Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VIII
Division of Samar
Basey II District
Old San Agustin National High School
Brgy. Old San Agustin Basey, Samar

Senior High School Department

SCHOOL ID: 303594
S.Y. 2020 – 2021

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEM

Name of Learner: ___________________________________ Grade Level: _____ Section: _______

School: _____________________________________________ Date: ________________

 HINDUISM

I. INTRODUCTION

It is not known who founded Hinduism nor is there a consensus on when it was established.
The religion was at the first attributed to the Aryans, who came to parts of Asia and Europe
at around 1500 BCE. However, based on more recent studies, the Aryans are no longer
regarded as the founders of Hinduism. Instead, Hinduism is now simply described as the
product of spiritual, religious, and social practices of the people from a large portion of
South Asia, including the countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The term Hindu and Hinduism were not coined by Hindus themselves. The Greeks
associated the name Hindu with those people living beyond the Sindhu (or Indus) River.
During that time, Hindus were identified merely in the geographical sense. It was in the 19 th
century when the terms Hindu or Hinduism began to be used in their religious sense. It also
refers to a set of cultural practice observed by communities who follow these regions. One
practice is the caste system in India, where people are subject to social stratification based
on their ethnicity and social class.
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion with around 15% of the entire population
practicing the Hindu faith. Hindu followers in India comprise the major bulk with almost
80% of the country’s population adhering to the religion. Other Asian countries with
considerable Hindu faithfuls include Nepal (23 million), Bangladesh (15 million), and
Indonesia (3.9 million in Bali). There are also substantial number of Hindus in Mauritius,
Guyana, Fiji, Bhutan, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and Sri Lanka. Hinduism was never
a missionary religion unlike Christianity or Islam (Brown 1975). With the changing times,
 however, there have been proselytizing activities by Hindu missionaries in some Western
cities.

II. CG WITH CODE

Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, pratices, and related issues of
Hinduism.

III. STRATEGY/PAMAMARAAN

A. EXPLORE

ACTIVITY 1

MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITY

Hinduism is also known for its belief in different gods and goddesses. Draw a Hindu god or goddess. Write
a four-sentence description of your chosen Hindu god or goddess and explain why you selected that god or
goddess. Present your work to the class.

B. LEARN

CONCEPT MAP

ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS
 Sacred Worship and Beliefs
Scriptures and Subdivisions
observances
Doctrines
Historical Background
Hinduism is oftentimes considered as the oldest and most complex of all world religions. While the most
active religions of the modern times may have started around the sixth century B.C.E. onward, elements
and themes of Hindu belief may have begun around the third millennium B.C.E. In addition, unlike other
major religions, Hinduism had no one identifiable founder (Hopfe 1983).
The term Hindu originated from the Persian word hindu (in Sanskrit sindhu) which means “river.” It also
refers to the people of the Indus Valley—the Indians (Bowker 1997). The name Hinduism was given in the
nineteenth century to describe the wide array of belief systems in India. Hinduism was originally known as
“Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way.”
In the 1920s, archaeological excavations in the two pre-Aryan cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
revealed that the natives already had a flourishing civilization with their agricultural cities characterized by
well-planned streets with drainage systems. Unfortunately, despite having a written language, it has not yet
been deciphered.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The sacred texts of Hinduism have been principally passed down throughout generations by way of music,
recitation, dance, and drama. Sanskrit has been the language of the earliest writings (Coogan 2005). The
sacred writings of the Hindus are categorized into two classes, the shruti and smriti.

