Hindu Basics

History

• No known founder of Hinduism• Hybrid of polytheism and monotheism--

Worship many gods and goddesses to help them understand Brahma.

• Combination of Indus Valley Civilization and Aryan Civilization

• Vedas and Upanishads: The sacred texts are thought to be the ultimate authority.

3 Prominent Gods

• Brahma• Vishnu• Shiva

*Have over 330 million different celestial beings in the area.

**Brahman is the one god that all avatars and celestial beings are a part of.

***Be sure not to confuse Brahma, Brahman and Brahmin (learn about later.)

Brahma – the Creator

• The creator of everything.

• Depicted with 4 heads and 4 arms.

• Each head recites a Veda.

Vishnu – the Preserver

• Preserver and protector of the universe.

• Depicted with a conch shell, chakra (mind), lotus and mace.

Shiva – the Destroyer

• The transformer or destroyer.

• Sometimes manifest as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance.)

Kali—Goddess of Destruction• Typically depicted wielding

a sword and a decapitated head.

• She wears a necklace of human skulls and stands on a corpse.

• Many Hindus revere her because they think that worshiping her will bring enlightenment.

Other female deities include Lokshmi, Parvati, and Durga

Pilgrimages

• Pilgrimages: 4 big pilgrimage sites at each of the compass points.

• Many Hindus visit all of them. – Takes 10 weeks.

• Rameshavaram in the south • Dwarkadheesh in the west • Cacutta by following the Ganges (north) • Puri in the East

The Ganges River

• The Ganges starts in the Himalayas and supplies water to the holy city of Varanasi.

• Hindus believe that bathing in the river can help balance a person’s karma.

• Many people visit the Ganges every year.• Many deposit the ashes of their loved ones in

the river.

Hindu Calendar

• Each month begins with the new moon which means holidays and festivals are on different dates from year to year.

• Some Holidays: – Magha: Winter solstice festival– Chaitra: Spring festival– Bhadrapada: Celebration of siblings– Karttika: New Years, festival of lights

Mandir (Hindu Temple)

• Each Mandir is dedicated to a specific god. • There is a shrine to the god containing an

image or painting of the god/ess. • Each morning priests and worshippers,

decorate the shrine with fresh flowers, candles, fruit and incense.

• Puja (daily worship) is performed at dawn, noon, dusk and midnight.

Temple (Continued)

• Worshipers focus on the deity then offer a food offering.

• Temple Video

Bharata Natyam

• A lot of sculptures in Hindu Temples mimic the motion from early Temple dances.

• Bharata Natyam Dance Video

Hindu Symbols• Ancient symbol of

auspiciousness, good fortune, and protection

• Represents the eternal wheel of life rotates upon an unchanging center, God

• Hindus believe it protects them from evil spirits and natural disasters

• Pre-dates Nazi Germany

Symbols (Continued)

• “Om” a visual and oral representation of Brahman used as a mantra.

• Cows• Believed that the

celestial cow was created by Lord Krishna and that gods sometimes visit Earth in the form of cows.

Symbols (Continued)

• The lotus bud.• Symbolizes the

birth of the universe.