GCSE Religious Studies: Hinduism – Beliefs, Teachings and Practices

Hinduism is one of the religions that can be studied alongside Christianity in GCSE Religious Studies (for example, the Hinduism section of AQA's specification). This material covers both beliefs and practices, and it presents Hinduism as it really is: a family of traditions with many ways of understanding the divine.

It begins with Brahman, ultimate reality, and the difference between nirguna Brahman, without qualities, and saguna Brahman, God with form. You then learn how the divine presents itself: the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, deities such as Ganesha, Lakshmi, Hanuman and Saraswati, and the avatars of Vishnu, Rama and Krishna. You compare Vaishnavism and Shaivism, and meet ideas about matter, the three gunas, maya and the cycle of four ages.

The second part is about human life. You study the atman as the eternal self, samsara, karma and moksha, the virtues Hindus aim to develop, including ahimsa, and the four aims of life: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. The ideas of sanatana dharma and varnashrama dharma show how duty depends on one's place and stage in life.

The practices section covers worship at home, in the mandir, outdoors and in the heart: puja, arti, darshan, havan, devotional singing and japa, and the role of the murti. You learn the stories and customs of Diwali and Holi, the four paths of yoga, the purposes of pilgrimage to Varanasi and the Kumbh Mela, and Hindu work for the environment such as cow protection.

The material offers a quiz with explanations for every answer, flashcards for the Sanskrit terms, a printable written sheet of explain-and-evaluate tasks with reference answers, and an oral practice exam in which the examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

Hindu beliefs are presented accurately and neutrally, with attention to the variety of Hindu views. Use the material to learn the key terms, then to practise explaining beliefs and practices and weighing statements about them.

• Explain Brahman, nirguna and saguna, and the three features of the divine
• Describe the Trimurti, key deities and avatars, and compare Vaishnavism and Shaivism
• Explain atman, samsara, karma and moksha
• Explain the four aims of life, sanatana dharma and varnashrama dharma
• Describe Hindu worship and explain the origins and meaning of Diwali and Holi
• Explain the four paths of yoga and the purposes of pilgrimage

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE religious studies subject content for Hinduism and, for example, AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), Hinduism: beliefs, teachings and practices.