Week-8.pdf

Department of Education
Bureau of Learning Delivery
Teaching and Learning Division
Supplementary Learning Modules
for Senior High School Learners
Grade Levels: Grade 11
Specialized Subject: Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems
Semester: First Semester (WEEK 8)
Analyse the brief History, core Teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices, and related issues of Hinduism
LEARNING COMPETENCY:

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HINDUISM
(DHARMIC RELIGION)
One major commonality of Dharmic religion is that they all emerged from the
vast continent of India, the land of complexity and diversity in terms of people,
culture, practices, customs, and traditions. These religions include Hinduism and the
two branches of Buddhism, the Theravada and the Mahayana schools of thought.
Central to their fundamental teachings are the belief in the DHARMA with each
religion having their own special meaning for the term. Interestingly, the word
DHARMA has no exact and specific translations in the western languages. For the
HINDUS, it could mean an individual’s appropriate behaviour or duty to fulfil in
observance of a custom or a law. For the Buddhist, it could mean universal law and
order, or the Buddha’s teaching itself. The unique character of each Dharmic religion
fascinates a great multitude of faithful followers all over the world. With its one billion
adherents, most notably in India, Hinduism is the third world’s largest religion. On the
other hand, Buddhism has a very strong followers in Asian countries most especially
in East and Southeast Asia.
This module will enable you to study the origins of these great religions, their
fundamental teachings, the many challenges they confront at present, and the
relevance of these religions in modern times.
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
8.1. Recite the creation story in Rig Veda- HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIj-II/IVa8.1.
8.2. Identify the names of the major Hindu deities as well as their corresponding
functions or powers. HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIj-II/IVa8.2
8.3. Explain: The core teaching of Hinduism is the attainment of liberation in the
identification of Atman and Brahman through the Four Yogas.
HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIj-II/IVa8.3
8.4. Simulate a particular yoga and write a reflection paper on your insights on
Hinduism. HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIj-II/IVa8.4

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Task 1: ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
1. Why Hinduism is considered a diverse and complex religion?
2. How do the Hindus manifest their spiritually amidst the variety
of their traditions and freedom of beliefs?
Task 2: CONCEPT MAP
Fill the circles with word that comes to your mind.
Task 3: Guide Question:
How did the Aryans lay the ground work for the establishment of
Hinduism as a formal religion?
HINDUISM
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion with around 15% of the population
practicing the Hindu faith. Hindu followers in India comprise the major bulk with
almost 80% of the country’s population adhering to the religion. Other Asian
countries with considerable Hindu faith include Nepal (23 million), Bangladesh (15
million ),and Indonesia(3.9 million in Bali).There are also substantial numbers of
Hindus in Mauritius, Guyana, Fiji, Bhutan, Trinidad, and Tobago, Suriname, and Sri
Lanka. Hinduism was never a missionary religion unlike Christianity or Islam.
Hinduism is oftentimes considered as the oldest and most complex of all world
religion. Hindu belief may have begun around the third millennium B.C.E. Hinduism
had no one identifiable founder. The term Hindu originated from the Persian word
Hindu (in a Sanskrit Sindhu) which means “river”. The name was given in 19th
century to describe the wide array of belief system in India. Hinduism was originally
known as “Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way.”
As early as 300 B. C. E., was discovered in India the ancient Punjab city of
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro along the Indus. The foundations of Hinduism may have
originated from the customs of the early peoples of the Indus valley around 2500 B.
C. E. to 1500 B. C.
Elements of Hinduism may have taken shape from the practices of pre-Aryan
people who were already civilized city dwellers. Between 1750 B. C. E. and 1200 B.
C. E., Aryan conquerors moved to the Indus Valley and brought with them own set of
beliefs that eventually mingle with the religion of the natives.
Classical Hinduism resulted in the amalgamation of their faiths. Aryans
brought with them their set of beliefs base on oral text known as Vedas. There is
HINDUISM

