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The Word Hindu

A long time ago, when people came to visit India, they had to cross a large river. That river was called Sindhu. These people could not say the word Sindhu properly. They called it Hindu instead. Then they started calling the people who lived across the river Hindus. This is how

Hindus got their name. The religion of the Hindus is now called Hinduism. A lot of Hindus

still live in India, but many have moved to other parts of the world.

1Sivaneri Life Centre, 2009

The Symbol Om

• Om is an important symbol for Hindus. It is the sound heard in the deepest of meditation. It is said to be the name of God.


FoundersFounders of religions are the first people who start teaching that religion. Every Religion Has either one or more founders. Hinduism has hundreds of founders who have taught Hinduism in Ancient

Rishidifferent times. The special name given to these founders is rishi. These rishis can actually experience God. Rishis can be young or old, male or female. Here is a picture of an ancient rishi and a picture of a rishi who lived only fifty years ago called Ramana Maharshi Ramana Rishi


Holy Writings

• Whatever the rishis learnt about God is found in important books of Hinduism called the Vedas.

• Hinduism also has lots of stories. These stories are found in books called the Puranas


Hindu Prayer

• The main Hindu prayer is called the Gayatri. The prayer is written in an ancient language called Sanskrit

• Gayatri Prayer: • Let us meditate on the glorious light of God.

May She enlighten our hearts and direct our understanding.


The main Hindu prayer is called the Gayatri. The prayer is written in an ancient language called Sanskrit

•Gayatri Prayer: •Let us meditate on the glorious light of God. May She enlighten our hearts and direct our understanding.

Thinking of God like a person

• Hindus say that we can think of God like a person. We cannot think of a person who does not have a shape, so Hindus give shape to God. But what shape do they give to God? Lots of different shapes! Hindus are allowed to choose the way they like to think about God.

• It is easier to think of God with shape than without shape. A lot of Hindus like to think of God as a father in heaven. But why only as a father? Many Hindus prefer to think of God as a mother in heaven. Hindus can choose the way they like to think of God. Here are two of the ways Hindus like to think of God.


THINK OF GOD

• Hindus prefer to think of God as a mother in heaven. Hindus can choose the way they like to think of God. Here are two of the ways Hindus like to think of God.

• One way Hindusthink of God as a person is: Krishna


Mother Goddess-Durga

Even though there is only one God, Hindus say there are hundreds of ways of thinking about God. All the different images and pictures in Hindu homes and temples are different ways Hindus like to think about the same God.


• We can think of God without shapeSome Hindus do not like to think of God with shape like a person. They like to think of God without shape. But how can we think of God withoutshape? It is not that hard. We all believe in truth, love, and power. None of these have any shape, but Fire keepswe still know that they are there. Changing

Shapes This is how some Hindus like to think of God. Sometimes they use fire as a symbol of God without shape because fire does not have any one shape.


How can the same God be with and without shape?• Yes, it is possible, say the Hindus. • Think of ice and water. Ice has a shape, but water

has none. But ice and water are really the same thing. In the same way, Hindus say that God can have a shape, and can also be without shape. We can think of God in many different ways, but it is still the same God – with or without shape.

• The same thingcan be with and without a shape like ........Ice and Water


• Another way Hindus think of God is as our innermost Self.

• Hindus say that if we meditate hard, and search inside ourselves to try and find out who we truly are; we find God. It is the same God who lives in all of us. Hindus call our innermost-Self, Atman : God as all of us. This is why when Hindus meet

they greet each other by putting Their Hands together, bowing down and saying Namaste. This word means: ‘There is God in you’


Why respect everyone and everything?

If we hurt anyone, we hurt ourselves, because it is the same God that lives in all of us. We should respect and love everyone and everything, because it is the same God who lives in everything and everyone.


Hindu Beliefs

• The Cycle of Life• Hindus believe that after we die, we are

reborn. We continue to be reborn until we find God. The only thing that comes with us when we die and are reborn is our character. If we are clever we are reborn as clever.


Hindu Beliefs

• Can we be reborn as a butterfly?It might be fun to be born as a butterfly, but it is not likely. We start by beingborn as a lower life form, but then over manylife times we are slowly reborn as higher andhigher beings until we become human. It wouldbe difficult to be reborn as a butterfly afterbeing a human being.


The Law of KarmaHindus say that whatever we do will produce

results, these results cannot be avoided. This is called the Law of Karma. For example if we work hard in school we become clever, if we do bad things we get punished. The Law of Karma says that this cannot be avoided. We are responsible for everything we do and what will happen to us. Everything we do produces some results that cannot be avoided. This is why we have to be careful about even the smallest thing we do. If we do good things, good results will follow. If we do wrong things, bad things are bound to catch up with us.


Different ways to reach GodHindus say that all religions are different ways to reach

God. No one religion is better than any other. To say that all religions take us to the same God is called Pluralism. There are different ways to reach God within Hinduism itself. Some people are very clever and like to find God by reasoning alone. There are some who like to reach God through love. Others like to meditate and find God. While there are some who like to reach God by doing good deeds. Hindus are free to choose the way or ways they want to use to reach God. As we are all different and have different characters and abilities we choose different ways to reach God.


Hindu Practices

• Worship• Any activity we do that takes us closer to God

is a form of worship. In Hinduism, there are no hard and fast rules about when or how to pray. There are only some guidelines. A lot of Hindus find the best times to worship are at dawn (when the sun is just coming up) and at dusk (when the sun is just setting). These are times when everything seems so peaceful.


