Introduction to

World Religions
and Belief
Systems
Quarter 2 – Module 8:
Hinduism
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems – Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 8: Hinduism
First Edition, 2020

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Introduction to
World Religions
and Belief
Systems
Quarter 2 – Module 8:
Hinduism
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems for Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Hinduism.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both
from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping
the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming
their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.
For the learners:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems for Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Hinduism.

This module will let you know about the brief history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs, practices, and related issues of Hinduism. And it is designed to provide you
fun and meaningful opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own
pace and time. You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource
while being an active learner. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

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This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the

lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the answers
to the exercises using the Answer Key at the
end of the module.
What I Have This includes questions or blank
Learned sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or skill
into real life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your

level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.
Additional In this portion, another activity will be given
Activities to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
lesson learned. This also tends retention of
learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

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At the end of this module you will also find:

This is a list of all the sources used in

References
developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate
to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
know the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related
issues of Hinduism. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different
learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the
textbook you are now using.

This module is about the Hinduism.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the sacred scriptures of Hinduism;

2. explain the worship and observances of Hinduism;
3. discuss the beliefs and doctrines of Hinduism;
4. determine the different subdivisions of Hinduism

What I Know

Directions: Read and analyze each statement below and carefully choose the letter
that best describe the statement. Write the letter of the correct answer on a separate
sheet of paper or notebook.

1. “Sanatana Dharma” the formal name of Hinduism, means _____________.

a. Divine Light
b. Eternal Religion
c. Way of Truth
d. Holy Religion
2. Belief in the incarnations of a deity in different manifestations and personalities
is called ___________.
a. Bhakti
b. Yogi
c. Avatara
d. Reincarnation

4
3. The ____________ scripture is “that which is heard.”
a. Darshan
b. Smriti
c. Shruti
d. Yoga
4. The highest god in the Hindu pantheon and one of the Trimurthi is ______.
a. Brahma
b. Lakshmi
c. Siva
d. Brahman
5. The Shudras caste was renamed ___________ by Mahatma Gandhi in protest of
the injustice of the caste system.
a. Prasad
b. Harijans
c. Puja
d. Jati
6. “Bhagavad Gita” means ______________.
a. Song of the enlightened one
b. Song of joy
c. Song of thanksgiving
d. Song of the lord

7. The three most powerful gods in Hinduism is called the ____________.

a. Vedas
b. Moksha
c. Kali
d. Trimurthi
8. A type of yoga that encourages a worshiper to offer love and devotion to a
god/goddess is _____________.
a. Atharva Yoga
b. Bhakti Yoga
c. Karma Yoga
d. Jnana Yoga
9. The highest and purest of all castes is the _____________ caste.
a. Shudra
b. Kshatriya
c. Brahmin
d. Vaishya
10. The Hindu Festival of Light is called ________________.
a. Holi
b. Lohari
c. Kumbha Mela
d. Divali

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11. The incarnation Kurma is in the form of ______________.
a. Boar
b. Dwarf
c. Fish
d. Turtle
12. The incarnation of Matay is in the form of _____________.
a. Boar
b. Dwarf
c. Fish
d. Turtle
13. Horse is the incarnation of what avatar?
a. Buddha
b. Kalki
c. Khrisna
d. Narasimha
14. The attribute of this incarnation is to helped create the world by supporting it
on his back.
a. Kurma
b. Narasimha
c. Rama
d. Varaha
15. The enlightened man in the 10 avatars of Vishnu is ____________.
a. Buddha
b. Kalki
c. Khrisna
d. Narasimha

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 Lesson
Hinduism
8

What’s In

Before we proceed to the new lesson, let us go back to the previous lesson by
answering the following questions below.

Fill in the blanks. What have you learned from the previous lesson? Fill in the
blanks with the correct words to complete the paragraph. Use separate answer sheet
or notebook in answering.

The three Abrahamic religions (1) __________________, (2) __________________,

and (3) ____________________ all originated from a region we now call Southwest Asia.
They are also called (4) ____________________ since they came from an area where
people speak or express the Semitic languages, particularly (5) ______________
Aramaic and Arabic.

Judaism originated from a land called (6) __________________; Christianity

began in (7) ____________________ while Islam developed in (8) _____________________.
Looking back at the history of the three religions, we can see that they share
commonalities in certain beliefs such as belief in the same Patriarch and other
prophets; angels as (9) ___________________ of God; heaven and hell; and (10)
___________________ day, among others.

Notes to the Teacher

This Alternative Delivery Mode contains helpful tips or
strategies that will help you in guiding the learners in
learning the Hinduism.

7
 What’s New

PANDEMIC PRAYER-NEWS ALERT!

