HINDUISM

Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to many scholars,

with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with
about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind
Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 percent of the world’s Hindus live in
India. Because the religion has no specific founder, it’s difficult to trace
its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it’s not a singl e religion
but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies.

HINDUISM BELIEFS

Some basic Hindu concepts include:

 Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s

sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a “family of religions,”
as opposed to a single, organized religion.
 Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they
worship a single deity, known as “Brahman,” but still recognize
other gods and goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple
paths to reaching their god.
 Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle
of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of
cause and effect).
 One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in
soul. This philosophy holds that living creatures have a soul, and
they’re all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve
“moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become
part of the absolute soul.
 One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s
actions and thoughts directly determine their current life and future
lives.
 Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that
emphasizes good conduct and morality.
 Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred
animal.
 Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or
pork, and many are vegetarians.
 Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions,
including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

HINDUISM SYMBOLS
 There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the om
and the swastika. The word swastika means "good fortune" or "being
happy" in Sanskrit, and the symbol represents good luck. (A diagonal
version of the swastika later became associated with Germany’s Nazi
Party when they made it their symbol in 1920.)

The om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters and

represents three sounds (a, u and m), which when combined are
considered a sacred sound. The om symbol is often found at family
shrines and in Hindu temples.

HINDUISM HOLY BOOKS

Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. The
primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around 1500
B.C. This collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and
contains revelations received by ancient saints and sages.

The Vedas are made up of:

 The Rig Veda

 The Samaveda
 Yajurveda
 Atharvaveda

Hindus believe that the Vedas transcend all time and don’t have a
beginning or an end. The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, 18 Puranas,
Ramayana and Mahabharata are also considered important texts in
Hinduism.

ORIGINS OF HINDUISM

Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300

B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near modern -day Pakistan. But
many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always exis ted.
Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a
fusion of various beliefs.

Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus

Valley, and their language and culture blended with that of the
indigenous people living in the region. There’s some debate over who
influenced who more during this time.

The period when the Vedas were composed became known as the
“Vedic Period” and lasted from about 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Rituals, such
as sacrifices and chanting, were common in th e Vedic Period. The Epic,
Puranic and Classic Periods took place between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D.
Hindus began to emphasize the worship of deities, especially Vishnu,
Shiva and Devi.

The concept of dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths,
such as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly.

HINDUISM VS. BUDDHISM

Hinduism and Buddhism have many similarities. Buddhism, in fact,

arose out of Hinduism, and both believe in reincarnation, karma and that
a life of devotion and honor is a path to salvation and enlightenment.

But some key differences exist between the two religions:

Buddhism rejects the caste system of Hinduism, and does away with the
rituals, the priesthood and the gods that are integral to the Hindu faith.

MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HINDU HISTORY

The Medieval Period of Hinduism lasted from about 500 to 1500

A.D. New texts emerged, and poet-saints recorded their spiritual
sentiments during this time.

In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs began invading areas in India.

During parts of the Muslim Period, which lasted from about 1200 to
1757, Islamic rulers prevented Hindus from worshipping their deities,
and some temples were destroyed.

MAHATMA GANDHI

Between 1757 and 1947, the British controlled India. At first, the
new rulers allowed Hindus to practice their religion without interference.
But later, Christian missionaries sought to convert and westernize the
people.

Many reformers emerged during the British Period. The well-known

politician and peace activist, Mahatma Gandhi, led a movement that
pushed for India’s independence.

The partition of India occurred in 1947, and Gandhi was

assassinated in 1948. British India was split into what are now
the independent nations of India and Pakistan, and Hinduism became
the major religion of India.
 Starting in the 1960s, many Hindus migrated to North America and
Britain, spreading their faith and philosophies to the western world.

HINDU GODS

Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to Brahman, who

is believed to be the supreme God force present in all things.

Some of the most prominent deities include:

 Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the world and all
living things
 Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
 Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
 Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
 Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
 Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
 Saraswati: the goddess of learning

HINDU PLACES OF WORSHIP

Hindu worship, which is known as “puja,” typically takes place in

the Mandir (temple). Followers of Hinduism can visit the Mandir any time
they please. Hindus can also worship at home, and many h ave a special
shrine dedicated to certain gods and goddesses.

The giving of offerings is an important part of Hindu worship. It’s a

common practice to present gifts, such as flowers or oils, to a god or
goddess. Additionally, many Hindus take pilgrimages to temples and
other sacred sites in India.

SECTS OF HINDUISM

Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes divided into the following:

 Shaivism (followers of Shiva)

 Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu)
 Shaktism (followers of Devi)
 Smarta (followers of Brahman and all major deities)

Some Hindus elevate the Hindu trinity, which consists of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva. Others believe that all the deities are a manifestation of one.

