Hinduism originated from the beliefs of the Aryans who invaded India around 1500 BCE. Hindus believe in Brahman, the universal spirit, and reincarnation, where one's soul is reborn based on their karma from previous lives. Society was divided into a caste system with priests, warriors, merchants, and servants, with untouchables below all castes. The goal was to achieve moksha by being reborn until joining with Brahman. Hinduism influenced other Indian religions like Jainism and Brahmanism.

1. The Origins of Hinduism

2. Hindu Beliefs
• Hindus believe that there is a
universal spirit called Brahman
who created the universe.
• Brahman is made up of many
gods and goddesses.
• Three of the major Hindu gods
are:
Brahma (creator)
Siva (destroyer)
Vishnu (protector)

3. Reincarnation
• When a person dies they come back as
another living being,
this is called Reincarnation.
• If they did enough good deeds and had
good karma, then they could come back The most sacred animal
as an animal. to a Hindu is the COW.
• If they did mostly bad deeds then they
had bad karma and may come back as a
bug or rat.
• With reincarnation, the goal is to live over
and over again until one is good enough
to have his/her spirit join the great
universal spirit.

4. Remember:
a person’s soul, “atman”
joins the “Brahman” (universal spirit)
this is called the “Moksha”

5. What did this mean for Indian Society?
• Society was very stable.
• Since complaining about
one’s position in society built
bad karma, people did not try
to change their position and
at least made the appearance
of being happy.
• In traditional Hindu society,
women were viewed as
inferior to men, and therefore
had fewer rights.

6. Divisions of Indian Society
In early history, the divisions
were called: Varnas
They were:
Brahmins - priests
Kshatriyas - warriors
Vaisyas - farmers,
craft makers, and
merchants
Sudras -servants

7. …divisons…
Later in history, the name changed to castes,
Castes were based on birth, wealth, and
occupation.
Today, the caste system is very much apart of
Indian life and culture.

8. Rules of the Castes
• A person is born into their caste,
and will remain in that caste for
their whole life.
• They do not socialize with those Brahmins
outside of their caste.
• They may not marry outside of Kshatriyas
their caste.
• Their job is based on what their Vaisyas
father does for a living.
• If you broke a caste rule you could Sudras
be banned from your home and
caste thus making you an
“untouchable”.

9. Untouchables
• Untouchables are the lowest
of the low.
• This is where we get the
word, “out-cast”
• People viewed them as
contaminated.
• Untouchables had the worst
jobs such as sewer cleaners
and disposers of dead
animals.

10. Here, you can see
This Indian man
is giving the ladies
some food, but will
drop it to them to
make sure he
doesn’t touch them.

11. …untouchables…
Today, most the world views the caste system as
inhumane, especially towards the
untouchables.
Many times they die at an
early age from starvation
and disease.

12. Brahmanism
• Brahmanism was the religion of
the Aryans.
• Brahmanism was based on the
Vedas.
• Brahmanism was a polytheistic
religion that developed from
Hindu beliefs.
.

13. • Jainism was founded by
Jainism
Mahariva
• Jains live by four
principals:
Injure no life
Tell the truth
Do not steal
Own no property
• Jains and many Hindus
are vegetarians since
they believe souls can
come back as animals.

14. “Live and Let Live”
is the slogan of the Janis today.
This traditional idol
looks very similar
to the Buddhist
idols that develop
later.

15. …so remember…
Hinduism
Brahmanism
Jainism