Hinduism is one of the oldest religions with origins dating back 5500-2600 BCE. Some key beliefs include Brahman as the ultimate reality manifesting as personal deities, the concept of Atman as the soul which is reincarnated through Samsara until achieving Moksha. Hindus believe in one God with many aspects and names. The major texts are the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita. Festivals have no set day and major gods include Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The goal is to achieve Moksha through good karma and be united with Brahman.

1. Introduction to Hinduism
There is only one God, but
endless are his aspects and
endless are his names

2. What do Hindus Believe?
One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahman
Manifest as many personal deities
True essence of life – Atman, the soul, is Brahman
trapped in matter (“That art thou”)
Reincarnation – atman is continually born into this
world lifetime after lifetime (Samsara)
Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us
bound to this world (good and bad)
Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and
reunite with the divine, becoming as one with
Brahman (Moksha)

3. What is Hinduism?
One of the oldest religions of humanity
5500–2600 BCE
No particular founder.
Hinduism does not have a unified system of
belief encoded in declaration of faith
A philosophy and a way of life – focused
both on this world and beyond

4. Location of Hindus
The vast
majority
of Hindus
live in
India and
Nepal

5. Origins
Aryans
An Indo-European people.
Migrated to India in about 1500 BCE from
the Caucus Mountains.
Brought the Vedas.
Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority

7. Sacred Texts
Rig Veda: Hinduism’s oldest
text, nearly 4000 years old.
Bhagavad Gita: Hinduism’s
most popular sacred text

8. The Major Gods Of Hinduism
Brahma:
The creator god
Shiva: god of destruction/
transformation so that
new can be created
Vishnu:
The preserver god

9. Festivals and Holy Days
No set day of the week is holy-each days has
its possibilities
Religious festivals may be solar or lunar-lunar
is preferred
There are 125 special days in the Hindu year.

10. Reincarnation
Samsara: constant cycle of rebirth.
Death is not final for Hindus they expect to be
reborn many times.
People may be reincarnated at a higher or
lower level of existence depending on their
karma from their present life.
People may be reborn as plants or animals or
they may be elevated to a higher caste as a
human.

11. Goal of Hinduism
Moksha: release or liberation of atman (the
soul) from the endless cycle of rebirth
(samsara). You achieve Moksha by having
good Karma.
Infinite bliss and awareness
United forever with the divine

12. Sacred exclamation to be uttered at the
beginning and end of a reading of the Vedas
or previously to any prayer or mantra

13. Caste System:
Four major castes
Brahmin: priests
Kshatriya: warriors and administrators
Vaishya: farmers, merchants, teachers, artisans
Sudras: servants, laborers
Untouchables lived outside the caste system.
Their presence was considered harmful.

15. Places of Worship
Hindu temples exist but Hinduism is
usually practiced in the home where
there is usually a shrine dedicated to a
favored deity

17. The Ganges River
Falling from Its source of Vishnu’s feet onto
Shiva’s head and out from his hair, the water of the
Ganges is sacred enough to purify all sins.

18. Sacred Cow of India
Milk holds a central place in religious
rituals.
In honor of their exalted status, cows often
roam free.
A citizen can be sent to jail
for killing or injuring a cow.

19. Banaras - Hindu’s Holy City
Pilgrims come from all
over to bathe in the
Ganges.
Countless Hindus
come to die
1500 temples, most of
them devoted to Shiva.
It is a gathering place
for the religiously
learned and their
disciples.

20. What are the spiritual practices of
Hinduism?
Yogas: seeking union with the divine
Guru: a spiritual teacher

21. Gandhi: the Father of India
For Gandhi, social concern was
deeply rooted in his conviction
of the sacredness of life.
Gandhi believed that human
beings should strive to live as
simply as possible since
overindulgence often meant
that others may have to do
without their basic needs.
Gandhi was assassinated by a
Hindu fanatic on January 30,
l948 as India was gaining its
independence.

22. Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras

23. Karma & Dharma
Karma: Total of good and bad actions a
human soul carries with it from life to life.
Karma determines all the particular
circumstances and Situations of one’s life.
Dharma: system of rules and values that
Hindus follow in their everyday life