HinduismMs. Carlyle Anderson

Junior reporter

Reader-

This is a brief scrapbook I have compiled on the various parts of Hinduism (the gods, Ganges

River, Vedas, etc.), in hopes that it will be some help in learning the basics of this amazing

religion. Enjoy! =)

<Ms.Carlyle Anderson>

Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, meaning it worships many gods; unlike Christianity,

which has only one. There are about 7 deities in total: Shiva(god), Hanuman(god),

Saraswati(goddess), Lakshmi(goddess), Ganesha(god), and Krishna(god) &

Radha(gopi).

HINDU GODS & GODDESSESHINDU GODS & GODDESSESHINDU GODS & GODDESSESHINDU GODS & GODDESSES

SHIVASHIVA"The Destroyer""The Destroyer"

The source of both The source of both good and evil.good and evil.

HANUMANHANUMAN"The Monkey King""The Monkey King"

A symbol of strength and devotion .A symbol of strength and devotion .

HANUMANHANUMAN"The Monkey King""The Monkey King"

A symbol of strength and devotion .A symbol of strength and devotion .

SARASWATI SARASWATI Goddess of knowledge, music, and Goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts; the deity who can bestow the arts; the deity who can bestow wisdom and drive out ignorance.wisdom and drive out ignorance.

SARASWATI SARASWATI Goddess of knowledge, music, and Goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts; the deity who can bestow the arts; the deity who can bestow wisdom and drive out ignorance.wisdom and drive out ignorance.

LAKSHMILAKSHMIGoddess of beauty, wealth, and Goddess of beauty, wealth, and

prosparity, and a common prosparity, and a common household deity(bestowing good household deity(bestowing good

fortune and well-being on the fortune and well-being on the family).family).

GANESHA (GANAPATI)Lord of beginnings and remover of

obstacles. A symbol of strength and wisdom.

KRISHNA AND RADHAKrishna: the incarnation of Hindu god

Vishnu; Radha: his favorite gopi (milkmaid)

THE GANGES RIVER

The ganges river is named after the

goddess Ganga, who lived up in the heavens. Hindu mithology states

that a human king, Bhagiratha,

prayed to the god Brahma to have her decend to earth so that he could cleanse and release the

souls of his ancestors who had

been condemned to wander the nether-world. She threatened to destroy earth, so was released in small

streams by the god Shiva.

THE VEDASTHE VEDASTHE VEDASTHE VEDAS

The Vedas, Hinduism's The Vedas, Hinduism's oldest and most sacred oldest and most sacred texts, were composed texts, were composed

between 15oo and 600 BC. between 15oo and 600 BC. They are a collection of They are a collection of

hymns and rituals used to hymns and rituals used to perform Vedic ceremonies; perform Vedic ceremonies; and form the foundation of and form the foundation of the religion of Hinduism. the religion of Hinduism. They are made up of four They are made up of four

differentdifferent

The Vedas, Hinduism's The Vedas, Hinduism's oldest and most sacred oldest and most sacred texts, were composed texts, were composed

between 15oo and 600 BC. between 15oo and 600 BC. They are a collection of They are a collection of

hymns and rituals used to hymns and rituals used to perform Vedic ceremonies; perform Vedic ceremonies; and form the foundation of and form the foundation of the religion of Hinduism. the religion of Hinduism. They are made up of four They are made up of four

differentdifferent

books; the oldest being the books; the oldest being the Rig-Veda, a collection of Rig-Veda, a collection of

over 1,000 hymns invoking over 1,000 hymns invoking the gods of war and fire, the gods of war and fire, respectively. The others respectively. The others

books are: Atharva-books are: Atharva-Veda(myths, verses, spells, Veda(myths, verses, spells,

& prayers), Yajur-& prayers), Yajur-Veda(details on Vedic Veda(details on Vedic sacrifice), and Sama-sacrifice), and Sama-

Veda(liturgical chants)Veda(liturgical chants)

books; the oldest being the books; the oldest being the Rig-Veda, a collection of Rig-Veda, a collection of

over 1,000 hymns invoking over 1,000 hymns invoking the gods of war and fire, the gods of war and fire, respectively. The others respectively. The others

books are: Atharva-books are: Atharva-Veda(myths, verses, spells, Veda(myths, verses, spells,

& prayers), Yajur-& prayers), Yajur-Veda(details on Vedic Veda(details on Vedic sacrifice), and Sama-sacrifice), and Sama-

Veda(liturgical chants)Veda(liturgical chants)

THE MAHABHARATA, "The great talk THE MAHABHARATA, "The great talk of the Bharatas", is a major epic in of the Bharatas", is a major epic in

ancient indian literature. It is ancient indian literature. It is composed of 18 books(nearly composed of 18 books(nearly

100,000 verses); and over 800 years, 100,000 verses); and over 800 years, has come to be known as THE story has come to be known as THE story

of india. of india.

THE MAHABHARATA, "The great talk THE MAHABHARATA, "The great talk of the Bharatas", is a major epic in of the Bharatas", is a major epic in

ancient indian literature. It is ancient indian literature. It is composed of 18 books(nearly composed of 18 books(nearly

100,000 verses); and over 800 years, 100,000 verses); and over 800 years, has come to be known as THE story has come to be known as THE story

of india. of india.

SANSKRIT (ANCIENT LANGUAGE)SANSKRIT (ANCIENT LANGUAGE)

Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Eropean language, dating back to almost

1,5oo BC. It was intoduced to India by people who called themselves

the Ayrians, and shows an interestingly close similarity to Latin and Greek. At this day and age, it is only used/spoken for religious and ceremonial purposes, although the

language has survived an extremely long time.

Raja Ravi Varma. "lithograph of hanuman fetching the mountain" Photograph. en.wikipedia.org. 27 Feb 2013(modified) Web. 27 Feb

2013.

"Lord Shiva Prayers" Photograph. Bhajans Kirtans Prayers. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

"The LakshmiGoddessofWealth shrine" Photograph. www.nshrine.com . Web. 27 Feb 2013.

"Saraswati Puja 2013" Photograph. Bengalis In Chicago. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

IMAGE CITATIONS:

"Shri Ganesha" Photograph. www.adishakti.org. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

"Radha Krishna Pictures" Photograph. www.hdwallpaperspics.com. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

Photograph. indiatheancientdiamond.blogspot.com. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

IMAGE CITATIONS:

"Mahabharata (holy book of Hindu's)" Photograph. www.astylecourse.com. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

"Ganges River" Photograph. www.travelandescape.ca. Web. 27 Feb, 2013

Photograph. banu.com. Web. 27 Feb 2013

"Hindu woman bathing in the Ganges River" Photograph. www.pbs.org. Web. 27 Feb 2013.

IMAGE CITATIONS:

IMAGE CITATIONS:

WEBSITE CITATIONS:

www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia

IMAGE CITATIONS:

WEBSITE CITATIONS:

www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia

"Rigveda (padapatha) manuscript in Devanagari, early 19th century" Photograph. en.wikipedia.org. Web. 28 Feb 2013.

Thank you for reading this Scrapbook Guide To Hinduism =). For more information, please visit country.india/must-go-on-

trips.earth *

*(made up site. In other words, go take a trip to the country itself.)