Pujari Harish Brahmbhatt speaks as US President Donald Trump looks on at the Rose Garden of
the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, May 8, 2020. AFP
“In these troubled times of COVID-19, social distancing and lockdown, it is not unusual for
people to feel anxious or not at peace. The shanti prayer or peace prayer is a prayer that does
not seek worldly riches, success, fame, nor is it a prayer for any desire for heaven,"
Brahmbhatt said in his brief remarks from the Rose Garden podium.
"It is a beautiful Hindu prayer for peace, shanti. It is a Vedic prayer derived from Yajurveda," he
said before reciting the prayer in Sanskrit. Thereafter, he translated it in English.
"The prayer translates into onto the heavens be peace. Onto the sky and earth be peace.
Peace be onto the water. Onto the herbs and trees be peace. Onto all the crops be peace.
Onto Brahma and onto all be peace. And may we realise that peace. Om peace, peace,
peace," Brahmbhatt said.
Trump thanked Brahmbhatt for his prayer recitation.
Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/covid-19-trump-invites-hindu-priest-to-chant-shanti-path-for-
safety-of-all-at-white-house-82148

Concept Map. Surround with the appropriate words and phrases to explain your
understanding of the words Hinduism by writing concepts related to this word. Use
separate answer sheet or notebook in answering.

Hinduism

8
In 1-2 sentences, explain each word you have written to understand Hinduism.
(1) _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
(2) _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
(3) _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
(4) ____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.

What is It

Hinduism
Concept map
This lesson is divided into four groups:

Hinduism

1 2 3 4
Sacred Worship and Beliefs and Subdivision
Scriptures Observances Doctrines

Hinduism
Hinduism is the world's third largest
religion with around 15% of the entire population
practicing the Hindu faith. Hindu followers in India
comprise the major bulk with almost 80% of the
country's population adhering to the religion. Other
Asian countries with considerable Hindu faithful
include Nepal (23 million), Bangladesh (15 million),
and Indonesia (3.9 million in Bali). There are also
substantial number of Hindus in Mauritius,
Guyana, Fiji, Bhutan, Trinidad and Tobago,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#/media/File:1_Om.svg
Suriname, and Sri Lanka (Jose and Ong, 2016).

9
 Hinduism was never a missionary religion unlike Christianity or Islam. With
the changing times, however, there have been proselytizing activities by Hindu
missionaries in some Western cities.

Three other religions that sprung in India have their origins in Hinduism.
Around sixth century B.C.E., Jainism and Buddhism appeared to challenge
traditional Indian beliefs and practices. In the fifteenth century C.E., Sikhism arose
that featured Hindu and Islamic influences.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

According to Jose and Ong (2016), Hinduism is oftentimes considered as the

oldest and most complex of all world religions. While the most active religions of
the modern times may have started around the sixth century B.C.E. onward,
elements and themes of Hindu belief may have begun around the third millennium
B.C.E. In addition, unlike other major religions, Hinduism had no one identifiable
founder.

The term Hindu originated from the Persian word hindu (in Sanskrit sindhu)
which means "river." It also refers to the people of the Indus Valley the Indians
(Bowker 1997). The name Hinduism was given in the nineteenth century to describe
the wide array of belief systems in India. Hinduism was originally known as "Arya
Dharma" or the Aryan Way."

As early as 3000 B.C.E., there were already thriving civilizations in India, such
as those discovered in the ancient Punjab city of Harappa and in Mohenjo-Daro along
the Indus. However, we know very little about the belief system of these early people
(Brown 1975). Historically, the formations of Hinduism may have originated from the
customs of the early people of the Indus valley around 2500 B.C.E. to 1500 B.C.E.,
in the more advanced culture of the Dravidians, and from the Aryans who invaded
northwest India around 1500 B.CE.

In the 1920s, archaeological excavations in the two pre- Aryan cities Harappa
and Mohenjo-Daro revealed that the natives already had a flourishing civilization
with their agricultural cities characterized by well-planed streets with drainage
systems. Unfortunately, despite having a written language, it has not yet been
deciphered. As a result, vital information concerning the pre-Aryan like and religious
beliefs has been elusive. Our knowledge of pre-Aryan belief can be seen from the
numerous statues and amulets recovered by archaeologists. Images of fertility gods
and goddesses are noticeable from these artifacts while some figures appear in the
lotus position which was later absorbed by yoga Hinduism and other sects. Later
elements of Hinduism may have taken shape from the practices of pre-Aryan people
who were already civilized city dwellers.

Between 1750 B.C.E. and 1200 B.C.E., Aryan conquerors moved to the Indus
Valley and brought with them their own set of beliefs that eventually mingled with

10
the religion of the natives. Classical Hinduism resulted in the consolidation of their
faiths. Around sixth century B.C.B., they began to settle into cities while local leaders
started organizing small kingdoms for themselves.

Aryans brought with them their set of beliefs based on oral texts known as
Vedas. This Vedic literature, however, was chiefly composed at the time the Aryans
had already settled in India and blended with the natives. Admittedly, there is much
difficulty in identifying elements in the Vedas that are genuinely pre-Aryan or Aryan
influenced. However, certain fundamental assumptions about the Aryan religion can
be stated here. Firstly, the Aryans brought with them a polytheistic religion like that
of other Indo-European people.
The sun, the moon and storms, are personified in reference to the pantheon
of gods and goddesses worshipped by the Aryans. Secondly, sacrifice was the
principal form of worship to the Aryan gods. Offerings to gods include animals and
dairy products performed on altars in open spaces. Since Aryans later were nomadic,
they had no temples In general, Hinduism has pre-Aryan and Aryan elements that
date back to ancient times. (Jose and Ong, 2016).

