Hindu Beliefs

Hindu Beliefs

1. Brahman

   • "In truth Brahman is all" - Mundaka Upanishad 2.2
     • Saguna Brahman - Personal God, in form
     • Nirguna Brahman - Non Personal God, No form
     • Om - Aum
       • The main symbol for Brahman
         • Sound at the beginning of creation and represents Brahman

2. The Divine

   • Aspects
     • all powerful, creative, all-seeing, male, female, inner light
     • mother, judge, creator, animal, teacher, friend
   • Brahma- the Creator
   • Vishnu- the Preserver
   • Shiva- the Destroyer

3. The Tri-Murti

   • Brahma
     • Seen as the least important of the three
       • Because his work has done, he has already created everything
     • Symbolism
       • Lotus - resembles purity
     • Known as 'Self-Born'
       • Has no mother
   • Vishnu
     • Incarnations
       • Rama
       • Krishna
       • Mainly worshipped through these incarnations
       • Kalki
   • Shiva
     • Shivaism - The Second Largest Group of Hindus in India
     • Traits
       • Animal Hides- sitting on tiger skin is a sign of ascetics, and mastery over the powerful tiger
       • Trident- represents the three deities of the tri-murti
       • Nandi the bull- shows Shiva's calm and gentle aspects; the bull symbolises courage

4. The Deities

   • Three main female deities -
     • Saraswati - consort of Brahma
       • Goddess of Music, Knowledge, Art and Learning
     • Lakshmi - consort of Vishnu
     • Shakti - consort of Shiva
       • Forms of Shakti
         • Shiva's first wife; Sati, killed herself after Shiva was verbally abused by her father. Due to this, Shiva became a wondering holy man, a sadhu.
           • Sati was reincarnated as Parvati, who followed Shiva until she finally won his love.
         • Durga - Fierce and powerful, has many arms to fight, portrayed riding a lion or tiger.
           • Weapons - Bow and Arrow, Discus, Trident and a Curved Sword
           • Holds a conch shell to summon her warriors to battle
           • Portrayed in a red sari fighting the demon Mahish

5. Avatars

   • Hanuman
     • Born of Shiva and Parvati, adopted by the wind god; Vayu
     • Able to leap colossal distances
     • Patron of warriors
   • Krishna
     • Krishna means 'Dark' and so he is dark blue in colour, he wears yellow robes to represent the Earth
     • Born in jail. Rescued and taken into the forest of Vrindavan, raised by his foster parents who were cowherds
     • He is often pictured playing the flute, playing with gopis (milkmaids)

6. Cosmology

   • 3 realms in a bubble, made by Vishnu
     • Upper realm, earth and lower realm
   • Cycles of the 4 ages (Yugas): Gold (1,728,000 years), Silver (1,296,000 years), Copper (864,000 years), and Iron (432,000 years)
     • Each Yuga is shorter and more corrupt than the last
     • At the end of the cycle, Kalki will appear on a white horse and will kill off all remaining evil-doers, the cycle will then restart
       • Kalki - the tenth form of Vishnu
   • Matter
     • The world consists of two types of things
       • Prakriti can be touched and seen
       • Spirit cannot be touched or seen
     • After enlightenment the world no longer has any substance and it is shown to be an illusion (maya)
       • Analogy of the coiled rope being mistaken for a snake
         • Tri-Guna - Passion, Goodness and Ignorance
           • Linked to the colours
             • Red
             • Yellow
             • Blue
             • Shows balance which can be upset by; desire, ambition and wanting to control

7. Atman

8. Human Life

9. Personal Virtue

10. Sanatana Dharma

    • Means 'Eternal Truth'
    • Ideals to follow:
      • Always considering what is right and what is wrong without any action
      • Remembering God in your heart and mind
      • Learning more about God and dharma from holy scriptures
      • Trying to reach Moksha
      • Offering worship to God either in the temple or at home
      • Feeding animals and birds, caring for plants and trees
      • Showing respect to elders and caring for the needy

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