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much difficulty in identifying elements in the Vedas that are genuinely pre-Aryan or
Aryan influenced. However, certain fundamental assumptions about the Aryan
religion can be stated. Aryans brought with them a “polytheistic religion” similar to
that of other Indo-European peoples. Sacrifice was the principal form of worship to
the Aryan Gods.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The sacred text of Hinduism have been principally passed down throughout
generation by way of music, recitation, dance and drama. Sanskrit has been the
language of the earliest writings.
The sacred writings of the Hindus are categories into two classes:
Shruti and Smriti.
Shruti literally means “That which is heard”. They are regarded as eternal
truths that were passed orally until the beginning of the present age wherein there
came the need to write them down. The four collections of texts of vedas form the
shruti, are considered primary sources and the most authoritative text of Hindu faith.
VEDAS
The four basic Vedic books, which are sacrificial hymns compiled from an
earlier oral tradition, are composed of Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda and
Atharva-Veda. The word Veda means “knowledge” or “sacred lore”.
The Vedas are the earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahmanic
period and oldest scripture of the Hinduism. In the great epic Mahabharata, Brahma
was said to have created the Vedas.
1. Rig-Veda is the most important and oldest book that dates back to around 1500
B.C.E to 1200 B.C.E. apart from being the oldest work of literature in an Indo-
European language. It is also the oldest living religious literature of the world. The
book is a collection of over a thousand hymns and more than thousand verses
dedicated to the Aryan Pantheon of Gods.
Rig Veda 10:129 is in a famous hymn of the tenth mandala. It is generally
regarded as one of the later hymns, probably composed in the 9th century BCE. It
has the Indian name Nasadiya Sukta, "Not the Non-existen", and is often given the
English title Creation, because of its subject.
The Paradox of Origin
The advanced abstract reasoning in the hymn has brought it a lot of attention,
not only within Indology, but from scholars of philosophy and the history of religion as
well. Its line of thought relates splendidly to cosmological thinking of the philosophers
of Ancient Greece, all through to present day astronomy.
And it ends with what seems like a punch line, a paradox taken to the extreme,
almost as if the unknown poet of it was making a joke. Here are the last lines of it (in
Max Müller's translation):

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Who knows from whence this great creation sprang?
He from whom all this great creation came.
Whether his will created or was mute,
The Most High seer that is in highest heaven,
He knows it - or perchance even He knows not.
Mainly, Rig Veda 10:129 reveals an insoluble paradox in which the human
mind of the past as well as the present easily gets trapped. How can the universe
have sprung into existence? How can something come out of nothing? How can
there be a beginning, before which there was nothing?
Much of what puzzled people three thousand years ago, still puzzles us today.
This dilemma, too. Present-day scientists wrestle with the paradox, speculating
about multiverses and such in an effort to explain the something out of nothing.
Doing so, they might just move the problem to another location, not solving it at all.
So, we should be wary of taking for granted that our ancestors were intellectually
inferior to us. We have more facts, but they knew what we still would not know today,
nor tomorrow. That’s what this Creation hymn of Rig Veda points out.
2. Yajur-Veda or the “knowledge of rites” is the second book. Composed between
1200 B.C.E., this book is a compilation of materials recited during rituals and sacrifices
to deities.
3. The third book is Sama-Veda or the “knowledge of chants”. Dating back almost
the same time as the Yajur-Veda, this book is a collection of verses from the basic
hymns recited by priests during sacrifices.
4. The fourth book is Atharva-Veda or known as “knowledge given by the sage
Atharva” that date back around 1500 B.C.E. This book contains rituals used in
homes and popular prayers to gods. Seldom used in solemn ceremonies unlike the
other three Vedas, the Atharva-Veda contains numerous spells and incantations for
medical purposes and magical aids to victory in battle among others.
UPANISHADS
Forming the fourth part of the Vedas, the term Upanishad literally translates as
“sitting down near” or “sitting close to” as it implies listening intently to the mystic
teachings of a spiritual teacher who has fully understood the universal truths. It could
also mean “brahma-knowledge” whereby ignorance is totally eliminated. Within these
amazing collection of writings that were transmitted orally through generations, one
can find early philosophical statements that form the basis for all later Hindu
philosophy.
RAMAYANA
The Ramayana, translated as the “story of Rama” or “Rama’s Journey,” is a
Sanskrit epic poem written by the poet Valmiki consisting of 24,000 verse in seven
books and 500 cantos.
This great epic was written between 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. Central to the
story is Rama, a prince and later portrayed as avatar or incarnation of the Hindu god
Vishnu, who was born in Ayodhya. Rama was exiled by his father on the eve of his
coronation. Meanwhile, in the forest, Rama’s consort, Sita, was abducted by Ravana,
the demon-king of Lanka. Rama struggles mightily to win Sita back. After a battle,
Rama kills Ravana and reunites again with Sita.

