Transcript Thousands in Toronto See Ganesha Miracle

Hinduism
Vishnu
Lakshmi
Thousands in Toronto See
Ganesha Miracle
(P. 114)
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Describe the “miracle”
reported in the article.
Identify the possible
explanations for the
phenomenon proposed by
the article.
Do you believe in miracles?
How would you explain the
“miracle” presented in the
article?
Thousands in Toronto See
Ganesha Miracle
(P. 114)
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The “miracle”:
Lord Ganesha, carved in
marble, “drinking” milk when
fed with a spoon. The statue
appeared to absorb the milk
through its trunk and tusks.
Two possible explanations:
– Scientific (capillary
reaction of marble and
stone)
– “Miracle” (revelation of
the divine power)
Facts About India
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India’s population is 1,198,003,000
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Area 3.3 million square kilometers (Canada 9.9)
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17 major languages, 844 dialects
– English and 14 other languages are considered official
– Hindi is the major language of the people
– Sanskrit is the language of their scripture
Facts About India
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Major religions:
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85% Hindu
10% Muslim
2% Christian
1% Buddhist
2% Other
(Jainism/Sikhism)
Ganges River is
3000km long and
considered sacred.
Facts About India
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The name ‘India’ is derived from the River Indus,
the valleys around the home of the early settlers.
India is the largest democracy in the world, the
6th largest country in the world, and one of the
most ancient and living civilizations (at least
10,000 years old).
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The largest employer in the world is the Indian
Railway system, employing over a million people!
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The number system was invented by India.
Origins of Hinduism
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Unlike other religious
traditions, Hinduism was
not founded by a
particular individual.
Hinduism is the
product of various
peoples that have
occupied the region of
India throughout time,
which explains its
diverse and complex
nature.
The Indus Valley Civilization
2700 – 1500 BCE
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The earliest evidence of
religious thought in India was
uncovered during archaeological
excavations along the banks of
the Indus River in 1926.
Evidence shows that the people
of this civilization were
impressive builders and
town planners.
They lived in cities that included
a central area for civic
activities as well as large
residential zones.
The Indus Valley
Civilization
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Some of the buildings have been identified as worship
houses.
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Archaeologists have uncovered stone sculptures that
seem to represent a mother goddess.
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Discoveries around the Indus River include:
– Charms that protect against evil
– Thousands of flat seals
– Fire altars and pits lined with bricks, containing
ashes and animal bones
Theses discoveries suggest that these cultures
participated in religious activities.
The Indus Valley
Civilization
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Some of the flat seals
depicted a man
wearing a head-dress
seated in a yoga-like
position and
surrounded by animals.
May have been an
early representation of
Hindu God Shiva.
The Arrival of The
Aryans
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Around 1500 BCE,
thousands of Aryans
migrated into India from
the northwest, destroying
the Indus Valley
Civilization.
These people hailed from
Central Asia and spoke an
early form of the ancient
The Arrival of The
Aryans
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The Aryan settlers
created poems and
texts on rituals and
philosophies.
Vedas (4 in total)
Hinduism’s earliest
sacred writings.
The Arrival of The
Aryans
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The Aryans lived in awe
of the magnificent,
yet destructive,
forces of nature and
worshiped them in the
form of gods.
Agni: fire, believed to
be a link between gods
and humans.
The Arrival of The
Aryans
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Worship and prayer rituals to
honour and please gods formed the
core of early Hindu practice.
The Upanishads combined this
notion of prayer with philosophical
inquiry about atman: the human soul.
Activity
Read pages 115-120 of your
textbook to complete the
worksheet.