World Religions: Hinduism

What is Dharma (1/4 goals of life)

gives an experience of peace, joy, strength, and tranquility and leads to supreme happiness

what is Kama (2/4 goals of life)

sexual desire, pleasure, and love. Kama sutra is the ancient book that is connected to this

What is Artha (3/4 goals of life)

marital success, wraith, and power include the activities of state craft in maintaining social order and presenting anarchy

What is Moksha (4/4 goals of life)

Liberation from samsara 

Indus Valley civilization time period

• Have to rely on archaeology to understand the Indus from whence it emerged 

  • Nomadic peoples slowly moved from central Asia to the Indus Valley

Vedic Period

• Almost everything known about the Indo-Aryans is based on a collection of writings called the Vedas 

• People worshipped the natural elements of the world 

• Increase in solitary personal prayer and ascetical practices

• Education in girls declined but training of boys by a guru was important 

• Taught students many disciplines about personal devotion to Hindu gods especially Shiva and Vishnu

Cl

Classical Period 

• Ritual forms changed

• Temples were established even as home-based rituals continued to flourish 

• Rituals dealing with cosmos became less important and personal transformation came to the forefront 

• Shift in emphasis from the transcendent to the immanent 

• Concept of karma and samsara arose

Hindu-Muslim Period

Initially, the Muslims leaders did not try to convert the followers of Hinduism, but they did impose a tax on Hindus as they had previously done with Jews and Christians

Modern Period

British made India a colony of Britain in 1858. British colonialism was arguably more disruptive to the social fabric of India than the invasion of the Muslims. This political system changed however in 1947 when India regained its independence from Britain.

 definition of atman 

the divine core of personality (the soul)

What was the Bhagavad Gita

Literary masterpiece and finest mystical document

definition of Brahman

The Godhead, or oneness of being

definition of Caste

Based on the assumption that all people are not created equal. System in India to create and keep order 

definition of deva

Divine being or supernatural power. Created after the world and are subject to its laws

definition of karma

the web of cause and effect

definition of monism 

philosophical idea that all things in existence are part of the same essential oneness or whole 

definition of samsara

the cycle of continual reincarnation

definition of Sanskrit

the ancient language they would speak

definition of Upanishads 

Collection of Vedas 

What is the rig veda

• book of mantras

• containing songs to the gods and goddesses and madras used during rituals

  • oldest and most sacred scripture

What is the Sama Veda

• Book of songs

• Liturgical collection of songs used during the Soma sacrifice

What is the Yajur Veda

• Book of ritual 

• Served as a guidebook for priests executing sacrificial acts

What is the Atharva veda

• book of spells

• collection of charms to curse or to bless

What does Smiriti mean

• that which is to be remembered

• contains epics and stories

what does Shruti mean

• to which is heard

• Vedas

Hindu gods and goddesses

possess individual attributes and are reflections of the countless images of Brahman 

Triad of gods: Braham

• The creator

  • 4 heads and arms

Triad of gods: Vishnu

• The preserver

• protects the world as he stands between heaven and earth showering his blessings

  • assumes different forms

Triad of gods: Shiva 

• The destroyer and restorer 

• covered in ash and sits in cremation grounds

  • him and wife Parvati are the parents of the universe

god: Ganesha

• god of wisdom, literature, and success

• elephant head because dad (vishnu) chopped off his head

  • remover of all obstacles

The Path of Action: Karma Yoga 

Selfless service through right actions and deeds 

The Path of Knowledge: Jnana Yoga

Learning thinking and viewing (meditation)

The Path of Devotion: Bhakti Yoga

Pure and long devotion to Brahman (followed by most Hindus)

How do the 3 yogas help achieve moksha 

Hindus believe that Brahman is identical to the innermost soul, the individual’s essential nature, and each person’s real self or atman

Importance of the Bhgavad Gita

• Follow your dharma

  • Arjuna is not killing the most important part of someone (their soul), just their body in that life

Caste system: Brahmins

• priests, scholars, and teachers

  • job is to teach, study, and sacrifice himself and others, make and receive gifts

Caste system: Kshatriyas 

• Warriors and administrators/rulers 

  • job is to protect the whole world from foreign enemies by maintaining the caste system

Caste system: Vaishyas

• Merchants, farmers, and artisans

  • must know how to sow seed, tend a field, and know weight and measures

Caste system: Shudras 

• Peasants, servants, and laboreres 

  • Job is to serve the Brahmins and upper castes with humility

Caste system: Outcasts

• Oppressed ones 

• Gandhi gave them the name meaning “God’s children” 

  • Their families are considered defiled because they have degrading jobs

Puja ceremony

• Prayer/worship to god or goddess 

• can be at home or temple 

  • unites the body with the spirit, the temporal with the sacred, and the individual with the infinite 

Diwali

• Festival of Lights

• Commemorates the return of Rama (Vishnu) to his kingdom

  • people light oil lamps

Holi

• Festival of colors

  • commemorates the love between the deities Krishna and Radha

Life-cycle celebrations 

• 16 occasions and rites of passage in the life cycle 

• called samskara