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Written around B.C.E. this magnificent work is attributed to the author Vyasa
who is also considered to be the scribe of the vedas.
.
MAHABHARATA
Tells of a great struggle among the descendants of the king called Bharata, a
name used by many Indians to mean “India” (Coogan 2005). Two families are at war,
the Pandavas who represent good and the Kauravas who embody evil). The hundred
Kaurava brothers try to cheat their five cousins, the Pandavas, out of their share of the
kingdom. As intense battle ensued, every kingdom had to take sides. With the help of
Khrisna, another incarnation of Vishnu, the Pandavas emerged triumphant but lost all
their sons and closest kin in battle.
With about 100,000 couplets than the Ramayana and 1.8 million words in total,
this poem ia about four times longer than the Ramayana, eight times longer than the
Iliad and the Odyssey put together, and fifteen times longer than the Bible. Along with
the Bible and Quran, the Mahabharata ranks in importance among the sacred writings
of various world religions.
BHAGAVAD GITA
A celebrated episode within the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita (or simply
Gita) which is translated as “the Lord’s song”. Considered as one of the holiest books
by the Hindus, the Gita is a 700-verse narrative of a dialogue between the Pandava
prince Arjuna and his guide-cousin Krishna. Just as the war is about to commence at
Kurukshetra, Arjuna is troubled at the thought of having to find his relatives and
contemplates his fate and struggles set before him. Returning to Ayodhya, they are
crowned with portrayed as the ideal king. Rama and Sita are the epitome of perfect
man and woman. Meanwhile, Ravana symbolizes ambition and greed resulting in
cosmic disorder and degradation of women and family.
BELIES AND DOCTRINES
The Hindu faith offers its followers many paths to salvation. They may find
liberation from the cycle of life through devotion to one or more gods. Gods and
Goddesses can be worshipped at their temples. In temples, devotees can pray and
offer sacrifices so that they can gain favor from deities and assist them in their
struggle for salvation. Bhakti stands for the soul’s longing for and clinging to god.
BELIES AND DOCTRINES
The Hindu faith offers its followers many paths to salvation. They may find
liberation from the cycle of life through devotion to one or more gods. Gods and
Goddesses can be worshipped at their temples. In temples, devotees can pray and
offer sacrifices so that they can gain favor from deities and assist them in their
struggle for salvation. Bhakti stands for the soul’s longing for and clinging to god.

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DEVOTION TO THE TRIMURTI
Hindu Gods and Goddesses
Central to Hinduism is the Brahman who is the ultimate reality, one and
undivided. The Brahman is often seen in three forms or functions. Trimurti these are
creation, preservation, and destruction. These functions are expressed in god forms,
namely, Brahman, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer.
Though widely respected and recognized as the creator of the universe,
Brahman receives the least attention among the Trimurti. In fact, only two temples
are dedicated to him in India and he has no cult of devotees. He is not worshipped in
the same way as other gods because he has done his task and will not come into his
own until the next creation of the universe. When depicted, Bhrama has four heads
and eight hands. His chief consort is Saraswati, the goddess of science and wisdom.
Bhrama’s vehicle is a swan or goose which symbolizes knowledge.
Known as God of love, benevolence and forgiveness, Vishnu’s primary
concern is humility itself. As a preserver, the creation is withdrawn to a seed
whenever he sleeps but rises again as he wakes up. He is worshipped in various
forms of his incarnations or avatars. Based on mythology, Vishnu has appeared on
earth in nine different forms and will come a tenth time to end the present era or
kalpa, to bring the world to an end, and then recreate it. These manifestations of
Vishnu are intended to help humanity with his preserving, restoring, and protecting
powers.
In Hindu sacred writings, Vishnu is depicted as having four arms and with a
dark complexion. His most popular manifestation is Krishna which is blue, the color
of infinity, and plays the flute. Vishnu’s consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune,
who is seated on a lotus flower between two elephants with their trunks raised above
her. Both Vishnu and Lakshmi ride the eagle mount or kite Garuda, the symbol of sky
and the sun. The snake in Garuda’s claws represents water.
As the destroyer and the God of death, destruction and disease, Shiva is the
third in Trimurti. His functions are many. He is also god of dance, vegetable, animal,
and human reproduction. In Hindu belief, death is but a prelude to birth, hence, the
god of death is also the god often revered through lingam, the male energy
surrounded by the yoni, the female source of energy. In mythology, he is described
as having a constantly erect penis and sexually alert at all times.
Equally as popular as Shiva are his man consorts that express the differing
elements of his character. Perhaps the most terrifying of his consorts is KALI,
depicted as wearing a garland of human skills, tearing the flesh of sacrificed victims,
and drinking blood. Although wild and violent. Kali is frequently the subject of intense
devotion. Kali is also the ferocious forms of consorts Durga and Parvati. Durga is a
powerful goddess created from the combine forces of the anger of several gods.
Meanwhile, Parvati, he daughter of the sacred mountain Himalaya and the goddess
of love, fertility, and devotion is the most modest, conservative, and benign of Shiva’s
consorts. Her sons with Shiva include Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity revered
as the remover of obstacles, and Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war.
Brahma, the Creator
Brahma is the first member of the Hindu Trinity and is “the Creator” because
he periodically creates everything in the universe. (The word periodically here refers
to the Hindu belief that time is cyclical; everything in the universe — except for