1. SACRED SCRIPTURES OF HINDUISM

As stated by Jose and Ong (2016), the sacred texts of Hinduism have been
principally passed down throughout generations by way of music, recitation, dance,
and drama. Sanskrit has been the language of the earliest writings.

The sacred writings of the Hindus are categorized into two classes, the Shruti
and Smriti.

a. SHRUTI

Shruti literally, means "that which is heard." They are regarded as eternal
truths that were passed orally until the beginning of the present age wherein there
came the need to write them down (Bowker 1997).
The four collections of texts of the Vedas form the shruti and are considered
primary sources and the most authoritative texts of the Hindu faith. Other writings
that form part of shruti include the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and a few
Sutras.

Vedas

The four basic Vedic books, which are sacrificial hymns compiled from an
earlier oral tradition, are composed of Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, and
Atharva-veda. The word Veda means "knowledge" or "'sacred lore."
The Vedas are the earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahmanic
period and oldest scriptures of Hinduism.

11
 Scholars disagree as to when the Vedas were first written. The earliest hymns
may have been written around 2000 B.C.E. or before the arrival of the Aryans in the
Indus Valley area. They may also have been written down between 1500 B.C.E. to
400 B.C.E. Ascertaining the exact period is difficult because these books may have
been composed and passed orally for so many generations before they were first
written down and eventually completed. In the great epic Mahabharata, Brahma was
said to have Created the Vedas.
Among the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda is the most important and oldest book
that dates back to around 1500 B.C.E. to 1200 B.O.E. Apart from being the oldest
work of literature in an Indo-European language, it is also the oldest living religious
literature of the world. The book is a collection of over a thousand hymns and more
than thousand verses dedicated to the Aryan pantheon of gods. The table below lists
some of the names of these deities (Jose and Ong, 2016).

gods and goddesses Personifications or Attributes

Indra Leader of the devas or gods; the lord of heaven in Hinduism;
god of rain and thunderstorms
Agri god of fire; messenger of the gods
Adityas sun-gods
Mitra deity for honesty, friendship, contracts and meetings
Varuna god of the water; god of law of the underwater world
Ushas deity of dawns
Savitr solar deity
Rudra deity of wind or storm
Pushan solar deity; god of meeting
Brihaspati deity and religion
Dyaus Pita sky god; father sky
Prithvi mother earth
Surya chief solar deity; the sun
Vayu lord of the winds
Apas water
Parjanya thunder and rain

Yajur- Veda or the "knowledge of rites" is the second book. Composed

between 1200 B.C.E. to 1000 B.C.E., this book is a compilation of materials recited
during rituals and sacrifices to deities.
The third book is Sama-Veda or the “knowledge of chants.” Dating back
almost the same time as the Yajur- Veda, this book is a collection of verses from the
basic hymns recited by priests during sacrifices.
Lastly, the fourth book is Atharva Veda or "knowledge given by the
Atharva” that date back around 1500 B.CE. to 1000 B.C.E. This book contains
rituals used in homes and popular prayers to gods. Seldom used in solemn
ceremonies unlike the other three Vedas, The Atharva Veda contains numerous
spells and incantations for medicinal purposes and magical aids to victory in battle
among others (Jose and Ong, 2016).

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 Each Vedas consists of four main parts the Mantras, Brahmanas, Aranyakas,
and Upanishads.
1.Mantras are hymns and chants for praising god.

2.Brahmanas are explanations of the Mantras with detailed descriptions of

the sacrificial ceremonies related to them.

3. Aranyakas are meditations that explicate their meaning.

4. Upanishads or secret teachings transcend rituals to elucidate the nature

of the universe and human’s connectedness to it. The many teachings
embedded in the Upanishads are called Vedanta, and these are teeming with
spiritual truths.

Upanishads
Forming the fourth part of the Vedas, the term Upanishad literally translates
as “sitting down near” or “sitting close to” as it implies listening intently to the
mystic teachings of a spiritual teacher who has fully understood the universal truths.
It could also mean “brahma-knowledge" whereby ignorance is totally eliminated.
Within these amazing collections of writings that were transmitted orally
through generations, one can find early philosophical statements that form the basis
for all 1ater Hindu philosophy.
The great Indian nationalist and philosopher Sri Aurobindo described the
Upanishads as the “supreme work of the Indian mind.” Varying in length from one
page to over fifty pages, all fundamental teachings and concepts about Hinduism are
found in these profound dissertations such as:
1. karma (action)
2. samsara (reincarnation)
3. moksha (nirvana)
4. atman (soul); and
5. brahman (Absolute Almighty)
Of the two hundred Upanishads, fourteen of these are considered principal
writings. The earliest of the Upanishads may have originated in the ninth century
B.C.E. while the most recent around the sixth century B.C.E

b. SHMRITI

Smriti literally means “that which has been remembered.” These writings
serve to reinforce shruti and are interpreted by sages and scholars alike. Most of
these texts are sectarian in nature and considered of lesser importance compared to
shruti, such as stories and legends, codes of conduct for the society, and guidebooks
for worship.
The great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, which contains the
philosophical poem Bhagavad Gita, are part of Shrmriti. These are national epics of
India and considered to be the sacred texts of the masses where they draw their
values and ideals (Jose and Ong, 2016).

