Hinduism

Beginnings

Aboriginal – pre 6000 B.C.DravidianAryan (Indo-Europeans)

I. Hinduism

A. General Characteristics1. mix of Aryan & Dravidian beliefs2. no single founder3. monotheistic (brahman) or polytheistic?

B. Vocabulary

Brahman: the universal spirit dharma: code of conductkarma: the idea that one’s deeds

will have an effect on this or the next life

samsara: reincarnation or the cycle of the soul’s birth and rebirth

moksha: release from samsara (salvation)

atman: the soul of the individualpuja: daily worship of one or

more of the goddesses; one invites the god with offerings and prayers

Hindu Trinity: Cyclical concept of Time

Preservation(Life)

Recreation(Rebirth)

Creation(Birth)

Destruction(Death)

Brahma – the Creator

Vishnu – the Preserver Of Balance in the Universe

Shiva – the DestructorWho facilitatesrejuvenation

Brahman

Creator

Part of Hindu Trinity

Vishnu

Preservation

Operator

Part of Hindu Trinity

                             

Shiva

Destroyer

Part of the Hindu Trinity

                             

Ganesha

Elephant headed diety

Worshipped at the start of new tasks

Not part of Hindu trinity

Temples

Secular and Religious Art

D. Religious Texts

1. Vedas2. Upanishads: a dialogue between

a sage and student; introduced samsara (900 BC)

3. Mahabarata: story of 2 warring families and how the gods interacted