HinduismEmily Yoon, Mikhaila Villani

Origin

Started C.2000 B.C.E.

Originated in the ancient Indus Valley Civilization(India and Pakistan)

Oldest existing religion

The word Hindu was given to the people by Persians, Arabs, and Afghans meaning Indus.

It was then used by the Europeans to describe people of these religious beliefs and practices.

Continues to develop and evolve

Beliefs

Four goals...

Karma which is Physical and Emotional pleasure

Artha which is power fame and wealth

Dharma is when someone leans to govern Karma and Artha, or Moral harmony.

Moksha- Liberation or reincarnation.

Ahimsa- nonviolence

Cow- Vegetarianism because they want to respect other beings, cows are also sacred

Many Gods

Usually commit to one god

Ethnic Religion

It is not an organized religion, it was loosely banded.

They do not differentiate themselves from Buddhists, Sikhists, or Janists.

The biggest ethnic religion

They do not have missionaries or try to gain followers

Appeals primarily people living in India

Autonomous Structure

Everyone has an equal standing in society.

There are different castes

Brahmins- Priests

Kshatriyas-Military Members

Vaishyas- Merchants

Shudras- Labor Force

Castes are still treated as equals no matter what caste you are in society

Diffusion over time

Originated in India

Spread to Burma, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia by Hindu kings visiting

It spread mostly because of relocation of Hindu’s

European explorers would take the religion back to Europe

Distribution today

90% are concentrated in India

80% worship the god Vinshu

Second largest are people who worship Siva

Third largest religion in the world

Sacred Spaces and Places

Hindu Temples “Mandira”

Benares, the eternal city of Shiva

Allahbad, where many rivers meet

Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna

Hardwar, where the Ganges river enters the plains of India

Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama

Dvaraka, Krishna’s capital

Kanchipuram

Mountains

Citations

"Library." Sacred Space. Patheos, 1 Jan. 2008. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Sacred-Space.html>.

"Hinduism." Hinduism. Samukta Mullangi, 1 Jan. 2005. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.umich.edu/~aamuhist/smullang/pubspeak.htm>.

"Hinduism." 5 Major World Religions. Weebly. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://5major-worldreligions.weebly.com/hinduism.html>.

"Hinduism Maps." Hinduism Maps. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.worldreligions.psu.edu/maps-hinduism.htm>.