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Brahman and certain Hindu scriptures — is created, maintained for a certain amount
of time, and then destroyed in order to be renewed in ideal form again. Brahma has a
four heads and eight hands. Brahma’s vehicle is a swan or goose which symbolize
knowledge.
Vishnu, the Preserver
Vishnu is the second member of the Hindu Trinity. He maintains the order and
harmony of the universe, which is periodically created by Brahma and periodically
destroyed by Shiva to prepare for the next creation. Vishnu is worshipped in many
forms and in several avatars (incarnations). Vishnu is an important, somewhat
mysterious god. Less visible than nature gods that preside over elements (such as
fire and rain), Vishnu is the “Pervader” - the divine essence that pervades the
universe. He is usually worshipped in the form of an avatar.
Shiva, the Destroyer
Shiva is the third member of the Hindu Trinity, tasked with destroying the
universe in order to prepare for its renewal at the end of each cycle of time. Shiva’s
destructive power is regenerative: It’s the necessary step that makes renewal
possible. Hindus customarily invoke Shiva before the beginning of any religious or
spiritual endeavour; they believe that any bad vibrations in the immediate vicinity of
worship are eliminated by the mere utterance of his praise or name.
Ganapati, the Remover of Obstacles
Ganapati, also known as Ganesha, is Shiva’s first son. Lord Ganapati, who
has an elephant head, occupies a very special place in the hearts of Hindus because
they consider him the Remover of Obstacles. Most Hindu households have a picture
or statue of this godhead, and it’s not uncommon to see small replicas of Ganapati
hanging from rear view mirrors of cars and trucks.
Avatars of Vishnu
The literal meaning of the word avatar is “descent,” and it’s usually understood
to mean divine descent. Avatars are savior forms of a god that descend to earth to
intervene whenever help is needed to restore dharma (moral order) and peace. Two
of Vishnu’s ten avatars are Rama and Krishna.
THE TEN AVATARS OF VISHNU
Incarnation Forms Attributes
Matsya fish Saved humanity and the sacred Veda text
from flood
Kurma turtle Helped create the world by supporting it on
his back
Varaha boar Raised the earth out of water with his tusks
Narasimha Half-man,
half-lion
Destroyed a tyrant king
Vamana dwarf Subdued King Bali, a powerful demon
Parshurama Brahmin Destroyed the warrior class
Rama man Rescued his wife Sita and killed the demon
Ravana

