SUBJECT: Philo-Social Foundations

TOPIC: HINDUISM
PROFESSOR: Bernadette R. Barro, Phd
FACILITATOR: Triche B. Amat

I. INTRODUCTION:

Hinduism evolved from the Vedic religion of ancient India. The major
branches of Hinduism are Vaishnavism and Shaivism, each of which includes many
different sects. Though the various sects each rely on their own set of scriptures, they
all revere the ancient Vedas, which were likely composed about the mid-2nd millennium
bce. The philosophical Vedic texts called the Upanishads explored the search for
knowledge that would allow humankind to escape the cycle of reincarnation.
Fundamental to Hinduism is the belief in a cosmic principle of ultimate reality called
brahman and its identity with the individual soul, or atman. All creatures go through a
cycle of rebirth, or samsara, which can be broken only by spiritual self-realization,
after which liberation, or moksha, is attained. The principle of karma determines a being’s
status within the cycle of rebirth. The Hindu deities having the widest following are
Vishnu and Shiva, who are worshipped in various avatars, or incarnations. The
goddess Durga also has a wide following. The major sources of classical stories
about the gods are the Mahabharata (which includes the Bhagavadgita, one of the most
important religious texts of Hinduism), the Ramayana, and the Puranas. Historically,
the hierarchical social structure of the caste system was also important in Hinduism.
In the 20th century Hinduism blended with Indian nationalism to become a powerful
political force in Indian politics. In the early 21st century there were more than 850
million Hindus worldwide.

II. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

 A. Define and identify the brief history, fundamental beliefs, practices and
related issues of Hinduism
 B. Recite the creation theory of Veda the concept of Hinduism;
 C. Elaborate the hymn of creation and the name of Hindu god and goddesses
 .

III. CONTENT:

HINDUISM
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots
and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million
followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly
95 percent of the world’s Hindus live in India. Because the religion has no specific
founder, it’s difficult to trace its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it’s not
a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies.
Hinduism has no specific origin. It is polytheistic, characterized by wrathful
gods, based around a caste system and primarily practiced in India. Hindus
believe that the levels in this caste system are reflective of actions in previous
lives, and that once a person reaches untouchable status they may then be able to
attain a union with God.

Hinduism Beliefs
Some basic Hindu concepts include:
 Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to
as a “way of life” or a “family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized religion.
 Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity,
known as “Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers
believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.
 Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and
reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
 One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This philosophy
holds that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul. The
goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become
part of the absolute soul.
 One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s actions and
thoughts directly determine their current life and future lives.
 Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good
conduct and morality.
 Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
 Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many are
vegetarians.
 Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism and
Jainism.
HOLY TEXT
VEDAS & UPANISHADS

VEDAS

 Vedas are a collection of Hindu writings.

 Considered to be world’s oldest writings
 “Veda” means to know.
 Vedas are believed to be divinely given ( God given ) or revealed
knowledge.
 Vedas are divided into 4 scriptures: the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda,
Atharva Veda.

Rig Veda – The oldest and most important section of the Vedas.
-The Rig Veda tells of 33 gods, all of whom are born of one
creator, Brahman. -the 3 gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva form
the Hindu trinity.
Yajur Veda - the Yajur Veda contains instructions for religious rituals.
Sama Veda -  consists mainly of hymns about religious rituals.
Atharva Veda - consists of spells against enemies, sorcerers, and diseases.

UPANISHADS

 Are a collection of writings that describe all the fundamental teachings that
are central to Hinduism – including the concepts of ‘dharma’(moral
balance), ‘karma’(action) , ‘samsara’(reincarnation), ‘moksha’ (nirvana).

4 BASIC HINDU BELIEFS

1. Dharma
 Dharma is the moral balance of all things.
 Dharma is played out in all aspects of life: Religious, social, family.
2. Karma
 Karma is the belief that a person experiences the effects of his or her
actions – that every act or thought has consequences.
 3. Samsara
 Reincarnation “Samsara” represents the cycle of life, death and
rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma.
 A person may experience effects of past lives and a wordly status
depends upon actions in a past life.
 Good thoughts and actions can liberate a person.
4. Moksha
 Like heaven for the Christian, Hindus strive to reach moksha or a state
of changeless bliss. This is achieved by living a life of religious
devotion or moral integrity. The ultimate reward is a release from
samsara and union with God.

HOW DO HINDUS UNDERSTAND GOD?