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Ramayana

The Ramayana, translated as the “Story of Rama’s Journey,” is a Sanskrit

epic poem written by the poet Valmiki consisting of 24,000 verses in seven books
and 500 cantos. This great epic was written between 200 BCE and 200 CE. Central
to the story is Rama, a prince and later portrayed as avatar or incarnation of the
Hindu god Vishnu, who was born in Ayodhya. Rama was exiled by his father on the
eve of his coronation.
Presently, this story is danced out and acted in Southeast Asia where Hindu
influence is observable. Most characters are popular in Indonesia, Thailand, and
Cambodia.

Mahabharata

From the book of Jose and Ong (2016), another major Sanskrit literature of
old India is Mahabharata which is composed of around one hundred thousand
verses making it the world’s longest poem. Written around 500 B.C.E., this
magnificent work is attributed to the author Vyasa who is also considered to be the
scribe of the Vedas.
The Mahabharata tells of a great struggle among the descendants of a king
called Bharata, a name used by many Indians to mean "India" (Jose and Ong, 2016).
Two families are at war, the Pandavas who represent good and the Kauravas who
embody evil (Brown 1975). The hundred Raurava brothers try to cheat their five
cousins, the Pandavas, out of their share of the kingdom.
As intense battle ensued, every kingdom had to take sides. With the help of
Krishna, another incarnation of Vishnu, the Pandavas emerged triumphant but lost
all their sons and closest kin in battle (Coogan 2000).
With about 100,000 couplets and 1.8 million words in total, this poem is about
four times longer than the Ramayana, eight times longer than the Iliad and the
Odyssey put together, and fifteen times longer than the Bible. Along with the Bible
and the Quran, the Mahabharata ranks in importance among the sacred writings of
various world religions. It is an epic vision of the human condition, such as intrigue,
romance, duplicity, moral collapse, dishonour, and lamentations.

Bhagavad Gita

A celebrated episode within the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita (or simply
Gita) which is translated as “the Lord's Song." It is believed to have been written
between the second century B.C.E. and third century C.E.
Considered as one of the holiest books by the Hindus, the Gita is a 700-
verse narrative of a dialogue between the Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide-
cousin Krishna. Just as the war is about to commence at Kurukshetra, plates his
fate and struggles set before him.
The Gita instructs any person that one may reach god through devotion,
knowledge, or selfless action. Humans must do their duty or dharma whatever it may
be and whatever results it could produce.

14
 The Gita is considered the layman’s Upanishads because the difficult
teachings of the Upanishads are presented here in a manner that commoners can
understand (Jose and Ong, 2016).

2. BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES OF HINDUISM

As stated by Cornelio et al. (2016), the Hindu faith offers its followers many
paths to salvation. They may find liberation from the cycle of life through devotion to
one or more gods. Their gods and goddesses can be worshipped at their temples. In
temples, devotees can pray and offer sacrifices so that they can gain favor from deities
and assist them in their struggle for salvation.
Bhakti stands for the soul’s longing for and clinging to god.

Devotion to the Trimurti

Central to Hinduism is the Brahman who is the ultimate reality, one and
undivided. The Brahman is often seen in three forms or functions. Called the
Trimurti, (or Trinity) these are creation, preservation, and destruction. These
functions are expressed in god forms, namely, Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the
preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer.

The Hindu Trimurthi is not found in the

earlier Vedic writings, but it is believed
to be a later addition in order to provide
a systematization of the functions of
different deities.

http://mesosyn.com/hindu-6.html

Though widely respected and

http://www.zunray.com/brahma/
recognized as the creator of the universe,
Brahma receives the least attention
among the trimurti. In fact, only two
temples are dedicated to him in India
and he has no cult of devotees.
He is not worshipped in the same
way as other gods because he has done
his task and will not come into his own
until the next creation of the universe.
When depicted, Brahma has four heads
and eight hands.

His chief consort is Saraswati, the goddess of science and wisdom.

Brahma’s vehicle is a swan or goose which symbolizes knowledge.

15
 Known as a god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness, Vishnu’s primary
concern is humanity itself. As the preserver, the creation is withdrawn to a seed
whenever he sleeps but rises again as he wakes up. He is worshiped in various forms
of his incarnations or avatars. Based on mythology, Vishnu has appeared on earth
in nine different forms and will come a tenth time to end the present era or kalpa, to
bring the world to an end, and then recreate it. These manifestations of Vishnu are
intended to help humanity with his preserving, restoring, and protecting powers. The
table below lists the 10 avatars of Vishnu as cited by Jose and Ong, (2016).
Incarnation Form Attributes
Matsy fish Saved humanity and the sacred Veda texts from
flood
Kurma turtle Helped create the world by supporting it on his
back
Varaha boar Raised the earth out of water with his tusks
Narasimha half-man, half-lion Destroyed a tyrant king
Vamana dwarf Subdued king Bali, a powerful demon
Parshurama brahmin Destroyed the warrior class
Rama man Rescued his wife Sita and killed the demon
Ravana
Krishna man Told the epic poem Bhagavad Gita to the warrior
Arjuna
Buddha man The enlightened man
Kalki horse Yet to come to earth

