RELI 1002 Test 1 Hinduism

Dharma

Duty/ righteousness

Karma

action and its consequences

Samsara

cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

Brahman

Nature of ultimate reality

Indus Valley Civilization:what are they known for?

Innovative indoor plumbing; standardization with bricks.

Indus Valley Civilization: what year was peak?

ca2500-1500BCE

Indus Valley Civilization: what year was decline?

ca1500-600BCE

conceptual continuity

Share understanding of diversity of schools under known fundementals

What Is hinduism?

great variety of beliefs originated from the subcontinent India

Vedas (Shruti)

Considered the oldest sacred text, that is revealed, not composed by humans

Vedas

contain hymns (samhitas), ritual prayers

Brahmanas

rituals and ceremonies; symbolic meaning

Aranyakas

forest treaties; for contemplation and meditation

Upanishads

the nature of reality; the study behind it

4 main vedas

Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Athraveda

Rigveda

oldest of the vedas

• consists of hymns (skutas)

• addressed to various deities (Agni (fire), Indra (King of gods) )

• ritual and theology

Samaveda

• consist of verses taken from Rigveda

• for music and chants

  • Melodies used in ancient vedic rituals

Yajurveda

i. provide instruction and formulas for performing rituals and sacraficies

• Shakla- white

• Krishna - Black

The atharaveda

• contains hymns, incantations and spells for various purposes

  • healing, protection, etc..

  • reflects worldy aspect of vedic culture

Aryan

noble one practiced fire rituals (Yajña)

Guru

Teacher

Veda

Sacred knowledge

• composed and systematized from ca-1500 to 600 BCE

Vedic Deities elemental

agni- fire god

suiya- sun god

4 vedas- R.A.S.Y

term that helps me learn vedas

Tat tvam asi

You are that or thou art that

samsara

worldy existence- cycles of birth and death

Karma

cause and effect

Moksha

self relalization

• connection between atman and brahman/liberation from samsara

Mantra

set of syllables-pronuciations repeated in decoration to a particular diety

Puja

personal prayer- becomes important after prominence

prasada

food presented to a diety

Shruti

heard or divinly revealed

smrti

formed after shruti

Yoga

practice and discipline

• mental concentration

Dharma

religous duty

Sutras

discourse in religion

Indian caste system (BKVS)

Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya are twice born groups

varna

= caste

Avarna

casteless

Dhamarashtra

Treaties regarding the nature of rightousness

4 stages of life (BGVs)

1. Brahmancharya (student hood)

2. Grihastra(house holder)

3. Vanaprasta (retire)'

4. Sanyasa (reunication)

4 aims in life(DAKM)

1. Dharma - social duties

2. Artha - prosperity

3. Kama- pleasures of life

4. Moksha (liberation from cyle of birth and death)

time in hiduism STDK

Cycle

1. Satya Yuga

2. Theta Yuga

3. Dvapara Yuga

4. Kali Yuga

Satya Yuga

• lasting 1,728,000 years

• age of truth and rightousness

  • virtue, honesty and peity

  • people possess harmony

Theta Yuga

• last 1290000 years

• marked by a gradual decline in human morality

Dvapara Yuga

• last for 864,00 years

• further decline in moral values and rightousness

• people became more egostic

  • era of greed

Kali Yuga

shortest yuga, lasting 432000, age of darkness, we are living in this era

Male dieties BVM

1. Brahma= creator

2. Vishnu= sustainer

   1. followers known as Vanishnara

3. Mahesh (Shiva)

   1. destoyer; followers known as Shaiva

Female deities

1. Shakti(devi) = power

   1. follower known as Shakta

how does Vishnu look like?

Rama and krishna are avatars of Vishna

Rama

archer, decipted as stern

Krishna

cow herder, and a charioteer in Makbharta

• playful scenes , always playing the flute

Shiva

buffalo with trident

2 epics

1. Ramayana

2. Mahabharta

   1. both relate to Vishnu

   2. both center around family fueds

   3. accessable to anyone

Ramayana

• 7th avatar

• story of prince rama as he wanted to save his wife

• reflection of hindu ideals

• Diwali(?)