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Krishna man Told the epic poem Bhagavad Gita to the
warrior Arjuna
Buddha man The enlightened man
Kalki horse Yet to come to the earth
Rama
Rama is one of the most beloved Hindu gods and is the hero of the Hindu epic
called the Ramayana. He is portrayed as an ideal son, brother, husband, and king
and as a strict adherent to dharma. Millions of Hindus derive satisfaction from
reading and recalling Rama’s trials and tribulations as a young prince who was exiled
from his kingdom for 14 years.
Krishna
If one Hindu god’s name is known and recognized throughout the world, it is
Krishna. Hindus identify Krishna as the teacher of the sacred scripture called the
Bhagavad Gita and as the friend and mentor of prince Arjuna in the epic the
Mahabharata. For his devotees, Krishna is a delight, full of playful pranks. But most
of all, Lord Krishna’s promise to humanity that he will manifest himself and descend
to earth whenever dharma declines has sustained Hindu belief in the Supreme Being
over thousands of years.
Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning
Saraswati is the consort of Brahma the Creator and is worshipped as the
goddess of learning, wisdom, speech, and music. Hindus offer prayer to Saraswati
before beginning any intellectual pursuit, and Hindu students are encouraged to offer
prayers to her during the school/college term and especially before and during
examinations.
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the goddess of good fortune, wealth, and well-being. As the
consort of Vishnu, she plays a role in every incarnation. (She is Sita, wife of Rama;
Rukmini, wife of Krishna; and Dharani, wife of Parashu Rama, another avatar of
Vishnu.)
Durga Devi
Durga Devi is a powerful, even frightening goddess who fights fiercely in order
to restore dharma (moral order). Yet, while Durga is terrifying to her adversaries, she
is full of compassion and love for her devotees.
Indra- the King of Heaven and lord of the gods. Indra wields a thunderbolt and is a
protector and provider of rain.
Surya, the sun
Surya (or Soorya) is a golden warrior arriving on a chariot pulled by seven
white horses.

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Agni, the fire god
Agni holds a special place in Hindu fire ritual to this day as the sacrificer (the
priest who performs the ceremony); the sacrifice (the ritual fire and the offerings
made into it); and the witness to all rites.
Hanuman, the monkey king and devoted servant
Hanuman is featured in the great Hindu epic the Ramayana. He earned his
path to deification by performing feats of strength, devotion, and courage while
helping Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in countless exciting incidents.
Durga
A powerful goddess created from the combined forces of the anger of several
gods.
Parvati
The daughter of the sacred mountain Himalaya and the goddess of love,
fertility, and devotion, is the most modest, conservative, and benign of Shiva’s
consorts. Her sons with Shiva include Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity revered
as the remover of the obstacles, and Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war.
ROUTES TO MOKSHA
From the Upanishads one may find the three principal and inter-related
doctrines within the Indian religion.
Firstly every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called
samsara).
Second, one’s deeds have an effect in this or a future life.
Lastly, one may escape the weary round of death and birth. Within every
human is an eternal soul or atman that is being reborn many times and in various
forms in accordance to the moral law or karma. A soul may escape the cycle of
rebirth and attain moksha. The word YOGA is derived from the root word you which
translates as “to yoke” or “to join. “The philosophy of yoga was developed by the
sage Patanjali who lived in the second century B.C.E. He is considered as father of
modern yoga as he codified the teachings of yoga in his Yoga Sutra.
THE FOUR YOGAS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING PRACTICES
Four Yogas Practices
Jnana Yoga (The Way of Knowledge) The path of knowledge, wisdom,
introspection, and contemplation
Bhakti Yoga (The Way of Love) The path of devotion, emotion, love,
compassion, and service to God and
others.
Karma Yoga (The Way of work) The path of action, service to others,
mindfulness, and remembering the
levels of our being while fulfilling our
actions of karma in the world.
Raja Yoga (The way of Meditation) The path of meditation that directly
deals with the encountering and
transcending thoughts of the mind.

