HINDUISM
The development of Hinduism first started in India. Hinduism is one of the oldest religions. It goes back to about 5,000 years. Hinduism has no single founder. Hinduism does not have a single book. They have sacred texts. About 82 percent of people who live in India name themselves Hindus. Hindus worship thousands of gods, but each individual Hindu is able to choose their favorite god.
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the process of peoples souls being reborn into new bodies after death. Hindus believe that any creature that is living has a soul, and every soul is apart of a larger spirit. Every time someone is reincarnated, they move in a direction of up or down in the social order.
Karma
According to Hinduism, everything a person does will influence what will happen to them eventually. That is what Karma is. All things that a person does in their life will add Karma to their following life. With that meaning. if people live their life right then they will move closer to Nirvana.
Nirvana
Nirvana is the higher state of being. It is the reunion with Brahman. In traditional Hinduism they believe in order be reunited with Brahman, a soul must reach this state after living a lot of lives, which goes up in the caste system.
Brahman
Brahman is a person who belongs in the highest caste. Brahmans are intelligent people. They are usually assigned to priesthood.
Goal of Life
Hindus goal of life is to escape the endless cycle of rebirth which is reincarnation. It takes lifetimes to reach this certain goal. At the end they reach the state of nirvana. Once that is accomplished there souls become part of Brahman.
Rituals
Hinduism is a way of life . It is more than just a religion. A Hindus entire day is made up with religious rituals. Important events such as birth, marriage, and death have rituals. Ordinary activities such as eating, brushing teeth, and bathing are rituals.
Caste System
A caste system is a system that Hindus are put into. It is like a latter. There are four castes. The four castes are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras. The top is Brahmins which are also known as priests. The bottom are called The Untouchables. They were people who had no caste at all. A person may not marry or socialize outside of their caste. Every person must wear the clothes that marks their caste. Also, they have to communicate with other people in different castes a certain way. A person of a caste cannot eat food made by other people in another caste. In modern India, laws have been passed to weaken the caste system. The marriages between castes arent common and the Untouchables are still treated poorly.
Four Castes
Brahmins- Priests and Teachers
Kshatriyas- Warriors
Vaisyas- Herders, Farmers, and Merchants
Sudras- Workers
Kshatriyas- Warriors
Vaisyas- Herders, Farmers, and Merchants
Sudras- Workers
Sacred Texts
Sacred texts were written in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the language of ancient India. The Vedas is the oldest of sacred texts. It is 3,000 years old. Inside has prayers, magic spells, and a collection of hymns. The Upanishads are stories, The Upanishads is another example of a sacred text.
Hindus religious literature main two categorizes:
Smriti- Remembered
Shruti- Heard
Hindus religious literature main two categorizes:
Smriti- Remembered
Shruti- Heard
Dharma
Dharma is the moral and religious duties of an individual. Hindus stress over the importance of Dharma. Dharma includes many things such as duties, laws, and rights.
Moksha
Moksha is the spiritual goal for Hindus. The goal is to become one with Brahma. Hindus believe that until they reach Moksha, they have to be reincarnated repeatedly.
Gods and Goddesses
Major Gods that Hindus believe in:
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
Major Goddesses that Hindus believe in:
Parvati
Lakshmi
Kali
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
Major Goddesses that Hindus believe in:
Parvati
Lakshmi
Kali
Brahma
Hindus believe that Brahma is the creator of the universe. He is the first member of the Hindu Trinity. Brahma is usually formed of by Hindus as a four faced, four armed, and bearded deity.
Vishnu
Vishnu is believed by the Hindus as the Preserver. He is to preserve and sustain the universe. He is the second member of the Hindu Trinity. Vishnu has four arms with blue skin and wears yellow clothing.
Shiva
Shiva is believed to be the destroyer by the Hindus. He is the third member of the Hindu Trinity. Shiva has a third eye on his forehead, a trident, and has a moon on his head.
Classification
Hinduism is polytheistic. Polytheistic is the worship of many deities.
Holidays
The two most important holidays for Hindus are probably Holi and Diwali. These holidays are celebrated by most Hindus around the world. Holi is a spring festival of colors. It is celebrated in March. Diwali is the festival of lights. It is celebrated in mid-October.
Symbols
Some symbols that Hindus have are called Om and Bindi. Om represents a sacred sound. Om can also be spelled Aum. It is one of the most sacred symbols in Hinduism. During meditation, they chant Om. Bindi is a symbol that is worn on a womans forehead right above their eyebrows. It is used to enhance a womans beauty.
Branches
The four major branches that are a part of Hinduism are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism.
Sites
Holy places in India are Dwarka, Gujarat, Haridwar, and Ayodhya, Faizabad. Ayodhya is the most sacred place in India. Dwarka is one of Indias oldest cities. Haridwar is one of the most holiest places in India.