SHRUTI
Shruti literally means “that which is heard.” They are regarded as eternal truths that were passed orally
until the beginning of the present age wherein there came the need to write them down (Bowker 1997). The
four collections of texts of the Vedas form the shruti and are considered primary sources and the most
authoritative texts of the Hindu faith. Other writings that form part of shruti include the Samhitas,
Brahmanas, Upanishads, and a few Sutras.
Vedas
The four basic Vedic books, which are sacrificial hymns compiled from an earlier oral tradition, are
composed of Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, and Atharva-veda. The word Veda means “knowledge” or
“sacred lore.” The Vedas are the earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahmanic period and oldest
scriptures of Hinduism. Scholars disagree as to when the Vedas were first written. The earliest hymns may
have been written around 2000 B.C.E. or before the arrival of the Aryans in the Indus Valley area. They
may also have been written down between 1500 B.C.E. to 400 B.C.E. Ascertaining the exact period is
difficult because these books may have been composed and passed orally for so many generations before
they were first written down and eventually completed. In the great epic Mahabharata, Brahma was said to
have created the Vedas.
Among the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda is the most important and oldest book that dates back to around 1500
B.C.E. to 1200 B.C.E.
TABLE
Names of Indian Gods and Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses Personifications or Attributes

Indra leader of the devas or gods; the lord of heaven in
Hinduism; god of rain and thunderstorms
Agri god of fire; messenger of the gods
Adityas sun-gods
Mitra deity for honesty, friendship, contracts, and meetings
Varuna god of the water; god of law of the underwater world
Ushas deity of dawns
Savitr solar deity
Rudra deity of wind or storm
Pushan solar deity; god of meeting
Brihaspati diety and religion
Dyaus Pita sky god; father sky
Prithvi mother earth
 Surya chief solar deity; the sun
Vayu lord of the winds
Apas water
Parjanya thunder and rain

The third book is Sama-Veda or the “knowledge of chants.” Dating back almost the same time as the
Yajur-Veda, this book is a collection of verses from the basic hymns recited by priests during sacrifices.
Lastly, the fourth book is Atharva-Veda or “knowledge given by the sage Atharva” that date back around
1500 B.C.E. to 1000 B.C.E. This book contains rituals used in homes and popular prayers to gods. Seldom
used in solemn ceremonies unlike the other three Vedas, the Atharva-Veda contains numerous spells and
incantations for medicinal purposes and magical aids to victory in battle among others (Parrinder 1971).
Upanishads
Forming the fourth part of the Vedas, the term Upanishad literally translates as “sitting down near” or
“sitting close to” as it implies listening intently to the mystic teachings of a spiritual teacher who has fully
understood the universal truths. It could also mean “brahma-knowledge” whereby ignorance is totally
eliminated.

SHMRITI
Smriti literally means “that which has been remembered.” These writings serve to reinforce shruti and are
interpreted by sages and scholars alike. Most of these texts are sectarian in nature and considered of lesser
importance compared to shruti, such as stories and legends, codes of conduct for the society, and
guidebooks for worship. The great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, which contains the philosophical
poem Bhagavad Gita, are part of shmriti. These are national epics of India and considered to be the sacred
texts of the masses where they draw their values and ideals

Ramayana
The Ramayana, translated as the “Story of Rama” or “Rama’s Journey,” is a Sanskrit epic poem written by
the poet Valmiki consisting of 24,000 verses in seven books and 500 cantos. This great epic was written
between 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. Central to the story is Rama, a prince and later portrayed as avatar or
incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, who was born in Ayodhya. Rama was exiled by his father on the eve
of his coronation. Meanwhile, in the forest, Rama’s consort, Sita, was abducted by Ravana, the demon-king
of Lanka. Rama struggles mightily to win Sita back. After a battle, Rama kills Ravana and reunites again
with Sita. Returning to Ayodhya, they are crowned with Rama portrayed as the ideal king. Rama and Sita
are the epitome of perfect man and woman. Meanwhile, Ravana symbolizes ambition and greed resulting
in cosmic disorder and degradation of women and family (Bowker 1997).

Mahabharata
Another major Sanskrit literature of old India is Mahabharata which is composed of around one hundred
thousand verses making it the word’s longest poem. Written around 500 B.C.E., this magnificent work is
attributed to the author Vyasa who is also considered to be the scribe of the Vedas.
The Mahabharata tells of a great struggle among the descendants of a king called Bharata, a name used by
many Indians to mean “India” (Coogan 2005). Two families are at war, the Pandavas who represent good
and the Kauravas who embody evil (Brown 1975). The hundred Kaurava brothers try to cheat their five
cousins, the Pandavas, out of their share of the kingdom. As intense battle ensued, every kingdom had to
take sides.

