Hinduism

1
Hinduism

• A Brief Introduction

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Scriptures

• Hundreds of scriptures
• oldest scriptures the four Vedas
• all scriptures divided into two broad categories
  shruti and smriti
• Most popular scripture Bhagavad Gita

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What ism is Hinduism?

• Everything from Atheism to Polytheism
• Different interpretations of the same scriptures
  led to differences in belief
• Sanatana Dharma Eternal Philosophy

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Concept of God

• Nirguna Brahman - God without attributes
• Saguna Brahman - God with attributes
• Saguna Brahman can be worshipped in any shape or
  form, human or otherwise

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Hindu Trinity

• Brahma - the Creator
• Vishnu - the Preserver
• Shiva - the Destroyer
• Three aspects/powers of the same divine being

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Basic Beliefs

• Karma - the law of cause and effect you reap
  what you sow
• Reincarnation - eternal soul traverses through
  different bodies till it finds liberation

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Symbolism in Hinduism
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Holy Cow!

• Hindus have always had great respect for Mother
  Nature and its creatures
• Cow is especially significant because it
  symbolizes gentleness

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Four Goals of Human Life

• Kama fulfillment of desires
• Artha accumulation of wealth
• Dharma performance of social and religious
  duties
• Moksha freedom from want

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Four Paths to Moksha

• Karma Yoga - Path of righteous action
• Bhakti Yoga - Path of selfless devotion
• Jnana Yoga - Path of rational inquiry
• Raja Yoga - Path of renunciation

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Temple Worship

• Temples provide an atmosphere conducive for
  spiritual progress
• Centers of social and cultural activities
• Provide a place for collective worship and prayers

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Six Philosophical Schools

• Sankhya - Sage Kapila
• Yoga - Sage Patanjali
• Mimamsa - SageJaimini
• Vedanta Sage Vyasa
• Nyaya - Sage Gautama
• Vaisheshika - Sage Kanada

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History of Hinduism

• Originated between 4000 and 2000 BC
• No single founder
• Vedas the oldest scriptures of Hinduism
• Veda means to know
• Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda
• Upanishads explain the philosophical ideas in
  story and dialogue form

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Veda Vyasa

• 1500 BC
• classified the Vedas into the four traditional
  collections
• composed the 18 Puranas
• composed his great poetic work, the Mahabharata
  in a period of two and a half years

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Sankara

• Advaitha philosophy
• 7th century AD
• traveled all over India having public debates
  with other philosophers
• true happiness can be attained by removing
• avidya(ignorance) and maya (self deception)

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Ramanuja

• 10th Century AD
• Vishistadvaitha
• wanted everybody irrespective of social standing
  to enjoy the eternal bliss of Lord Narayana
• Bhakti - complete surrender to the Lord

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Madhva

• Dwaitha philosophy
• 12th Century AD
• the world is not an illusion.
• solitary study of the scriptures, performing
  one's duty without self-interest, practical acts
  of devotion

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Vivekananda

• First Hindu leader to visit America
• Famous address at the World Parliament of
  Religions in Chicago on September 11,1893
• Spent three years preaching the Vedanta
  philosophy in America and England
• Founded the Ramakrishna Mission

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Contemporary Hindu Leaders in America

• David Frawley
• Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
• Mahesh Yogi
• Satchidananda
• Mata Amritanandamayi

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Festivals

• Hinduism is a celebratory religion
• The motive Festivals keep us close to Gods,
• invigorate our household and renew our
• personal life.
• Festivals signify victory of good over evil.
• Every month of Hindu calendar has atleast one
• significant festival. Each festival has
  regional
• significance also.
• Celebration of diversity.

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April/May

• Yugaadi/Ugaadi
• The first day of the year according to
• the National Calendar of India. 
• The day falls in the beginning of spring
• - Vasanta Ritu When the Goddess of
• Nature gets bedecked as a divine
• bride.

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Sri Ramanavami
Mahavir Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti
Birthday of Lord Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, and
his coronation as a king.
Birthday of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism
Birthday of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism
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May/June
Guru Purnima

• Guru Ones teacher. The day
• commemorates the birthday of
• Veda Vyasa.
• Time to remember and felicitate
• ones teachers.

• Lord Muruga
• Worshipped mostly in
• South India

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July/August
Raksha Bandhan
Krishnashtami
Symbolizes the love between brother and sister.
Birthday of Lord Krishna, favorite lovable God
of many )
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August/September
Ganesh Chaturthi
Durga Pooja/Navaratri
Birthday of the elephant God, Ganesha
A nine day celebration signifying the victory of
Mother Durga over the evil demon King
Mahishasura.
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October/November
Mother Lakshmi
Deepavali The festival of lights

• Mother Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and
  prosperity is worshipped
• on this day.
• Beginning of the Hindu financial year.

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December/January
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Sankranti/Pongal
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, one of the Sikh
Gurus
Celebration of the harvest festival
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February/March
Holi
Mahashivaratri
Holi, the festival of colors commemorating the
victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Holika
Birthday of Lord Shiva