Hinduism The world's "oldest extant religion"
• Makes up 80% of
population of India
• Belief in many gods
• Belief in reincarnation
(the rebirth of souls after
death)
• Karma – moral
consequences of people

World religions Map
There are approximately 1 billion Hindus, making
Hinduism the third largest religion in the world after
Christianity and Islam, of whom approximately 890
million live in India

Hinduism
सनातन धर्म र (Sanskrit)
It originated on the
Indian subcontinent
with foundations in
the Vedic civilization,
but has no known
founder, being itself a
conglomerate of
diverse
beliefs
and
traditions.

Bhagavad
gita
Sanskrit: भगवद् ‌ग ीता –
The "Song of God" is an
ancient Sanskrit text
comprising 700 verses
from the Mahabharata.
Krishna, as the speaker
of the Bhagavad Gita is
referred to within as
Bhagavan.

Hindu Temple
Houses of worship for
followers of Hinduism. They
are usually specifically
reserved for religious and
spiritual activities.

Who is Hindu?
When we think of the Hindu religion, we find it
difficult, if not impossible, to define Hindu religion or
even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the
world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one
prophet; it does not worship any one God; it does not
subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any
one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set
of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not
appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any
religion of creed. It may broadly be described as a way
of life and nothing more.
- Chief Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar

Five Major Doctrines
• Truth is one, Sages call it by different names
• All Mankind is One Family
• Law of Karma - As you sow, so shall you reap
• That mode of living which is founded upon total
harmlessness towards all creatures or upon a
minimum of such harm, is the highest morality
• Whenever there is a decline of virtue, God
incarnates Himself on earth to uphold righteousness
Shiva Vishnu

Mandala
A plan, chart or geometric
pattern which represents
the cosmos metaphysically
or symbolically, a
microcosm of the universe
from the human
perspective.

This denotes an action that brings back
results in this life or in the future life. The doctrine of
karma (karmavada) is based upon the theory of cause
and effect. According to this doctrine, God is not
responsible for the pleasure or pain of His creatures.
They suffer or enjoy owing to the consequences of their
own bad or good deeds.

Castes in India
The Indian caste system
has been in use for many
years. Still today the
values of
the caste system
are held strongly.
It has kept a sense
of order, and peace
among the people.
•Varna is a person's natural and
right position in society.
•The caste one has must
dictate his or her role in life.

Caste-System
• System of social
classes
• Brahmans – Priests
and scholars
• Kshatriyas – rulers
and warriors
• Vaisyas – farmers
and merchants
• Sudras – artisans and
workers
• Dalits - untouchables

Brahmans Brahma carving at a
temple in Halebidu
A handcolored
engraving of
Brahma
Highest class: priests and wise
men of the society origin:
Mouth of Brahma

Kshatriyas
soldiers/landowners
origin: Arm of Brahma
Lord Sri Rama with
wife Sita, brother
Lakshmana and
devotee Hanuman.
Rama and Lakshmana
are always shown to
be ready for battle as
it is their Kshatriya
dharma to fight.

Vaisyas
Artisans/merchants
origin: thighs of Brahma
A Vaishya is a member
of the second of the four
classes of traditional
Indian society. In
Bhagavad-Gita their
duties are stated as cow
protection, agriculture
and business.

Sudras
Cattle are sacred in India, yet can be used as work
animals, for their milk, and for their dung fertilizer.
These farmer/laborer caste men are cutting grass.

Discrimination against India's lowest Hindu
castes is technically illegal. But try telling that
to the 160 million Untouchables (dalits), who
face violent reprisals if they forget their place.

Dalit
Even now, this rejected caste is left to clean the streets
and do other dirty work.

Shiva’s bull,
Nandi
Bull temple

Swastika
The swastika is
considered
extremely holy
and auspicious
by all Hindus, and is regularly used
to decorate all sorts of items to do
with Hindu culture.
It symbolizes Peace and
Harmony, Lord Ganesh has
it on his right hand. Differs
from other uses of swastika
by the four dots inside

Yoga Statue of Shiva performing
Yogic meditation
One of the six schools
of Hindu philosophy,
focusing on meditation
as a path to self-
knowledge and
liberation.

Hatha Yoga
A system
of Yoga
that is seen
as a
preparatory
stage of
physical
purification that renders the
body fit for the practice of
higher meditation.

Concept of God
• The Truth (Ultimate Reality) is one, Sages call it by
different names - there is one God, (Supreme Reality)
perceived differently.
• Supreme Reality is worshipped in male and female
form.
Hindu Deities represent
various perceptions of
a one God:
“monotheistic
polytheism,” rather
than polytheism.

Hindu Trinity
Three manifestations of the Supreme Reality
Vishnu :
Brahma : Creation Preservation Shiva : Destruction
•Three Faces of Divine
•Three Cosmic Functions of the Supreme Lord
•Creation + Preservation+ Dissolution
•G enerator + O perator + D estroyer = GOD

Lord Brahma,Lord Rama,
The creator Destroyer of Evil
God Lord Vishnu, The
of the Trinity Preserver god of
the Trinity

Lord Shiva, The "giver" god.
Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesh, God of
Destroyer of Evil knowledge

Hindu celebration: Varanasi

Varanasi
It gets its name from
the two tributaries of
the Ganga, Varuna and
Assi. This enchanting
city is said to have been
founded by Lord Shiva.

Ten Great Observances
• Patience, firmness and stability
• Forgiveness
• Self-control and contentment
• Not to steal or conceal, or be selfish
• Cleanliness, purity and honesty
• Control over senses and sexual energy
• Right knowledge of the scripture
• Material and spiritual knowledge or study
• Truth
• Absence of anger

Reincarnation
Transmigration
According to Hinduism a
soul reincarnates again and
again on earth till it
becomes perfect and
reunites with it Source. A
being has to live many
lives and undergo many
experiences before it can
attain perfection,
becoming one with the
Divine.
The Wheel of Transmigration

Nirvana
In Hindu tradition,
nirvana (more
commonly called
moksha ) is the
reuniting with
Brahman , the universal
God or universal soul. In
traditional Hinduism, a
soul reaches this state
after living many lives in
which it climbs up
through the varna , or A mandala showing
The Sure Way to Nirvana
caste system.

What is meant by this quote?
"Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on
new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and
wears new ones."

Rajput Wedding
This Rajput marriage blends two important families.
For traditional Hindus, the rituals of marriage are one
of the most important functions of life.
Bride Groom

Hindu
Wedding
A day before the
wedding the palm and
feet of the bride are
decorated with a henna
design called “mehndi".
A canopy
or
mandapa
decorated
with
flowers is
erected at