Classifications
Is this religion Mono/Poly/Henotheistic?
Hinduism is classified as polytheistic because Hindus believe in more than one god. Hindus thinkers came to believe that everything in the universe was part of the un-changing, all powerful spiritual force called Brahman. Although Brahman is the all-power god, there are many gods and goddesses that Hindus can choose to worship. The most important of these are Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer. Each of these represents a different aspect of Brahman. Hindus believe in one god name Brahman but it has many different qualities represented by gods and goddesses.
Hinduism is classified as polytheistic because Hindus believe in more than one god. Hindus thinkers came to believe that everything in the universe was part of the un-changing, all powerful spiritual force called Brahman. Although Brahman is the all-power god, there are many gods and goddesses that Hindus can choose to worship. The most important of these are Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer. Each of these represents a different aspect of Brahman. Hindus believe in one god name Brahman but it has many different qualities represented by gods and goddesses.
Founding Story
How did this religion begin?
Hinduism had no precise beginning and no founder. Instead, Hinduism evolved over many hundred of years. When it finally materialized, it was a mixture of the religious beliefs of India’s earliest civilization with those of northern invaders who entered the country about 1700 B.C. Hinduism grew out of the overlapping beliefs of the diverse groups who settle in India. Two different belief systems and ways of life began to blend into one and as a result, Hinduism became one of the world’s complex religions, with countless gods and goddesses and many forms of worship existing side by side.
Hinduism had no precise beginning and no founder. Instead, Hinduism evolved over many hundred of years. When it finally materialized, it was a mixture of the religious beliefs of India’s earliest civilization with those of northern invaders who entered the country about 1700 B.C. Hinduism grew out of the overlapping beliefs of the diverse groups who settle in India. Two different belief systems and ways of life began to blend into one and as a result, Hinduism became one of the world’s complex religions, with countless gods and goddesses and many forms of worship existing side by side.
Key Figures
Important people to the story.
Gandhi is important because he played an important role for India's freedom from Britain. Gandhi believe in nonviolence and did protects and people follow him. Gandhi was unlike any political leader in India had ever seen. He looked like a simple Hindu holy man in his white loincloth and shawl of homespun cotton; he was a vegetarian and espoused nonviolence. He was a powerful speaker people in the crowds felt like he was addressing them individually. Gandhi is the one who transformed the drive for the Indian independence into a mass movement. People would follow Gandhi methods of nonviolent protests
Gandhi is important because he played an important role for India's freedom from Britain. Gandhi believe in nonviolence and did protects and people follow him. Gandhi was unlike any political leader in India had ever seen. He looked like a simple Hindu holy man in his white loincloth and shawl of homespun cotton; he was a vegetarian and espoused nonviolence. He was a powerful speaker people in the crowds felt like he was addressing them individually. Gandhi is the one who transformed the drive for the Indian independence into a mass movement. People would follow Gandhi methods of nonviolent protests
Religious Authority
Who or what makes the rules?
It has no single holy book, but many sacred texts. The Vedas, for example are four ancient books of hymns. The Upanishads written around 600 B.C. discuss Hindu philosophy. The Veda are the oldest the texts that made up Hindu scriptures today. They consist of four collections of hymns, prayers, and magic spells. The Rig-Veda is the oldest and contains more than 1,000 hymns. The hymns are really poems praising the many gods the Aryans worshiped. Unlike some other religions, there are no set rules for being a Hindu.Yet Hindus share certain beliefs and practices.
It has no single holy book, but many sacred texts. The Vedas, for example are four ancient books of hymns. The Upanishads written around 600 B.C. discuss Hindu philosophy. The Veda are the oldest the texts that made up Hindu scriptures today. They consist of four collections of hymns, prayers, and magic spells. The Rig-Veda is the oldest and contains more than 1,000 hymns. The hymns are really poems praising the many gods the Aryans worshiped. Unlike some other religions, there are no set rules for being a Hindu.Yet Hindus share certain beliefs and practices.
Core Beliefs
Goals. Goals of the religion
Hindus belief in four terms which are Dharma, Karma, Samsara, and Moksha. The ultimate goal for hindus is to achieve Moksha or union with Brahman. Most people cannot reach moksha in one lifetime. But hindus believe in reincarnation, or the rebirth of the soul in another bodily form. Reincarnation allows people to continue working toward moksha through several lifetimes. To reach moksha people souls need to be reborn and move up to the pyramid. The Hindu way of life is held in place by a strict caste system. Hinduism teaches that every person is born into a caste and cannot leave it until he or she dies. After death, a person may be reborn into a higher or lower caste depending in his or her karma. The caste system is thus like a ladder. Only from the top rung they can reach moksha. There’s four varnas consisted of the Brahmins (priests), the Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), the Vaishyas (artisans, merchants, storekeepers, and farmers) and the lowly Sudras, or Shudras (unskilled workers and servants). The fifth level is known as the Untouchables, they were considered low in society that the only jobs available to them were cleaning out latrines and dirty laundry. |
Beliefs about the afterlife.