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For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals of life or purushartha. These are
dharma (appropriate behavior), artha (the pursuit of legitimate wordy success), Kama
(the pursuit of legitimate pleasure), and moksha (release of flesh and the limitations
of death-bound life.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVATION
Hindu scriptures state that are 330 million gods or devas. These include
manifestations of natural phenomena, evil forces, and evil illnesses. Hindu worship
or puja involves images (murtis), prayers (mantras), and diagrams of universe
(yantras). Most Hindus worship individually involving mantras or vibrating sounds
that summon the deity and the prasad or gift offerings. Vital to Hindu worship is
darshan that pertaining to seeing and being in the presence of deity. In temples,
ceremonies may be in the form of offering a flames, milk, or honey, and even reciting
chants and music. While worship maybe undertaken any day of the week, Thursday
is considered to be the most opportune day.
Hindus celebrate a number of festival that are based on the Hindu calendar
and often related to seasonal changes. Main festival include Holi, Diwali, and
Dusserah. The Diwali or “Festival of Lights” is India’s biggest and most important
holiday of the year held in October or November that is similar to Christmas Holiday
of the Christian. Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that
safeguards the people from evil forces.
SEVERAL FESTIVALS CELEBRATED BY HINDUS IN A YEAR
Month Name of Festival Significance
January Lohri Celebrated in the Punjab, this marks the end
of winter
February Pongal-
Sankranti
A feast held in South India to celebrate the
rice harvest.
March Holi The national celebration of spring and the
New Year
March Shivaratri A national honouring of Shiva, Worshippers
fast during the day, and an all-night vigil is
held in Shiva temple
April Sri-Vaishnavas An honouring of Vishnu and his consort Sri,
celebrated in Madras at the beginning of the
hot season; images of Vishnu are taken from
the temples to the seashore.
May Rathyatra The birth of Lord Jagannath, celebrated with
chariots in Puri
August Janmshtami The birthday of Khrishna, celebrated
nationally; worshippers fast during the day
and break the fast in the evening, following a
special puja, or worship
September Dusserah A celebration of the triumph of God over evil,
in honor of Durga or Rama
September Ganesh
Chaturthi
The birthday of Ganesh, celebrated
nationally throughout India; huge images of
Ganesh are paraded

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October Diwali A national celebration in honor of Rama and
his consort
Pilgrimages are also undertaken by Hindus throughout India to be visit the
sacred shrines of their deities. These include rivers, mountains, and temples. The
city of Varanasi, also called Benares, is the most important and sacred pilgrimages
site in India and is considered as the home of Shiva. Many people come and live in
the city until they die to manifest their exceptional devotion. Other popular sites
include Kurukshetra (the place of the Great War in Mahabharata). Ayodhya (the old
capital of Rama), and Mathura (Krishna’s birthplace).
SUBDIVISIONS
Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and practices, including
reverence to a particular god. Presently, there are four principal denominations within
the faith. These are Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishavism, Smartism. It is important to
note, however, that while these gods have different names, Hindus all worship one
Supreme Being. Each sect has its own religious leaders, sacred texts, schools, and
temples. While there is indeed variety and key differences among sects, adherents of
these denominations share the pervading beliefs concerning karma, dharma,
reincarnation, and other key Hindu concepts and philosophy.
SHAIVISM
Lord Shiva, the Compassionate One, is God for the Saivites. Followers
Shaivism value self-discipline and philosophy. They worship in temples and practice
yoga.
SHAKTISM
The Goddess Shakti is supreme for Shaktas. She is the divine mother and
assumes many forms, be it a gentle one for fierce deity. Believers use chants,magic,
and yoga to summon cosmic forces.
SMARTISM
For the Smartas, devotees are left to choose their own deity in one of six
manifestations, namely, Ganesha, Siva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, and Skanda. Smartas
are known as liberals as they embrace all major Hindu gods.
SELECTED ISSUES
Hinduism continues to be the religion of almost 80% of the Indian people.
While mostly comprised of Hindu followers, India is a secular state that remains
neutral in issues involving religious convictions and practices of its citizenry. All
Indians are allowed to follow and propagate their own set of beliefs. Being a country
with the largest adherents of Hinduism, India is presently facing numerous
challenges that are religious in character, some of which are below.

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HINDUISM and WOMEN
Even though Manusmriti or the “Laws of Manu” states that women should be
honored in Hindu society, women have been always been considered inferior to men
in almost all aspects of life. A woman’s life revolves around the men in her life, to be
taken care of by her father in childhood, by her husband in her married life, and by
her sons upon old age. Thus, women are relegated to performing household chores
and are expected to become a loyal to their husbands, even after their husbands die.
In traditional society, women are expected to perform sati or suttee wherein widowed
women are expected to jump on the funeral pyre of their husbands to prove their
loyalty and help save the soul of their husbands in the afterlife. In spite of the fact
that sati was already demolished by the British in India, there are still cases of sati
being reported in modern times.
CASTE SYSTEM
The caste system is one major distinguishing feature of Indian culture that still
affects modern-day society. A social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, and Shudras, opportunities are based upon family origin. One person
belongs to a caste by being born to parents of that particular caste. However, the
most deplorable group are those persons that do not belong to any group-those that
are disparagingly called as “outcasts” or “untouchables”. Also known as dalits, they
are highly ostracized in society. Despite the negative backlash on the caste system,
India has been receptive in enacting legislation aimed at contra ducting inherent
social evils. Untouchability has been banned and the caste system is no longer rigid.
The Indian constitution has provided that it is unlawful to discriminate against lower
caste. Lower caste members are now being elected to key government [positions,
including Kocherii R. Narayanan, a dalit who became the tenth president of India
from 1997 to 2002.

