Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Bohol
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
FIRST QUARTER: WEEK 8

Competency : Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and
related issues of Hinduism
Reference : Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems by Ong and Jose (2016), pp.
118- 131
Copyright For classroom use only

LESSON 8: Brief History, Core Teachings, Fundamental Beliefs, Practices, and Related Issues
of 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 faithfuls 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, Suriname, and Sri Lanka.
BRIEF HISTORY
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. 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. 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. Historically, the foundations of
Hinduism may have originated from the customs of the early peoples 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.C.E.

CORE TEACHING

Sacred Scriptures
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.

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. 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. 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. 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.C.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.

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 later 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 treatises—such as karma (action), samsara (reincarnation), moksha
(nirvana), atman (soul), and Brahman (Absolute Almighty).

Smriti
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 smriti.

Ramayana
The Ramayana, translated as the “Story of Rama” or “Rama’s Journey,” is a Sanskrit epic poem written by
the poet Valmiki consisting of 24,000 verses in seven books and 500 cantos. 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. Meanwhile, in the forest, Rama’s consort, Sita,
was abducted by Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka. Rama struggles mightily to win Sita back. After a
battle, Rama kills Ravana and reunites again with Sita. Returning to Ayodhya, they are crowned with Rama
portrayed as the ideal king. Rama and Sita are the epitome of perfect man and woman. Meanwhile, Ravana
symbolizes ambition and greed resulting in cosmic disorder and degradation of women and family.

Mahabharata
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. The Mahabharata tells of a great struggle among the
descendants of a king called Bharata, a name used by many Indians to mean “India” (Coogan 2005). Two
families are at war, the Pandavas who represent good and the Kauravas who embody evil. The hundred
Kaurava 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.

Bhagavad Gita
A celebrated episode within the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita (or simply Gita) which is translated as
“the Lord’s Song.” 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, Arjuna is troubled at the thought of having to fight his relatives and
contemplates his fate and struggles set before him. He then seeks the opinion of his charioteer Krishna who
asserts the righteousness of the act while expounding the moral and philosophical consequences of human
actions. Their conversations in the battlefield, found between chapters 25 and 42, comprise about eighteen
chapters and constitute the Bhagavad Gita.

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS

Beliefs and Doctrines

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. 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, these are creation, preservation, and destruction.
These functions are expressed in god forms, namely, Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva,
the destroyer.

Though widely respected and 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 worshiped 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.

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. Below list the 10 avatars of Vishnu.

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. 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. In mythology, he is described as always
having a constantly erect penis and sexually alert.
Routes to Moksha
From the Upanishads one may find the three principal and inter-related doctrines within the Indian religion.
*Firstly, every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called samsara).
*Second, one’s deeds have an effect in this or a future life.
*Lastly, 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. A soul may escape the cycle of rebirth and attain moksha. This
particular 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. For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals of life or purushartha. These are dharma
(appropriate behavior), artha (the pursuit of legitimate worldly success), kama (the pursuit of legitimate
pleasure), and moksha (release from rebirth). The terminal stage involves the liberation from the bonds of
flesh and the limitations of death-bound life. By faithfully performing duties in social and family life, this
involves one person pursuing artha or appropriate worldly prosperity and material well-being. A person
must also rightfully satisfy the demand for enjoyment and pleasure or kama. In all goals, one must be
guided by righteousness or dharma toward achieving moksha. A person who achieves moksha while in life
is a free soul or jivan-mukta.

PRACTICES

Hindu scriptures state that there are 330 million gods or devas. 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). Integral to
Hindu worship are the sacred images and temples believed to house and represent the deities. These images
can be revered in homes or temples with a host of intermediary priests, holy men, and religious teachers.
However, most Hindus worship individually involving mantras or vibrating sounds that summon the deity
and the prasad or gift offerings. Vital to Hindu worship is darshan that pertaining to seeing and being in
the presence of deity. In 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 of 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 Holi, Diwali, and 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 similar to the Christmas
holiday of the Christians. Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that safeguards the
people from evil forces.
Meanwhile, there are also many local and regional festivals, such as harvest and deity festivals, marked by
colourful processions and performances. Table below lists down several festivals celebrated by Hindus in
a year.

