Creating a Mandala of Hindu Beliefs
Creating a Mandala of
Hindu Beliefs
Assignments to hand in: Basic Hindu Beliefs Chart Brainstorming Ideas for a Mandala of Hindu Beliefs A Mandala of Hindu Beliefs
Step 1: Look at this PICTURE and read the following:
Hinduism is an ancient religion whose origins predate recorded history. It has no single human founder, and it has developed over thousands of years. Its most sacred scriptures are the Vedas, which means "knowledge" in Sanskrit, the ritual language of Hinduism. The Vedas began as an oral tradition, and modern scholars have speculated that they date back as far as 6500 B.C.E. Historians believe that the Vedas were written down around 1000 B.C.E. or earlier. Other elements of Hinduism - such as sacred symbols and the worship of certain Gods - can also be traced back to the seventh century B.C.E.
The word Hindu was first used by the ancient Persians to describe the practices and beliefs of people who lived east of the river Sindhu, or the Indus River. Hindus call their religion "Sanatana Dharma" (the eternal religion) or "Vedic Dharma" (the religion of knowledge).
Over the millennia Hinduism has continued to evolve, and in modern times it incorporates a wide variety of religious beliefs and practices. Hinduism has historically been tolerant of other religions, believing that all religions can be legitimate paths to God. As of 1997, there were nearly one billion Hindus in the world, more than 900 million of them living in India.
Step 2: Download and print the following handouts: Description of Hindu Beliefs & Basic Hindu Beliefs Chart
Step 3: Fill out the Basic Hindu Beliefs Chart by looking at each picture below and reading the corresponding description from the handout, Description of Hindu Beliefs. (Each topic is hyperlinked to a Wikipedia definition/explanation)
Step 4: Download and print out the following handouts: Brainstorming Ideas for a Mandala of Hindu Beliefs & A Mandala of Hindu Beliefs
Step 5: Read the following definition of a Mandala:
Mandala means "circle" in Sanskrit. Mandalas are circular diagrams that originated with Hinduism and are used in both Hinduism and Buddhism to increase spiritual awareness. Hindu mandalas usually consist of a combination of lines and triangles within a circle and a square, and designs range from simple to very complex. Mandalas symbolize the cyclical nature of the universe, and people often use mandalas to focus themselves during meditation.
Step 6: Complete the Brainstorming Ideas for a Mandala of Hindu Beliefs handout by using your completed Basic Hindu Beliefs Chart to answer the questions. Your answers should be 4-5 sentences in length. HINT: Consider the relationship between the different symbols when creating the layout for your mandala. For example, the symbol for Karma could be placed next to and before the symbol for Samsara, indicating that people's actions in one life affect the kind of life into which they are reborn.
Step 7: Create the final draft of your mandala on the handout: A Mandala of Hindu Beliefs Make sure you transfer your explanation/answer of Question 3 on the Brainstorming Ideas for a Mandala of Hindu Beliefs to the bottom area of your final draft.
Supplemental Video (To View - Right click, then
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India's Faithful