Bhagavad Gita
A celebrated episode within the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita (or simply Gita) which is translated as
“the Lord’s Song.” It is believed to have been written between the second century B.C.E. and third century
C.E.
Considered as one of the holiest books by the Hindus, the Gita is a 700-verse narrative of a dialogue
between the Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide-cousin Krishna. Just as the war is about to commence at
Kurukshetra, Arjuna is troubled at the thought of having to fight his relatives and contemplates his fate and
struggles set before him. He then seeks the opinion of his charioteer Krishna who asserts the righteousness
of the act while expounding the moral and philosophical consequences of human actions.
The Gita instructs any person that one may reach god through devotion, knowledge, or selfless action
(Coogan 2005). Humans must do their duty or dharma whatever it may be and whatever results it could
produce. The Gita is considered the layman’s Upanishads because the difficult teachings of the
Upanishads are presented here in a manner that commoners can understand (Brown 1975).
BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES
The Hindu faith offers its followers many paths to salvation. They may find liberation from the cycle of life
through devotion to one or more gods. Gods and goddesses can be worshipped at their temples. In temples,
devotees can pray and offer sacrifices so that they can gain favor from deities and assist them in their
struggle for salvation. Bhakti stands for the soul’s longing for and clinging to god (Brown 1975).
Devotion to the Trimurti
Central to Hinduism is the Brahman who is the ultimate reality, one and undivided (Hopfe 1983). The
Brahman is often seen in three forms or functions. Called the Trimurti, these are creation, preservation, and
destruction. These functions are expressed in god forms, namely, Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the
preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer.
Though widely respected and recognized as the creator of the universe, Brahma receives the least attention
among the trimurti. In fact, only two temples are dedicated to him in India and he has no cult of devotees
(Hopfe 1983). He is not worshiped in the same way as other gods because he has done his task and will not
come into his own until the next creation of the universe (Bowker 1997). When depicted, Brahma has four
heads and eight hands. His chief consort is Saraswati, the goddess of science and wisdom. Brahma’s
vehicle is a swan or goose which symbolizes knowledge.
Known as a god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness, Vishnu’s primary concern is humanity itself. As the
preserver, the creation is withdrawn to a seed whenever he sleeps but rises again as he wakes up. He is
worshiped in various forms of his incarnations or avatars. Based on mythology, Vishnu has appeared on
earth in nine different forms and will come a tenth time to end the present era or kalpa, to bring the world
to an end, and then recreate it. These manifestations of Vishnu are intended to help humanity with his
preserving, restoring, and protecting powers. Table 8.2 lists the 10 avatars of Vishnu.

Incarnation Form Attributes

Matsya fish saved humanity and the
sacred Veda texts from
flood
Kurma turtle helped create the world by
supporting it on his back
Varaha boar raised the earth out of water
with his tusks
Narasimha half-man, half-lion destroyed a tyrant king
Vamana dwarf subdued king Bali, a
powerful demon
Parshurama Brahmin destroyed the warrior class
 Rama man rescued his wife Sita and
killed the demon Ravana
Krishna man told the epic poem
Bhagavad Gita to the
warrior Arjuna
Buddha man the enlightened man
Kalki horse yet to come to earth

