3.1.4 Hinduism — Overview

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions with approximately 1.2 billion followers, predominantly in India and Nepal. It is a diverse tradition with many schools and practices. For AQA GCSE RS, study both Hindu beliefs (3.1.4.B) and practices (3.1.4.P).

Core Hindu beliefs at a glance

• Brahman: the ultimate reality / supreme being — infinite, all-pervading, formless yet manifested in many forms
• Atman: the individual soul or self — identical with Brahman in Advaita Vedanta ("non-duality") philosophy
• Samsara: the cycle of birth, death and rebirth (reincarnation)
• Karma: the law of cause and effect — actions in this life shape future rebirths
• Moksha: liberation from samsara — the ultimate goal of Hindu life; union with Brahman
• The Trimurti: the three main manifestations of Brahman — Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer/transformer)
• Avatars: incarnations of Vishnu in the world — e.g. Rama, Krishna

Social and ethical framework

• Dharma: righteous living; one's duty according to one's stage of life and social role
• Four Ashramas (stages of life): student (brahmacharya), householder (grihastha), forest dweller (vanaprastha), renunciant (sannyasa)
• Varnas (social classes): Brahmin (priest), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaishya (merchant), Shudra (servant) — the social order traditionally related to dharma

Key Hindu practices

• Puja: worship at home shrine or mandir (temple); offerings (flowers, food, incense)
• Havan: fire ceremony — offerings to Agni (fire deity) who carries them to the gods
• Pilgrimage: Varanasi (the holy city on the Ganges; dying there brings moksha); Kumbh Mela (world's largest gathering)
• Festivals: Diwali (Festival of Lights — victory of light over darkness, good over evil), Holi (spring festival; Radha and Krishna)
• Rites of passage: naming ceremony, sacred thread ceremony (upanayana), marriage, death rites (cremation)

Exam advice

Hinduism has immense internal diversity — acknowledge this. Avoid reducing it to one "Hindu view" on every question.