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Further Reading (word document version) Academic Books (especially for RE specialists) A Very Short Introduction to Hinduism by Kim Knott (Oxford University Press) ISBN: 0-19-285387-2 A succinct and accessible introduction to the tradition Hinduism – A Short Introduction by Klaus. K. Klostermaier (Oneworld, Oxford) ISBN: 1-85168-220-1 A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism by K. K. Klostermaier […]
Scriptural Verses D (secondary version) Section D – Verses Spoken on the Audio CD The following is a transcript of the verses on the Audio CD (Tracks 4-10), along with the accompanying narrative. There may be slight differences from the spoken version. Track 4 All but one of the following verses are from the Bhagavad […]
Quotes from Hindu Leaders (word document for download) Selected Quotes by Hindu Leaders QTL-01 Fearlessness is the first requisite of spirituality. Cowards can never be moral. Mahatma Gandhi QTL-02 You do not like to suffer yourself. How can you inflict suffering on others? Every killing is a suicide. The eternal, blissful and natural state has […]
Academic Books (especially for Secondary RE teachers and Libraries) A Very Short Introduction to Hinduism by Kim Knott (Oxford University Press) ISBN: 0-19-285387-2 A succinct and accessible introduction to the tradition Hinduism – A Short Introduction by Klaus. K. Klostermaier (Oneworld, Oxford) ISBN: 1-85168-220-1 A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism by K. K. Klostermaier (Oneworld, Oxford) […]
STO-321-sec Author of the Ramayana Thousands of years ago there lived a hunter who lived by robbing and looting. He lived in a jungle with his wife and children and no traveller who passed through the jungle was safe. If need be he never hesitated to kill innocent pilgrims to achieve his object. One day […]
STO-306-sec Long ago there lived in the forest a brahmin priest called, Jamadagni. He was very religious and had seven sons, headed by Parashuram. He also possessed a wish-fulfilling cow called Kamadhenu. This magical animal could give one whatever one desired. Still, as a true brahmin, Jamadagni lived very simply in his humble cottage. One […]
STO-207-sec Haridas was a contemporary of Chaitanya and one of his foremost disciples. According to some Hindus, Haridas was born in an untouchable family, but Chaitanya, who was opposed to the rigid caste system (based on birth rather than individual merit), accepted Haridas as a great saint. Once the tyrannical ruler of the district ordered […]
STO-111-sec This story is connected to the fourth avatar of Vishnu, Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion). Prahlada’s Birth Prahlada was the son of Hiranyakashipu, a great demon who conquered the demigods and took over the universe. Once while Hiranyakashipu was engaged in austerities, trying to become immortal, the demigods captured his wife, Kayadhu who was at […]
STO-503 Krishna lived in the village of Vrindavana. The men of the village were farmers and looked after cows and bulls. The ladies would milk the cows and make cream, cheese, yoghurt, butter and ghee. The bulls were used for ploughing and for pulling carts. One day, Krishna saw that the cowherd men were getting […]
STO-501 There was once a wise king called Sagara. He had 60,000 sons, who were all brave and strong. King Sagara was the greatest king on earth and the Emperor of the World. He started one-hundred great sacrifices to see if other kings accepted him as their emperor. The holy books said that anyone who […]
STO-321 The Story of Valmiki (who wrote the story of Rama and Sita) Thousands of years ago there lived a hunter who made money by robbing other people. He lived in a jungle with his wife and children. No traveller who passed through the jungle was safe. The hunter didn’t hesitate to kill them and […]
STO-306 Long ago there lived in the forest a brahmin priest called, Jamadagni. He was very religious and had seven sons, headed by Parashuram. He also possessed a wish-fulfilling cow called Kamadhenu. This magical animal could give one whatever one desired. Still, as a true brahmin, Jamadagni lived very simply in his humble cottage. One […]
STO-215 Krishna and Sudama were friends who went to the same school. One day, Krishna and Sudama went out into the forest to collect firewood for their teacher, called Sandipani Muni. A great storm came and the two boys got lost in the forest. They had to spend the night there, sheltering underneath a giant […]
STO-111 This story is connected to the fourth avatar of Vishnu, Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion). Prahlada’s Birth Prahlada was the son of Hiranyakashipu, a great demon who conquered the demigods and took over the universe. Once while Hiranyakashipu was engaged in austerities, trying to become immortal, the demigods captured his wife, Kayadhu who was at […]
