Step 2 Lesson

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Hinduism is the world’s oldest living (still in practice) religion, it is over 3,500 years old.

Created by the hymns of the Aryans honoring their gods along with new ideas and beliefs.

Followers can worship indifferent ways.

Their goal is to get closer to Brahman,their god.

Hinduism has no one person as the founder of the religion but grew out of the Aryan prayers called the Vedas passed down poetically by word of mouth until eventually written down.

This is the most important Hindu god, Brahman, the “Creator" of all things.

This god is the single power force that all other gods and goddess are made from.

It is believed that this god was born from a golden egg.

He created the earth and everything on it.

Hindus believe in only 1 god, Brahman. However that god can be seen in many forms of goddesses and gods.

These can be in animal or human form.

Shiva, a god sometimes in human form other times in animal form.

This Hindu god is very popular among worshippers.

Shiva is called “The Destroyer” because this god destroys the universe and then can create it again.

Vishnu, a god sometimes in human form other times in animal form.

This Hindu god is very popular among worshippers.

Vishnu is called “The Preserver” because this god preserves and protects people and the universe.

Upanishads: a Hindu religious book, the word means “sitting near a teacher.”

Much of the text is in question and answer form. This text contains the basic beliefs of all Hindus.

Reincarnation: a Hindu religious belief that every living thing has a soul and when it dies the soul is reborn again in the body of a living thing.

Karma: a Hindu religious belief that the actions of a person in this life will affect their fate in the next life.

Good behavior is always rewarded. Bad behavior is always punished.

Faithful followers of Hinduism will be reborn in a higher caste. Those who have been bad are reborn in a lower caste.

Dharma: a Hindu religious belief that a person has religious and moral duties. These duties depend on the person’s job and age.

By obeying your Dharma a person can get closer to Brahman and escaped the cycle of death and rebirth.

Ahimsa: the belief in non-violence.

People and things are part of Brahman and should be treated with respect.

Therefore many Hindus are vegetarians and don’t eat meat from animals.

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