India & Hinduism

INDIA & HINDUISM

LAND OF INDIA India is a subcontinent

of Asia. Along the northern

border are the highest mountains in the world, the Himalayan Mountains.

India has 2 major rivers: Ganges and Indus The Ganges is seen as the life source for

all Indians India has monsoon season each year

from June - September

LIFE IN INDIA 7th largest country in the world (1/3 size

of US) Main language is Hindi Religions: Hindu (80.5%) Muslim

(13.4%) some of the largest slums in the world

In Dharavi, 1 million ppl live in a space 2/3 the size of Central Park

Not enough water, toilets, sewage & trash everywhere

INDIAN STATS 2nd largest population in the world 1.2

billion Life expectancy = 67 years 2.4 million living with AIDS, 170,000 die

yearly 44% of children under 5 are

underweight 61% of population is literate 29.8% of the population is below

poverty line World largest producer of opium,

traded illegally

HINDU SOCIETY

India’s System System of Writing= Sanskrit Caste system

a rigid set of social classes Determined one’s occupation, economic

potential, and position in society Based, in part, on skin color & occupation 4 major levels in the caste system & a

bottom level

THE CASTE SYSTEMpriestswarriors

commonerspeasants with limited

rights UNTOUCHABLES

"Discarded chicken scraps bought from a restaurant barely

make a meal for Untouchables in Bihar, one of India's poorest states. These villagers belong to the Musahar, or rat-eaters, caste, its members known for hunting rodents. Musahar women, many of whom work as field hands, have begun to agitate for better living conditions. This takes courage, says a local activist. 'If an Untouchable woman demands or questions something and a landlord doesn't like it, he will beat or sexually harass her.'"

From "India's Untouchables," June 2003, National Geographic magazine

UNTOUCHABLES Given boring and

degrading tasks 5% of India’s

population not treated as

humans harmful presence lived in separate

areas away from society

HINDUISM AS A RELIGION Holy Books: Vedas

Also: Upanishads, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, and Mahabharata

God: Brahman- supreme being (Polytheistic or Monotheistic)

Main Goal: For your atman to merge with Brahman.

How?: Yoga World’s oldest religion 750 million around the

world

REINCARNATION The belief

that an individual soul can be reborn in a different form after death

KARMA The force

generated by a person’s actions that determines how the person will be reborn in the next life

YOGA A method of

training designed to lead to union with Brahman

BRAHMAN Single spiritual

force that Hindus believe resides in all things

Considered to be present in many forms but all the SAME supreme being

MAIN DEITIES Brahma the

Creator

MAIN DEITIES Vishnu the

Preserver

MAIN DEITIES Shiva the

Destroyer

MAIN DEITIES Ganesha – deity of

intellect & wisdom

MAIN DEITIES Krishna – origin

of all incarnations

INDIA AND HINDUISM IN CURRENT EVENTS http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/

2012/sep/21/india-gutka-ban-stimulant-video

http://www.voanews.com/content/india-blackout-highlights-power-problems-in-developing-countries/1452613.html