Hinduism
Daniel Lee, Nikhil Padmanabhan, Haris Rafiq
Origin and Overview of Hinduism
Basic Beliefs:
- It is up to the individual to decide the best way to worship God
- Various paths to reach God: path of knowledge, path of renunciation, path of devotion, and path of action
- The path must be in harmony with your true nature
- Vaishnavism: 70%: worships the god Vishnu, a loving god incarnated as Krishna
- Sivaism: 25%: worships the god Sivaism, a protective and destructive god
- Shaktism: dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva
Classification: Ethnic religion
Divisions: Saivism, Shaktism, Smartism, Vaishnavism
Geographic Distribution
- Originated in India
- Relocation Diffusion: Spread through missionaries to Southeast Asia
Holy Places: Temples are used for prayer, worship, and cleansing of the soul. The holiest temples are usually located near riverbanks and coasts.
Where It Is Practiced Today: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United States
Temple
Number of Followers
Map Illustrating Distribution of Followers
Unique Features
Key Figures
Shiva
Known as "the Destroyer" or "the Transformer." Has both benevolent and fearsome forms.
Krishna
Often described and portrayed as an infant or young boy.
Vishnu
Known as the preserver of the universe.
Important People
Shirdi Sai Baba
Relocation and hierarchical diffusion.
Sathya Sai Baba
Hierarchical diffusion.
Sri Aurobindo
Hierarchical diffusion.
Religious Symbols
Swastika
Peace and luck.
Aum
The essence of the entire universe.
Lotus
Beauty and non-attachment.
Holy Texts
Bhagavad Gita
Encompasses everything about human nature and the earth.
Mahabharata
Tells a tale of the conflict between the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras.
Ramayana
An epic description of the life of Rama and his eventual rise to the throne.
Places of Worship
- Kids must respect parents and other elders
- Parents and elders must build shrine in house and teach children about Hindu beliefs and values
- Children should take care of parents when they are adults
- Everyone should treat others with respect even if they don’t know them or the other person has harmed them in some way
Impact on Cultural Beliefs and Expectations
- Everyone should treat others with respect even if they don’t know them or the other person has harmed them in some way
- Promotes vegetarianism and to not partake in drugs and alcohol
- Education is of utmost importance and should always respect the teachers and the textbooks
Why does Hinduism have so many followers despite being an ethnic religion?
Bibliography
http://www.bellbookandcandlepublications.com/greenwoodsvillage/gor/hindu.php
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_Hinduism_diffuse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
http://www.ancient-symbols.com/hindu-symbols.html
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-05/travel/32803622_1_konark-sun-temple-somnath-temple-golden-temple
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_ways_Hinduism_affects_daily_life
http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduwayoflife.asp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6AC8uZG77o
http://www.artoflegendindia.com/images/detailed/pbaab035_lord_shiva.jpg
http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Hinduism/Lord%20Krishna/lor20a.jpg
http://www.name-list.net/img/images.php/Vishnu_1.jpg
http://www.saibaba.ws/avatar/shirdi_sai_baba.jpg
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HK/uploadedfile/sai%20baba2642011104813223.jpg
http://www.juancole.com/images/2011/01/SacredCow.jpg
http://www.chakranews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Hindu-Swastika-Symbol.png
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/images/symbols/aum-200.gif
http://www.tattoosymbol.com/articles/lotus-om.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eBei7s1kbz0/TUa3gXMfOKI/AAAAAAAAAGk/cWaq_JiIzGg/s1600/konark-sun-temple.jpg
http://www.somnath.org/editor/uploads/files/somnath_temple_home.jpg