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