Hinduism: Hinduism: A Brief A Brief

IntroductiIntroductionon

Hindu Images

Brahman: “Supreme Brahman: “Supreme Being”Being”

Brahman nirguna*: God “without Brahman nirguna*: God “without qualities.” Formless, existing qualities.” Formless, existing beyond the physical world. This beyond the physical world. This Brahman totally transcends Brahman totally transcends earthly problems or reality.earthly problems or reality.

*Definitions are from *Definitions are from www.himalayanacademy.comwww.himalayanacademy.com

Brahman: “Supreme Brahman: “Supreme Being”Being”

Brahman saguna: Brahman saguna: God “with God “with qualities.”qualities.” God as God as superconscious, superconscious, omnipresent, all-omnipresent, all-knowing, all-knowing, all-loving and all-loving and all-powerful. God powerful. God becomes becomes represented by represented by figures like figures like Ganesh, Shiva or Ganesh, Shiva or Krishna.Krishna.

An image of Shiva: the god of creation An image of Shiva: the god of creation and destructionand destruction

Atman: The ‘Soul’Atman: The ‘Soul’ Atman is the Atman is the

essence of essence of life. The life. The goal is to have goal is to have your atman your atman re-united with re-united with the Brahman the Brahman nirguna.nirguna.

KarmaKarma The law of cause and effect by which The law of cause and effect by which

each individual creates his own destiny each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds. by his thoughts, words and deeds.

DharmaDharmaThe daily duties that you The daily duties that you

fulfill to create good karma. fulfill to create good karma.

Having an ultimate balance Having an ultimate balance between religious, social between religious, social and familial balance.and familial balance.

ReincarnationReincarnation The process of re-uniting the atman The process of re-uniting the atman

with Brahman can take several life with Brahman can take several life times and depends on the Karma of times and depends on the Karma of the individual.the individual.

The atman continues to be reborn The atman continues to be reborn until all the Karma issues have been until all the Karma issues have been resolved.resolved.

All Hindus will eventually achieve All Hindus will eventually achieve this goal.this goal.

The Caste SystemThe Caste SystemCategoryCategory Occupation Occupation StatusStatusBrahminBrahmin Priests and Priests and

religious officialsreligious officialsTwice-bornTwice-born

KshatriyaKshatriya Rulers and Rulers and warriorswarriors

Twice-bornTwice-born

VaishyaVaishya Farmers, Farmers, merchants, merchants, traders & traders & craftsmencraftsmen

Twice-bornTwice-born

ShudraShudra Peasants and Peasants and servants of the servants of the upper castesupper castes

Not yet twice-Not yet twice-bornborn

UntouchablUntouchableses

The dirtiest jobs: The dirtiest jobs: latrine cleaners, latrine cleaners, etc.etc.

Outside the Outside the Caste SystemCaste System

The ultimate goal of human life. This is when your atman meets the Brahman and you are released from the cycle of reincarnation

A blessing vendor at a festival.A blessing vendor at a festival.

AsceticsAscetics Ascetics deny Ascetics deny

themselves themselves earthly earthly comforts to comforts to prove their prove their devotion to devotion to God. God.

Sahdus are Nepali ascetic, Sahdus are Nepali ascetic, homeless monks who travel homeless monks who travel

throughout the country, throughout the country, meditating.meditating.

One of the holiest temples in One of the holiest temples in Kathmandu: PashpatinathKathmandu: Pashpatinath

The Bagmati River, the holiest in Nepal, The Bagmati River, the holiest in Nepal, becomes the Ganges in India. The becomes the Ganges in India. The

steps of Pashpatinath leading down to steps of Pashpatinath leading down to the river are the holiest places in Nepal the river are the holiest places in Nepal

to be cremated.to be cremated.

The Path of the GangesThe Path of the Ganges

BasicsBasics

1557 miles long1557 miles long Main functions: agricultural, industry, Main functions: agricultural, industry,

energy source, transportation, energy source, transportation, drinking, bathing and baptismsdrinking, bathing and baptisms

Seasonal flooding greatly enriches Seasonal flooding greatly enriches nutrient content of soilnutrient content of soil

Drinking water for 300 million peopleDrinking water for 300 million people

Gangotri GlacierGangotri Glacier

Located in the Located in the Himalayas, the “abode Himalayas, the “abode of the gods”of the gods”

Source of water for Source of water for virtually all major rivers virtually all major rivers in Indiain India

Ganges rises from an Ganges rises from an ice cave from the ice cave from the Gangotri Glacier, Gangotri Glacier, 10,300 feet above sea 10,300 feet above sea level.level.

HaridwarHaridwar Location of the Location of the

connection connection between the between the Ganges and a Ganges and a tributary is tributary is considered a considered a sacred place sacred place where Hindu where Hindu pilgrims may pilgrims may take a holy diptake a holy dip

Hindu Deities are Hindu Deities are said to have left said to have left footprints at footprints at HaridwarHaridwar

HaridwarHaridwar In Haridwar In Haridwar

and many and many cities along cities along Ganges are Ganges are GhatsGhats, a series , a series of stone steps. of stone steps. Hindus come Hindus come early in the early in the morning to morning to bathe, brush bathe, brush teeth, and teeth, and make make Puja Puja (offerings) to (offerings) to the rising sunthe rising sun

VarnarsiVarnarsi To die in Varnarsi ensures release from To die in Varnarsi ensures release from

reincarnation and instant connection with reincarnation and instant connection with BrahmanBrahman

Most Hindus have a vial of water from the Most Hindus have a vial of water from the Ganges in their house connected to idea of Ganges in their house connected to idea of ensured release by drinking the waterensured release by drinking the water

PollutionPollution

Holy sites also location for extreme pollutionHoly sites also location for extreme pollution Holiness of Ganges encourages mourners to Holiness of Ganges encourages mourners to

place cremated dead in the river. Without place cremated dead in the river. Without proper ritual, Hindus feel soul will never proper ritual, Hindus feel soul will never find restfind rest

~180 bodies released per week~180 bodies released per week

PollutionPollution

Also, 1 billion liters of untreated raw Also, 1 billion liters of untreated raw sewage are released in the Gangessewage are released in the Ganges

10 million bathe in river daily10 million bathe in river daily Pollution at Varnarsi 350,000 times Pollution at Varnarsi 350,000 times

the acceptable levelthe acceptable level

PollutionPollution

Fresh water dolphinsFresh water dolphins

The Ganges is home to two of the 5 The Ganges is home to two of the 5 worldwide species of fresh water worldwide species of fresh water dolphinsdolphins

Irrawaddy dolphin

Ganges River dolphin

Ganges fresh water river Ganges fresh water river SharkShark

Little known about shark, only preserved Little known about shark, only preserved examples from 19examples from 19thth century century

One of six freshwater species, all rare and One of six freshwater species, all rare and endangeredendangered

Small, but has reputation as a man-eater in Small, but has reputation as a man-eater in IndiaIndia