Worlds Religion Hinduism basics

Hinduism is the

3rd largest religion in the world

Most of the population of hindus reside in

pakistan and northwest India

No one Creation Myth

Reflects plurality of Hindu origins

-Ex.: The Cosmic Egg; Ocean of

Milk; Sacrifice of Purusha

Creation Story of the Vishnu Purana

-Non-linear time

-Priority of Preservation (Vishnu) over Creation

(Brahma)

-Non-vilification of Destruction (Shiva)

The Humbling of Indra

Brahma’s days and nights are so long that they span the lifetimes of 28 Indras. Even Brahma lives only 108 of these vast years before another Brahma takes his place. This cycle has no end, with countless Brahmas and Indras arising and passing away.

Indra and the Ants

“The seed of woe and the fruit of wisdom”

-Karma and Samsara (Reincarnation)

-Dharma (Duty; Right way of living)

The Bhagavad Gita

-Prince Arjuna and Krishna

-Dharma or Renunciation?

-Synthesis: “Motive-less action”

The Dance of Kali on Shiva

-Context: Battle with

demon Raktabija

-Kali as Time/Death

-Concept: Resignation,

even of Shiva

-Concept: Kali as killer

of Egoism; “Time”

dances atop timeless

Destruction

2 From the Devi Mahatmya

The Hindu Synthesis

-Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300 – 1300 BCE)

-Proto-Dravidian

-Animal, Fertility artifacts

-Indo-Aryan Migration (c. 1500 – 1100 BCE)

-Pastoralists; Chariots

-Vedic Gods of Sacrifice and Sky

The Vedas and Upanishads

-Vedas are oldest Sanskrit texts

-Considered divinely authored

-Upanishads are the “End” of the Vedas; Philosophical

-Spiritualize Vedic ritual

Hindutva (“Hinduness”)

-Anticolonial, Conservative and Nationalist

-Hostility to “Aryan Migration Theory”

-Iconography, Hanuman

Hindu Paths to Salvation (Moksha)

-Bhakti-yoga (devotion to personal

deity)

-Jnana-yoga (study; philosophy)

- Karma-yoga (ethical action; ritual)

Bhakti-yoga

devotion to personal deity

Jnana-yoga

study; philosophy

Karma-yoga

ethical action; ritual 

Dvaita Vedanta

-Dualistic: Atman (individual soul) is distinct from Brahman

(universal spirit)

-Often, emphasis on personal devotion to deity (bhakti)

- Salvation (Moksha) only after death; End of Samsara

- Reward is nearness to God

Advaita Vedanta

-Non-Dualistic

-Atman (individual soul) is identical to Brahman (universal spirit)

-Separation is Maya (illusion)

-Often, a “this-worldly” Salvation (Moksha) through meditation.

RELIGIONS ARE NOT

WORLDVIEWS

- Atman and Brahman

-Nature and Number of

God(s)

- Nature of Scripture

(Vedas)

-This-worldly Salvation