In Hindu sacred writings, Vishnu is depicted as having four arms and with a dark complexion. His most
popular manifestation is Krishna who is blue, the color of infinity, and plays the flute (Kolanad 1994).
Vishnu’s consort is Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, who is seated on a lotus between two elephants with
their trunks raised above her. Both Vishnu and Lakshmi ride the eagle mount or kite Garuda, the symbol of
the sky and the sun. The snake in Garuda’s claws represents water.
As the destroyer and the god of death, destruction, and disease, Shiva is the third in the Trimurti. His
functions are many. He is also god of dance, vegetable, animal, and human reproduction (Hopfe 1983). In
Hindu belief, death is but a prelude to birth, hence, the god of death is also the god often revered through
the lingam, the male energy surrounded by the yoni, the female source of energy (Bowker 1997). In
mythology, he is described as having a constantly erect penis and sexually alert at all times (Hopfe 1983).
Equally popular as Shiva are his many consorts that express the differing elements of his character. Perhaps
the most terrifying of his consorts is Kali depicted as wearing a garland of human skulls, tearing the flesh
of sacrificed victims, and drinking blood. Although wild and violent, Kali is frequently the subject of
intense devotion. Kali is also the ferocious form of consorts Durga and Parvati. Durga is a powerful
goddess created from the combined forces of the anger of several gods. Meanwhile, Parvati, the daughter
of the sacred mountain Himalaya and the goddess of love, fertility, and devotion, is the most modest,
conservative, and benign of Shiva’s consorts (Bowker 1997). Her sons with Shiva include Ganesha, the
elephant-headed deity revered as the remover of obstacles, and Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war.

Routes to Moksha
From the Upanishads one may find the three principal and inter-related doctrines within the Indian
religion. Firstly, every soul dies and is reborn anew in new form (this cycle is called samsara). Second,
one’s deeds have an effect in this or a future life. Lastly, one may escape the weary round of death and
birth (Parrinder 1971).
Within every human is an eternal soul or atman that is being reborn many times and in various forms in
accordance to the moral law or karma (Bowker 1997). A soul may escape the cycle of rebirth and attain
moksha. This particular liberation can be achieved through the four yogas that involve a system of practices
aimed at producing spiritual enlightenment. The word yoga is derived from the root word yuj which
translates as “to yoke” or “to join.” The philosophy of yoga was developed by the sage Patanjali who lived
in the second century B.C.E. He is considered as the “father of modern yoga” as he codified the teachings
of yoga in his Yoga Sutra (Hopfe 1983).

The Four Yoga

The Four Yogas Practices

Jnana Yoga (The Way of The path of knowledge, wisdom,
Knowledge) introspection, and contemplation
Bhakti Yoga (The Way of The path of devotion, emotion,
 Love) love, compassion, and service to
God and others
Karma Yoga (The Way of The path of action, service to
Work) others, mindfulness, and
remembering the levels of our being
while fulfilling our actions or karma
in the world
Raja Yoga (The Way of The path of meditation that directly
Meditation) deals with the encountering
For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals of life or purushartha. These are dharma (appropriate
behavior), artha (the pursuit of legitimate worldly success), kama (the pursuit of legitimate pleasure), and
moksha (release from rebirth). The terminal stage involves the liberation from the bonds of flesh and the
limitations of death-bound life (Brown 1975). By faithfully performing duties in social and family life, this
involves one person pursuing artha or appropriate worldly prosperity and material well-being.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
Hindu scriptures state that there are 330 million gods or devas (Kolanad 1994). These include
manifestations of natural phenomena, evil forces, and even illnesses. Others are venerated humans or town
deities. Hindu worship or puja involves images (murtis), prayers (mantras), and diagrams of the universe
(yantras) (Bowker 1997). Integral to Hindu worship are the sacred images and temples believed to house
and represent the deities. These images can be revered in homes or temples with a host of intermediary
priests, holy men, and religious teachers (Kolanad 1994).
However, most Hindus worship individually involving mantras or vibrating sounds that summon the
deity and the prasad or gift offerings (Bowker 1997). Vital to Hindu worship is darshan that pertaining to
seeing and being in the presence of deity. In temples, ceremonies may be in the form of offering a flame,
milk, or honey, and even reciting chants and music. While worship may be undertaken any day of the
week, Thursday is considered to be the most opportune day.
Hindus celebrate a number of festivals that are based on the Hindu calendar and often related to seasonal
changes. Main festivals include Holi, Diwali, and Dusserah. The Diwali or “Festival of Lights” is India’s
biggest and most important holiday of the year held in October or November that is similar to the
Christmas holiday of the Christians. Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that
safeguards the people from evil forces.
Meanwhile, there are also many local and regional festivals, such as harvest and deity festivals, marked by
colourful processions and performances. Table 8.4 lists down several festivals celebrated by Hindus in a
year.

