INTRODUCTION TO

WORLD RELIGION AND

BELIEF SYSTEM
CHAPTER 3: DHARMIC
RELIGIONS

HINDUISM
MELCS:
Analyze the brief history, core
teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of
Hinduism.
OBJECTIVE:
Familiarized with the history, core teaching,
fundamental beliefs, and practices of HINDUISM.

Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion. Hindu
followers in India comprise the major bulk with almost 80
% of the country’s population adhering to the religion.
Central of their fundamental teaching are the belief if the
“Dharma”
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
HINDUISM is considered as the oldest and most complex
of all world religions.
The term Hindu originated from Persia word Hindu
which means “river”. It is also refer to people of Indus
Valley-the Indians.
Hinduism was originally known as “Arya Dharma” or the
“Aryan Way”
Aryans brought with them their set of beliefs
based on oral texts known as Vedas.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
-The sacred writings of the Hindus are
categorized into two classes, the shruti and smriti.
1. 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 Vedas form the
shruti and are considered primary sources and
most authoritative texts in Hindu faith.
VEDAS- the word Veda means “knowledge” or
“sacred lore”. The Vedas are the earliest known
Sanskrit literature from the Brahmanic period
and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.
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.
Among the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda is the
most important and oldest book , it is also the
oldest living religious literature of the world.
The second book Yajur-Veda or “knowledge of
rites” is a compilation of materials recited
during rituals and sacrifices to deities.
The third book Sama-Veda or the “knowledge
of chants”.This book is a collection of verses
from the basic hymns recited by priest during
sacrifices.
The fourth book is Athara- Veda or “knowledge
given by sage Atharva”. This book contains
ritual used in homes and popular prayers to
gods-seldom used in solemn ceremonies unlike
the other three Vedas.
 INDRA- leader of the devas or gods; the
lord of heaven in Hinduism; god of rain
and thunderstorms

AGNI- god of fire; messenger of the gods

Adityas- sun-gods
Mitra- deity for honesty, friendship,
contracts and meetings.
Varuna- god of the water, god law of the
underwater world.
Ushas- deity dawns.
God/Goddesses Personification or attributes

Savitr Solar diety

Rudra Deity of wind or storm
Pushan Solar deity;god of meeting
Brihaspati Diety 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
UPANISHADS- forming fourth part of the
Vedas, the term Upanishad literally translates as
“sitting down near” or sitting close to”.
2. SHMRITI- literally means “that which has
been remembered”.These writings serve to
reinforce shruti and are interpreted by sages and
scholars alike.
RAMAYANA- translated as the story of Rama or
Rama’s Journey, is a Sanskrit epic poem written
by poet Valmiki consisting 24,000 verses in seven
books and 500 cantos.
MAHABHARATA- another Sanskrit composed
around 100,000 verses making it the worlds
longest poem.
BHAGAVAD GITA- a celebrated episode in
Maharabata is the Bhagavad Gita, which
translated as “the Lord’s Song”. Considered as
one of the holiest books by the Hindus, it is a
700-verse narrative of a dialogue between the
Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide-cousin
Krishna.
BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES
DEVOTION TO THE TRIMURTI
BRAHMAN- who is ultimate reality, one and
undivided. Often seen in three forms or functions
are expressed in god forms; namely Brahma-the
creator, Vishnu-the preserver, and shiva-the
destroyer.
Brahma- receives the least attention among the
trimurti. 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.
-has four heads and eight hands.
-his chief consort is Saraswati-the goddess of science
and wisdom.
-his vehicle is a swan or goose which symbolizes
Vishnu- known as god of love, benevolence and
forgiveness.
- Primary concern is humanity itself
- appeared on earth nine different forms and will
come a tenth time to end the present era or kalpa…
- Depicted as having four arms and with a dark
complexion.
- Most popular manifestation is Krishna who is blue
the color of infinity.
- -consort is Lakshmi-goddess of fortune.
INCARNATION FORM ATTRIBUTES

MATSYA Fish Saved humanity & 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

- Consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune.
Shiva- god of death, destruction, and disease.
-he is also god of dance, vegetable, animal, and human
reproduction.
-In mythology, he is described as having a constantly
erect penis and sexually alert at all times.
-many consorts, the most terrifying is “Kali”- Durga,
Parvati
-has a sons, Ganesha, elephant-headed deity revered as
the remover of obstacles, Kartikeya,Hindu god of war
Route to Moksha
From the Upanishads doctrine, first 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-”Moksha”!
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.
Route to Moksha
From the Upanishads doctrine, first 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-”Moksha”!
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.
Moksha can be achieved through the four yogas
that involve a system of practices aimed at
producing spiritual enlightenment.
The word yoga means as “to yoke” or “to join”.
Patanjali- is considered as the “father of modern
yoga”.
THE FOUR YOGAS PRACTICES
JNANA YOGA The path of knowledge, wisdom,
(The way of Knowledge) instrospection,and contemplation

BHAKTI YOGA The path of devotion, emotion love,

(The way of Love) compassion, and service to God and
others.
KARMA YOGA The path of action, service to others,
mindfulness and remembering the levels of our
(The Way of Work) being while fulfilling our actions or karma in
the world

RAJA YOGA The path of meditation that directly deals with

the encountering and transcending thoughts of
(The way of Meditation) the mind.
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
Moksha- release from rebirth.
A person who achieves moksha while in life is a
free soul or jivan-mukta.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
Hindu scriptures state that there are 330 million gods
or devas.
Diwali-Festival of lights, India’s biggest and most
important holiday of the year held in October or
November that are similar to Christmas holidays of
Christians.
Shivaratri- a National honoring of Shiva,
Worshippers fast during the day, and all night vigil is
Sri Vaishnavas- honoring Vishnu and his consort
Sri, Image of Vishnu are taken from temple to
the seashore.
Janmashtami- birthday of Krishna, worshippers
fast during the day and break the fast during
evening, following puja or worship
Dusserah- honor of Durga or Rama, celebration
of triumph of good over evil.
SUBDIVISIONS
Shaivism- Lord Shiva ,the Compassionate One, is God
for the Saivites.
Shaktism-The Goddess Shakti is supreme for Shaktas,
Vaishnavism- Lord Vishnu is God for the Vaishnavites,
especially in his incarnations Krishna, and Rama.
Smartism- For Smartas,, devotees are left to choose
their own diety in one of six manifestations, namely,
Ganesha, Siva, Shakti, Surya, and Skanda.
Sati- a tradition of Hindu wherein the wife or women
are expected to jump on the funeral pyre of their
husbands to prove their loyalty and help save the soul
of their husbands afterlife.
Caste system- a system of social class composed of the
Brahmins, Kshatriyas,Vaishyas, and Shudras.
Dalits- those that are disparingly called as “outcasts”
or untouchables.
Kocherii R. Narayanan- a Dalit who became the tenth
president of India 1997-2002.
Thank you!!!