BY HUGO, HOLLIE, LAUREN AND FIONA

Hinduism

Something you didn’t know!

Worlds oldest religion

World’s third largest religion

It is a way of life (dharma)

The word ‘Hindu’ came from the river ‘Sindhu’

In Hinduism, they do not have any system or beliefs just prominent themes.

Key Belief’s

Truth is Eternal Hindu’s pursue knowledge and understanding of the truth

Brahman is truth and reality Brahman is the one true God (Formless, all inclusive and

eternal)

The Vedas are the ultimate authority

Hindu scriptures that contain revelations received by ancient

saints

Everyone should strive to achieve dharma

Described as the right conduct; moral law and duty, anyone who makes dharma central of their

lives strive to do the right thing.

Individual souls are immortal Believe that the persons soul is neither created or destroyed.

Prominent themes

Dharma

Moksha Karma

Samsara

Dharma (ethics and duties)

Dharma in Hinduism means duty, virtue and morality, it refers to the power in which the universe and society holds.

Dharma is seen to acting virtuously, which means it is the same for everyone.

Different people have different obligations and duties, dependant on their age, gender and social position.

Everyone has their own dharma Flood, G. (2009)

Samsara (Rebirth)

The soul reincarnates again and again until it becomes perfect and reunites with its source.

During this process they believe the soul enters

many bodies and holds many forms.

The following verse of the Bhagavad gita summarises Samsara is , ‘Just as a man discards worn out cloths and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones.’ (2.22)

Karma

Karma is a word which means action, it refers to the law that every reaction has an equal reaction either immediately or some point in the future.

Good actions with dharma will have good reactions or responses and bad actions which go against dharma will have the opposite effect.

In Hinduism they believe that karma doesn’t operate in one lifetime but across lifetimes, the results of one action may not be experienced in the present life but in a new life.

Flood. G. (2009)

Moksha

Moksha is the end of death and rebirth cycle and is known as the forth ultimate artha, which means goal.

This goal is achieved by overcoming ignorance and desires. It can be achieved by both in life and after death. (BBC 2006)

Hindu Celebrations

Hindu’s celebrate Diwali, the festival of light. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and all over the world it is celebrated differently.

In Britain the festival is a time for cleaning the home, wearing new clothes, exchanging gifts, fireworks and decorating buildings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK-5GiGhhKU

Deities

In Hinduism there are a wide variety of deities (god and goddesses) to choose and worship, every Hindu can pray for something different as each deities means something different.

Many Hindu’s view their religion with only one supreme deities who is formless and impersonal, all other deities are parts of the one God.

In the Hindu faith there is a trinity where the deities is in three people.

Brahma: is the creator of all reality

Vishnu is the preserver of all of the creations

Shiva is the destroyer.

Brahma

Vishnu

Shiva

Krishna

Reference List

BBC. (2006). Moksha .[online] Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/moksha.shtml. [Last accessed 09/10/13].

BBC . (2009). Gurdwara. [online] Available:http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/gurdwara_1.shtml. [Last accessed 09/10/13]

Flood, G. (2009). Hindu concepts. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/concepts/concepts_1.shtml. [Last accessed 09/10/13]

Indiavideodotorg. (2009). Diwali Festival of lights. [online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK-5GiGhhKU. [Last accessed 17/10/13]