Hindus believe that every living creature has a soul, and that every soul is part of a larger spirit. According to Hindus, when people die, their souls are reborn into new bodies in a process called reincarnation. Hindus believe if karma works and that someone live a good life and did not harmed anyone or anything their soul might be reborn into a higher caste. If, on the other hand, a person has been evil and thoughtless of others, he/she might be reborn into a lower caste. In order to reach moksha your soul needs to be completely pure and detached itself from everything on earth. There's four paths to moksha of good works, knowledge, devotion, and meditation. |
Rules/guidelines for daily life
Hinduism is more than a religion. It is a way of life. A Hindu's whole day is filled with religious rituals. Dharma duty is to be honest and good, to be a good worker, and not to hurt other people and animals. If Hindus fulfill their dharma to their best of their abilities, this will result as good karma. Karma has to do with actions and behaviors. Hindus belief that one's actions in this life will determine how he/she will be reborn in the next life. Samsara is reincarnation. Hindus belief that the soul after death moves from one person (or thing) to another. Moksha is when Antman, or the soul or spirit, merges or reunites with Braman. People are vegetarian because they believe god is in everything so is important to respect all living things. Hindus worship god at home every day or they can go worship at the mandir. Often picks one god to worship.
Hinduism is more than a religion. It is a way of life. A Hindu's whole day is filled with religious rituals. Dharma duty is to be honest and good, to be a good worker, and not to hurt other people and animals. If Hindus fulfill their dharma to their best of their abilities, this will result as good karma. Karma has to do with actions and behaviors. Hindus belief that one's actions in this life will determine how he/she will be reborn in the next life. Samsara is reincarnation. Hindus belief that the soul after death moves from one person (or thing) to another. Moksha is when Antman, or the soul or spirit, merges or reunites with Braman. People are vegetarian because they believe god is in everything so is important to respect all living things. Hindus worship god at home every day or they can go worship at the mandir. Often picks one god to worship.
Concept of higher power
All Hindus believe in Brahman. Brahman is not a god; it is the Supreme Spirit that is everywhere. Everyone and everything is united spiritually because Brahman is part of everything that exists. The land, the oceans, and the sky have Brahman in them. So do all living things, be they human, animal, or vegetable. ( You should not confuse Brahman, the Supreme Spirit, with Brahman, or Brahmin, a member of the Hindu priestly caste. Nor should you think “Brahman” and “Brahma” are the same. Brahma is a chief Hindu god, one of the many forms in which Brahman appears.) Brahman is neither male or female. It does not have any human form, because to have human characteristic would make it imperfect. Because it has not form, Hindus have created thousands of gods and goddesses which are believed to be different manifestations of Brahman. |
Key Holidays
Family is really important to Hindus so once a year they celebrate the love of between brothers and sisters at a festival called Raksha Bandhan. The work Raksha means protection and Bandhan means tie. To celebrate being brother and sister they tie something to their wrist and once is tied their duty is to protect each other. Put a tiliac at your brother forehead the liquid represent good fortune While you tied a virtuous rakhi say a prayer, then fed him a sweet. If your brother is younger than you as a sign of respect he touches your feet. And in return of his Rakhi you get a gift. If you don’t have a brother you can still celebrate and give a Rakhi to your cousin or friends. Having a bathing ceremony is important because Hindus believe in bathing in them removes bad karma. The most famous bathing ceremony is the Kumbh Mela it takes place in India in the river Ganges. 40 million come to be purified in the water. It’s the biggest gathering of humans in the Earth. The gathering is called a Pilgrimage, a pilgrimage is a journey people take to get closer to god. Hindus tried to do it once in their lifetime if they can.
Family is really important to Hindus so once a year they celebrate the love of between brothers and sisters at a festival called Raksha Bandhan. The work Raksha means protection and Bandhan means tie. To celebrate being brother and sister they tie something to their wrist and once is tied their duty is to protect each other. Put a tiliac at your brother forehead the liquid represent good fortune While you tied a virtuous rakhi say a prayer, then fed him a sweet. If your brother is younger than you as a sign of respect he touches your feet. And in return of his Rakhi you get a gift. If you don’t have a brother you can still celebrate and give a Rakhi to your cousin or friends. Having a bathing ceremony is important because Hindus believe in bathing in them removes bad karma. The most famous bathing ceremony is the Kumbh Mela it takes place in India in the river Ganges. 40 million come to be purified in the water. It’s the biggest gathering of humans in the Earth. The gathering is called a Pilgrimage, a pilgrimage is a journey people take to get closer to god. Hindus tried to do it once in their lifetime if they can.
Sites and Symbols
Famous places and images of the religion
The swastika is an ancient symbol that resembles a cross with bent arms. To the Hindus it is a sign of peace and good luck. Another Hindu symbol is the sacred syllable om. Om represent the sound of Brahman. Hindus utter the syllable when the begin and end the prayer. They also recite it when hymns are sung and matras (holy verses) are chanted. Om is the symbol must used to stand for Hinduism. A third symbol is the conch shell. Just as a ram’s horn called Shofar is blown when a Jewish service begins, the blowing of a conch shell announces the start of worship in a Hindu mandir. The bell is another symbol in Hinduism. People ring the bell when they enter the temple.
The swastika is an ancient symbol that resembles a cross with bent arms. To the Hindus it is a sign of peace and good luck. Another Hindu symbol is the sacred syllable om. Om represent the sound of Brahman. Hindus utter the syllable when the begin and end the prayer. They also recite it when hymns are sung and matras (holy verses) are chanted. Om is the symbol must used to stand for Hinduism. A third symbol is the conch shell. Just as a ram’s horn called Shofar is blown when a Jewish service begins, the blowing of a conch shell announces the start of worship in a Hindu mandir. The bell is another symbol in Hinduism. People ring the bell when they enter the temple.