HRT3M – World ReligionsHinduism

Harmony and Tolerance

Harmony and Tolerance

Harmony and Tolerance

Tolerance and Harmony

Tolerance and Harmony

Hinduism There is only one God,

but endless are his aspects and endless are his names. Call him by any name and worship him in any aspect that pleases you, you are sure to see him Shri Ramakrishna, quoted in Prabhavananda (1836-1886)

History:

Hinduism is simply the religion of the people of India, which has gradually developed over four thousand years.

The origins and authors of its sacred texts are largely unknown

History – The Indus River Valley Civilization

early as 7000 BC peaked 2300 to 2000 BC,

traded with Mesopotamia.

The original settlers were nomadic hunters. They domesticated animals and grew barley

History – The Indus River Valley Civilization Cont. Our understanding of this religion is based on

physical evidence alone.

Baths Terracotta figures Seal

Prototype for Shiva???Or Mesopotamian seal

Meaning???

History – The Indus River Valley Civilization Cont. religion focuses on

fertility

Sculptures suggested fertility goddess – early version of Hindu goddesses Paravarti and Kali ??

???

History – The Indus River Valley Civilization Cont. Like the Egyptians

they also had a male god on a bull , possibly a predecessor of Shiva.

they buried objects with their dead.

had taboos, especially about cleanliness.

???

History – The Indus River Valley Civilization and the Aryan Invasion2 Hypothesis

A) Aryan Invasion or B) Gradual Integration

Aryans brought their Sanskrit language and Vedic religion

The original inhabitants - Dravidian (language and culture) became subordinate to that of the invading peoples.

By the end of the 2nd millennium these 2 cultures gave rise to what would become modern Hinduism – a conscious expressions of Aryan ethnicity found in the Rig Veda (Religious Sanskrit text)

Rig Veda

History – Aryan Culture – Evolution of Hinduism Aryan tribal kings evolved into autocratic rulers.

Kings allied themselves with priests – why??

Aryans and Dravidians settled alongside each other resulting in a social hierarchy – caste system

Caste legitimized and enforced by religious conviction

Interpret!

The Caste System

Caste System Established 600 BC

One’s caste is the result of their accumulation of Karma during past lifetimes

The higher your caste, the more you are respected, the greater your religious responsibility

Your route to Brahman (how you pray and how you work) is predetermined by your caste.

Sacred Text Vedas Hinduism earliest sacred texts – doctrines and

still today, considered Hinduism authoritative scripture Sacred literature: early hymns, magical chants spells

and sacrificial formulae

Development of The Vedas

1500-800 BC

Pre-Epic Period—the Upanishads

800-500BC

The Epic Period 500-200 BC

Establishment of the caste system 600BC

Popular Religion

BuddhismJainism

The Epic Period 500 – 200 BCThe Vedas – Religion for the higher

castes only

The Epics – Religion for the masses:

Stories telling of the battle between good and evil

Introduces religious concepts

1. Cosmology 2. Yoga (Yoke) 3. Trinity4. Avatars

Islam in India Islam arrived in North

India in the 12th Century

A history of both conflict and integration

India / Pakistan partition 1947

British Raj in India British rule in the Indian

subcontinent between 1858 and 1947

Coined term “Hindu” adherents of Indian religion (not Muslim)

Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence

Hinduism Today The world's third largest religion, after

Christianity and Islam 950 million followers -- about 14% of the

world's population. It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and

among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Hinduism in Canada In Canada there are about 297,200 practicing

Hindus and 70 temples (2001 census) Hindu Temple, Toronto

Hindu Temple – Ottawa Carleton

Hinduism Today – Wrap up!Hinduism differs from Christianity and other

monotheistic religions in that it does not have:

a single founder, Explain a single concept of deity, Explain a single holy text, Explain a single system of morality, Explain a central religious authority, Explain the concept of a prophet. Explain

Summary Hinduism is the world's oldest organized

religion. It consists of "thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE."

Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practice are notable features of Hinduism.