Month Festival Name Significance

January Lohri Celebrated in Punjab, this marks the end of 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-night vigil is held at Shiva temples
 April Sri Vaishnavas An honouring of Vishnu and and his consort Sri, celebrated
in Madras at the beginning of the hot season; Images of
Vishnu are taken from the temples to the seashore
May Rathyatra The birthday of Lord Jagannath, celebrated with chariots in
Puri
August Janmashtami The birthday of Krishna, celebrated nationally; Worshippers
fast during the day and break the fast in the evening,
following a special puja, or worship
September Dusserah A celebration of the triumph of good over evil, in honor of
Durga or Rama
September Ganesh Chaturhi The birthday of Ganesh, celebrated nationally throughout
India; Huge images of Ganesh are paraded
October Diwali A national celebration in honor of Rama and his consort

Pilgrimages are also undertaken by Hindus throughout India to visit the sacred shrines of their deities.
These include rivers, mountains, and temples. The city of Varanasi, also called Benares, is the most
important and sacred pilgrimage site in India and is considered as the home of Shiva. Many people come
and live in the city until they die to manifest their exceptional devotion. Other popular sites include
Kurukshetra (the place of the great war in Mahabharata), Ayodhya (the old capital of Rama), and Mathura
(Krishna’s birthplace).

RELATED ISSUES

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 men 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. Thus, women are relegated to performing household chores and are expected
to become loyal to their husbands, even after their husbands die. 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 the afterlife. In spite of the fact
that sati was already demolished by the British in India, there are still cases of sati being reported in modern
times.

Caste System
The caste system is one major distinguishing feature of Indian culture that still affects modern-day society.
A 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 particular caste.
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.

However, the most deplorable group are those persons that do not belong to any group—those that are
disparagingly called as “outcasts” or “untouchables.” Also known as dalits, they are highly ostracized in
society. They perform the most menial of jobs, such as street sweepers, latrine cleaners, and handlers of
the dead. These jobs receive the lowest wages and have the most appalling living conditions.

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 positions, including Kocherii R.
Narayanan, a dalit who became the tenth president of India from 1997 to 2002.
ACTIVITY
Direction: Answer the crossword puzzle using the clues provided below.

Across Down
1. The world’s longest poem 1. It means “that which has been
2. India’s biggest and most important remembered”
holiday 2. The god of creation
3. It means “that which is heard” 3. The oldest & most complex of all world
4. Oldest scriptures of Hinduism religions
5. National celebration of spring & New 4. The highly ostracized in society
year 5. The goddess of science & wisdom

ASSESSMENT

Directions: Read the following questions carefully. Select the letter of the best answer from the given
choices.
1. Which of the following describes atman?
A. a way of being in the world C. the ritual of death
B. one’s eternal soul or self D. the karma each person takes on

2. The four basic Vedic books, which are sacrificial hymns compiled from an earlier oral tradition.
Which of the following is not part of four basic Vedic books?
A. Athena-veda B. Rig-veda C. Sama-veda D. Yajur-veda
3. Among the four Vedas, which is the most important and oldest book that dates back around 1500
B.C.E. to 1200 B.C.E?
A. Athena-veda B. Rig-veda C. Sama-veda D. Yajur-veda

4. Hinduism is one of the major religions in the world. What places in the world where Hinduism is
most widely practiced?
A. China and Japan C. Israel and Iraq
B. India and Nepal D. Middle East

5. Where do Hindus go for a place of worship?

A. Synagogue C. Mosque
B. Church D. Shrines in their homes or temple

6. Which of the following is not a practice of Hinduism?

A. belief in many gods C. fasting during Ramadan
B. celebrate festivals D. all of these

7. Which of the following is not part of the fundamental beliefs of Hinduism?

A. every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called samsara)
B. every person must acquire all the material things in the world
C. one’s deeds have an effect in this or a future life
D. one may escape the weary round of death and birth

8. Reincarnation is the Hindu’s______________.

A. belief that woman is superior to man in all aspect
B. belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form
C. method of training that is supposed to lead to oneness with Brahman
D. way to worship the leader as a god

9. There are also many local and regional festivals of Hinduism, such as harvest and deity festivals,
marked by colorful processions and performances. Which of the following are festivals celebrated
by Hindus in a year?
I. Diwali IV. Holi
II. Dusserah V. Shawwal
III. Janmashtami VI. Muharram

A. I, II, V B. I, II, III, IV C. II, III, V, V1 C. III, IV, V, VI

10. Festival of Light is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year held in October or
November that is comparable to the Christmas holiday of the Christians. Why Indians light outside
their homes during the Festival of Lights?
A. to show that they can afford to buy many diyas
B. to represent the light that gives hope and peace to every person
C. to symbolize the inner light that safeguards the people from evil forces
D. none of these
 Answer Key

Activity
Down
1. Mahabharata
2. Diwali
3. Shruti
4. Vedas
5. Holi

Across
1. Smriti
2. Brahma
3. Hinduism
4. Untouchables
5. Saraswati

Assessment
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. C
7. B
8. B
9. B
10. C