Hinduism

Key Beliefs

Beliefs about God

• Most Hindus believe in Brahman – the one unchanging, eternal, Supreme Spirit.– Referred to as the Ultimate Reality or Being

• Brahman is expressed through deities showing different aspects of God’s character

• Three most important are called the Trimurti: – Brahma (the creator)– Vishnu (the preserver)– Shiva (the destroyer)

• Other important gods that are worshiped are:– Krishna: an incarnation of Vishnu– Kali: consort of Shiva, goddess of destruction– Lakshmi: wife of Vishnu and the goddess of

wealth and fortune– Rama: hero of epic poem, Ramayana (an

incarnation of Vishnu symbolizing righteouness)

– Ganesha: elephant-headed god of new ventures, remover of obstacles

Four aims of lifeHindu scriptures describe them as:

Dharma (doing ones duty) – fulfilling responsibilities that come with each stage of life and living a moral life

Artha – earning an honest living to be successful and help society prosper

Kama – enjoying the pleasures of life to be happy and fulfilled

Moksha – Hinduism ultimate aim – to be free from the cycle of samsara (cycle of birth, death and rebirth) and reunited with Brahman

Four Varnas• Hindus believe people are equal in

spiritual sense, but in society there are material differences that help it to work

• One creation story refers to Brahma creating humanity in four groups, each from a part of his body

• Groups called the four varnas– Brahmins (teachers and priests)– Kshatriyas (soldiers and rulers)– Vaishyas (merchants and farmers)– Shudras (labourers and craftsmen)

• System showed that people in society were dependant on each other

• Originally, the varnas did not prevent people from marrying those in other varnas, or doing other work

• Became rigid and varnas were divided into sub-classes (Caste system)

• Castes did not mix and lower castes were marginalized (abuse of system)

• Aspects of the caste system were banned by government in the 20th century, but it remains present in rural areas

Four Stages of Life• Each Hindu’s Dharma depends on which stage of life

they have reached• Four life stages related to all but the fourth varna (lowest

caste)Student – take study seriously (both academic and

spiritual)Householder – marry, raise and family and serve their

communityForest – middle-aged people have more time to meditate

and reflect on spirituality (people used to retreat to forest to do this - hermit)

Ascetic – leave the family and adopt life of a wandering holy man

• Last two stages not often practice anymore