Introduction to HINDUISM

The Meaning, Definition and Origin of the word “HINDU”

It is amusing when westerners mispronounces our simple names.

The word HINDU is not a Sanskrit word.

Interestingly the word HINDU came into existence because Persians mispronounced a Sanskrit word. (3000-4000 years)

Persians + Europeans and HINDU

Persians referred Indus River as SINDHU.

The letter “S” was mispronounced to “H”

Hence SINDHU became HINDU.

Originally HINDU was referred to the people living near river Indus but not the religion.

Further Europeans used HINDU for vast majority of non – Muslim population of India.

Who are Hindusany person of IndAbrahamic ian origin who neither practiced religions nor non-Vedic Indian religions, such as Jainism, Sikhism or Buddhism

Hinduism = Sanātana Dharma

Meaning ETERNAL LAW

What does HINDU Belief in?

GOD is the only method for MUKTI

VEDA : Mother of all sastras Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva

DO Buddhists and Jains belief in this?

Are Buddhist and Jain considered as HINDUS

NO!

Why?Tirthankar of Jains and Buddha have taught that to achieve MOKSHA, one did not have to accept the authority of the Vedas or the caste system.

Buddha went a step further and claimed that the existence of a Self/soul or God was unnecessary

Hence they are not considered as HINDUS nor do they.

More on HINDUISM now!

How old is Hinduism?

Undoubtedly the oldest of all living religions.

Westerners don belief this

Cos they think history began in Greece.

However its very difficult to measure the antiquity of HINDUISM.

Evidence

RAMA Bridge or Ram Setu

17.7 million years

Sanjivani Mountains and Sugriva cave

The 4 main Division of Hinduism

Vaishnavism … Vishnu as Supreme GOD

Shaivism … Shiva as the Supreme

Shaktism … Mataji or Shakti

Smartism … Panchdeva Shiv

Vishnu

Devi

Surya

Ganesha

Varnas

Brahmins: teachers and priests;

Kshatriyas: warriors, nobles, and kings;

the Vaishyas: farmers, merchants, and businessmen; and

the Shudras: servants and labourers

The Ashram System

Brahmacharya student life 5-24

Grihastha household life 25-49

Vanaprastha retired life 50-74

Sannyasa renounced life 75-100

Conclusion

• Are you proud to be a HINDU. • yes you should be!• If anyone is interested in research contact

your group manager.• Research topics

– Of your choice– Hinduism– Swaminarayan sastras and many more