Personal

1
Personal Community Life
2

• Varnas
• Ashramas
• Diet

3
Varnas

• Hindu society is split into 5 Varnas.
• The varna you are born into is determined by the
  karma from your previous life.
• Good karma will result in you being born into a
  higher varna and bad karma will lead to rebirth
  in a lower varna.

4
Brahmins (priests and leaders)
Moksha (one with Brahman)
Aim to understand the law of Samsara
Ksahtriyas (warriors)
Vaishyas (skilled workers)
Shudras (unskilled workers)
Harijans (the untouchables)

5
Ashramas

• In Hinduism there are 4 ashramas or stages of
  life.
• Brahmacharyi the student stage
• Grihasta the householder stage
• Vanaprastha the retirement stage
• Sannyasin the holy wo/man stage

6
Brahmacharyi

• The student stage.
• Begins with upanayana (the sacred thread)
• Duties include
• Gaining knowledge through study.
• Showing respect to teachers parents.
• Learning the rules rituals of Hinduism.
• Samskaras in this stage
• Vedarambha start of formal education
• Smavartana graduation from studies

7
Grihasta

• The householder stage.
• Begins with marriage
• Duties include
• Giving to charity.
• Caring for your parents.
• Giving hospitality to guests.
• Providing a settled, well-run household.
• Samskaras in this stage
• Vivaha marriage
• Garbhahana - Conception Jatakarma - birth

8
Vanaprastha

• The retirement stage.
• Begins with the birth of a grandchild.
• Duties include
• Detachment from worldly concerns materialism.
• Devoting time to quietness solitude.
• Studying the scriptures and meditating.
• Samskaras in this stage
• Vanaprastha retirement aged approx 60.

9
Sannyasin

• The holy wo/man stage.
• Begins with the 15th samskara (Sanyasa) becoming
  a holy man
• Duties include
• Renunciation of all worldly ties possessions.
• Devotion of your whole life to achieving Moksha.
• Samskaras in this stage
• Sanyasa Becoming a holy man.
• Antyeshti Death rites

10
Diet

• Most Hindus are vegetarian. This is caused by
  beliefs including.
• The sacredness of the cow.
• Respect for nature.
• Belief in the reincarnation of the soul.

11
Summary

• There are 5 Varnas in Hinduism these are
  determined by karma in previous lives.
• There are 4 stages of life, student, householder,
  retirement and holy wo/man.
• Most Hindus are vegetarian