In Hindu sacred writings, Vishnu is depicted

as having four arms and with a dark complexion. His
most popular manifestation is Krishna who is blue,
the color of infinity and plays the flute. Vishnu’s
consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, who us
seated in a lotus between two elephants with their
trunks raised above her.
Both Vishnu and Lakshmi ride the eagle
mount or kite Garuda, the symbol of the sky and the
sun. The snake in Garuda’s claws represents water.
https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/god-vishnu.html

As the destroyer and the god of death,

destruction, and disease, Shiva is the third in
the Trimurti. His functions are many. He is also
god of dance, vegetable, animal, and human
reproduction (Hopfe 1983). In Hindu belief,
death is but a prelude to birth, hence, the god of
death is also the god often revered through the
lingam, the male energy surrounded by the yoni,
the female source of energy (Bowker 1997).

16
Routes to Moksha
From the Upanishads, one may find the three principal and inter-related
doctrines within the Indian religion. These are the following:
1. Every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called samsara).
2. One's deeds have an effect in this or a future life.
3. One may escape the weary round of death and birth.

Within every human is an eternal soul or atman that is being reborn many
times and in various forms in accordance to the moral law or karma (Bowker 1997).
A soul may escape the cycle of rebirth and attain moksha. This liberation can be
achieved through the four yogas that involve a system of practices aimed at
producing spiritual enlightenment.
The word yoga is derived from the root word yuj which translates as “to yoke”
or "to join."
The philosophy of yoga was developed by the sage Patanjali who lived in the
second century B.C.E. He is considered as the “father of modern yoga" as he
codified the teachings of yoga in his Yoga Sutra (Hopfe 1983).
Table below lists down the four yogas with their corresponding practices.

The Four Yogas Practices

Jnana Yoga The path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection, and
(the way of contemplation.
knowledge)
Bhakti Yoga The path of devotion, emotion, love, compassion, and service
(the way of love) to God and others.
Karma Yoga The path of action, service to others, mindfulness, and
(the way of work) remembering the levels of our being while fulfilling our
actions or karma in the world.
Raja Yoga The path of meditation that directly deals with the
(the way of encountering and transcending thoughts of the mind.
meditation)
For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals or areas of life or purushartha.
These are:
1. dharma (appropriate behavior)
2. artha (the pursuit of legitimate worldly success)
3. kama (the pursuit of legitimate pleasure); and
4. moksha (release from rebirth).
The terminal stage involves the liberation from the bonds of flesh and the
limitations of death-bound life.

3. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES OF HINDUISM

Hindu scriptures state that there are 330 million gods or devas (Kolanad
1994). These include manifestations of natural phenomena, evil forces, and even
illnesses. Others are venerated humans or town deities. Hindu worship or puja
involves images (murtis), prayers (mantras), and diagrams of the universe (yantras)
(Bowker 1997).

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Puja
The most common way to express worship for deities is the puja. It consists
of offering mostly material goods and ritual acts to the altar of a god or goddess.
Pujas may be made in home altars or in temples. When it is done at home the essence
of the puja rituals is to welcome the deity as a guest.
When pujas are done in temples, worshippers follow stricter rules to ascertain
the purity of one’s offering to the deity.
The puja is an important dimension of the religious life of the most Hindus. It
is their way of communicating with the Divine. The goal of the puja is darshan,
where the devotee “exchange glances” with the god or goddess. The darshan is an
intimate encounter between the two, and the deity responds by sanctifying food
ritually offered by a devotee, which becomes prasad, a sanctified food that the
devotee receives as a gift from the god or goddess.

Integral to Hindu worship are

the sacred images and temples
believed to house and represent the
deities. These images can be revered
or valued in homes or temples with a
host of intermediary priests, holy
men, and religious teachers (Jose and
Ong, 2016).
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/taj-mahal-built-hindu-temple-claims-indian-
mp-180206104944929.html

The rise of Islam in the seventh

century brought about changes in political landscape of the area, which saw the
increasing influence of Islamic empires. The most significant of this is the Mughal
Empire, which ruled India from 1526 to 1858.
The Mughals changed the Indian landscape with their beautiful and
unsurpassed architectural landmarks. One example of this is the Taj Mahal, which
was built for Shah Jahans favorite wife. At present the Taj Mahal is considered as
one of the wonders of the world for its beauty and architectural style.
However, most Hindus worship individually involving mantras or vibrating
sounds that summon the deity and the prasad or gift offerings (Bowker 1997). Vital
to Hindu worship is darshan that pertaining to seeing and being in the presence
of deity. ln temples, ceremonies may be in the form of offering a flame, milk, or
honey, and even reciting chants and music. While worship may be undertaken any
day or the week.
Thursday is the most opportune day.
Hindus celebrate several festivals that are based on the Hindu calendar and
often related to seasonal changes. Main festivals include:
(1) Holi, (2) Diwali, and (3) Dusserah
The Diwali or "Festival of Lights” is India's biggest and most important
holiday of the year held in October or November that is like the Christmas holiday of
the Christians. Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that
safeguards the people from evil forces.

