Avatar and Atman

Avatar: Avatars are incarnations of a higher being. Avatars are usually sent to earth for a set purpose. Avatars are generally incarnations of vishnu that Hindus worship. There are four main types of avatars Purusha (the original avatars of vishnu), Guna (who controll the three modes of nature), manvantara (who are responsible for creating offspring throughout the world), and Shaktyavesa.

Atman: This word is used in the Hindu religion to identify a person's soul or ones true self beyond their worldly exsistence. This is a basic Hindu principle in which people become "one" with Brahman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atman_%28Hinduism%29 http://www.reference.com/search?q=atman

Vishnu

Vishnu: Vishnu is another one of the three main gods. Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. Vishnu is reborn when there is a crisis on earth. He is reborn as an avatar to fight evil on earth. Vishnu is described as having four arms one arm holds the conch shell, one arm holds the discus, one arm holds the lotus and one arm hold the mace. There are over a thousand names for vishnu including Hari, Rama, and Sriman. Vishnu is worshiped either directly or through avatars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu

http://www.triplemind.com/images/gods/vishnu-painting1.jpeg

http://www.gurjari.net/ico/Mystica/html/vishnu.htm

Asceticism

Asceticism is a religious lifestyle that does not have any worldy pleasures. People who practice asceticism think that their practices are virtous and that they will help them obtain greater spirituality. They think that if they purify their bodies, it will purify their souls and will bring them inner peace. They feel that if they deny themselves certain pleasures, they will have greater freedom in other areas of their lives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asceticism

Guru

The Guru is a scared teacher of the Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism religion. The Guru is a sacred connection to wisdom and will help a follower find “one’s true self”. The Guru is a divine figure that has teaching influences. In the West, the term guru refers to anyone who acquires followers. It can also be used to describe a person who has authority because of his religious knowledge or skills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru

Yoga

Yoga is believed to be a main part of the Hinduism religion. It is said “There is no Yoga without Hinduism and no Hinduism without Yoga." Yoga is a group of spiritual practices used in the Hinduism religion and many others in India. Yoga is mainly focused on the posture. There are many different branches of yoga: Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga. The belief is that the practice of yoga will lead to a connection between the human and the divine and it will lead to a “silence of the mind”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga
http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Yoga_and_Hindu_Philosophy.htm

Shiva

Shiva: Shiva is one of the main three gods. He is known as the "destroyer". Shiva is described as having several arms, a third eye (this symbolizes his spiritual insight and his ability to burn things that distract from that insight), and a blue throat which he got from drinking a poison to save the world. Shiva's responsibilities are to protect devotees (Hindus) from evil forces, pain, and suffering. Shiva is also known as mahadeva. Shiva is usually worshiped in the form of lingam (a symbol used for worship). People who worship Shiva the most are know as Shaivites or Shaivas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/shiva.html

http://www.indiantemples.com/beliefs/allaboutshiva.htm

History

Hinduism is believed to be the oldest religion in the world starting during the late Neolithic Era (5500–2600BCE) . While there is no specific founder of Hinduism, the religion has been related to Buddhism and Jainism due to the close connections these religions shared in India during Buddhism and Jainisms creation. Hinduism came close to extinction in the 7th century due to invasion from the Arab nations and forced conversion to Islam. During this time many Hindu temples throughout India were destroyed and only a small portion of the population, concentrated in southern India, remained with the religion until more accepting leaders took over.

Sources: Dom's memory, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#History

Caste System

In Hinduism, society is organized into a rigid caste system, or jati. Developed because of Hindu myth and text from the Vedas this caste system has four distinct classes: Brahmins (highest caste; scholars and priests), Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), Vaishyas (traders), and Untouchables, or Dalits, (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups; lowest caste). Because of Hinduisms close relation to India this system has been put into place. Within in the population of India about 18.5% makes up the upper classes, 50% make up the lower classes, and the rest is made up of foriegners in the country.

As stated above, the caste system plays a large role in Indian lifestyles. This is because each class has a certain set of responsibilites and Dharma for you that will determine your job, social interactions, and marriage. However, should you end up in a low class hope is not lost. A main statue of the Hindu religion is that belief in reincarnation. Through reincarnation you acend through the classes until you achieve Moksha.

Not only does the caste system affect these areas of life but it also affects the Ashrama (the 4 male life cycles) for all males but also the Samskaras (progressive life cycles for everyone) of everyone in each class. Depending your class the things at occur in each new cycle can be different.

Today the caste system is one of the most contreversial topics in India. One reason for this is that the lower classes are abused quite frequently by the upper classes. Another reason is that the majority of all government positions are held by upper class members.

Sources: Patterns of Religion, Dom's memory, http://brian.hoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/REL100/Hinduism.Varnasramadharma.jpg

Texts

Vedas- Vedas are the oldest and most important of the Hindu scriptures. The text is thought to be the oldest written text on earth. They have been passed through oral tradition from almost 100,000 years and were first known to be written between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago. Hindus see the Vendas as spiritual truths and as the law of the spiritual world. Divided into four parts, the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda, each section is divided into separate book and contains stories, hymns, and other scriptural references.



Bhagavad Gita- This is a very sacred and popular text that comes from the Mahābhārata, an Indian epic with more than 1.8 million words. This particular section is conversation between Krishna and Arjuna on the battle field Kurukshtra. The Bhagavad Gita tells one how to live their every day life. Such Things as keeping God as the center of your day, and living as a sacrificial offering are some of the things stressed in this text.



Upansishads- The upansishads texts are considered part of the Vedas and are responsible for much of classical Hindu thought. In these scriptures a parallel between all we see and and think called Brahman is explored. The Brahman is said to be the world soul and is identical to every individuals soul. The Upansishads were written throughout history dating back to the 7th century B.C, and as recently as the medieval times.



Sources:

http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita
http://members.aol.com/heraklit1/upanish.htm

Reincarnation - Hinduism is based on the concept that human and animal spirits reincarnate, or come back to earth to live many times in different forms. The belief that souls move up and down a hierarchy depending on the behaviors they practiced in their life. They can come back to life as a higher or lower class based on their behavior in the previous life.

Karma- Usually it is believed to be all that an individual has done, is doing and will do. The effects of all things actively create past, present and future experiences. It makes one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others. Karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well. It's all cumulative.It's a cycle. What determines the state of an individual in the next existence is based off Karma.

Moksha- Release from the changing world and the cycle of birth and rebirth. Moksha is seen as a final release from one's worldly conception of self.Its the peaceful escape from the cycle of reincarnation.

Dharma- Dharma is the path of righteousness and living one's life according to the codes of conduct as described by the Vedas and Upanishads. Correct performance of dharma has a favourable effect on their fate. This may enable them to be reborn to a higher caste.


Brahman- Concept of the supreme spirit or finding morality. Brahma is the creator of the universe and all living beings.

Samsara- A belief that the souls of the dead successively return to earth in new bodies or forms. Can be born into a different caste.

Sources
http://www.spiritual-wholeness.org/faqs/reincgen/hindrein.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma

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