Nature of Brahman

What is Brahman known as to Hindus?

* The Ultimate Reality
* The Divine One
* The Supreme Soul
* The Universal Force

Quote of the Katha Upanishad 5.2.

*Brahman is the one* ==*present everywhere*== *and is the great one who is* ==*above all*==*.*

What is ==Nirguna== Brahman?

* The idea that the Ultimate Reality has ==no shape or form==
* ==Represented== as the ==aum== or ==om symbol== which is used in ==meditation==

What do Hindus believe about the aum /om sound?

It is the sound that ==began the universe==

What is ==Saguna== Brahman?

* Where Brahman has a ==form and qualities==
* These are represented by thousands of ==manifestations== of Brahman by ==Gods and Goddesses==

What are the many manifestations of Brahman represented as?

==Murti== which are ==images or emblems== which ==portray== a God or Goddess and their powers

What do Advaitan Hindus believe about the existence of the Atman and Brahman?

That Brahman and the Atman are one because they are identical.

What do Dvaitan Hindus believe about the existence of the Atman and Brahman?

That the Atman and Brahman are separate and so they are not identical

What is the realisation that Brahman and the Atman are one called?

Jnana.

How do Hindus realise Jnana?

Through Jnana Yoga - which is the path of realisation

Which sacred texts do most of the ideas about Brahman come from?

* The ==Shruti== -The ==most ancient== text which includes the ==four Vedas== (collections of poems and hymns from 3000 years ago)
* The ==Smriti== - Texts that ==interpret the Vedas== and provide ideas on how the teaching should be ==applied to Hindus’ lives==. These include ==Puranas, the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita.==

What is the ==Trimurti?==

The three most significant forms of Brahman

Which Gods are included in the Trimurti?

* Brahma - The Creator
* Vishnu - The Preserver
* Shiva - The Destroyer

What does the Trimurti represent?

The key aspects of Brahman

What do Murtis of Brahma include?

* Four heads which see in all directions and symbolise the four Vedas
* Four arms which carry symbols of power: a goblet, a bow, sceptre, the Vedas

What do Murtis of Vishnu include?

Four arms which carry symbols of power: A discus, a lotus flower, a conch shell, a mace

What do Murtis of Shiva include?

The murtis vary but he is often pictured dancing and with four arms, holding a drum, a flame, a pen and is pointing to his feet with the other

What are Vaishnavites?

Hindus who worship Vishnu

What are three key Hindu beliefs about Brahman

1. Ultimate Reality is beyond any human mind.
2. Brahman is in everything that lives and is beyond all of us.
3. Brahman is seen in the many gods and goddesses of Hindu worship.

Hindu Sacred writings

Shruti - includes the four Vedas, a collection of hymns and poems

Smriti - Puranas, t**he Ramayana** and the **Bhagavad Gita**, these interpret the Vedas and guide Hindus on how to live

The Ramayana

* tells the story of Prince Rama and Princess Sita.
* It is celebrated at Diwali

Tridevi

* Saraswati, consort of Brahma
* Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu
* Parvati, consort of Shiva

Do Hindus see Brahman as male or female

* Neither.
* Hindus’ devotion to both gods and goddesses reflects the belief that Brahman is neither male or female.

Saraswati

* goddess of learning, arts and cultural fulfilment.
* symbolises universal intelligence, consciousness and knowledge.
* seen playing a musical instrument and riding on a white swan.

Why do Hindus worship Saraswati

to seek her aid with their studies or their musical skills.

She is worshipped at the festival of Saraswati Puja.

Lakshimi

* goddess of wealth and beauty – including inner beauty. She does not stand for material wealth but for the big ideas of **prosperity**, such as magnificence, joy and greatness.
* pictured holding lotus flowers and with a pot of gold coins pouring from her lap.

Why do Hindus worship Lakshimi

* part of the celebration of the festival of **Diwali**.
* At this time, people open their new account books for the coming year and hope and pray for prosperity.

Parvati

* show her beauty and her golden skin. She is often surrounded by symbols of love, marriage and fertility. Parvati is also known by many other names and in different forms, including Shakti, Durga and Kali.

What does each of Parvati’s names represent

* Shakti represents divine feminine energy, carries many weapons and rides a tiger.
* Durga is the protective mother of the whole universe and fights for goodness.
* Kali, the black goddess, wears a necklace of skulls and her tongue drips blood - she is the goddess of death and doom. 

Who is Saraswati and Brahma parents to

* Manu
* The Manusmriti (**Laws of Manu**) are significant Hindu scriptures containing moral laws about how to behave.

who are Parvati and Shiva parents to

Ganesh

Avatars

an appearance or an incarnation of a god or goddess on Earth.

Who are the 10 Avatars of Vishnu

1Matsya – The Fish

**2**Kurma – The Tortoise

**3**Varaha – The Boar

**4**Narasimha – The Man-Lion

**5**Vamana – The Dwarf

**6**Parasurama – The Angry Man

**7**Lord Rama – The Perfect Man

**8**Lord Krishna – The Divine Statesman

**9**Balarama – Krishna’s Elder Brother

**10**Kalki – The Mighty Warrior (still to come)

who are the 2 most famous of Vishnu’s avatars

Lord Rama (7th) and Lord Krishna (8th)

Santana Dharma

the Eternal Way

Dharma

a path through life

Purusharthas

Hindus recognise four purposes (or goals) of human life, known as purusharthas. Each of these aims is good, and they build upon each other.

What are the four Purusharthas

* **Dharma** is the aim of carrying out spiritual duties, which include worshipping, learning and devoting oneself to the gods and goddesses.
* **Kama** is the aim of enjoying the good things in life – love, desire and pleasure.
* **Artha** is the aim of success in work – earning money, providing for a family and doing a good job.
* **Moksha** is the aim of liberation. It is a blissful state where the **atman** is no longer reincarnated but becomes one with **Brahman**.

Varnashramadharma

This duty is based on an individual’s personal circumstances. It means the duties a Hindu should follow depending on their stage in life and their varna, or **caste**.

Varna

caste

What are the four Varnas

* Brahmins - Teachers and priests -Interpret the scriptures and teach others about Hindu dharma
* Kshatriyas - Warriors and leaders-Fight to defend people, and keep control and order in society
* Vaishyas - Merchants, traders and farmers-Own land and businesses, trade and farm (this caste includes many trades)
* Shudras - Manual workers and labourers -Work for others (this group includes labourers of all kinds)

What is the 5th Varna usually known as the ‘untouchables’ or ‘outcastes’

Dalits - They were restricted in what jobs they could do, and were often treated badly. 

What are the four Ashramas (stages of life)

* The first stage is learning, being a pupil or student.
* The second stage is being a householder and parent.
* The third stage is retirement from work, which gives opportunities for other pursuits, including spiritual life.
* The fourth stage is where some people give up all the things of this world for spiritual purposes. This stage is not for everyone – a person living in the fourth ashrama is called a **sannyasin**.