18
 Meanwhile, there are also many local and regional festivals, such as harvest
and deity festivals, marked by colorful processions and performances. Table below
lists down several festivals celebrated by Hindus in a year.

Month Name of Festival Significance

January Lohri Celebrated in the Punjab, this marks the end
of the winter
February Pongal-Sankranti A feast held in south India to celebrate the
rice harvest
March Holi The national celebration of Spring and the
New Year
March Shivaratri A national honoring of Shiva; Worshippers
fast during the day, and an all-right vigil is
held at Shiva temples
April Sri Vaishnavas An honouring of Vishnu and his consort Sri
May Rathyatra The birthday of lord Jagannath
August Janmashtami The birthday of Krishna
September Dusserah A celebration of the triumph of good over evil
September Ganesh Chaturthi The birthday of Ganesh
October Diwali A national celebration in honor of Rama and
his concert

4. SUBDIVISIONS AND SELECTED ISSUES OF HINDUISM

1. Subdivisions

Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and practices, including

reverence to a particular god.
Presently, there are four principal denominations within the Hindu faith.
These are Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishavism, and Smartism.

A. Shaivism – The lord Shiva, the compassionate one, is god for the saivities.
Followers of Shaivism value self-discipline and philosophy. They worship in
temples and practice yoga.
B. Shaktism – The goddess Shakti is supreme for Shaktas. She is the divine
mother and assumes many forms, be it gentle one or a fierce deity. Believers
use chants, magic and yoga to summon cosmic forces.
C. Vaishavism – The lord Vishnu is god for the Vaishnavites, especially in his
incarnations Krishna and Rama. Adherents have multitudes of saints,
temples, and sacred texts.
D. Smartism – Samrtas are known as liberals as they embrace all major Hindu
gods. Devotees are left to choose their own deity in one of six manifestations,
namely:
a. Ganesha d. Vishnu
b. Siva e. Surya; and
c. Shakti f. Skanda

19
2. Selected Issues

Hinduism continues to be the religion of almost 80% of the Indian people.

While mostly comprised of Hindu followers, India is a secular state that remains
neutral in issues involving religious convictions and practices of its citizenry. All
Indians can follow and propagate their own set of beliefs.
Being a country with the largest adherents of Hinduism, India is presently
facing numerous challenges that are religious in character, some of which are below.

A. HINDUISM AND WOMEN

Even though the Manusmriti or the “Laws of Manu” states that women should
be honored in Hindu society, women have always been considered inferior to mean
in almost all aspects of life. A woman’s life revolves around the men in her life, to be
taken care of by her father in childhood, by her husband in married life, and by her
sons upon old age.
In traditional society, women are expected to perform sati or suttee wherein
widowed women are expected to jump on the funeral pyre of their husbands to prove
their loyalty and help save the soul of their husbands in afterlife. Although sati was
already demolished by the British in India, there are still cases of sati being reported
in modern times.

B. CASTE SYSTEM

As stated by Cornelio et al. (2016), the case system is one of the major
distinguishing features of Indian culture that still affects modern-day society. A case
system of social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and
Shudras, opportunities are based upon family origin. One person belongs to a caste
by being born to parents of that caste.
The Brahmins are the highest in the hierarchy and are perceived to be the
purest among all castes.
This has been an issue of distinctive concern for the reformers of the caste
system. While full-blown divisions are relatively a modern development, the caste
system began to divide into thousands of castes that are sometimes based on
occupations.
A person’s diet, vocation and residence are dictated by the caste where he or
she belongs. There can be more than 3,000 separate castes in India.
The teachings of Hinduism may have justified the status of the outcastes.
Their present condition may have been caused by their accumulated karma from the
past. By fulfilling their duties and accepting their dharma, they may be born to a
better caste in their next lives.
Despite the negative backlash on the caste system, India has been receptive
in enacting legislation aimed at eradicating inherent social evils. For example,
untouchability has been banned and the caste system is no longer rigid.
The Indian constitution has provided that it is unlawful to discriminate
against lower castes. Lower caste members are now being elected to key government

20
positions, including Kocherii R. Narayanan, a dalit who became the tenth president
of India from 1997 to 2002.

As stated by Cornelio et al.

(2016), the caste system had its vocal
critics who claim that it is unjust and
tramples a person’s human rights.
One of its most severe critics is
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, more
well known as Mahatma Gandhi, a
social activist and critic who
attacked the caste system and called
the Shudras, who were the least
among the castes, as harijans, or
“children of god.”
https://medium.com/@vermapratik52/mahatma-gandhi-a-true-peacemaker-
28243dd36645

In 1948, the newly enacted Indian Constitution legally abolished the caste
system. Its influence, however, is still pervasive and it is still used to determine social
rank and prestige up to the present day.

21
 What’s More

Independent Activity 1

MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE. Read the following statements. Write TRUE if the
statement is correct and change the underlined word or phrase if the statement is
incorrect. Use the separate answer sheet in answering.

______________1. Shaivism faith value self-discipline and philosophy, devotees’

worship in temples and practice yoga.

