The Vedas Hinduism’s sacred text is a collection of four books called the Vedas. These books were written during the third century BCE. They contain Mantras, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads.
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Vedas means ‘knowledge’.
REMEMBER! Mantras are chants or hymns. Brahmanas are explanations of those mantras. Aranyakas are guided meditations on important aspects of Hindu belief. Upanishads are poems offering insights into the meaning of life.
SP TLIGHT ON THE MAHABHARATA
The Mahabharata is another important Hindu book. It is a great epic poem that describes the challenges faced by succeeding generations of two families. It explores the joys and hardships of human life.
Within the Mahabharata is a story called the Bhagavad Gita. Its title means ‘the Song of the Lord’. It is a poem written in the form of dialogue, i.e. an exchange of ideas between people.
The Bhagavad Gita’s two main characters are the god Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) and a warrior named Arjuna. The two are united on the side of good in the battle against evil.
By the end of their dialogue, Krishna has helped Arjuna to see that for an action to be truly good, it must be selfless, i.e. one where you do the right thing without seeking a reward in return.
Worship
Puja is the Hindu word for worship. It should be performed twice a day, at sunrise and at sunset.
Worship in the home Most Hindus worship in their own homes. Almost every Hindu home has its own shrine.
A Hindu shrine consists of an image (i.e. picture or statue) of the particular god a family worships.
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REMEMBER! Puja means ‘giving respect’.
Arjuna in a carriage behind Krishna who is mounted on a horse.
