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Hinduism Notes
Growth of Hinduism
 Hinduism has grown to become the world's ______________ largest religion, after Christianity and
Islam.
 It claims about ________________ million followers -- about _____________% of the world's population.
 It is the most popular religion in ________________, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
 Estimates of the number of Hindus in the U.S.: _______________ million
Origins of Hinduism
Origins:
 The origin of Hinduism dates back to ____________________or more years.
 The word "________________" is derived from the name of River ________________ which flows through
northern India.
 Hinduism is a mixture of the traditional ___________________religion, __________________, and other
central Asian religions.
Influences in Indian life and Society
 Hinduism is an all-_____________________________________ way of life
o Meditation
o Yoga
 They focus on connecting with ________________________ and the ___________________ through their daily
________________________ and prayers.
Yoga
 Was developed as a method of training the body to achieve ________________________with Brahman.
 It is a form of meditation
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
 ______________ living things have a __________________(atman)
 The earth is ____________________________ (Maya)
 Ultimate goal is liberation
Life and Rebirth:
 Hindus believe in ___________________________________________
 They can be are ______________________through a different medium-person, ______________________, or
part of nature.
 Souls are _______________________ and reborn ________________________ times, each time into a new body.
Most forms of Hinduism are______________________________________:
 They recognize a __________________________deity, and recognize other gods and goddesses as facets,
forms, manifestations, or __________________________of that supreme God.
Three main Gods:
1. Brahma
2. ______________________
3. Siva
Karma “What goes around, comes around.”
 Karma ________________________________________ how you will live your next life.
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Through __________________acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be _______________________at a higher
level.
Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a __________________________ level, or even as an animal.
Other Facts
 Hindus consider all life to be sacred and so they practice the principle of______________________, or
___________-violence.
 Many Hindus are ___________________________________
 ____________________ are Sacred in India because they are seen as the most _______________________ of all
animals.
 Gandhi is a famous Hindu leader
The Caste System
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The Caste System is a system of ______________________ ______________________________in India.
There is some debate as to its origins, but it is made up of _____________________ main castes and
several sub-castes.
You are ______________________into your caste and may ___________________change your caste within your
lifetime.
1. ___________________________
The top caste, the priests.
2. ____________________________
Second Caste, the Warriors and princes
3. ____________________________
Merchants, artisans and landowners (Skilled workers)
4. ________________________________
The workers, the lowest caste. (unskilled workers)
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Each caste has its own_____________________, or duty.
You must obey the dharma of your caste to earn good Karma and be able to be reincarnated at a
higher caste in the next life.
Rules of the Caste System
 A person born into one caste _________________changed castes or mixed with members of other
castes.
 They could __________ __________________________ or eat with anyone outside of their caste group.
 If someone broke the rules, they could be __________________from their homes or caste, making them
untouchables.
The Untouchables
 These people were the ____________ of Hindu society, they are not considered part of the caste
system.
 About __________________% of the population of India.
 They are required to perform the _________________ jobs dealing with trash, human waste, and death.
 People of other castes refuse to do these jobs because they may __________________ their Karma.
 In the past Untouchables were not allowed to associate with people of other castes. They were
even required to carry of ________________________ to warn people of the approach so they would not
accidentally run into someone.
 Discrimination against them continues today, even though the caste system has been declared
______________________.