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Task 4: Answer the following questions:
1. What makes Hinduism’s beliefs, particularly its polytheistic nature,
complex for other people?
2. Why do you think Hinduism is mainly concentrated on India?
3. How did Hinduism strengthen the caste system? Do you think the
caste system will exist in countries that embrace a different religion? Why or
why not?
Hinduism is oftentimes considered as the oldest and most complex of all
world religions. Hinduism has no single founder, no specific theological
system, and no single sacred text. The concept of dharma is closely linked to
the Hindu religion. It is the power that preserves the society. The sacred
writings of Hindu are categorized into shruti and smriti. Shruti literally means
“that which is heard” and are regarded as eternal truths that were passed
orally. The four books of Vedas are part of shruti. Meanwhile, smriti literally
means “that which has been remembered” and these are writings that serve to
reinforce shruti. Fundamental to Hindu teachings are the doctrines of samsara
(the cycle of rebirth) and karma (the universal law of causality). Apart from
recognizing a vast assortment of Indian deities, the Hindus believe in the
Trimurti (trinity) composed of brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Integral to Hindu
worship are the sacred images and temples believed to house and represent
the deities.
Write your personal reflection about the lesson:
I have learned that ________________
________________
______.
I have realized that ________________
_________________
_____.
I will apply _____________
_________________
_______________.

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Task 5: A. TRUE or FALSE. Write T if the statement is true and F if the
statement is false.
______1. The Hindu faith offers its followers many paths to salvation.
______2. There are over 500 million devas or Gods in Hinduism.
______3. The Ramayana contains 2400 verses in 6 books.
______4. Vishnu is the god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness.
______5. Bhrama is the founder of Hinduism.
______6. The “festival of Lights” is held annually around August or September.
______7. Quran is the holy book of Hinduism.
______8. Those who practice Shaivism value self- discipline and philosophy.
______9. The Vedas were passed down through written text.
______10. Bhagavad Gita is also known as “the Lord Song”.
B. Fill the blanks with the correct answer.
1. The Unipanishads include fundamental teachings in Hinduism such as
karma (action), _______ (reincarnation), moksha (nirvana), atman (soul),
and Brahman (Absolute Almighty).
2. Hinduism is the third largest religion with around ________percent of the
entire population.
3. Brahma’s chief consort is ________, the goddess of science and wisdom.
4. The word yoga is derived from the root word _______ which translates as
“to yoke” or “to join”.
5. ______ city is the most sacred pilgrimage site in India which is considered
the home of Shiva.
6. _______teaches to choose ones’ own deity and embrace all Hindu gods.
7. Hinduism was originally known as_____ or the “Aryan Way”.
8. Among the Vedas, the _____ is the most important and oldest book that

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dates back to around 1500 B.C.E. to 1200 B.C.E.
9. The _____ is one major distinguishing feature of Indian culture that still
affects the modern-day society.
10. The teachings of Hinduism may have justified the status of the _____.
C. Choose a particular yoga and write a reflection paper on your insights on
Hinduism.
Rubric for the Reflection Paper
Criteria Description Points Points
Obtained
Organization The concept was clearly and
creatively conveyed
6
Content The different practices were
thoroughly explained and
examples were provided
8
Presentation The idea was clearly
presented based on the
words used.
6
Total: 20