______________2. Smartism believers use chants, magic, and yoga to summon cosmic
forces.

______________3. The Vaishnavism devotees have multitudes of saints, temples and

sacred texts.

______________4. Shaktism devotees are left to choose their own deity, they embrace
all major Hindu gods.

______________5. Ganesha is one of the six manifestations of Smartism.

Independent Assessment 1

FILL IN THE BLANKS. Fill in the blanks with the correct word to complete the
sentence. Use the separate answer sheet in answering.

The Upanishads include fundamental teachings in Hinduism such as karma

(action), (1) _____________ (reincarnation), moksha (nirvana), atman (soul) and
Brahman (2) (________________).

Hinduism is the (3) _______________ largest religion in the whole world, and
around (4) _______________ % of the entire population practicing the Hindu
faith.

(5) _________________, a social activist and critic who attacked the caste system
and called the (6) _______________, who were the least among the castes, as (7)
__________________, or “children of God.”
The goal of the puja is (8) __________________, where the devotee “exchange
glances” with the god or goddess. (9) _______________, is a sanctified food that
the devotee receives as a (10) ___________________ from the god or goddess.

22
Independent Activity 2

WORD HUNT: Find the ten (10) main avatars of Vishnu that are given in the box
below. Write down your answer on the “My found words” and write their meaning in
the box below. Use a separate bond paper in answering.

L M I N R A M A M W U E
O A M J L K S F J F A R
C T S T E J S B V Z E I
P S X D K A L K I D H E
A Y I S H N U F R N T K
R U J O U L Q E K A U U
S T K H Y D G I G R A R
H N T B E L I E F A G M
U V A R A H A B D S G A
R S M T R X F U E I B U
A D P H E C B T L M U A
M F K R I S H N A H D K
A G E L Q I A N E A D E
X J H B C M H I D D H S
C H M O P O M P S A A G
E N L V A M A N A Y Z A
A E L A H A X R Q E Z K

My found avatar Their meaning

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

23
Independent Assessment 2

IDENTIFICATION: Choose from the box the appropriate word for the following
statements. Write the answer on the space provided.

Trimurti Puja Brahmanas Taj-mahal Upanishads

Caste Aranyakas Thursday Diwali Mantras

___________________ 1. These are hymns and chants for praising god.

___________________ 2. These are explanations of the Mantras with detailed

descriptions of the sacrificial ceremonies related to them.
___________________ 3. These are meditations that explicate their meaning.

___________________ 4. These are secret teachings transcend rituals to elucidate the

nature of the universe and human’s connectedness to it.
___________________ 5. The most common way to express worship for deities.

___________________ 6. It is the most opportune day.

___________________ 7. It is the India's biggest and most important holiday of the

year held in October or November that is like the Christmas holiday of the Christians.

___________________ 8. This system is one of the major distinguishing features of

Indian culture that still affects modern-day society.
___________________ 9. It is considered as one of the wonders of the world for its
beauty and architectural style.
___________________ 10. These are creation, preservation and destruction.

Independent Activity 3

FACT OR BLUFF. Write FACT if the statement is correct otherwise, write BLUFF.
Use separate answer sheet in answering.

___________1. Taj Mahal was built for Shah Johan’s favorite wife.
___________2. There are also many local and regional festivals, such as harvest and
deity festivals, marked by colorful processions and performances.
___________3. Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and practices,
including reverence to a particular god.
___________4. Hinduism continues to be the religion of almost 50% of the Indian
people.
___________5. The “Laws of Manu” states that women should be honored in Hindu
society and women have always been considered superior to men in
almost all aspects of life

24
Independent Assessment 3

TRUE OR FALSE. Read the following statements. Write TRUE if the statement is
correct and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. Use the separate answer sheet in
answering.
_________ 1. Hinduism was originally known as “Arya Dharma” or the Aryan way.

_________ 2. There are over 500 million devas or gods in Hinduism.

_________ 3. The Ramayana contains 24,000 verses in 6 books.

_________ 4. Vishnu is the god of love, benevolence and forgiveness.

_________ 5. Kocherii R. Narayanan is a dalit who became the tenth president of India.

_________ 6. Brahma is the founder of Hinduism.

_________ 7. The “Festival of Lights” is held annually around August or September.

_________ 8. Those who practice Shaivism value self-discipline and philosophy.

_________ 9. The Vedas were passed down through written texts.
_________ 10. Bhagavad Gita is also known as “The Lord’s Song.”

What I Have Learned

“LET’s do the T-M-L PHRASE: Complete the following T-M-L phrases. Use the
separate answer sheet in answering.

The Topic was about

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.

It Matters because
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________.

I’ve Learned today that

______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________.

25
Your output will be assessed using the following rubrics:
Content Organization Conventions
(5 points) (5 points) (5 points)
The presence of ideas The order developed and Grammar, mechanics,
developed through facts, sustained within and across spelling, usage and
examples, details, paragraph using transitional sentence formation.
opinions, reasons, and/or devices and including
explanations. introduction and conclusion.

What I Can Do

INFOGRAPHIC. Based on what you have learned in this module, create an

infographic design that will inform people about the Hinduism religion. Below is the
sample template, use the separate answer sheet in answering.

