Shane Leslie, Sam Kaminski and Kristi Sisler
World Top 10 - Largest Hindu Populations
Country Hindu Population
India 755,135,000
Nepal 18,354,000
Bangladesh 15,995,000
Indonesia 7,259,000
Sri Lanka 2,124,000
Pakistan 1,868,000
Malaysia 1,630,000
USA 1,032,000
South Africa 959,000
Myanmar 893,000
Practicing Countries
• Major religion of India
• More than 80% of population.
Number of Followers
• Around 800 million followers
Origin of Beliefs
• Who was Hinduism founded by?
-A blend of conquered people of Indus and Aryan beliefs.
• Where was Hinduism founded?
-In India
• When was Hinduism founded?
-Sometime in the 3rd millennium BCE
Names of the 3 main Gods
• Brahma- known as the creator
• Vishnu- known as the preserver
• Shiva- known as the destroyer
Divisions and Branches
• Divisions are split into 2:
-Orthodox and Traditional Hinduism• Branch Number of Adherents
-Vaishnaitves 580,000,000
-Shaivites 220,000,000
-Neo-Hindus and reform Hindus 22,000,000
-Veerashaives (Lingayats) 10,000,000
Religious Symbols
Aum is the main symbol of Hinduism.
Religious Objects
• Trees -Puja Items
• Herbs -Tranta Items
• Metals -Shakti-mother goddess
• Seeds -Lingam
• Caves -Maha-Vishnu
• Mountains -Ram and Sita
• Shankha -Shaligrams
Holy Book and Laws• Sacred Books:
-The Bagavad Gita
-The Vedas/ Thera Veda• Laws:
-marriage, adoption, inheritance:• Marriage: 8 types: • 1. Braham 2. Davia• 3. Arsa 4. Prajapatya• 5. Asura 6. Rakshasa• 7. Gandharva 8. Paisacha
Basic Beliefs
• Strong belief in Brahman. • Ones ignorance is the true nature of self. • Highest goal is liberation from karmic cycle of
death and rebirth • Are very conscious of the paradoxes the make
up the universe. • Siva is the creator, maintainer, and the destroyer
of life. • Most households have a shrine to a particular
deity.
Spiritual Leader
• Mahatma Gandhi
Worship
• Places:
-In a temple, in a home, in any public place
• Frequency:
-About 2 times a day
• Length:
-One time during the day. One time during the night
Customs
• Rituals of Santana dharma
• The god is worshiped as an icon
• Once a year on festival days he is paraded around.
Bibliography
• http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/hinduism.htm
• http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/H_0128.htm