WORLD RELIGION: HINDUISM

1. WORLD RELIGION: HINDUISM

2. WHAT IS RELIGION ??

3. RELIGION: the way or path or road’ by which we can reach our destiny, we achieve our goals of life. It’s the intermediary between god and man by which we get salvation from this life

4. HINDUISM

5. ORIGIN OF HINDUISM NON-VEDIC JAINISM & BUDDHISM VEDIC INDO-ARYANS CULTURAL AMALGAMATION

6. Concept of Avatars Incarnations of God Concept of God Brahman Have different names & forms: Vishnu, Shiva or Shakti 4 Goals of life 4 Stages in life 4 Caste BASIC TEACHINGS AND CONCEPTS Karma & Reincarnation Law of cause & effect Cycle of birth & death-samsara Spiritual practice – sadhana Salvation - Moksha Multiple ways to reach God (Yoga) Bhakti Yoga – path of love & devotion Karma yoga – path of right action Raja Yoga – path of meditation Jnana Yoga – path of mystical understanding

7. CONCEPT OF GOD : BRAHMAN • "Brahman is knowledge", "I am Brahman”, "The Self (or the Soul) is Brahman" • "All this that we see in the world is Brahman","Brahman is existence, consciousness, and happiness" BRAHMA - CREATOR DIFFERENT NAMES AND FORMS SHIVA- DESTROYER VISHNU - PRESERVER

8. CONCEPT OF GOD : BRAHMAN RELATION OF GOD & HUMAN SOUL RELATION OF BRAHMAN& ATMAN “ I am the Atman… the Atman is Brahman; there is nothing Anywhere but Brahman; all else is ……unreality”. Pooli, a great woman saint said: “If you do not attain your own self, if you do not experience Supreme bliss, then what is the use of living? Do not dogs and pigs Also live? Do not trees also live? Do not rocks also exist in this world?” (book: Where are you going, Swami Maktunanda)

9. Karma & Reincarnation

10. FOUR CASTES BRAHMINS Priest Teacher Advisor to rulers KSHATRIYAS Warriors King / Ruler VAISHYAS Merchants Traders SHUDRAS Labors Servant

11. FOUR STAGES OF LIFE STUDENT Clothing, subjects, length of schooling differ for each caste HOUSE HOLDER All are obligated to marry & start a household RETIREMENT Forest-dweller Hermit ASCETIC WORL-NEGATING Any Person AnyTime

12. FOUR GOALS OF LIFE DHARMA Virtue And Duties ARTHA Economic & political Success KAMA Pleasure & Aesthetic Enjoyment MOKSHA Release or Liberation

13. PRACTICES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP Worship (puja) – image of God(murti) - Japa (mantra) – recitation of scriptures Temple worship – Hindu priest (Pandas) – prasada Satsang – gathering for study & discussion – sadhu-sanga (company of righteous people Devotional singing (Bhajhan) – important part of Hindu worship On the path of God, two places of worship mark the stages The material temple, and the temple of the heart, Make your better endeavor, to worship at the temple of heart. (Ilm Magazine)

14. Birth Marriages Jatakarma – Birth Ceremony Namakarma- Naming Ceremony Nishkarmana – First Outing Annaprasana- First Feeding Karnavedha – Ear Piercing Mundan – Hair-cuting Upanayana – Sacred Thread Three Vows – Respect Knowledge, Parents and Society Marriage - Sanskar Jathakam- Astrological Chart Mandap – Mangala Sootra- Kanya Daan Fera and Mantra – Saptapadi (Seven Steps) Sindoor- Ashirvada (Blessings) BIRTH AND MARRIAGE RITUALS

15. HINDU SCRIPTURES SCRIPTURE: It is the ‘sacred text’, which plays the major role in Religion. It’s the basis for all human’s life. It defines moral or legal codes, myths and legends, historical Tales, divine revelation, hymns or prayers, words of Prophets or teachers.

16. HOLY BOOKS: VEDAS root word,Vid means to know, Vedas means knowledge Hymns/ praise to God Worship & Meditation SAMHITAS ARANYAKAS CONTENTS UPANISHADS Rituals & prayers to guide BRAHMANAS Mystical/philosophical teachings Rig-Veda Oldest – 1028 hymns Sama-Veda Chant/ tunes for singing Handbook by priest Yajur- Veda BRANCHES Atharva-Veda Preserves tradition – magical formula

17. BHAGAVAD - GITA Known as ‘song (gita) of the adorable ones’ Also called ‘new testament of hinduism’ Primarily a dialogue between Bharata brothers I.e. Arjuna and his charioteers, Krishna Krishna revealed as Bhagavad or Lord PURANAS Means ‘ancient tales’ Contains stories about gods I.e Rama, Krishna and others. Source for knowledge - Translated into english: Vishnu Purana & Bhagavata Purana RAMAYANA ‘the story of Rama’ is oldest epic poem of India 24,000 couplet verses tells how God Vishnu manifest in the form of Rama Its story about Rama and Ravana battle as well as Sita and Hanuman. MAHABHARATA ‘the great Bharata’ epic Tells early rivalries in the land of Bharat I.e. Five Pandavas & 100 Kauravas Contain 18,000 couplets – prime source for knowledge

18. Hindu Festivals: Diwali Diwali = Festivals of light Sanskrit word origin, ‘Dipavali’ means row of light All places, houses decorated with diyas Two goddess celebrated: Lakshmi and Kali Dates of Diwali New year festival Falls in Oct & Nov Lakshmi: goddess of Wealth ----- rangooli (lotus) Lit to help goddess Lakshmi Return of Rama And Sita

19. Celebrates victory of, Good over evils, Light over darkness, Knowledge over ignorance Diwali Legends Killing of Demon Narakaasura • Abducted 16,000 girls & • Earrings of Aditi, mother of gods Islam Eid celebration Eid-ul fitr – overcome bad habits, Actions & thoughts Ismaili Navroz festival: new day • Lord Krishna killed him, freed girls • And recovered earrings. The night is black, Kindle the lamp of love With thy love and devotion” Sikhs and Jains Killing of Demon Ravana • Sikh festival because of release of 6th • Guru (Hargobind Singh, 1619) from prison • Foundation stone of temple at • Amritsar (1577) • Ten arms & ten heads, kidnapped • The wife of Ram. • Ram, 14 years of exile from Ayodhya, • Killed demon and recovered his wife • And returned home in moonless night • Attaining Moksha by founder of • Jainism, Lord Mahavira

20. HINDU FESTIVALS: HOLI Spring festival of fertility and harvest, referred to 7th cen. Sanskrit drama, Ratnaval LEGEND OF PRAHALAD AND HOLIKA Harvesting festival In Northern areas & Chitral FESTIVAL OF COLOUR

21. HINDU FESTIVAL: NAVARATRI(DURGA PUJA) NINE DAYS WORSHIP: Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswati Motherhood of God Dasera -On 10th day, image of Durga cast into water - celebrate victory of Rama over Ravana -God as mother -Durga met her mother 9 days in a year. -women plant 9 different kinds of food (harvest) Durga, Mother Goddess --- power---demon Mahishasura (9days & nights)

22. OTHER HINDU FESTIVALS

23. All religions are same. “Consider his own religion to be best and makes much clamor. But when his mind is illuminated by knowledge, all such quarrelling disappears”. Whatever path men travel Its my path; No matter where they walk It leads to me.