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Ancient India and China
Hinduism
Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• Basic Teachings of Hinduism
• Sacred Texts and Practices
• Jainism
Section 2
Section 2
Ancient India and China
Hinduism
Main Idea
The religion of Hinduism developed and evolved over a long time
in India, giving rise to a variety of beliefs and practices and to
other religions, including Jainism.
Reading Focus
• What basic teachings do most Hindus share?
• What are the sacred texts and religious practices of Hinduism?
• What are the teachings of Jainism?
Ancient India and China
Section 2
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
One of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism, is practiced by most
people in India today. Hinduism evolved over thousands of years and
was influenced by the cultures and traditions of many peoples.
However a few fundamental teachings are shared by nearly all Hindus.
Brahman
• Among most basic tenets of
Hinduism, belief in Brahman,
eternal being that created,
preserves world
• Brahman all-encompassing
• Many believe human mind
incapable of understanding
Atman
• Hindus believe each person has
atman, soul, aspect of Brahman
• Atman shapes personality, cannot
be destroyed, even by death
• Devas, manifestations of Brahman,
active in world, helping maintain
order in nature
Three devas- Brahma, Vishnu, Siva -are particularly influential. Some believe in
thousands; others worship only one as the true manifestation of Brahman.
Ancient India and China
Section 2
Rebirth and Salvation
Pattern of Life
• Hindus believe universe, everyone in it, part of continual pattern of birth,
death, and rebirth
• After death atman reborn in process called reincarnation, or samsara
New Life
• Nature of person’s new life shaped by karma—sum effect of deeds, actions
• Good karma, reincarnated to better station in life; bad karma, lower station in
life
• Ultimate goal of human existence, moksha, escape from cycle of rebirth
Dharma
• With moksha, atman leaves world, reunites fully with Brahman
• To achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma—spiritual duties, obligations
• By fulfilling dharma, one creates good karma, breaks free from rebirth cycle
Ancient India and China
Section 2
Sacred Texts and Practices
Much of Hinduism’s evolution stemmed from a number of sacred
writings produced over centuries.
Sacred Texts
• Teachings, practices based on
many texts, most sorted into
one of three categories
– The Vedas
– Later writings inspired by the
Vedas
– Sacred epics
• The Vedas, sacred hymns of
praise, among earliest sacred
texts of Hinduism
The Vedas
• Name means “knowledge” in
Sanskrit
• Hindus consider Vedas to
contain eternal knowledge not
written by humans, revealed to
them by Brahman
• Parts of Vedas date back
more than 3,000 years
• Considered core of Hinduism
even today
Ancient India and China
Section 2
Upanishads
• Sacred texts that built upon the Vedas appeared
• Some, such as Upanishads, also believed to have been revealed
rather than written by people
• Upanishads philosophical reflections on the Vedas, dealing with
nature of world, meaning of life
Ramayana, Mahabharata
• Other sacred texts based on themes in the Vedas, but composed by
sages, including two epic poems, Ramayana and Mahabharata
• Each tells story, reflects on living according to Vedic teachings
• Included in Mahabharata, most sacred of all Hindu texts, the
Bhagavad Gita, addressing many aspects of Hindu belief, philosophy
Ancient India and China
Section 2
Hindu Religious Practices
Worship
Meditation, Pilgrimages
• Hindu beliefs vary widely,
religious practices vary as well;
worship can take place anywhere
• To help meditate, Hindus practice
series of integrated physical,
mental exercises called yoga
• At temples, priests might recite,
read portions of the Vedas;
image of a deva sometimes
carried out of temple to people
• Yoga teaches people how to
focus bodies, minds to aid
meditation, help attain moksha
• At home, food, drink, gifts offered
for deva; meditation, silent
reflection
• Hindus also make pilgrimages to
Ganges River to purify, remove
bad karma
Section 2
Ancient India and China
Jainism
New Religion
• 500 BC, group of Hindus broke away, founded new religion called Jainism
• Led by teacher Mahavira, Jains thought most Hindus put too much emphasis
on ritual
Ritual Unnecessary
• Jains thought ritual unnecessary
• People could achieve moksha by giving up worldly things, carefully
controlling actions
Nonviolence
• Central to Jain teaching, idea of ahimsa, nonviolence
• Most Hindus also practiced ahimsa, but not to same extent
• Jains carefully avoid harming living creatures, are usually vegetarians
Section 2
Ancient India and China
Other Traits
• Jains promise to tell only truth
• Avoid stealing
• Strive to eliminate greed, anger, prejudice, gossip from lives
• These things can prevent person from achieving moksha
Lifestyle
• Most devout become monks, nuns,
give up possessions
Principles
• Most Jains not monks, nuns
• Live outdoors, seek shelter only
during rainy months
• Pledge to uphold principles of
ahimsa, have careers that do not
involve harming of animals
• Cover mouths with masks, sweep
ground to avoid accidentally killing
insects
• Jainism calls for periodic fasting,
especially during festivals, on holy
days; limiting worldly possessions