Worship is called Puja• Worship is called Puja• Shrine is the place in the home where God is worshipped. • The Deity is the form of God being worshipped. A picture or statue of the deity is placed on a raised and decorated platform.• A lamp is lit to show that we want to go from

darkness to light. It shows that we want to find God.


Worship is called Puja• Water may be sprinkled around the shrine for

purity• Flowers may be offered to show that we are offering our heart to God.• Fruit and food may be offered to God to offer

thanks. At the end of the worship, the food becomes holy. This food is then called Prashad. It is shared and eaten by worshippers.

Sivaneri Life Centre, 2009 19

Worship is called Puja• Incense may be burnt. The sweet scent goes

everywhere to remind us that God is everywhere. • Bell may be rung to awaken the deity. The sound of

the bell can be used blocks out other sounds disturbing the puja.

• Tilak is a mark made on the forehead when doing the worship ceremony. Hindus concentrate on this spot when they meditate. This mark is made using red powder.


Worship is called Puja

• Prayers and Sacred Scriptures may be read or sung during the Puja ceremony

• Arti is the welcoming ceremony of God. Lamps are waved gently in front of the image and holy songs are sung.• Camphor is burnt at the end of the puja to

show that we have to burn our pride.


Temple WorshipWorship in the temple: Hindus say that temples are the homes of God on earth. There are no hard and fast rules about when to go to the temple. Hindus go to the temple to get darshan of God. This means they wish to catch sight of God. They may take flowers and fruits, or other items to offer to God. When they arrive at the temple, they remove their shoes before entering the temple as a mark of respect.


Temple worship• At the entrance to the temple people ring a bell to

announce their presence to God. The main deity of the temple is placed in the inner shrine. The outer walls of the temples may have smaller shrines housing other deities. The worship ceremony is similar to the worship at home. The congregation sings glories of God. These songs are called bhajans. The priest performs the arti ceremony by gently waving a tray with oil-lamps in front of the deity. The arti-tray is then passed around, people cup their hands over the lamps to receive blessings. Some people go around the deity in the inner shrine to pay their respects. Prashad, the food and fruit that was offered to God is offered to everyone to eat.


FESTIVALS• Religious festivals remind us about God. Some festivals

celebrate special days in a religion, some festivals celebrate change of season while some celebrate special relationships.

• Diwali is the most popular Hindu festival. On this night, Rama and Sita returned to their city after spending 14 years in the forest. To celebrate their return the people of the city lit up the whole town with oil-lamps. These little lamps are called diwa hence the festival is called Diwali. This day also celebrates the day the Mother Goddess destroyed a demon called Mahisha. On this day, people light lots of lamps, visit relatives, have feasts and arrange firework displays.


Festivals• Navaratri celebrates the victory of the Mother

Goddess over evil. It is a festival that lasts over nine nights with dancing and singing around the image of the mother Goddess. Some grown-ups may fast during these days to show their devotion to the mother Goddess.

• Shivratri celebrations take place in the night to honour Lord Shiva


YogaMost people think that Yoga means doing physical

exercises. The word yoga means to join together with God. Physical exercises help us to stay healthy, but it is not the ‘real’ yoga. The real yoga is called Raja yoga and is the way to find God by meditation. It is very difficult. Real meditation comes when we become even more awake than we are now. How can this be possible? Hindus say

• that when we are successful in making our mind very quiet, we become even more awake. In meditation we can experience God.


Yoga• Someone called Vivekananda was able to meditate by making his mind very quiet and seeing God. This is a picture taken When he was experiencing God in deep meditation.


Hindu Prayers

• Aum• Bhur, Bhuva, Suvah;• Tat Savitur varenyam;• Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi;• Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayata.• Aum shanti, shanti, shanty• • Aum• Let us meditate on the glorious effulgence of that

Supreme Being who has created the Universe,• May She enlighten our hearts and direct our

understanding• Peace unto all

AumBhur, Bhuva, Suvah;

Tat Savitur varenyam;Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi;

Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayata.Aum shanti, shanti, shanti

AumLet us meditate on the

glorious effulgence of that Supreme Being who has

created the Universe,May She enlighten our hearts and direct our

understandingPeace unto all


Hindu Prayers

• Aum• Bhur, Bhuva, Suvah;• Tat Savitur varenyam;• Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi;• Dhiyo Yo Na Prachodayata.• Aum shanti, shanti, shanty• • Aum• Let us meditate on the glorious effulgence of that

Supreme Being who has created the Universe,• May She enlighten our hearts and direct our

understanding• Peace unto all

Aum

Asato Ma Sadgamaya;Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya;

Mrytyorma Amritamgamaya.

Aum shanti shanti shanti

AumFrom the unreal lead us to

the real; Lead us from darkness to light;

From death lead us to immortality; Peace unto all


Hindu Prayers

AumSaha Navavatu;

Saha Nau Bhunaktu;Saha Viryam Karvavahai;Tejasvi Navadhitamastu;

Ma Vidvishavahai.Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti

AumMay HE protect us; May HE nourish us; May our

studies make us illumined;May there be no dislike amongst us; May we act

together for common good.

Peace unto all.


Hindu Prayers

AumPurnamadah

Puranamidam;Purnaat

Purnamaudachyate;Purnasya PrunamadayaPurnamevavashishyate.

Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti

AumThis is perfect - that is perfect; Perfect comes

from perfect.Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.

Peace unto all.


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