Hinduism in Hinduism in Modern India Modern India That which is held sacred…That which is held sacred…

Hinduism in Hinduism in Modern India Modern India That which is held sacred…That which is held sacred…

The Holy RiverThe Holy River

Source: Source: npr.orgnpr.org

The City of VaranasiThe City of Varanasi

Mother GangaMother Ganga

Religious pilgrims travel down the Ganges River Religious pilgrims travel down the Ganges River to a temple along the banks of Varanasi.to a temple along the banks of Varanasi.

To make an offering to To make an offering to the River…the River…

To bath in the holy To bath in the holy water…water…

To be cremated on the To be cremated on the banks of the Ganges…banks of the Ganges…

Pollution in the GangesPollution in the Ganges

Sacred Texts in HinduismSacred Texts in Hinduism Vedas Vedas

Upanishads Upanishads

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

Vedas Vedas

Upanishads Upanishads

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

DeitiesDeities

There can really be as many There can really be as many Hindu Gods as there are Hindu Gods as there are

devotees to suit the devotees to suit the moods, feelings, emotions moods, feelings, emotions & social background of the & social background of the

devotees." devotees." -Sri RamaKrishna-Sri RamaKrishna

ShivaShivaTakes on the destructive aspect of BrahmanTakes on the destructive aspect of Brahman

Lord Shiva the DestroyerLord Shiva the Destroyer

Vishnu Vishnu preserves the working order of the preserves the working order of the

universeuniverse

Lord Vishnu the PreserverLord Vishnu the Preserver

"Only the unlearned deem "Only the unlearned deem myself (Vishnu) and Shiva myself (Vishnu) and Shiva to be distinct; he ,I, and to be distinct; he ,I, and Brahma are one, assuming Brahma are one, assuming different names for the different names for the creation, reservation and creation, reservation and destruction of the destruction of the universe.  We, as the triune universe.  We, as the triune Self, pervade all creatures; Self, pervade all creatures; the wise therefore regard the wise therefore regard all others as themselves."all others as themselves."

~ Vishnu explains the Nature of the Trinity ~ Vishnu explains the Nature of the Trinity (trimurti)~ (trimurti)~ 

Brahman andBrahman andthe Hindu Trinitythe Hindu Trinity

It is often said that the Hindu pantheon has three gods at its head: It is often said that the Hindu pantheon has three gods at its head: Brahma, the creator of the universe; Vishnu, the preserver of life; and Brahma, the creator of the universe; Vishnu, the preserver of life; and Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance. Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance.

Brahma is a representation of the impersonal Brahma is a representation of the impersonal brahmanbrahman in a human form, in a human form, usually with four faces facing the cardinal directions and four armsusually with four faces facing the cardinal directions and four arms

The Sacred CowThe Sacred Cow

Hinduism's Sacred AnimalHinduism's Sacred Animalwatch PBS Videowatch PBS Video, The Sacred Cow, 1:24, The Sacred Cow, 1:24

HinduismHinduismThat which is held sacred…That which is held sacred…

Presentation byPresentation byJennifer Gigliotti-LabayJennifer Gigliotti-Labay

Region IV Social Studies ConferenceRegion IV Social Studies ConferenceNovember, 2007November, 2007

BibliographyBibliography

NPR series: Journey Down the Ganges, NPR series: Journey Down the Ganges, www.npr.orgwww.npr.org

Hindu Varanasi,Hindu Varanasi, Wilbert M. Gesler; Margaret Pierce, Wilbert M. Gesler; Margaret Pierce, Geographical ReviewGeographical Review, Vol. 90, No. 2. (Apr., 2000), pp. 222-237., Vol. 90, No. 2. (Apr., 2000), pp. 222-237.

BBCBBC

Library of Congress, country studiesLibrary of Congress, country studies

Photos by Jennifer Gigliotti-Labay, March, 2007Photos by Jennifer Gigliotti-Labay, March, 2007

Deity sculpture photos Deity sculpture photos http://www.lotussculpture.com/bronze_sculpture_the_gods.htmhttp://www.lotussculpture.com/bronze_sculpture_the_gods.htm