Chapter 7, Lesson 2: Religions in Ancient India

Religions Of Ancient India

​Chapter 7 Lesson 2

​Origins of Hinduism

• One of the world's oldest religions and is the 3rd largest religion. Christianity and Islam are 1st and 2nd.

• Has no ONE founder and no ONE holy book.

• Hindus pay respects to the Vedas And take part in religious rituals at home or a local temple.

• 1st Vedas had to be memorized and spoken by Brahmin but was later written down.

• Hinduism came from Brahmin's relgion mixing with the ideas of other people in India over time.

Multiple Choice

Hinduism has one founder and one holy book.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is Brahman?

• a sculpture for a ceremony in a Hindu temple.

• The head god

• the universal spirit

• A type of Indian cuisine

What is Hinduism?

• Includes many beliefs and practices that developed over time some include

  Yoga and meditation

  worship in temples and the home

• A core belief is there is one universal spirit called Brahman.

• Brahman's first teachings were passed orally then put into texts like the Upanishads which describes the search for Brahman.

• These writings teach that every living thing has a soul that is connected to Brahman, the body is life on earth and at death the soul leaves and connects with Brahman.

• Ancient Indians did not easily understand the idea of Brahman and believe in many different Deities. They built temples and statues to hold ceremonies for those deities.

Eventually 4 deities in ancient Hinduism became the most important. - Over time Hindus began to think of these Deities as different parts of Brahman.

• Brahma

• Shiva, the deity who transforms the world

• Vishnu the preserver

• Sarasvati the Deity of learning

Reincarnation : the rebirth of the soul.

• Is a another part of Hinduism beliefs.

• Belief that most souls do not unite with Brahman after death but pass through many lives first.

• This is the process of reincarnation.

Karma

• Reincarnation is closely related to the idea of Karma

• Things people do in this life determines how they will be reborn. ( If you lead an evil life you will be reborn into a lower form of life, if you lead a good life your soul is reborn into a higher form of life.

• Item

​The belief that people's status in life is not an accident but is based on what they did in past lives.

Open Ended

Do you believe that Karma is another another form of absolute right and wrong? yes or no and why?

• Hindus believe they can earn a better existence in the next life.

• They participate in ceremonies and fulfill duties to find oneness with Brahman.

• Following dharma is the most important duty.

• Dharma is the personal duty to society and obedience to the moral law of the Universe.

• Fulfilling dharma and achieving moksha are two the four goals in Hindu life

• The other two are achieving Karma or love and artha or wealth and success.

• In India the belief that life is sacred is accepted. Animals and people are treated with kindness and respect.

• Believing in reincarnation made it easy for Indians to accept the Jati system.

• Devout Hindus believe people in higher Jati are superior and deserve their title.

• Belief in rein carnation also gave people hope of a achieving a higher level of Jati.

Open Ended

How does Hinduism affect the way ancient Indians lived day to day?

Open Ended

How does Karma Really work?