1. Hinduism

2. Hinduism
Origins and History

3. ORIGINS
Hinduism is unusual in that it does not have a single
FOUNDER that we can point to as the beginning of the
religion.
The origins and authors of its multitude of sacred texts
are largely unknown.
The origin of Hinduism dates back 5000 years.
The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of river
Indus, which flows through northern India.

4. Indu Valley
C. 2500 BCE
Develops along the
Indus River Valley in
NW India.
Farmers
Beliefs:
MATRIARCHAL
Fertility Gods/Goddesses
Peaceful

5. Indu Valley

6. The Arrival of the Aryans

7. Aryans
C. 1500 BCE
Conquerors
From Central Asia
Spoke Sanskrit, have written language
Nomadic hunter/gatherers
Beliefs:
◦Male, sky gods associated with the hunt

8. Aryan and Indu Valley Merge
It appears a FUSION of the two occurred over a long
period of time.

9. Hinduism Develops
Once the merge between Indus Valley people and the
Aryans occurred, Hinduism began to develop
It was a slow process that can be subdivided into four
timeframes:
◦The Vedic (approx 1200 BCE)
◦The Upanishad (approx 600 BCE)
◦Classical Hinduism (approx 400 BCE – 1700s CE)
◦Modern Hinduism (1700s to present)

10. The Vedic Period
1200 BCE
Focus = RITUAL worship (sacrifice, petition and praise to
gods).
4 Vedas Composed
◦Most authoritative Hindu scripture; believed to have come
from the deities through Holy People.
◦Concentrate on RITUALS
◦Oldest = Rig Veda (contains hymns that praise the ancient
deities).
◦Mantras (psalms of praise) make up the main body of Vedas.

12. The Upanishad Period
600 BCE
Focus = meditation.
Upanishads
◦Record the teachings of HOLY
MEN (reflections on the Veda’s).
◦14 main books.

13. Classical Hinduism
400 BCE – 1700’s CE
Flourishing of Hindu culture,
art and meditation.
Merging of Hindu beliefs and
culture.
The Ramayana and
Mahabharata Created
◦Epic stories – spread Hindu ideals of
moral conduct.
◦Mahabharata contains the
Bhagavad-Gita - the one text that
could claim to be the Hindu bible.

14. Modern Hinduism
1700 CE to present day
Period of great change and
turmoil:
◦British occupation of India
(late 1700’s)
◦Gandhi
◦Population growth and
emigration

15. Modern Hinduism

16. Modern Hinduism
Hinduism spreads throughout the world...