hinduism. c. 2000 bce, aryans began moving, looking for new areas to settle. their languages...
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Hinduism
• c. 2000 BCE, Aryans began moving, looking for new areas to settle.
• Their languages spread…– forms basis of Indo-European languages.
• They conquered most of India and formed a society with strict class
divisions.• These classes are
called castes.
The Aryan Migration
• There were four varnas (social classes). • Within each varna there were hundreds of
different castes.• Each caste was ranked—one above the other.• You were born into your caste. You couldn’t
change.• Castes determined:
– Who you could marry.
– What jobs you could have.
– How you would be treated by others.
The Caste System
HINDUS PRAYING
BRAHMAN
MULTIPLE GODS
DHARMA
KARMA
SAMSARA
Hinduism in 21st century• Approximatel
y one billion followers worldwide.
• About 90% of them live in India.
• About 80% of Indians believe in Hinduism.
Multiple Gods• Hindus believe there are literally
thousands of gods and goddesses!
• Brahma: the Creator– Four heads—each head
continually recites one of the four Vedas.
– Often depicted with a white beard, because of the near eternal nature of his existence.
– Holds no weapons in his four arms, unlike most other Hindu Gods.
– Brahma’s “consort” is Saraswati, the goddess of learning.
The Trinity
• Vishnu: the Preserver– Maintains order and often
appears in order to restore peace in troubled times.
– Each time he returns to restore order using a different “avatar” or earthly incarnation• Rama and Krishna are two of
the most well-known.
– Lakshmi, goddess of luck, is his consort.
The Trinity
The Trinity• Shiva: the Destroyer
– Also seen as providing creative possibility for reconstruction—his name can mean “purifier” as well.
– Often seen (as here) dancing upon the demon of ignorance, and often wears snakes.
– The Ganges River flows from his hair.
– His consort is Parvati, mountain goddess.
Other Hindu Gods• Saraswati
– Brahma’s consort– Goddess of the Saraswati
River (which ran near the Indus River)• Thus she is a goddess of
purification and nourishment.
– Goddess of intelligence, consciousness, cosmic knowledge, creativity, education, enlightenment, music, the arts, and power• Mother of the four Vedas
Other Hindu Gods• Durga
– A fiercer form of Parvati, Shiva’s consort.
– The Mother Goddess.– Depicted as having 10
arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras, or symbolic hand gestures.
– Mother of Ganesha.
Other Hindu Gods• Kali
– The dark goddess– A fearful and ferocious form
of the mother goddess Durga.
– Her tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face and body are covered with blood.
– She stands with one foot on the thigh, and another on the chest of her husband, Shiva.
Other Hindu Gods• Ganesha
– One of the most popular gods.
– He is the lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles.
– Also worshipped as the god of knowledge, wisdom and wealth.
Other Hindu Gods• Lakshmi
– Means "Good Luck" to Hindus.
– Goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual.
– She is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women.
– Usually standing on a full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and fertility.
Other Hindu Gods• Rama
– The most perfect avatar of the Supreme Protector Vishnu.
– Embodies truth, morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and, the ideal king.
– He is widely believed to be an actual historical figure.
– His story forms the great Hindu epic of Ramayana.
Other Hindu Gods• Hanuman
– Very popular god– Believed to be an
avatar of Lord Shiva– Symbolizes physical
strength, perseverance and devotion.
– Helped Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces.
Other Hindu Gods• Krishna
– An avatar of Vishnu.– Another popular god.– Played the flute.– Had as many as 16,000
wives.– In the Mahabharta he gives
a speech known as the Bhagavad Gita (a short book in and of itself) preaching that you must do your duty (dharma) even if it is difficult or painful.
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