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Glossary
Aryan- conquerors that moved in Indus valley and brought their own set of belief
Aranyakas- meditations that explicate their meaning
Artha- appropriate worldly prosperity and material well-being
Atharva- Veda- knowledge given by the sage Atharva
Atman- soul
Ahaktism- believers use chants, magic, and yoga to summon cosmic forces
Brahmans- priestly, academic class
Brahmanas- explanations of the mantras with detailed descriptions of the sacrificial
ceremonies
Bhagavad Gita- translated as the Lord’s Song
Bhakti- soul’s longing for and clinging to God
Caste System- major distinguishing feature of Indian culture
Dalits- street cleaners, menial tasks
Darshan- pertaining to seeing and being in the presence of the deity
Devas- Hindu scripture state that there are 300 million gods
Dharma- appropriate behaviour
Diwali- Festival of Lights and Indias biggest and most important Holiday of the year in
October or November
Durga- powerful goddess created from the combined forces of the anger of several
gods
Ganesha- the elephant-headed deity revered as the remover of obstacles
Garuda- the symbol of the sky and the sun
Hinduism- world’s third largest religion
Karma- action
Kartikeya- the Hindu god of war.
Kshatriyas- rulers, administrators, warriors
Lakshmi- goddess of fortune God of love, benevolence, and forgiveness
Lingam- male energy
Mahabarata- composed of arounbd one hundred thousand verses making it the worlds
longest poem
Mantras- hymns and chants for praising God
Moksha- nirvana
Murtis- images
Parvati- goddess of love, fertility, and devotion
Ramayana- Sanskrit epic poem consisting 24,000 verses, seven books and 500 cantos
Rig Veda- most important and oldest book
Sama- Veda- the knowledge of chants
Samsara- every soul dies and is reborn anew in a new form
Sanskrit- the language of the earliest writings
Saraswati- the goddess of science and wisdom
Shaivism- followers that value self-discipline and philosophy
Shiva- destroyer and the god of death, destruction, and disease
Shrimti- means that which has been remembered

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Shruti- stories and legends, codes of conduct for the society, and guidebooks for worship
Smartism- devotees are left to choose their own deity in one of six manifestations
Shudras- manual laborers
Trimurti- creation, preservation, and destruction
Upanishads- secret teachings transcend rituals to elucidate the nature of the universe
and human’s correctness
Vaishnavism- adherents have multitudes of saints, temples, and sacred texts
Vaishyas- artisans, tradesman, farmers, merchants
Veda- means knowledge or sacred lore
Vedas- are the earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahmanic period and oldest
scriptures of Hinduism
Vedanta- teachings embedded in the Upanishads
Vishnu- preserver and having four arms and with a dark complexion
Yajur-Veda- collection of verses from the basic hymns recited by priests during sacrifices
Yantras- diagrams of the universe
Yoga- derived from the root word yuj which translate as to yoke or to join.
Yoni- the female source of energy

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Answer Keys:
Task 1. Students answer may vary
Task 5: A. TRIE or FALSE
1. True
2. False (330 million gods or devas)
3. False (24,000)
4. True
5. False (no founder)
6. False (October or November)
7. False (Vedas)
8. True
9. False (way of music, recitation, dance and drama)
10. True
B. Fill in the blanks
1. Samsara
2. 15
3. Saraswati
4. yuj
5. Varanasi or Benares
6. Hinduism
7. Arya Dharma
8. Rig- Veda
9. Caste System
10. Outcastes
C. Refer to the Rubric given (Students answer may vary)

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References
INTERNET SOURCES
https://www.dummies.com/religion/hinduism/hindu-gods-and-goddesses/
https://www.dw.com/en/indias-caste-system-weakened-but-still-influential/a-39718124
DiwaliFestivalofLightNationalGeographicKids
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/diwali/
Hinduism:FormsofYogaPhilosophyCourses
https://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/yoga.html
TheProblemsandStatusofWomeninHinduSociety
https://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduwomen.asp
Upanisads | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://www.iep.utm.edu/upanisad/
TEXTBOOK
Ong, J. A. and Jose, M. D. dl. (2016). Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
(Senior High School Textbook) Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex Meralco
Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600, Vibal Group
Prepared by:
FLORECIL L. BALLENER
Teacher II
Schools Division of Passi City
Region VI
Evaluated by:
NESCEL P. PANES, PhD JUNAL M. MARCON, PhD
Education Program Supervisor Master Teacher I
Schools Division of Passi City Schools Division of Passi City
Region VI Region VI

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