1.
HINDUISM

2.
Essential Questions
1. Why is Hinduism considered a
diverse and complex religion?
2. How do the Hindus manifest
their spirituality amidst the variety
of their traditions and freedom of
beliefs?

3.
Hindu-originated from the
Persian word hindu (in
Sanskrit sindhu) which
means “river”.
-It also refers to the
people of the Indus Valley-
the Indians.

4.
Hinduism-was originally
known as “Arya Dharma”
or the “Aryan Way”.

5.
Sanskrit-language of Hindus
2 Classes
1. Shruti- something that is
heard
2. Shmriti-something that is
remembered

6.
Shruti
Veda-means “knowledge” or “sacred lore”
4 Vedic Books
1. Rig-Veda-collection of a thousand hymns
and more than a thousand verses
dedicated to the Aryan pantheon of gods
2. Yajur-Veda-”knowledge of rites”
3. Sama-Veda-collection of verses from the
basic hymns recited by priests during
sacrifices
4. Atharva-Veda-”knowledge given by the
sage Atharva

7.
Shmriti
2 Great Epics
1. Ramayana-translated as the “Story of
Rama” or “Rama’s Journey”
-written by the poet Valmiki,
consisting of 24,000 verses
2. Mahabharata-composed of around 100,000
verses making it the world’s longest poem.

8.
Bhagavad Gita- translated
as “The Lord’s Song”. This
instructs any person that one may
reach God through devotion.

9.
Beliefs and Doctrines

10.
Devotion to Trimurti
Bhraman-ultimate reality, one and
undivided.
-often seen in three (3) forms
1. Bhrama-God the creator
2. Vishnu-God the preserver
3. Shiva-God the destroyer
Devotion to Trimurti