Hinduism
History
Hinduism is over 4,000 years old, making it one of
the world’s oldest religions. Unlike the other religion,
Hinduism has no founder and it widely practiced in
Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.
According to the study Hinduism is a fusion of various
Indian culture and traditions.
Elements if Hinduism
● Experiential
- They rely on Moksha, the human’s experience of
complete liberation from atman (self).
● Mythic/Historical
- Believe on deities that came from myths.
● Doctrinal
- Belief in monism, a doctrine stating that all reality is
made of one essence which is the Brahman.
- The Goal of Faith- “to become one with everything, or ● Rig Veda – Oldest and Holiest Veda
to separate oneself from the finite and become infinite. - contains rituals, chants and melodies.
- Belief in Karma, the law of cause and effect one’s
action affect their karmic record, the Caste System.
- Intertwined belief of Moksha and Samsara, the
liberation from the endless cycle of reincarnation.
● Ethical
- Dharma is defined as ethical duty based on divine
order
- Ahmisa is defines as moral action when it comes to
how Hindus are to treat each other
● Rituals
- PUJA is performed to worship and honor a particular Vedas are scriptures that contain by ancient
deity. Done at small shrines with lighted incense and
offering dedicated to one go or goddess.
- Bhakti Marga The path of devotion.
● Social
- Defined through caste system and is intertwined with liberation means the angels of death and
dharma and Hindu faith. One must adhere to the
responsibilities of their caste in order to perform the
prescribed ethical duty.
● Materials
- Gandes River, a sacred place for Hindus. Believed
that whoever took a bath in there will be cleansed and
purified.
- Clay figures for Puja as a guidance in worship.
- Flowers, Fruits and incense for rituals.
- Cows, an important part of Bhakti Marga.
- Sacred texts like Vedas and Brahmans.
- Temples for place of worships.
Caste System
● Gods
● Bhramin – Priests, Academics
● Kshatryia- Warriors, Kings
● Vaishya- Merchants, Landowners
● Sudra- Commoners, Peasants, Servants
● Untouchables- Street Sweeper, Outcast of
Caste, Latrine Cleaners.
Sacred Text
-Vedas are the oldest religious text in Hinduism.
- “Veda” means knowledge.
- It is believe that the Vedas were orally revealed
by Brahma to certain sages, who heard them
and praised them down in an oral tradition.
- Vedas are still known to sruti or shruti.
- It is written in the Sanskrit language.
The Four Vedas
● Yajur Veda
- Book of ritual, duties of priests to perform
Yagna.
● Sama Veda- Smaller version of Rig Veda.
● Atharva Veda- Book of spells, healing, rituals,
magic and practices.
Beliefs
● Belief of Hindus is eternal that pursue
knowledge and understanding.
● Brahman is truth and reality, the one true God
is formless, limitless and eternal and for the
and sages for the strive to achieve dharma is
understanding the concept of dharma that
understand the Hindu Faith. For individuals
immoral are Hindu believes the soul of atman
that created of. The goal of Moksha the souls of
rebirth.