TABLE 8.4
Hindu Festivals

Month Name of Festival Significance

January Lohri Celebrated in the Punjab, this marks
the end of winter
February Pongal-Sankranti A feast held in south India to
celebrate the rice harvest
March Holi The national celebration of spring
and the New Year
March Shivaratri A national honoring of Shiva;
 Worshippers fast during the day, and
an all-night vigil is held at Shiva
temples
April Sri Vaishnavas An honouring of Vishnu and his
consort Sri, celebrated in Madras at
the beginning of the hot season;
Images of Vishnu are taken from the
temples to the seashore
May Rathyatra The birthday of Lord Jagannath,
celebrated with chariots in Puri
August Janmashtami The birthday of Krishna, celebrated
nationally; Worshippers fast during
the day and break the fast in the
evening, following a special puja, or
worship
September Dusserah A celebration of the triumph of good
over evil, in honor of Durga or Rama
September Ganesh Chaturthi The birthday of Ganesh, celebrated
nationally throughout India; Huge
images of Ganesh are paraded
October Diwali A national celebration in honor of
Rama and his consort

The city of Varanasi, also called Benares, is the most important and sacred pilgrimage site in India and is
considered as the home of Shiva. Many people come and live in the city until they die to manifest their
exceptional devotion. Other popular sites include Kurukshetra (the place of the great war in Mahabharata),
Ayodhya (the old capital of Rama), and Mathura (Krishna’s birthplace).

SUBDIVISIONS
Followers of Hinduism vary in their set of beliefs and practices, including reverence to a particular god.
Presently, there are four principal denominations within the Hindu faith. These are Shaivism, Shaktism,
Vaishavism, and Smartism. It is important to note, however, that while these gods have different names,
Hindus all worship one supreme being.
Each sect has its own religious leaders, sacred texts, schools, and temples. While there is indeed variety
and key differences among sects, adherents of these denominations share the pervading beliefs concerning
karma, dharma, reincarnation, and other key Hindu concepts and philosophy.
Shaivism
Lord Shiva, the Compassionate One, is God for the Saivites. Followers of Shaivism value self-discipline
and philosophy. They worship in temples and practice yoga.
Shaktism
The Goddess Shakti is supreme for Shaktas. She is the divine mother and assumes many forms, be it a
gentle one or a fierce deity. Believers use chants, magic, and yoga to summon cosmic forces.
Vaishnavism
Lord Vishnu is God for the Vaishnavites, especially in his incarnations Krishna and Rama. Adherents have
multitudes of saints, temples, and sacred texts.
Smartism
For the Smartas, devotees are left to choose their own deity in one of six manifestations, namely, Ganesha,
Siva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, and Skanda. Smartas are known as liberals as they embrace all major Hindu
gods.
SELECTED ISSUES
Hinduism continues to be the religion of almost 80% of the Indian people. While mostly comprised of
Hindu followers, India is a secular state that remains neutral in issues involving religious convictions and
practices of its citizenry. All Indians are allowed to follow and propagate their own set of beliefs. Being a
country with the largest adherents of Hinduism, India is presently facing numerous challenges that are
religious in character, some of which are below.

