Hinduism: The story of God Aim: To explore the stories of the gods and what they teach about a world of darkness and light? Starter: Write a paragraph answering these 4 questions Eg. sentence start: I think religious stories‌.. Q: What religious stories have you enjoyed? Q: What are some of the symbols / themes of your religious stories? Q: What do religious stories teach us about? Q: Why do we express our religious beliefs through story?
Avatar Howl - Movie
Tasks: 1. Watch the Avatar Howl movie 2. In pairs, think of 5 things you know about what an avatar is and note this down on your spider diagram. Extra Q: Do you remember who Lord Vishnu is….?....How is Jake from ‘Avatar’ like him?
The Avatars: Knowing God Avatars are an ancient concept that explain the story of Brahman and his relationship with the world. Brahman is so vast that Hindu’s believe we come to know God through the gods / goddesses or avatars. This is an image of God; a physical appearance or character of Brahman on Earth. An incarnation is God in human form on Earth.
Brahman
Brahman – God Ultimate being/ reality. We cannot begin to understand….help!! Vishnu
Vishnu – The Trimurti, He is the preserver and protector of life…..Cool!!
From the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna reveals: Copy:‘Whenever the Sacred Law falls, and evil raises its head, I take embodied birth. To guard the righteous, to root our sinners, and to establish the Sacred Law, I am born from age to age.’ • • • •
Q: What is an avatar? Q: When does an avatar take place? Q: What do you think ‘I take embodies birth’ means? Q: What does the avatar do when he is on earth?
Rama
Rama – The avatar, he is brave, couragous and true. He shows us how to live….OoooH, good example!!
The Ramayana: A story of God 1. Explore the story of the Ramayana and or Krishna. - (*20min excellent animation in RE dept, see RMG)
Suggested tasks: • • • • •
Video ‘Religions around the world’ – Hinduism, Ramayana and Krishna Write a short story where good wins over evil. Create a story cube and assemble Retell the story and illustrate Create a dance to illustrate the most important message of the story for Hindus
The Ramayana is the poem of Rama and his wife Sita. They are the ideal couple and the story tells of how Rama rescues his kidnapped wife from the evil demon king Ravana. This victory is seen by many Hindus as the triumph of good over evil. The story explains how Vishnu and the other gods walk upon the earth to protect its goodness.
Rama and Sita – The story
Rama and Sita – The Movie
Assessment Question: Q: Is Hinduism and religion of one God or many? Homework: 1. Research another of Vishnu’s avatars and their stories: Q: What form has Vishnu taken, Draw a simple picture. Q: What did the avatar of Vishnu do? Q: What does this avatar tell us about Vishnu and that of Brahman? Q: What does the story tell us about God, about ourselves and about the world?