Upload
megan-carty
View
2.580
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
HinduismThe Basics
Quick Overview of Hinduism
• Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and originated in India.
• It has no single founder, nor one single holy text.
• Hinduism formed from a combination of the Indus River Valley, Aryan, and Dravidian cultures.
• The religion is still evolving today.
The Vedas and the Mahabharata
• Most scholars believe that Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa composed the Vedas and later changed his name to compose the Mahabharata.
• The Mahabharata is a long
epic poem, with over 1.8
million words, that tells many
stories about the conflict
between 2 families.
Hindu Gods
• Since Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, it has many gods. It has one main being called Brahman, which consists of 3 Gods.
• Brahma – The Creator
• Vishnu – The Preserver
• Shiva – The Destroyer
Yoga and Moksha
• Yoga is a path to enlightenment. The goal of Yoga is moksha. Moksha is union with God, or Brahman.
• There are 4 different Yogas, including Work, Knowledge, Meditation, and Love.
Dharma and Karma
• Dharma (duty) is how you should conduct yourself and live your life.
• Karma is your actions that affect your next life. To have good karma, one must perform his or her dharma.
The Caste System
• There are 4 main castes called varnas.
• Brahmins – Priests• Kshatriyas – Rulers and soldiers• Vaisyas – Farmers and Merchants• Sudras – Artisans• Untouchables – non-Aryans
and slaves
Sources
• Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press, 1996. Print.