Chapter 3Chapter 3

Section 1Section 1

V. HinduismV. Hinduism

Hinduism is the Hinduism is the religion of most Indian religion of most Indian PeoplePeople

It is based on ancient It is based on ancient texts called texts called VedasVedas, , which is a collection of which is a collection of hymns and ceremonieshymns and ceremonies

BrahmanBrahman- the Ultimate - the Ultimate GodGod

AtmanAtman- The individual - The individual self (like the soul)self (like the soul)

The atman has the duty The atman has the duty to worship Brahman so it to worship Brahman so it can join him after deathcan join him after death

ReincarnationReincarnation- after - after death, the atman is death, the atman is reborn in a different reborn in a different form.form.

After many reincarnations After many reincarnations the atman can unite with the atman can unite with the Brahmanthe Brahman

Reincarnation justifies Reincarnation justifies the mistreatment of lower the mistreatment of lower castes- If a person had castes- If a person had been better in their past been better in their past life, they would not have life, they would not have been born so lowbeen born so low

KarmaKarma- a person’s - a person’s actions affect what actions affect what class they will be class they will be reborn in, or if they reborn in, or if they will even be reborn as will even be reborn as a humana human

Dharma- divine law, Dharma- divine law, everyone must do their everyone must do their duty according to duty according to their castetheir caste

SamsaraSamsara- The cycle of - The cycle of birth, death, and birth, death, and rebirth that can only rebirth that can only be escaped when the be escaped when the atman joins the atman joins the brahmanbrahman

MokshaMoksha- when your - when your atman rejoins Brahman. atman rejoins Brahman. It is being released It is being released from the cycle of from the cycle of samsara. Moksha is samsara. Moksha is the goal of all Hindusthe goal of all Hindus

High GodsHigh GodsBrahma (the creator)Brahma (the creator)Vishnu (the preserver)Vishnu (the preserver)Shiva (the destroyer)Shiva (the destroyer)

Goddesses of the BreastGoddesses of the BreastSarasvati (goddess of beauty)Sarasvati (goddess of beauty)Laksmi (goddess of fertility)Laksmi (goddess of fertility)Parvati (goddess of peace)Parvati (goddess of peace)

Low GodsLow GodsKali (demands blood sacrifice)Kali (demands blood sacrifice)

Goddess of the ToothGoddess of the Tooth

Durga (goddess of destruction, Durga (goddess of destruction, death, and famine)death, and famine)

No God is more powerful than No God is more powerful than the othersthe others

No God is complete without male No God is complete without male and female halvesand female halves