Download PDF: PCT-308 Lakshmi is the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu, and is often worshipped with him as Lakshmi-Narayana. She is worshipped in her own right, particularly during the festival of Diwali. Lakshmi is shown standing or sitting on the lotus, and she holds in two hands a lotus and a water pot. With another […]
Download PDF: PCT-305 Krishna is often considered the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Many think him to be God himself, and the terms Vishnu and Krishna are often used synonymously. He is perhaps the most popular deity, especially in North India and within the UK. Krishna is depicted with two hands, usually playing his flute. He wears […]
Download PDF: PCT-015 Shiva&Parvati Shiva is one of the trimurti (three main deities). He is in charge of destruction. He destroys the universe by dancing and beating on his drum. Shiva is white with a blue throat although he is often shown with dark blue skin. He carries a trident (a spear with three points) […]
Download PDF: PCT-014 Ganesh Ganesh is the deity with an elephant’s head. He has quite a fat body because he eats a lot, especially sweets. He has four arms and holds an axe, a rope for tying elephants and a lotus flower. He sometimes carries a small round sweet, or he is shown with a […]
Download PDF: PCT-013 Brahma and Vishnu Vishnu is blue and has four arms. He wears a helmet and a flower garland. Hindus say there are many universes. It is like when you blow lots of bubbles in the air. They are all round and empty inside. The universes come from Vishnu. When Vishnu breathes out, […]
Download PDF: PCT-012 Lakshmi Hindus worship Goddess Lakshmi during the festival of Diwali. She is the goddess in charge of money and good luck. Lakshmi is very beautiful. She is shown standing on a lotus flower. She usually wears a deep pink sari. She wears a golden crown and lots of jewellery with rubies, diamonds, […]
Download PDF: PCT-011 Krishna Krishna was born over 5,000 years ago. Krishna’s birthday is called Janmashtami. It comes near the end of the summer holidays (in August or September). Krishna was born in India, in a town called Mathura. He had a wicked uncle called Kamsa. Kamsa wanted to kill Krishna. Therefore, Krishna’s father sent […]
Download PDF: PCT-009 What Krishna Teaches Us There are many stories about Krishna. He was very clever, but a little bit naughty as well. Sometimes, he would take butter and cream from the fridge and eat it. He would feed it to the monkeys. When the monkeys were very full, he would say “This butter […]
Download PDF: PCT-008 Home & Family Hindus believe that home should be a special place. A nice home is where people are happy to see you and be with you. Hindus believe that the baby has come from another place. So, they welcome the baby back into the world, into a new family. Babies are […]
Download PDF: PCT-007 The Temple Hindus worship in the temple. They also worship at home. One Indian word for temple is ‘mandir’. The mandir is the home of God. The centre of the mandir is the shrine, which contains the murtis. The murtis are sacred statues of God, or of different gods and goddesses. Some […]
Download PDF: PCT-006 Puja & Arti Hindus worship at home and in the temple (mandir). Most Hindus believe in one God. They also believe that he appears in many different ways. These forms of God are called ‘deities’. A deity is a form of God, or of a god or goddess. The most important deities […]
Download PDF: PCT-005 Meditation & Yoga Yoga means ‘being together with God’. There are different types of yoga. Hindus believe that the soul (atman) is different from the body. The body is always changing and is temporary (it will be finished one day). The soul not changing and is eternal. Eternal means something that is […]
Download PDF: PCT-004 Caring for Creation Hindu people believe that God is everywhere. We can see God in nature. The soul is present in all living beings. They can all feel happiness and sadness, pleasure and pain. Hinduism teaches that animals should be treated well, though they don’t usually let dogs and cats in the […]
Download PDF: PCT-003 Hindu Arts & Culture Hindus use dance to tell religious stories, such as the stories of Krishna and the story of Rama and Sita. The dancer uses mudras (hand-signs or gestures) to tell the story. Drama is another way Hindus tell their ideas about God and the world. Music is very important […]
Download PDF: PCT-002 Diwali Diwali is an Indian word. It means ‘a row of lights’. Diva is the word for light, or lamp. Diwali is the biggest Hindu festival. For most Hindus, it is the New Year. Diwali celebrates the story of Rama and Sita. Rama is one of the forms of God (Vishnu) when […]
Download PDF: PCT-001 What is Hinduism Hinduism is the religion followed by Hindus. It started in India, over 5,000 years ago. Hinduism is the main religion in India. Many Indian people are Hindus. Others are Muslims, Sikhs or Buddhists. There are also quite a few Jews and Christians living in India. India is a very […]