There are 4 main castes called varnas. Brahmins – Priests Kshatriyas – Rulers and soldiers Vaisyas – Farmers and Merchants Sudras – Artisans Untouchables – non-Aryans and slaves

8. Sources Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism . Cambridge University Press, 1996. Print.