Hinduism

Hinduism

​In the 1920s while digging for artifacts along the Indus River, archaeologists found not one but two huge cities. The archaeologists had thought people had lived along the Indus long ago, but they had no idea that an advanced civilization had existed there. These sites and the artifacts found there have been critical to historians’ and archaeologists’ understanding of ancient Indian civilizations.

Hinduism

​Most Hindus believe in a single universal spirit called Brahman, which can come in many forms. While there are many gods and goddesses in Hinduism, there are three major gods who are commonly part of Hindu texts: Brahma the Creator, Siva the Destroyer, and Vishnu the Preserver.

Multiple Select

Where did Hinduism originate? (Select 2)

• Indian Valley 
• India 
• Nepal and India Border 
• Indus River

​There are other gods and goddesses in both human and animal form, including the goddess Lakshmi, the elephant god Ganesha, and the monkey god Hanuman. They are popularly worshiped by Hindus across the world. However, Hindus believe that each god and goddess is part of Brahman. They believe that Brahman created the world and preserves it. Gods such as Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu represent different aspects of Brahman. In fact, Hindus believe that everything in the world is part of Brahman.

​Life and Rebirth

​According to Hindu teachings, everyone has a soul, or atman. This soul holds the person’s personality, those qualities that make a person who he or she is. Many Hindus believe that a person’s ultimate goal should be to reunite that soul with Brahman, the universal spirit.

​Many Hindus believe that their souls will eventually join Brahman because the world we live in is an illusion. Brahman is the only reality. The Upanishads teach that people must try to see through the illusion of the world. Because it is hard to see through illusions, this can take several lifetimes. That is why Hindus believe that souls are born and reborn many times, each time in a new body. This process of rebirth is called reincarnation.

Multiple Choice

The rebirth of a soul in a new body. 

• dharma
• reincarnation
• ahisma
• shrine

Multiple Choice

Hindus worship many gods.

• true 
• false

Multiple Choice

Who was the founder of Hinduism?

• Abraham
• Jesus
• Siddhartha 
• No real founder

​According to the traditional Hindu view of reincarnation, a person who has died is reborn in a new physical form. The type of form depends upon his or her karma, the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul. Evil actions will build bad karma. People with bad karma will face the consequences of their actions in a future birth.

​In contrast, good actions build good karma. People with good karma will see benefits in future births. In time, good karma will bring liberation from life’s worries and the cycle of rebirth. This liberation is called moksha. The idea of karma encourages people to behave well in society. 

Multiple Choice

The effect of a person's actions in this and in previous lives. 

• karma
• dharma
• ahisma
• moksha

Multiple Choice

Good karma =

• rebirth

• moksha

• death

Multiple Choice

bad karma =

• moksha

• rebirth to higher life

• rebirth to a less life

​Rituals and ceremonies have always been and continue to be important parts of Hinduism. Samskaras, which are rites of passage to prepare a person for a certain event or for the next stage in life, are still practiced today. Many rituals revolve around birth. Other samskaras occur throughout childhood. There is an initiation in which girls are given the authority to light oil lamps. This signals that a girl is now a full participant in the Hindu faith and worship.

Multiple Choice

The predominant religion of India.

• Buddhism
• Islam
• Christianity
• Hinduism