HINDUISM

gods/goddesses

beliefs

Your infographic will be evaluated using the rubrics below:

Content - 20 points
Clarity - 20 points
Design - 10 points
Total - 50 points

26
 Assessment

MULTIPLE CHOICES: Read each statement carefully. Choose the letter of the correct
answer. Use separate sheet in answering.

1. The Hindu word for “Laws of Manu” is ________________.

a. Brahmans
b. Kshatriyas
c. Manusmriti
d. Vaishyas

2. The Hindu word for “children of god” is ______________.

a. Brahmans
b. Kshatriyas
c. Harijans
d. Manusmriti

3. "River" means ___________.

a. Hinda
b. Hindi
c. Hindo
d. Hindu

4. The Hindu word for “that which is heard” is ____________.

a. Sanskrit
b. Smriti
c. Shruti
d. Vedas

5. The meaning of the word Veda is _____________.

a. Favors
b. Knowledge
c. Love
d. Wisdom

6. Which among the four Vedas is the most important and oldest book?
a. Rig-veda
b. Sama-veda
c. Yajur-veda
d. Atharva-veda

7. Atharva Veda means ____________.

a. Knowledge of rites
b. Knowledge of chants
c. Knowledge given by Atharva
d. Knowledge given by Yajur

27
8. The part of Vedas that consists of hymns and chants for praising god is
_________.
a. Aranyakas
b. Brahmanas
c. Mantras
d. Upanishads

9. The Hindu word for action is ____________

a. Atman
b. Brahman
c. Karma
d. mosksha

10. The Hindu word for “that which has been remembered” is ____________.
a. Sanskrit
b. Smriti
c. Shruti
d. Vedas
11. It is considered as the world’s longest poem.
a. Bhagavad Gita
b. Mahabharata
c. Ramayana
d. Smriti
12. This book means “the lord’s song”

a. Bhagavad Gita
b. Mahabharata
c. Ramayana
d. Smriti
13.The Hindu god for creation is ____________.

a. Bhakti
b. Brahma
c. Shiva
d. Vishnu
14. The Hindu god for preservation is ____________.

a. Bhakti
b. Brahma
c. Shiva
d. Vishnu

15. The Hindu god for destruction is ____________.

a. Bhakti
b. Brahma
c. Shiva
d. Vishnu

28
 Additional Activities

ESSAY. In 3-5 sentences explain the following situation. Use separate answer sheet
in answering.

12. What makes Hinduism’s beliefs, particularly its polytheistic nature, complex
for other people?

My answer

Your essay will be checked using the following rubrics:

Content Organization Conventions
10 points 10 points 5 points
The presence of ideas The order developed and Grammar, mechanics,
developed through facts, sustained within and across spelling, usage and
examples, details, paragraph using transitional sentence formation.
opinions, reasons, devices and including
and/or explanations. introduction and conclusion.

29
 30
What I Know 6. Shudras Independent Assessment 3
7. Harijans (TRUE/FALSE)
Multiple Choices 8. Darshan 1. True
9. Prasad 2. False
1. B
10. Gift 3. False
2. D
4. True
3. C
Independent Activity 2 (Word Hunt) 5. True
4. A
6. True
5. B
7. False
6. D
8. True
7. D
9. False
8. B
10. True
9. C
What I can do
10. A
11. D (Answers may vary)
12. C
13. B Assessment
14. A Multiple Choices
15. A
1. B
Independent Assessment 2 2. C
What’s New
3. D
Answers may vary 1. Mantras 4. C
2. Brahmanas 5. B
What’s More 3. Aranyakas
6. A
(Independent Activity 1) 4. Upanishads
7. C
Modified T/F 5. Puja
8. D
1. TRUE 6. Thursday
9. C
2. FALSE (SHAKTISM) 7. Diwali
3. TRUE 8. Caste 10. B
4. FALSE (SMARTISM) 9. Taj-mahal 11. B
5. TRUE 10. Trimuti 12. A
13. B
Independent Assessment1 Independent Activity 3 14. D
(Fill in the Blanks) (Fact or Bluff) 15. C
1. Fact
1. Samsara
2. Fact Additional Activities
2. Absolute almighty
3. Fact
3. Third 4. Bluff (Answers may vary)
4. 15% 5. Bluff
5. Mahatma Gandhi
Answer Key
References

Cornelio, J. S. PhD., et. al., Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems, for
Senior High School, Rex Bookstore. 2016

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/covid-19-trump-invites-hindu
priest-to-chant-shanti-path-for-safety-of-all-at-white-house-82148

https://medium.com/@vermapratik52/mahatma-gandhi-a-true-peacemaker-
28243dd36645

http://mesosyn.com/hindu-6.html

http://www.zunray.com/brahma/

https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/god-vishnu.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/taj-mahal-built-hindu-temple-claims-
indian-mp-180206104944929.html

Ong, J.A., DL Jose, M.J. Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems, for Senior
High School, Vibal Group, Inc. 2016

31
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Science City of Muñoz,

Nueva Ecija

Office Address: Brgy. Rizal, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Telephone Number: (044) 806 2192

Email address: muñozsciencecity@deped.gov.ph

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