What is Hinduism?
One god fulfilling three roles is call Trimurti - three in one
One god in three forms?
- Brama - The creator - god of wisdom
- Vishunu - The sustainer/preserver
- Shiva - The Destroyer
Who is Bramah?
Is the Trimurti
How does Brahma appear?
4 heads - in 4 directions reciting the 4 vedas (the most ancient religious texts for hindus)
How does Vishnu appear?
The preserver - protector of the universe
* Role is to return to earth in troubled times to restore balance of good and evil
reincarnated 9 times and hindus believe he will reincarnated one more time before end of the world
How does Shiva appear?
The destroyer
role is to destroy the universe in order to re-create it
HInuds believe his powers of destruction or recaretion are used to destroy imperfections on this world
Seen as source of good and evil
What is an avatar?
Hindus believe that a god will appear on the earth in living form such an appearance is called an avatar. Best knows as ‘incarnation’
the belief that god has the ability to take any form and will descend to earth at times when decline in good and evil influencing human actions
Death and afterlife:
what is reincarnation?
body die - soul moves to another being
What is atman?
The word Hindus use for soul
Soul is the same in anything - plants, animals and humans
Samsara?
continual cycle of birth and death
What is Moksha?
- end of samsara
- it is when the soul breaks free from the cycle of rebirth (samsra) and joins with brahman
- can only when souls becomes completely pure
- when you have broken free of samsara you return to brahman
What is karma?
your actions depict what you are in your next life
What id dharma?
duties - including worshipping god not hurting other people or animals doing job properly
What is a hindus’ first aim in live?
doing a dharma well
Ahimsa -
non -violence - part of the act of ahimsa is the idea of respect for life through the act of non-violence
What is the Hindu worship know as?
Puja - act of showing reverence to a god or to aspects of the divine through prayers, songs and rituals
How often is puga permormed?
Daily - three times a day - at least one member of the family of the household each day
Name some puja objects?
incense burner, flowers, fruits and food
What do the worshippers do?
Worshippers offer:
* the deity (god) a seat
* wash its feet
* give water
* image may be symbolically bathed/washed
* clothes in new garments
* embellished with ornaments
* perfumes and ointments may be applied
* flowers and garlands may be placed before it
*incense is burned
* lighted lamp is waved in from of the deity
foods such as cooked rice, fruit, butter and sugar are offered
family members bow before the image - sip the water that they have given the god - and receive a portion of cooked food
- considered to be blessed
Puja is a multisensory experience-
* one observes the offering of the lighted lamps
* touches the ritual objects and feet of deity
* hears the ringing of the bells and the sacred chants being recited
*smells the incense
* tastes the blessed food offered at the end of the ritual
What is a mandir?
A Hindu temple or place or worship
What is the first thing worshippers do?
Remove their shoes entering the mandir as a sign of respet
Centre of the mandir is the ‘Haveli’?
Open courtyard where worshippers would see importance symbols such as lotus flowers and murtis ( statutes of Hindu deity)
What are around mandirs?
- Often moates around mandirs. The water symbolism the purification of worshippers as they enter the sacred place
What are Sadhus?
Hindus spiritual leaders - lead the worshippers in the act of worship
