HINDUISMWhat images or ideas come to mind?
HISTORY
World’s oldest religion
“Hindu” - From “Sindhu” Persian name for the Indus River
Indus Valley Civilization
Way of life, set of philosophies, “diverse collection of practices”
No single founder
ORIGIN THROUGH TEXTSVedas
Sanskrit (to know) Oral tradition3,500 - 3,000 years ago Indus Valley4 Main “Texts”
MantraSongRitualSpell
Hymns from the Rig Veda
ORIGIN THROUGH TEXTSRamayana
2,000 - 2,500 years agoComposed by Valmiki7 books - poetry“Ram’s Journey” [Vishnu]Ideal relationships, values, dharmaRamayana for kids! & Video
MahabharataSpoken by a god to VyasaStory of the sons of 2 kings & civil warBhagavad Gita
Conversation between Krishna [Vishnu] and an archer Concepts of dharma, caste, reincarnation, moksha
GOD(S)
BrahmanSupreme, universal, genderless, unknowable, undefinable
Trimurti ~ 3 Main DeitiesBrahma - creatorVishnu - preserverShiva - destroyer
330 million more!?! Lotus ~ beautyroots in mud but
floats on the water
HINDU DEITY GUIDECreate a “Guide to Hindu Deities”
Select 3 deities to researchFor each deity:
Provide a brief summary of who he/she/it isAdd and image and describe the iconography (at least 3 symbols)Include your list of sources
HanumanHelpful Resource
KEY COMPONENTS
Reincarnation / Transmigration - Rebirth of the soulSamsara - “A wandering through” ~ continuous flow of reincarnation
Moksha - Liberation from samsara Nirvana - Supreme Bliss ~ union with Brahman
Karma - Moral law of cause and effectDharma - Universal principle of law, order & harmony
Santana Dharma = Everlasting DharmaSvadharma - Individual Duty
Puja - Ritual worship of the many forms of Brahman
Wheel of Life
KEY COMPONENTS
Caste - Hindu social order (4 varnas)Teachers & PriestsWarriors, Nobles & KingsFarmers, Merchants & BusinessmenServants & LaborersUntouchables
Yoga - (from the Sanskrit for “union”) disciplines practiced to achieve moksha
Yoga Sutras
4 YogasPath of Love & Devotion
Path of Right ActionPath of Meditation
Path of Wisdom
Traditional & Modern Styles
of YogaRoots in Hinduism
KEY SITES
TemplesPilgrimage Sites
Holy TownsGeographical Features
Why are places important for a religion?
KEY SITES
Varanasi - City of Shiva - Wash in Ganges River
Chidambaram - Thillai Nataraja Temple - Temple for Shiva
Tirumala - “Tiru” = Sacred “Mala” = Hill [Visnhu]
Pashupatinath - Nepal - Temple for Shiva - Cremation
??
KEY SITES
Research importantsites for
Hinduism
Label your map with at least 10 key sites. Read about each place and
write a brief summary. Have extra time? Print or draw a picture.
OTHER COMPONENTS
Q & A Session
Q & AOm - “sound of the universe” “all encompassing” calming / meditative / finding inner peace (starts and ends yoga)
Vegetarianism - “more of an ideal kind of a thing” MG - nonviolent - eating pure foods for deities - and meat is impure - healthy diet help the soul - depends on personal choice and general ideals
Sacred Cows - symbol of dharma - “mother figure” because they provide milk
Ear Piercing Ceremony - from the Vedas - sacrament - “open inner ear of child” to better understand spiritual things
Q & AFasting - can be daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly to celebrate a particular god - done differently / viewed differently by different people
Swastika - sun, rays, life - one of Vishnu’s 108 symbols - one of Kali’s symbols too - darkness
Prayer Beads - 108 beads (Guru in center) recite a mantra for each bead - keeps track and helps you “get into the rhythm”
Mantra - word or sound “kinda like a chant” way to pray
Guru - “teacher” or “master” connects people to the gods
Q & ASacred Thread Ceremony - “coming of age” for becoming closer with gods and gaining knowledge and “Nate knows what else...” ;-)
Cremation - returning body to the earth - soul “goes around again” - reincarnation
Food Offerings - food is given, during recitation of mantras gods come to make it sacred and then the people eat it!
Holi - cultural, but with religious beginnings (story of gods and good conquering evil) - celebration
Q & AHome Shrines - Image or statue of the god(s) that are especially important to the family, oil lamp, bell, incense - vary in size (room size - on top of dresser)
Weddings - diverse rituals depending on locality - 7 steps, fire, “giving away”
Temple Rituals - opening yourself up - ceremonial washing - different gods at different temples -
Pilgrimage - going somewhere for a religious purpose - and often to visit family - grow spiritually - not mandatory - often for a specific festival
HINDUISM IN THE USA
Hinduism in the USAImmigration & National Services Act (1965 - abolished the quota system).5% of American populationHindu TemplesHindu University of America
HINDUISM IN THE USA
HINDUISM IN THE USA
Evidence in US CultureMake a list of “western” uses of Hindu beliefs.
Find corresponding images.Are these correct of incorrect uses of Hindu ideas?
Discuss!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY...Gandhi!
Mohandas Gandhi ~ October 2, 1869 - January 30, 1948Mahatma - “Great Soul”
Gandhi ~ TrailerBest
Quotes