Shane Leslie, Sam Kaminski and Kristi Sisler

World Top 10 - Largest Hindu Populations

Country Hindu Population

India 755,135,000

Nepal 18,354,000

Bangladesh 15,995,000

Indonesia 7,259,000

Sri Lanka 2,124,000

Pakistan 1,868,000

Malaysia 1,630,000

USA 1,032,000

South Africa 959,000

Myanmar 893,000

Practicing Countries

• Major religion of India

• More than 80% of population.

Number of Followers

• Around 800 million followers

Origin of Beliefs

• Who was Hinduism founded by?

-A blend of conquered people of Indus and Aryan beliefs.

• Where was Hinduism founded?

-In India

• When was Hinduism founded?

-Sometime in the 3rd millennium BCE

Names of the 3 main Gods

• Brahma- known as the creator

• Vishnu- known as the preserver

• Shiva- known as the destroyer

Divisions and Branches

• Divisions are split into 2:

-Orthodox and Traditional Hinduism• Branch Number of Adherents

-Vaishnaitves 580,000,000

-Shaivites 220,000,000

-Neo-Hindus and reform Hindus 22,000,000

-Veerashaives (Lingayats) 10,000,000

Religious Symbols

Aum is the main symbol of Hinduism.

Religious Objects

• Trees -Puja Items

• Herbs -Tranta Items

• Metals -Shakti-mother goddess

• Seeds -Lingam

• Caves -Maha-Vishnu

• Mountains -Ram and Sita

• Shankha -Shaligrams

Holy Book and Laws• Sacred Books:

-The Bagavad Gita

-The Vedas/ Thera Veda• Laws:

-marriage, adoption, inheritance:• Marriage: 8 types: • 1. Braham 2. Davia• 3. Arsa 4. Prajapatya• 5. Asura 6. Rakshasa• 7. Gandharva 8. Paisacha

Basic Beliefs

• Strong belief in Brahman. • Ones ignorance is the true nature of self. • Highest goal is liberation from karmic cycle of

death and rebirth • Are very conscious of the paradoxes the make

up the universe. • Siva is the creator, maintainer, and the destroyer

of life. • Most households have a shrine to a particular

deity.

Spiritual Leader

• Mahatma Gandhi

Worship

• Places:

-In a temple, in a home, in any public place

• Frequency:

-About 2 times a day

• Length:

-One time during the day. One time during the night

Customs

• Rituals of Santana dharma

• The god is worshiped as an icon

• Once a year on festival days he is paraded around.

Bibliography

• http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/hinduism.htm

• http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/H_0128.htm