Social Studies Lesson 15

Hinduism teaches that everything in the world is a part of

Brahman, including the human soul. The Hindu tradition thus follows monism.

Hindus believe that all the deities represent various aspects of the

Brahman, or the Absolute

Jatis developed as Indian society shifted away from herding and hunting to other occupations.

Each jati was generally associated with a particular job. Over the centuries, the number of jatis grew, and their place in the social hierarchy became very complex. The jatis were based on one's occupation, or job, as well as birth, unlike the varnas.In time, different jatis became associated with the four broader varnas. Eventually, jatis became more rigid, evolving into what is called the caste system.

Ancient literary texts like the Ramayana, which most

Hindus view as sacred, have inspired many Hindu holidays and festivals. For many Hindus, the Hindu New Year is celebrated at the Diwali festival. Diwali means "row of lamps." The lamps are symbols of good (light) winning over evil (darkness). They are often said to represent Rama's triumph over the evil Ravana and, for some, the start of the Hindu New Year.

Karma

Karma-a concept found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions about how the good and evil done in a past life determines what happens to one's soul in the next life.

Hindus called the soul

atman. In certain traditions, Hindus view the soul as part of Brahman, just as a drop of water is part of the ocean. Through their souls, people are therefore connected to Brahman. In these traditions, the other deities worshipped in Hinduism, such as Vishnu and Shiva (SHIH-vuh), are simply different forms of Brahman.

dharma

belief found in Hinduism and other Indian traditions that a person has a duty or obligation to live an honorable life.

Today, some pilgrims still travel for days over difficult land, including mountains. However, most travel by

car, plane, bus, and train to make their journeys.

One of the basic teachings of Hinduism is

dharma, which refers to the behavior necessary to achieve the highest good. To follow one's dharma means to dedicate oneself to performing one's duties and obligations.

People escape the cycle of rebirth, or reincarnation, by following their

dharma. Hindu philosophy outlines four major paths to achieving liberation: selfless service, studying scriptures, unconditional love for Brahman, and deep meditation. Each of these paths could be followed individually or in some combination.

Early Hinduism viewed society as a sum of

equal parts. The Vedas describe four main social classes, or varnas, necessary to a functioning society.

Karma is the belief that

every action has consequences, and those consequences are felt over a number of lifetimes. From ancient times, many Indians believed that souls had many lives. The type of body the reborn soul received depended on the soul's karma.

The understanding of the Vedas

expanded over centuries in India, as the teachings of the Vedas were handed down orally from generation to generation, before India had a written form of Sanskrit. Centuries later, this understanding spread to other parts of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, where its influence is still present today in countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

How do scientists think Hinduism started,

groups of nomadic people speaking Indo-European languages migrated into northern India. These nomads, sometimes called Aryans (AHR-ee-uhns), brought to India their gods and rituals, some of which eventually became part of Hinduism. Other scholars believe Hinduism developed from within the Indian subcontinent among native groups. Hinduism drew on local traditions, which, over thousands of years, allowed a wide range of practices and beliefs to arise in different parts of India.

Dharma is often described as duty. However, it is a way of life that helps people live

happily, selflessly, and in balance. For Hindus, achieving dharma is one of the most important goals in life, alongside kama (love), artha (wealth), and moksha (oneness with God).

Hindu reformers like Indian freedom leader Mahatma Gandhi criticized the ideas of

hierarchy and discrimination within the caste system, arguing that it had no place in Indian society and did not fit with Hindu teachings.

Vedic culture

includes rituals and sacrifices that honor a number of deities (gods and goddesses) associated with nature. Over time, these rituals became more complex. Priests and religious scholars, called Brahmins (BRAH-minz), grew increasingly important. They were responsible for interpreting the Vedas, performing the necessary rituals, and teaching the Vedas to future generations. The religion itself was not called Hinduism until much later, and over the years, it has been known as Sanatana Dharma and Brahmanism.

Modern day Hinduism

is a diverse religion shaped by various cultures, traditions, languages, and populations. But it is also held together by its core ideals. Many beliefs, forms of worship, and deities are shared but often differ from place to place. The Vedas, to which Hinduism traces its roots are sacred to nearly a billion Hindus worldwide. Along with later sacred texts, the Vedas explain some of the core concepts of Hinduism. As you will see, these ideas have had a significant impact on the world.

jati

jati-a social group that does a particular job and that a person is born into. There are thousands of jatis.

Separate from the idea of the four varnas was the existence of social groups called

jatis

Hinduism is the most influential religion in modern India and the third

largest religion in the world

Vaishyas

merchants, artisans, farmers

monism

monism-the idea that all existing things in reality come from one original source.

