CASHinduism-Shea

**Religion:** Hinduism

 **Who is the Founder/What Year was it Found?** There is no exact year or founder but Mohandas Ghandi was very important.

 **Who is the Religious Leader?** Shantaracharya

 What is the Place of Worship**?** Mandir

 **Where did the religion begin?** Brahminism

 **Where is it practiced today?** India and Nepaul

 **What are the Main Belifs?** 1. One, all-persuasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and trancendent, both creation and umanifest. 2. Divinity of 4 Vedas, the worlds oldest scriptures. 3. The universe goes through endless cycles of creation, preservation, and dissolution. 4. Karma- how they act during life affects them in the afterlife. 5. The soul reincarnates until all karma leaves it. 6. divine beings exist in unseen wolds. 7. an enlightened master is essential to know the transcendent. 8.All life is sacred - practice ahimsa, noninjury in thought, word, and deed. 9. no religion teaches the only way to salvation

 **What are the Gods they Believe In?** They are polytheistic witch mean they believe in more than one God. There are many Gods but the following are the most important: Brahma- known as the Creator Vishnu- known as the Preserver Shiva (Siva)- known as the Destroyer

 **What are the Sacred Writings?** There are 2 main writings in the Hindu religion. They are called the Vedas and the Upanishads. The Vedas: There are four. The Ring Veda, The Sama Veda, The Yajur Veda, and The Atharia Veda. The primary texts had and influence on Buddhism, Janism, and Sikhism. The Ring Veda is the oldest, dating back to 1500 B.C. The Upanishads: They constitute the core teachings of Vedanta. The oldest Upanishad dates back to the late Brahmana period, and the latest dates back to the medival/early modern period.

 **What are the practices of the Hindu Religion?** A celebration known as the puja, is carried put at home before a shrine in the Hindu temple known as the Mandir. Puja involves touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing and the five basic elements of light, fire, earth, air, and water. Before puja at home, Hindus must wash thoroughly. When entering a Mandir, Hindus must remove their shoes. Then puja begins by washing images of the Gods with a water or milk mixture called panchmrit. They respect Gods with offerings of money or food (rice, nuts, and fruit) to the shrines of the Gods.

 What are some Hindu festivals/holidays? Shivarathri- honor of Lord Shiva, in the Hindu month of Phalgun (between February and March) celebrated chiefly at night. Holi- celebrated with great pomp, Holika liked devoring small children, Sri Krishna killed her and saved the children. Raksha Badhan- celebrated on the full moon in the month of Sravan (between August and September) one of the most important holidays. Telugu New Year's Day- celebrated on the first day of Chaitra (between March and April), celebrated with great enthusiam. Navarathi- celebrated twice a year in the months of Chaitra and Aswayuja, lasts 9 days in honor of the 9 forms of the goddess Durga, devotees of her observe a fast Ganesh Chaturthi- the most popular holiday, it is the birthday of the Lord Ganesha. It is the most sacred day for Ganesha, on the 4th day of the fortnight called Bhadrapanda (between August and September). Krishna Janmashtami- birthday of the Lord Krishra, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It is on the 8th day of Bhadrapada, there is a 24 hour fast period. Ramnavmi-Lord Rama- Incarnation of the Lord Vishn

The Amun, witch is the sound heard in the deepest meditation and is the name said to be the name most suited for God.
 *  What is the Hindu symbols and what does it represent? **