Year 3 Hinduism - Hindu Dharma. What does a Hindu believe about God and how is Diwali celebrated? (Autumn 1)
Session 1 - How do Hindus view God? What is Brahman?
Hindu worldview with some introductory facts.
· This worldview came from a country called India.
· It is the oldest worldview we learn about in school and is ever changing.
· According to the 2021 Census, 1.7% of people in England and Wales are Hindu. 33% of them are Hindus who were born in Britain.
Identity and Attributes
Today 'you' are going to model your own version of demonstrating the different attributes of your personality. You are to draw a picture of yourselves which shows your many different roles and interests, e.g.: wearing different hats or clothes, or holding different objects; showing the many sides and characteristics that one person can have.
TASK: Draw themselves in the middle of the page with aspects of themselves around the edges. Share with others in their groups. Have they found out anything new about one of their peers?
The story of the ‘Blind man & the Elephant.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBqgr5xZLz0
Story - The Blindmen and the Elephant
The Aum, (Om) symbol for Brahman, (used daily in prayers). In many Hindu families, children are taught about one supreme God who is in everything. Brahman has many forms. Many Hindus believe that Aum was the very first sound, today it reminds that Braham is present in everything. The Aum is a symbol for Hindu Dharma and can be found in many temples and shrines at home. Many Hindus begin worship with this sound because it helps them feel calm. How do you feel calm?
Hinduism is an ever-changing religion. We are mainly learning about One God in many forms although some Hindus are Polytheistic.
Session 2 - What is the Trimurti?
Show and discuss some Murti (shrine figures): focus on Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
The Trimurti is the 3 main Gods in one, (Brahman) in Hinduism.
Each one has a distinct role, Brahma-creator, Vishnu-preserver or sustainer & Shiva-destroyer.
TASK - Create actions or learn BSL for Creator, Destroyer, Preserver to help remember them.
Vote for one of the following for a quick class discussion.
Which God interests you the most and why?
Who do you think is the most powerful?
Is prayer just about asking ‘God’ for something?
Choose one shrine figure out of the main 3 forms of Brahman and investigate what the figure is holding or wearing, etc. (and try to explain why.) Feedback to the rest of the class.
Hindus treat the images of the gods and goddesses like extra-special guests: they are respected, cared for, talked to, offered food and kept clean. Why do you think this might be?
TASK - record your ideas on a worksheet and draw your chosen deity
Key words: Trimurti Creator Sustainer Destroyer
Session 3 - Who is Ganesha?
Introducing another God that many families choose as a particular deity or form of the one supreme God to worship.
Ganesha (or Ganesh), the elephant-headed god. Ganesha is particularly popular.
In this lesson, together we are to explore the murti of Ganesha.
TASK- decide on an enquiry question to find out more about the murti.
Questions to be collated under different themes e.g., ones to do with the appearance of the murti, ones about how the murti is used and others you may think of.
We are going to watch the story of Ganesha, jot down any notes when your question is answered.
Together lets go through the questions to see if all were answered.
Explore how Hindus show devotion to Ganesha in their day to day lives at home or at the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi.
Introduce more deities.
QUESTION - Why might a Hindu choose to pray to Ganesha?
Read the story of Ganesha and Kartikeya Race Story in English | Indian Mythological Stories | Pebbles Stories (youtube.com)
Key words - Worship; Murti; Ganesha
Ganesh Chaturthi
Hindu festival
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi or Vinayagar Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival birthday of Hindu deity Lord Ganesh. The festival is marked with the installation of …
Official name Vinayaka Chaturthi, Vinayaka Chavithi
Also called Chavithi, Chouthi, Ganeshotsav, Gauri Ganesh
Observed by Hindus around the world
Type Religious
The practice of ‘Pran-Pratishtha’ (infusing life in idol) is one of the primary steps in this puja.
The primary sweet dish during the festival is modak.
What is Classical Sanskrit and where did it originate? Classical Sanskrit has its origin in the end of the Vedic period when the Upanishads were the last sacred texts to be written down, after which Panini, a descendant of Pani and a grammar and linguistic researcher, introduced the refined version of the language. Sanskrit - World History Encyclopedia www.worldhistory.org/Sanskrit/ |
Look at an illustration which shows the Hindu cycle of creation, preservation and destruction. What does it mean?
How does the mandala illustration show this? Hindu Mandala
What action can you think of for the three parts to help you to remember the cycle.
Mandala art - Why don't you try and have a go!
TEACHERS NOTES
Week one Watch a video extract which looks at the Hindu idea of God in many forms. (e.g., Pathways of Belief) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01140qs from 1 min in.
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/clips/zxjxn39
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/clips/z787tfr
Week 3 - While working listen to some Hindu music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWaWlJMH0Zo
Week 4 - Lord Ganesha story https://youtu.be/g5E8dVk4XGM
Ganesha and Kartikeya Race Story in English | Indian Mythological Stories | Pebbles Stories (youtube.com) https://youtu.be/blZFAWvAiAU
Polytheism
Religion of more than one god
Polytheism is the belief in or worship of more than one god. According to Oxford Reference, it is not easy to count gods, and so not always obvious whether an apparently polytheistic religion, s…
The first humans were polytheists and many worldwide still are.
Session 1
Next we will watch the following about the Hindu belief of creation.
The One Supreme god is called BRAHMAN. Just like you have many attributes to make you, you. BRAHMAN has 3 main atrributes...
What is the Tri-murti? What does tri mean?
Let's watch the following but can you say who is who - The Creator, The Sustainer, The Destroyer but which deity is which?
Creator, the carer and the destroyer.... Can you name any of them?
Who came from the naval? What does sustainer mean? Can you think of any natural disasters?
Watch the clip again and see if you can recall any thing else?
Session 2 - Can you explain to your partner why you have ripped up and then glued all the pieces of an A4 piece onto an A5 piece of paper?
Today we are drawing ourselves showing different parts of our attributes...what makes you, you.
Our example is the Hindu god BRAHMA one of the Tri-murti.
What do you think the items, in the deities hands are or represent? Have you remembered to put something in your hands in your design?
QUESTION - How do Hindu's celebrate Diwali?
Diwali means 'row of lights' .
Chester Diwali 2017Chester Diwali 2018
What else can we learn aboutDiwali? Lakshmiat Diwali time.
The story of Diwali(approx 11 mins long)
Good and Evil - How do these stories influence our lives?
I wonder which is stronger?
I wonder does evil exist?
I wonder what does good mean?
Look at some words of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita.
“Never try to avoid doing your duty.”
“Sometimes you need to give things up to help people and to please God.”
“Think of God when you work. Do everything to the best of your ability, and not because you want a reward.”
“Any action carried out in love is pleasing to God.” “Be peaceful to everyone, even people you don’t like, and those who are horrid to you.”
“If you would like to be in Heaven, be kind and gentle, find good things in people and forgive them, tell the truth and have lots of energy.”
“Love all living things the same amount. Love a holy person or an animal as a friend.”
Which words of wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita are important to you? How would these words be viewed by a Hindu?
There are other sacred texts and refer back to the Ramayana as well as introduce the Vedas. Talk about Sanskrit.