GROUP 1

Derives from a Persian word that refers to the ‘Sindhu or Indus’

(a river in Northwest India)

Hindu was first used in the 14th century by

ARABS, PERSIANS and AFGHANS to describe 2

the peoples of the region.

 ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How did the
religion of Hinduism develop?

• Many Gods
• Bhagavad Gita is most important text of
Hinduism - Hinduism—major Indian religion
that grew from early Brahmanism
• Hindus have many gods that are part of one
supreme God, life force
• Most important gods include Brahma, the
creator, Vishnu, the protector, Shiva, the
destroyer—destroys world so it can be
recreated

Sometime between 2000 and 1500 B.C.E, a 3

new religion emerged in India, the religion of
VEDAS.
• Many Lives
• Hindus believe in reincarnation—each person
has many lives
• Hindus' behavior in life determines what they
will be in next life
• Reincarnation is determined by karma
doctrine - good deeds mean a person will be
reborn as higher being - evil deeds mean a
person will be reborn as lower being, such as
insect
• Hindus believe animals also have life force, so
many are vegetarians
• Reincarnation creates cycle of birth, life,
death, rebirth - cycle ends when person
realizes his or her soul is one with God
4
• Many Paths to God
• Hindus connect to God by individual
paths; path includes job - Hindus carry
out life's assigned duties as part of caste
system -is a class structure that is
determined by birth
• Spiritual practices include meditation to
calm mind, yoga - the practice of yoga
includes exercise, diet, breathing
techniques

In the earliest Vedic literature,

all supernatural beings are called 5

Devas.
Upanishads Brahman
• a part of the Vedas, are ancient Sanskrit texts that • connotes the highest Universal Principle,
contain some of the central philosophical concepts the Ultimate Reality in the universe.
and ideas of Hinduism, some of which are shared • it is the material, efficient, formal and
with religious traditions final cause of all that exists.
like Buddhism and Jainism. Among the most
important literature in the history of Indian religions
and culture, the Upanishads played an important
role in the development of spiritual ideas in ancient
India, marking a transition from Vedic ritualism to
new ideas and institutions

6
Brahmin Dharma
• is a varna (class) • is a key concept with multiple
in Hinduism specialising as meanings in the Indian
priests, teachers (acharya) religions –
and protectors of sacred Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainis
learning across generations. m, and Sikhism.

Rama or Ram, also known as Ramachandra, is a major deity

of Hinduism. He is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, one of his
most popular incarnations along with Krishna and Gautama
Buddha.
7
Shaivism (Shaiva)
• Shaiva tradition is probably the oldest among
Hindu sects. In Shaiva sect Lord Shiva is the main
deity, he is considered as the form of the supreme
being. Ishwara which is another name for Shiva is
used in the ancient scriptures to mean the
absolute god.
• The sub-sects within the Shaiva tradition worship
different forms of Shiva and attribute different
qualities to Shiva.
Vaishnavism
(Vaishnava)
• In Vaishnavism Lord Vishnu is considered as the
supreme being. The cause, sustainer and
destroyer of all worlds. Vishnu is considered both
in the form and as the formless infinite one.
Vaishnava sect is the largest among hindu sects

Sub-sects in Shaiva tradition

1. Pashupata Shaivism
2. Shaiva Siddhanta
3. Kashmir Shaivism
4. Siddha Siddhanta
5. Lingayata
6. Shiva Advaita
8
Shaktism (Shakteya)
• In Shaktism, Shakti (mother divine)
is considered as the supreme
being. and all other (female/male)
forms are considered the
manifestation of the supreme.
• Shakti tradition is a major sect in
the Bengal, Assam region of India
Smartism (Smarta)
• Smarta tradition revers all the
above three traditions and
worships absolute god in the form
of Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti and other
forms as well. Smarta tradition has
higher reverence for Vedas and
upanishads
9
Brief History:

• Archaeological evidence indicates that

civilization emerged in the Indus Valley around
3300 BCE. Over two millenniums, the
inhabitants of this northwestern region of the
Indian subcontinent developed into a
prosperous civilization with a distinct cultural
style. However, around 1500 BCE, a new
culture, the Aryans, entered India through the
Khyber Pass, and began integrating
themselves into the social framework of the
Indus Valley civilization.

10
• Society –
According to traditional theories, the
Indian caste system has its origins in
the advent of the Aryans in the Indus
Valley. Thus, this social stratification
system was the product of the Aryan
people’s will to separate themselves
from, and subjugate, the local
populations.

11
• Initially, this new society, which included
Aryans and non-Aryans, was
hierarchically divided into four varnas
(i.e. castes). In fact, these four original
varnas could be better categorized in two
groups: Aryans and Non-Aryans.
Nevertheless, the four varnas, from the
top down, were: the Brahmins—Aryans
(priests, scholars, and philosophers); the
Kshatriyas—Aryans (rulers and
warriors); the Vaishyas—Aryans
(farmers, traders, merchants, and
craftsmen); and the lowest caste, the
Shudras—non-Aryans (laborers,
peasants, and servants for the other 12
castes).
• Each varna was divided into jatis (i.e.
sub-castes), which identified the
individual’s occupation and imposed
marriage restrictions. Marriage was only
possible between members of the same
jati (or two that were very close).

• Both varnas and jatis determined a

person’s purity level. Members of higher
varnas or jatis had higher purity levels,
and if contaminated (even by touch) by
members of lower social groups, they
would have to undergo extensive 13
cleansing rites.
 CASTE SYSTEM
• Caste was assigned by birth;
children inherited the caste
and functions of their parents.
There was very little mobility
across castes. The caste
system survived for over two
millennia, becoming one of
the basic features of
traditional Hindu society. Even
though the caste system
found opposition from very
early on, it was not outlawed
until modern times, by
legislation stemming from the
14
Constitution of India (1950)
• Religion
• Aryan religious beliefs and
practices were profusely
described in their religious
literature, particularly their Vedas.
Vedas (“knowledge”) are ancient
texts written in Sanskrit. There are
four Indo-Aryan Vedas:

15
• 1. The Rig Veda: contains hymns
about their mythology.
• 2. The Sama Veda: consists
mainly of hymns about religious
rituals.
• 3. The Yajur Veda: contains
instructions for religious rituals.
• 4. The Atharva Veda: consists of
spells against enemies, sorcerers,
and diseases.
16
Each Veda was further divided into
two sections:
• The Samhita: mantras or hymns
in praise of various deities.
• The Brahmanas: instructions for
religious rituals.

17
• The Aryan pantheon is described
in great detail in the Rig Veda;
however, Aryan religious practices
and deities are not always
uniformly described in these
sacred texts, since the Aryans
themselves were not a
homogenous group.

18
• hymns of the Rig Veda, the most
important deities were:
• Agni (the god of Fire): the
intermediary between the gods
and humans.
• Indra (the god of Heavens and
War): protector of the Aryans
against their enemies.
• Surya (the Sun god)
• Vayu (the god of Wind)
19
• Prithvi (the goddess of Earth)
• One of the most important
religious rituals that the Aryans
performed was the soma,
celebrated in honor of Indra. The
soma was a drinking ritual in
which the extract from the soma
plant (this plant remains
unidentified; perhaps Ephedra
sinica) was consumed. This drink
was supposed to energize the
consumer and in some cases
20
even give him immortality.
 BIG IMAGE

ADD A FOOTER THE ORIGIN OF HINDUISM 21