 Some Hindus say that the three letters of the word GOD relate to the
‘deities’ three main functions
 G – Generator – this represents God’s ability to create things.
 O – Operator – this represents God’s ability to preserve things and
keep them going.
 D – Destroyer – this represents God’s ability to destroy things.
 Hindu believe that these three roles are fulfilled in the Hindu Trinity.

THE BIG THREE

Hindus believe the spirit of the universe takes the form of three
main Gods. Hindus can choose to pray to all of these forms,.

BRAHMA: The Creator

VISHNU: The Protector
SHIVA: The Destroyer

Hindu Places of Worship

Hindu worship, which is known as “puja,” typically takes place in the Mandir
(temple). Followers of Hinduism can visit the Mandir any time they please.
Hindus can also worship at home, and many have a special shrine dedicated to
certain gods and goddesses.
The giving of offerings is an important part of Hindu worship. It’s a common
practice to present gifts, such as flowers or oils, to a god or goddess.
Additionally, many Hindus take pilgrimages to temples and other sacred sites in
India.
 HOW DO HINDUS WORSHIP?j

Worship in the Home

 Have a small shrine that contains an image of the family’s chosen God, and
objects associated with them.
 Has flowers, jewelry and other decorations to show that the God is honoured
and special.
 Perform activities such as prayer, Meditation, recite mantras and study sacred
writings.
 Images are washed regularly.

Worship in the Home

 Puja is the name given to the ritualistic worship

 The shrine in the house contains a Puja tray.
 Items on the puja tray symbolize different things.
 Bell – rung to let the deity know that worship is about to start
 Dish containing sandalwood paste : used to mark the worshipper’s forehead
as a symbol of devotion, blessing and protection of God.
 Food: offerings of rice, nuts, sweets, fruits that symbolizes an exchange of
love between the worshipper and deity.
 Holy water: used for purification and cleansing. Sometimes water is from the
River Ganges.
 Incense stick: lit to purify the air.
 Lamp : represents the elements of the universe: earth, air, water, ether

HINDUISM SYMBOL

There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the om and the
swastika.

The word swastika means "good fortune" or "being happy" in Sanskrit, and
the symbol represents good luck. (A diagonal version of the swastika later became
associated with Germany’s Nazi Party when they made it their symbol in 1920.)

The om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters and represents three

sounds (a, u and m), which when combined are considered a sacred sound. The om
symbol is often found at family shrines and in Hindu temples.
 HINDU DIET

Hindus do not eat beef because cows are considered a holy animal in the
religion. Cows are sacred because they are so important to agriculture: they help
plow the fields, they carry heavy loads, they provide dairy products, and their poop is used
as fertilizer. Most Hindus are vegetarian, meaning they do not eat meat, fish, poultry
or eggs.

THE CASTE SYSTEM

 The Caste system is the basis for social division in Hinduism.

 Each Hindu is born into a caste group.
 Whether one is born into a high or low cast depends on the cycle of rebirth
and depends on the deeds of one’s previous life.

SECTS OF HINDUISM

Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes divided into the following:

 Shaivism (followers of Shiva)

 Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu)
 Shaktism (followers of Devi)
 Smarta (followers of Brahman and all major deities)

Some Hindus elevate the Hindu trinity, which consists of Brahma, Vishnu and
Shiva. Others believe that all the deities are a manifestation of one.

Hindu Caste System

The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on
their karma and dharma. Many scholars believe the system dates back more than
3,000 years.

The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:

 Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders

 Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
 Vaisyas: the skillful producers
 Shudras: the unskilled laborers
 HINDU HOLIDAYS

Hindus observe numerous sacred days, holidays and festivals. Some of the
most well-known include:

Diwali: the festival of lights

Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest

Holi: a spring festival

Krishna Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s birthday

Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond between brother and sister

Maha Shivaratri: the great festival of Shiva

IV. REFERENCES:

https://www.learnreligions.com/hinduism-for-beginners-1770069

https://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduintrod.asp

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism#:~:text=Hinduism%20is%20the
%20world's%20oldest,world's%20Hindus%20live%20in%20India.
Philosophical and Social Foundations of Education
(SUMMER, S.Y. 2021-2022)

Eastern Philosophical Thoughts

HINDUISM
TOPIC:

SUBMITTED BY:
TRICHE B. AMAT

MAED EM

SUBMITTED TO:

Bernadette R. Barro, Phd