Republic of the Philippines

WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Social Work and Community Development
Bulatok, Pagadian City

HINDUISM

Group Members:

1. Bala, Wenelyn S.
2. Basco, Alyza
3. Canoy, Roshel C.
4. Getigan, Ernalyn
5. Jamisola, Sophia Hannah
6. Matchon, Unice Joy
7. Vergis, Shaina

Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Deepen their understanding on the religion of Hinduism;

2. Analyze the significance of Hindu rituals, beliefs, and practices in promoting communal harmony and unity
among followers; and
3. Appreciate the beliefs and way of living of the Hindus.

Content:
Hinduism, also known as Sanatana Dharma that means “immemorial way of right living”, is the world’s oldest religion,
according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with more than 1 billion
followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion worldwide, after Christianity and Islam. Roughly 94 percent of the
world’s Hindus live in India. Because the religion has no specific founder, it’s difficult to trace its origins and history.
Hinduism is unique in that it’s not a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies: Hindus
worship a number of different gods and minor deities, honor a range of symbols, respect several different holy books
and celebrate with a wide variety of traditions, holidays and customs. Though the caste system in India began with
Hinduism, that system is no longer rigidly enforced. Today there are four major sects of Hinduism: Shaivism,
Vaishavism, Shaktism and Smartism as well as a number of smaller sects with their own religious practices.

Demographics
Hinduism is a major religion in India. Hinduism was followed by around 79.8% of the country’s population of 1.21 billion
(2011 census) (966 million adherents). Other significant populations are found in Nepal (23 million), Bangladesh (15
million) and the Indonesian island of Bali (3.9 million). A significant population of Hindus are also present in Pakistan (4
million). The majority of the Indonesian Tenggerese people in Java and the Vietnamese Cham people also follow
Hinduism, with the largest proportion of the Chams in Ninh Thuận Province. Hinduism is the third fastest-growing
religion in the world after Islam and Christianity, with a predicted growth rate of 34% between 2010 and 2050.

Historical Background
 Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near
modern-day Pakistan. But many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed.
 Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.
 Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus Valley, and their language and culture blended
with that of the indigenous people living in the region. There’s some debate over who influenced whom more
during this time.
 The period when the Vedas were composed became known as the “Vedic Period” and lasted from about 1500
B.C. to 500 B.C. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were common in the Vedic Period.
  The Epic, Puranic and Classic Periods took place between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500. Hindus began to emphasize the
worship of deities, especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.
 The concept of dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such as Buddhism and Jainism, spread
rapidly.
 Hindu, originating from the Persian word “hindu (in Sanskrit sindhu),” means “river” and also refers to the
Indians of the Indus Valley and was originally known as “Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way”, and was a diverse
belief system in India.
 The Aryans brought their beliefs, based on Vedas (oral texts), to India, where they blended with the natives.
They introduced a polytheistic religion similar to other Indo-European people, primarily composed during their
settlement and integration with the natives.

Key Beliefs
Some basic Hindu concepts include:

 Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a
“family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized religion.
 Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity, known as “ Brahman,” but
still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.
 Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma
(the universal law of cause and effect).
 One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This philosophy holds that living creatures
have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends
the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.
 One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s actions and thoughts directly determine their
current life and future lives.
 Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and morality.
 Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
 Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many are vegetarians.
 Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
 Hindus believe in worshipping Gods and Goddesses without idols, they believe that God can be worshipped with
or without form, and their belief in a high degree of symbolism helps convey truth and determine one’s path to
self-realization, making it a confusing concept for those outside the faith.
 Gods and Goddesses are symbols that represent various attributes, functions, and manifestations of the
Supreme Divine Absolute.
 Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are manifestations of the Divine Absolute, responsible for creation, sustenance, and
re-absorption in the Universe’s primordial functional activities.
 Hindu images and practices hold both literal and symbolic meanings, encouraging individuals to seek personal
purification on the path to self-realization through one of four or a combination of these paths:
- Ritualistic worship, chanting of prayers, devotional surrender to a higher ideal (the Deity representing
The qualities).
- Through service.
- Through yoga and meditation.
- Through inquiry (know thyself).

