Overview• What is Hinduism?• Origins• Practices• Gods and Goddesses
What is Hinduism?• Originated in India• Dates back to 1500 BC and
many consider it the oldest religion in the world
• Third largest religion • Practiced by 80% of India’s
inhabitants and 15% of Sri Lankans
• Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism came from Hinduism.
Origins• No specific origin• 5000 years ago : Indus River Valley Civilization • 4000 - 3500 years ago : Aryans • 3500 - 2500 years ago : Vedic Tradition
– rituals and many gods (polytheism)– sacred texts (Vedas)– social stratification (caste system)
• 2800 – 2400 years ago : Upanishads • (metaphysical philosophy) • Vedic Tradition develops into Hinduism
Practices• One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahman• Manifest as many personal deities• Soul (Atman) – Brahman trapped in matter :’That
art thou’• Reincarnation through transfer of Atman :
Samsara• Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps
us bound to this world (good and bad) • Life Goal – to release Atman and reunite with the
divine, becoming as one with Brahman (Moksha)
Practices• Respect for all life• Human life as supreme:– Four “stations” of life (Caste) : priests &
teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class
– Four stages of life : student, householder, retired, renunciant
– Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha)
Gods & Goddesses
• Brahma – Primary God , Creator God
Gods & Goddesses
• Vishnu – Preserver God– 10 avatars – Rama with Sita– Krishna with Radha
Gods & Goddesses
• Shiva– Transformer God– Wife Parvarti
– Son Ganesha
Gods & Goddesses
• Saraswati– goddess of wisdom, consort of Brahma
Gods & Goddesses
• Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune, consort of Vishnu
Gods & Goddesses
• Kali, Destroyer of demons
Shukriyaa!Thank You!