For Hindus, karma is seen as a law of cause and effect, and as

motivation to act well. They believe that acquiring good karma is what is needed to achieve moksha, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Who founded Hinduism?

no one

Another basic value is

nonviolence

each varna had its own duties according to

one's talent or natural calling. For example, Brahmins studied and taught the Vedas. Warriors had a duty to become skilled with weapons.

In parts of India, karma has sometimes been used to explain why

people had a certain status in society. Hindu teachings show that any living being can acquire good or bad karma, regardless of their birth.

Pilgrimage

pilgrimage-a journey to a holy place.

Hinduism has many holy sites. Because of that, many Hindus go on journeys called

pilgrimages. Millions of Hindus from across the world visit the Ganges River annually because it is considered sacred. Millions also visit shrines and temples, like the famous temple Tirupati, dedicated to Vishnu in southern India. Pilgrims travel to these sites to purify their souls.

Brahmins

priests, scholars, teachers

reincarnation

reincarnation-the belief that a person's soul is reborn into a new body after death

Their duties included performing

rituals and teaching the Vedas. This was quite an accomplishment since ancient scholars had passed down this knowledge through word of mouth. To recite the Vedas orally, Brahmins had to learn tens of thousands of verses! This tradition has continued into modern times, though learning the Vedas is open to anyone.

Kshatriyas

rulers and warriors

To honor their deities, ancient Hindus held elaborate rites and

sacrifices outdoors. In later Hindu times, as Indian civilization developed and cities grew, people began to build massive temples for worship. Today, many modern Hindu temples are modeled after the ancient principles used to design those early temples. Hindus today may pray in a temple, at a personal home altar, or anywhere else they may choose.

Hindus believe in a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. They call this cycle

samsara.

In addition to honoring deities, these rites were believed to help the worshipper focus on Brahman, using every

sense. Incense and fragrant flowers used in rituals involve the sense of smell; the eyes focused on the deity; sounds of bells and prayers would fill the ears; and food offerings were tasted at the end of such worship.

Shudras

servants and laborers

Duties might include

studying religious texts, herding animals, trading goods, or serving as a warrior. Therefore, each class was seen as having its own dharma. In fact, early Hindus called their system of social classes varna dharma, or "the way of one's role in society." Early Hindus believed that when everyone followed the dharma of their varna, society would be in harmony.

For religions like Hinduism, time moves forward in a circle, like a great wheel. The same events return, just as the

sun rises each morning, and spring follows winter. Some Hindus see this cycle as the work of Brahman, who is constantly creating, transforming, and re-creating the universe. The cycle never ends.

The roots of Hinduism are found in

the Vedas

Ancient Hindu sacred texts often describe deities and their battle with evil. One famous story is found in the Ramayana. It tells of Rama's fierce battle with Ravana, a demon king. The stories teach valuable lessons about

the difficulties every individual faces as an obstacle to doing the right thing. These obstacles include greed, anger, selfishness, and violence. Many Hindu children across the world have learned about their religion by listening to readings of the Ramayana, or in recent years, by seeing the stories dramatized on television.

The belief in dharma expresses much of what Hindus believe about

the right way to live. Karma is another belief Hindus share with other Indian traditions. It explains the importance of living according to dharma.

As long as people are part of samsara, they will know pain and death. Samsara ends when.

the soul escapes from the cycle of rebirth, the time when some Hindus believe that they are united with Brahman, the supreme force in the universe. There is no set amount of lives a Hindu must be born into to be released from samsara

varnas

varnas-the Hindu concept that people are born with a set of skills that help them serve one of the four general needs of a functioning society

In Hindu belief, the law of karma governs

what happens to people's souls after death.

Hinduism has inspired

art and literature, as well as leaders and thinkers around the world. Hinduism is even the foundation for yoga.

Sanskrit

Sanskrit-an ancient Indian language

There are three important gods, alongside their goddess partners,

They are Brahma and Saraswati, Vishnu and Lakshmi, and Shiva and Shakti (also called Parvati). Each deity represents different aspects of the universe. Brahma creates it, Vishnu preserves it, and Shiva transforms it. Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and creativity, Lakshmi the goddess of good health and prosperity, and Shakti the goddess of love and devotion.

Vedas

Vedas-a collection of ancient writings viewed as sacred by many Hindus

caste

a class, or group, in Indian society.

Hinduism

a religion that developed in India over thousands of years and spread across the world; most Hindus believe in one Supreme Being that can take many forms.

Brahman is the name of

a supreme power, or a divine force.

The Ramayana is

a well-known ancient text sacred to many Hindus. It tells stories about life in ancient India that offer role models in dharma. For example, one of the central figures of the Ramayana, Rama, lives by the principles of dharma. When Rama is a young boy, he is a loyal son. When he grows up, he is a loving husband and a responsible ruler.

Many Hindus understand Brahman to be ever-present and

all-powerful. Everything else in the world changes, from the passing seasons to all living things that eventually die. According to Hindu philosophy, only Brahman exists forever.