Sacred Scriptures of Hinduism

Hinduism’s sacred texts, primarily transmitted through music, recitation, dance, and drama, are divided into Shruti and
Smriti classes, originating from the earliest Sαnskrit language.
1. SHRUTI – meaning “that which is heard,” are eternal truths passed orally until the present age, prompting the
need for their writing down. It includes the Vedas and Upanishads.
 Veda means “knowledge” or “sacred love”. The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed
around 1500 B.C. This collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations received
by ancient saints and sages.
 The Vedas are made up of:
1. The Rig-Veda
2. The Sama-Veda
3. Yajur-Veda
4. Atharva-Veda
 Hindus believe that the Vedas transcend all time and don’t have a beginning or an end.
  The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, 18 Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata are also considered important
texts in Hinduism.
 The Upanishad, meaning “sitting down near / sitting close to”, the fourth part of the Vedas, signifies listening to
the teachings of a spiritual teacher who understands universal truths, or “brahma-knowledge,” where ignorance
is completely eliminated.

Table 1. Some names of deities in Hinduism

2. SHMRITI - meaning “that which has been remembered,” refers to writings that reinforce shruti and are
interpreted by sages and scholars. These texts, often sectarian, include stories, legends, codes of conduct, and
worship guidebooks. The great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, which contains the philosophical poem
Bhagavad Gita, are part of Shrmriti. These are national epics of India and considered to be the sacred texts of
the masses where they draw their values and ideals.

Beliefs and Doctrines of Hinduism

Devotion to the Trimurti
Hinduism centers on the Brahman, the ultimate reality, represented in three forms called the Trimurti (Trinity): creation,
preservation, and destruction, represented by gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, who are the creator, preserver, and
destroyer respectively.

Routes to Moksha
From the Upαnishαds, one may find the three principαl αnd inter-relαted doctrines within the Indian religion. These are
the following:

1. Every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called samsara).
2. One’s deeds have an effect in this or a future life.
3. One may escape the weary round of death and birth.

 Within every human is an eternαl soul or atman that is being reborn many times and in various forms in
accordance to the morαl lαw or karma. A soul may escape the cycle of rebirth and attain mokshα. This liberation
can be achieved through the four yogαs that involve a system of practices aimed at producing spiritual
enlightenment.
 The word yoga is derived from the root word yuj which translates as “to yoke” or “to join.”

Table 3. Four types of yoga

For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals or areas of life or purushartha, these are:
1. Dharma (appropriate behavior)
2. Artha (the pursuit of legitimate worldly success)
3. Kama (the pursuit of legitimate pleasure); and
4. Moksha (release from rebirth).

Rituals and Practices

 Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to Brahman, who is believed to be the supreme God force
present in all things.
 Some of the most prominent deities include:

- Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
- Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
- Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
- Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
- Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
- Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
- Saraswati: the goddess of learning

Places of Worship
 Hindu worship, which is known as “puja,” typically takes place in the Mandir (temple). Followers of Hinduism
can visit the Mandir any time they please.
 Hindus can also worship at home, and many have a special shrine dedicated to certain gods and goddesses.
 The giving of offerings is an important part of Hindu worship. It’s a common practice to present gifts, such as
flowers or oils, to a god or goddess.
 Additionally, many Hindus take pilgrimages to temples and other sacred sites in India.
 Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and practices, including reverence to a particular god.
 Presently, there are four principal denominations within the Hindu faith. These are Shaivism, Shaktism,
Vaishavism, and Smartism.
A. Shaivism – The lord Shiva, the compassionate one, is god for the saivities. Followers of Shaivism value
self-discipline and philosophy. They worship in temples and practice yoga.
B. Shaktism – The goddess Shakti is supreme for Shaktas. She is the divine mother and assumes many
forms, be it gentle one or a fierce deity. Believers use chants, magic and yoga to summon cosmic forces.
C. Vaishavism – The lord Vishnu is god for the Vaishnavites, especially in his incarnations Krishna and
Rama. Adherents have multitudes of saints, temples, and sacred texts.
D. Smartism – Samrtas are known as liberals as they embrace all major Hindu gods. Devotees are left to
choose their own deity in one of six manifestations, namely: Ganesha, Siva, Bhakti, Vishnu, Surya, and
Skandra.

