MEANING AND NATURE 2OF HINDUISM
 Dominant region in the indian sub-
continent.
 Shaivism, vaishnavism & shaktism
(the supreme deity)
 Belief in diff.. methods of self-
realization & in diff.. aspects of the one
supreme God
 Monothiestic ideal of vishnu,
shiva/devi (this view does not exclude
other personal Gods as they are
understood to be aspects of the
chosen ideal.
 Smartism a modern hindu tradition
invites the worship of more than (1)
God including shiva, vishnu, shakti,
ganesh (the elephant God) & surya
(sun God)
 Philosophical, mediative path,
emphasizing man’s oneness w/ God
through understanding.
Fouder of Hinduism
 No single founder of hinduism as
hinduism was not founded as a
religion.
 It is culture flourished in india.
 Mixture of teachings from vedas
mainly plus teachings of ancient Rishis
& Regional customs & traditions
 Vedas are believe to be imported from
God to Human beings some thousands
year ago.
 God himself is the founder of
hinduism, which he updates from time
to time by reincarnating himself on the
earth.
Religious sects
 Hindu trinity consisted of shiva, Vishnu
& Brahma
Vaishnavism
 Vishnu the preserver God of Hindu &
his (10) incarnations.
Saivism
 Hindu sect that worship the God Shiva.
 May found wandering in india w/
ashen faces performing self-
purification.
HINDU DOCTRINES
1. Ahimsa (non-violence)
 In thought, word, & deed
 Non-injury/ non-killing
 Creates love for humans betw..
themselves as well as other forms of
life & encourages the protection of
their environment.
2. Dharma
 The right action must be performed for
the sake of righteousness & good must
be done for sake goodness, without
expecting of receiving something in
return.
 Dharma provides rational approach to
distinguish right from wrong & good &
evil.
3. Karma
 Action, work/ deed
 Refers to spiritual principle of cause &
effect where intent & actions of an
individual (cause) influence the future
of that individual (effect).
4. Doctrine of Atman (soul)
 This doctrine eliminates fear & guilt
which are psychological barrier to
human growth.
 Each human being, regardless of
religion, geographic region, & color is
in reality atman clothed in physical
body.
 An individual is not born a sinner but
becomes a victim of maya (cosmic
ignorance).
5. Moksha (spiritual perfection)
 The ultimate goal of Hindu religious life
is to attain spiritual freedom/ union w/
God.
(freedom from cycle of birth & death in the
phenomenal world). Encourages individual
effort & understanding attaining perfection
in life.
 Each soul envolves toward union w/