HINDU CASTE SYSTEM

The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based
on their karma and dharma. Many scholars believe the system dates
back more than 3,000 years.

The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:

1. Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders

2. Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of soc iety
3. Vaisyas: the skillful producers
4. Shudras: the unskilled laborers

Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “Untouchables”

are a class of citizens that are outside the caste system and considered
to be in the lowest level of the social hierar chy.

For centuries, the caste system determined every aspect of a person’s

social, professional and religious status in India.

When India became an independent nation, its constitution banned

discrimination based on caste.

Today, the caste system still exists in India but is loosely followed. Many
of the old customs are overlooked, but some traditions, such as only
marrying within a specific caste, are still embraced.

HINDU HOLIDAYS

Hindus observe numerous sacred days, holidays and festivals.

Some of the most well-known include:

 Diwali: the festival of lights

 Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest
 Holi: a spring festival
 Krishna Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s birthday
 Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond between brother and
sister
 Maha Shivaratri: the great festival of Shiva

SOURCES

History of Hinduism, BBC.

Hinduism Fast Facts, CNN.
What are the Basic Beliefs of Hinduism, Smithsonian Institution.
Hinduism: The World’s Third Largest Religion, Religioustolerance.org.
Samsara: Hinduism, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World
Affairs at Georgetown University.

HINDUISM AND ISLAM REVIEWER

TAJWID, TLAWAH and TAWHID

 Tajwid are the rules of pronunciation, intonation, and approach governing
the recitation of Quran
 Tlawah is the recitation of the Quran which is considered as a science, an
art and a form of devotion
  Tawhid is the unity and oneness of God which Muhammad spoke of in
contrast to polytheism.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHI’A AND SUNNI

The difference between Shi’a believed that leadership was passed on by
the designation of a successor (Imam) within the Prophet's family; Sunni
Muslims believe that the sources of religious authority were the Quran, the
custom of the Prophet, and the communal consensus of Muslims.
ALLAH
For Islam Allah is the creator and ruler of the entire universe and the
ultimate Judge of all human beings. But the divine being represented on earth
as prophets and/or messengers is not the real understanding of their Islamic
God/Allah.
QURAN
The opening chapter (surah) in the Quran which is recited by many
Muslims as part of their prayer every day is called Fatihah. However, the quote
“The righteous behaviors a Muslim must obey to be able to be saved on the
Day of Judgment” is not included in surahs.
 Shariah is the totality of God’s will regarding human action as represented
in the Quran and Sunnah while sufism refers to a stream of interpretation
of Islam emphasizing the interior path of mystical love and knowledge of
God.
SALAFIS
It refers to the movement born during the European colonialism arguing that the
faith and practice of Muslims had become distanced from the original message
of Quran and the Prophet, as the masses have adapted and innovated
devotional practices

IMPORTANT KEY TERMS:

 The caliphs or Khalifa refers to the successor of Muhammad.
 Ummah is an Islamic term for a universal community
 Madrasah is a traditional school throughout the Muslim world for
advanced study of law, philosophy, theology, arts and sciences
 One of the Sunni Muslim’s “five pillars of Islam” referring to the
pilgrimage to Mecca is called Hajj.
HINDUISM REVIEWER
ORIGIN OF HINDUISM

The origin of Hinduism starts from the Harappan civilization whose cultural
centers emerged and flourished along the Indus River and the Nomadic tribes arriving in
India from Central Asia
IMPORTANT KEY TERMS

 The new concept/s introduced in the Upanisads which was/were critical in the
development of Hindu belief was that the concept of God as the Ultimate Creator and
Judge of all creations
 Mahatma Gandhi envision India during the British rule as an independent country
focused on democratic and economic self-sufficiency
MAHABARATA

 Is an Hindu epic that tells the story of a cataclysmic war between two sets of cousins.
BRAHMAN

 The Hindu Ultimate permeating all existence

RAMAYANA

 The Hindu epic that tells the story of a great prince who battled a demon to rescue his
abducted wife.
TAWHID

 It is the unity and oneness of God which Muhammad spoke of in contrast to

polytheism
THE BASIS OF HINDU CASTE SYSTEM IS CALLED “KARMA”

 Karma; a person is born in a specific group because of their actions in past life

FACTS ABOUT HINDUISM:

 In Hinduism the concept of God is in Multiple divine forms that is being worshipped
and it represents a manifestations of One Ultimate
 The Hindu understanding of creation is that it goes through cycles of existence and
non-existence.
 Most Hindus believe that the Vedic texts are revealed or heard and not composed by
humans.
 The relationship of God with humankind throughout history is not true about Hindu’s
belief
 Most Hindus believe that Vishnu revealed the Vedic texts to the early people in Indus
River who then wrote about the greatness of His words and acts. -FALSE
 In Hinduism the concept/s of creation goes through cycles of existence and dissolution