 Vedic rituals, including fire-oblation (yajna) and chanting of Vedic hymns, are observed on special occasions like
Hindu weddings and after death. The words of these mantras are considered sacred and become magical
sounds, serving as a means to an end in Vedic rituals.
 The major traditional rites of passage in Hinduism include Garbhadhana (pregnancy), Pumsavana (rite before
the fetus begins moving and kicking in womb), Simantonnayana (parting of pregnant woman’s hair, baby
shower), Jatakarman (rite celebrating the new born baby), Namakarana (naming the child), Nishkramana
(baby’s first outing from home into the world), Annaprashana (baby’s first feeding of solid food), Chudakarana
(baby’s first haircut, tonsure), Karnavedha (ear piercing), Vidyarambha (baby’s start with knowledge),
Upanayana (entry into a school rite), Keshanta and Ritusuddhi (first shave for boys, menarche for girls),
Samavartana (graduation ceremony), Vivaha (wedding), Vratas (fasting, spiritual studies) and Antyeshti
(cremation for an adult, burial for a child). In contemporary times, there is regional variation among Hindus as to
which of these sanskaras are observed; in some cases, additional regional rites of passage such as Śrāddha
(ritual of feeding people after cremation) are practiced.
 Bhakti (worship), a form of Hinduism, involves various practices such as reciting mantras, japas, private prayers,
and visiting temples or domestic altars. Hindu temples and domestic altars are crucial elements of worship in
contemporary theistic Hinduism, with most daily prayers held at a dedicated home altar.
 Aarti or “supplication”, a daily worship ritual, involves offering a flame and a song of praise. Notable aartis
include Om Jai Jagdish Hare, a Hindi prayer to Vishnu, and Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, a Marathi prayer to Ganesha.
 Aarti can be used to make offerings to deities or human exemplars, such as Hanuman in Balaji temples and
Swaminarayan in Swaminarayan temples and home shrines.
 Hinduism involves various personal and community practices such as puja, aarti, kirtan, and bhajan, where
devotees read devotional verses and hymns. The choice of deity is at the Hindu’s discretion, with Vaishnavism,
Shaivism, and Shaktism being the most observed traditions. Hindus may worship multiple deities as henotheistic
manifestations of the same ultimate reality, cosmic spirit, and absolute spiritual concept called Brahman. Bhakti-
marga is more than ritual devotionalism; it includes practices and spiritual activities aimed at refining one’s state
of mind, knowing God, participating in God, and internalizing God. Not all Hindus practice bhakti or believe in
god-with-attributes (saguna Brahman).

Festivals, Sacred days, and Holidays

Table 4. Several Festivals celebrated by the Hindus in a year

 Hindus observe numerous sacred days, holidays and festivals.

 Some of the most well-known include:
- Diwali: the festival of lights
- Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest
- Holi: a spring festival
- Krishna Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s birthday
- Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond between brother and sister
- Shivaratri: the great festival of Shiva

Hindu Caste System

 The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their karma and dharma. Many
scholars believe the system dates back more than 3,000 years.
 The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:
- Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
- Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
- Vaisyas: the skillful producers
- Shudras: the unskilled laborers

 Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “Untouchables” are a class of citizens that are outside the
caste system and considered to be in the lowest level of the social hierarchy.
 For centuries, the caste system determined every aspect of a person’s social, professional and religious status in
India.
 When India became an independent nation, its constitution banned discrimination based on caste.
 Today, the caste system still exists in India but is loosely followed. Many of the old customs are overlooked, but
some traditions, such as only marrying within a specific caste, are still embraced.