Hinduism and Women

Even though the Manusmriti or the “Laws of Manu” states that women should be honored in Hindu
society, women have always been considered inferior to men in almost all aspects of life. A woman's life
revolves around the men in her life, to be taken care of by her father in childhood, by her husband in
married life, and by her sons upon old age. Thus, women are relegated to performing household chores and
are expected to become loyal to their husbands, even after their husbands die. In traditional society, women
are expected to perform sati or suttee wherein widowed women are expected to jump on the funeral pyre of
their husbands to prove their loyalty and help save the soul of their husbands in the afterlife. In spite of the
fact that sati was already demolished by the British in India, there are still cases of sati being reported in
modern times.
Caste System
The caste system is one major distinguishing feature of Indian culture that still affects modern-day society.
A system of social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, opportunities are
based upon family origin. One person belongs to a caste by being born to parents of that particular caste
(Hopfe 1983).
This has been an issue of distinctive concern for the reformers of the caste system. While full-blown
divisions are relatively a modern development, the caste system began to divide into thousands of castes
that are sometimes based on occupations. A person’s diet, vocation, and residence are dictated by the caste
where he or she belongs. There can be more than 3,000 separate castes in India (Hopfe 1983).
However, the most deplorable group are those persons that do not belong to any group—those that are
disparagingly called as “outcasts” or “untouchables.” Also known as dalits, they are highly ostracized in
society. They perform the most menial of jobs, such as street sweepers, latrine cleaners, and handlers of the
dead. These jobs receive the lowest wages and have the most appalling living conditions (Hopfe 1983).
The teachings of Hinduism may have justified the status of the outcastes. Their present condition may
have been caused by their accumulated karma from the past. By fulfilling their duties and accepting their
dharma, they may be born to a better caste in their next lives.
Despite the negative backlash on the caste system, India has been receptive in enacting legislation aimed
at eradicating inherent social evils. For example, untouchability has been banned and the caste system is no
longer rigid. The Indian constitution has provided that it is unlawful to discriminate against lower castes.
Lower caste members are now being elected to key government positions, including Kocherii R.
Narayanan, a dalit who became the tenth president of India from 1997 to 2002.

C. ENGAGE
Guide Questions

Direction: Answer the following questions

1.What makes Hinduism’s beliefs, particularly its polytheistic nature, complex for other people?
2. Why do you think Hinduism is mainly concentrated on India?
3. How did Hinduism strengthen the caste system? Do you think the caste system will exist in countries
that embrace a different religion? Why or why not?

D. APPLY

Assessment
A. True or False. Write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.
1. In Hinduism, one may skip the cycle of rebirth or incarnation.
2. There are over 500 million devas or gods in Hinduism.
3. The Ramayana contains 24000 verses in 6 books.
4. Vishnu is the god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness.
5. Kocherii R. Narayanan is a dalit who became the tenth president of India from 1997 to 2002.
6. Brahma is the founder of Hinduism.
7. The ‘Festival of Lights’ is held annually around August or September
8.Those who practice Shaivism value self-discipline and philosophy.
9. The Vedas were passed down through written texts.
10. Bhagavad Gita is also known as “the Lord’s Song.”

B. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

1. The Upanishads include fundamental teachings in Hinduism such as karma (action),

__________________(reincarnation), moksha (nirvana), atman (soul), and Brahman (Absolute
Almighty).
2. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion with around __________ % of the entire population
practicing the Hindu faith.
3. ________________ is also known as the “layman’s Upanishad”.
4. Brahma’s chief consort is _________________, the goddess of science and wisdom.
5. The word yoga is derived from the root word ________________ which translates as “to yoke” or “to
join”.
6. __________________ city is the most sacred pilgrimage site in India which is considered the home of
Shiva.
7. ________________ teaches to choose one’s own deity and embrace all Hindu gods.
8. Hinduism was originally known as “__________________” or the “Aryan Way”.
9. Among the four Vedas, the ________________ is the most important and oldest book that dates back to
around 1500 B.C.E. to 1200 B.C.E
10. For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals of life or ____________________ .

IV. Guide Question

o Needed
 V. Rubric
o Needed
VI. References: Introduction to World Religions & Belief System
By: Jerome A. Ong and Mary Dorothy dL Jose
Pages 104 – 115

Prepared by:

BRENDA S. COLMINAR
SHST- II

Noted by:

MELINDA GAD - TABUCAO

School Principal I
Answer key:
A. True or False
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. TRUE
5. TRUE
6. FALSE
7. FALSE
8. TRUE
9. TRUE
10. TRUE
B. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER.
1. SAMSARA
2. 15%
3. GITA
4. SARASWATI
5. YUJ
6. VARANASI
7. BONUS
8. ARYA DHARMA
9. RIG-VEDA
10. PURUSHARTHA