Chapter 5, Lesson 3

Hinduism

When the Aryans crossed the mountains and settled in the Indus River Valley, they also brought their religious beliefs, which are thought to be the basis of Hinduism.

Hinduism

• A religion of many gods and many beliefs.• The main religion in India.• One of the world’s oldest religions.

Rama

Vedas

• “Books of Knowledge”• Books of writings containing stories and songs

of the Aryan people.• Prevalent in helping archeologists learn about

the Aryan culture.

Rig Veda

• The oldest of the four Vedas.• A collection of more than 1,000 hymns that

priests recited during ceremonies and rituals.• Hymns are dedicated to Aryan gods.

The Rig Veda is important to Hindu people because they still recite these hymns at ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.

Aryans believed in different gods and goddesses who influenced nature.

Lakshmi

Durga

Brahman

• Recognized by the Hindus as the only one universal being.

• The source and final destination of everything.• Three forms of Brahman are the gods Brahma,

Vishnu, and Shiva.

Brahma

• The creator• Has four heads pointing in all directions• Sees everything

Shiva

• The destroyer• Represents forces that destroy what is old and

begin what is new

Shiva

Vishnu

• The preserver• Maintains the order of all the universe, known

as dharma.• Krishna is a form of Vishnu who came to live

on Earth.

KrishnaVishnu

Ganga Mai

• The Ganges River goddess.• Gives water the power to clean and purify.

How do the Hindus show respect for their gods?

They keep small shrines in their homes where they can offer prayers to their gods.

Dancing Shiva Shrine

Reincarnation

• The process in which a person goes from one life to the next.

• The Hindus believe that after a person dies, he or she is reborn into a new life.

Seven Truths

• Also known as the seven essential doctrines.

1. peaceful living2. freedom of thought3. respect for nature and animals4. becoming one with Brahman5. belief that good and bad actions will one day

affect us

Way of Life

• Every Hindu is a member of a caste.• Caste – a lifelong social group into which a

Hindu is born• Castes are ranked according to birth and job

qualification.• Marriage within the same caste.

Caste Ranking

Priests and teachers

Rulers and warriors

Farmers and merchants

“untouchables”(jobs no one else wanted; now illegal)