Mahabharta

• 8th avatar of Krisha

• conflict between 2 groups of cousins

  • pandavas and the kaufavds

  • over the throne hastinapura

• explore dharma (duty), game of dice that that the good family is decieved

Navartiri

• divine femimine energy

  • victory for the win of light

Bhagvad Gita

• dialouge in the Mahabharta

  • between prince arjuna and lord krishna who serves as his charioteer whether to kill his kin

  • told him he must hes a warrior

3 paths to liberation

1. Jnana Yoga (knowledge)

2. Karma Yoga( action)

3. Bhakti Yoga (devotion)

Jnana Yoga

• path of knowledge and wisdom is self inquiry

• discriminating between the eternal and temporary true nature of self (atman)

• can overcome ignorance (avidya)

Karma Yoga

• selfness action and service

• should engage in actions that are prescribed by their duties (dharma) without personal growth

Bhakti Yoga

• path of devotion and love for the divine

• deep relationship with God

Ganesha

Mom (parvati) prayed for a son and got it, the son protected his mom and not knowing who his dad was didn’t let him in, so his dad, Shiva, killed him with his trident, lord brahman said to get an elephant head

Navratri

Nine(nava) and ratri(nights)

devi is mainly celebrated

sept to oct

bettles used to use

raga, alap key scent + raga are established

What are some approaches to Study of Religion

1. Historical/ Comparative 

2. Phenomenological

   1. The study of religion should be empirical, descriptive, historical, and anti-reductionis

3. Empathetic

James Frazer wrote a book of myths 

term

Micrea Eliade was a big contributor to the study of religion, he blended 2 majors in his approach: first, the history of religions to clarify the factual side and then the phenomenology of religions to reflect intuitively the essence of religion by comparing there themes

term

Materialistic perspectives on religion

• Freud gives 3 excerpts that humans invented religion 

1. The future of an Illusion

   1. Says that religion is an unconscious search for security in a father figure projected into the heavens

   2. Looking for protection as a Father 

   3. Moral world order, divine, they say its just an illusion 

Friedrich Max Muller(1823-1900)

1. Grandfather’ of comparison of world religions 

2. He knew a bunch of languages as he compiled sacred books of the East including Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, and Muslim text 

The sciatica was stolen from the Egyptian

tema

The great Bath at Mohenjo-daro

• The textbook mentions the bath house either as a ritual center or a place for procreation 

  • The way they made bricks was different compared to each other 

  • They knew how the hydraulics worked- water therapeutic 

Composition of epics and puranas

500BCE-1000CE

2 towns that had good relationships with one another and shared many things 

Mohenjo Daro and Harappa 

The Great Bath 1750 BCE 

This is basically where Hindu started

vedas are

meant for those in elite power

6 systems of Indian Philosophies

1. Sanhkya(number, enumeration) 

   1. Deeper philosophy 

2. Yoga (paired with Sanhkya)

   1. Discipline, joining 

3. Nyay

   1. Rule, logic 

   2. An influence of algo 

4. Vaisheshika(relationship with Nyay)

   1. Distinction, characteristics 

5. Mimamsa 

   1. Investigation with absolute reality 

6. Vendeanta

   1. Means the culmination of the veda

Hindu Pantheon 

• Supposedly 33 million gods and goddesses 

• There are 4 main manifestations of divinity 3 male and 1 female 

  • Brahma- creator 

  • Vishnu- sustainer 

  • Shiva - Destroyers 

  • 4 alls holding items (Chakra is important)

Brahma vehicle

1. His vehicle( Vahana) is Swan, has 4 heads

2. Most commonly held objects are pothi(book) and rosary and others change with context 

Vishnu Vehicle

1. Vahana (vehicle) is Garuda (eagle)

2. Most common held objects are conch, lotus (generally red), mallet and discus

3. Vishnu has 10 avatars

Purana

1. Comes under the sub- shurti

2. Gods exist in human form 

3. Creation story of humans

   1. Canonical texts lay the foundations of deities

   2. Churning of the comic ocean, also created poison that could have ended all life

   3. Poison was consumed by Shiva to protect the creation from destruction

      1. This led Shiva’s complexion to turn blue (the poison was held in his throat, thus one of his names is Neelkanth)

Shiva vehicle

1. Vahana(vehicle) is bull, humped bull or Zebu

2. most represented with the 3rd eye

3. The most commonly associated objects are the trident, damru(hourglass-shaped drum) water pot, moon crescent in hair, clad with animal skin and necklace and armlets of snakes(spectacled cobras) 

Shakti/Devi/Durga

9 different forms

Sarasvati

1. Vahana (vehicle) is mostly a swan some representations have a peacock

2. holds a book (pothi) or a veena

Lakshmi

1. Generally single headed, wearing a red sari

2. Cross legged seated on a red lotus

3. Four armed, a pair holding two red lotuses and other pair emanates gold coins

4. Pair of elephants with pots pouring water

Stages of Life, according to Dhamrmashtra 

1. Ashrams “Stages of life” 

2. Brahmacharya ”student life”

3. Grihastha “family man”

   1. Girth- means home 

4. Vanaprastha “forest dweller”

5. Sanyasa “renunciate- retired”