world religions - hinduism

latin religio

"bind and connect again"

"worship again"

"read again"

"carefully ponder again"

world religion

experience and convictions succeed in organizing

are religions monolithic

no

religion populations

christians = 2.1 mill

muslims = 1.5 mill

unaffiliated = 1.1 mill

hinduism = 1 mill

buddhism = 400,000

myth

a story that tries to communicate truths that history cannot

western (trickster, evil, sexual desire, death) vs. eastern (fertility, rebirth, healing, immortality, wisdom)

sanatana dharma

other name for hinduism

means eternal religion

deva/devi

god/goddess

33 primary devas (in vedas) or 330 million or 1 (brahman)

vedas

collection of ancient sacred texts that form the foundation of hinduism. written in sanskrit.

cosmic triad

brahman, shiva, vishnu

indus valley civilization

-flourished 1300-1500 BC near indus and saravati rivers

-5 mill inhabitants

-large central baths

-advanced sewer systems

-many terracotta pots, seals, female figurines

-no weapons

mahadevi

"great goddess"

shakti

active creative power and is feminine. shaktism is the worship of the goddess

sarasvati

goddess of learning, wisdom, music, and aesthetics.

parvati

wife of shiva

goddess of love, fertility and devotion

durga

goddess known for strength and warrior attributes.

kali

-goddess of death/destoryer of evil forces

-name derivied from "she who is death" of "she who is black"

-one that can kill death

ganga

river ganges

sacred river, believed to purify the soul.

-where you would want to die if you were hindu

shiva

-"auspicious one"

-associated with creation

-mt. kailash

-devi of destruction

lingham and yoni

represent marraige of shiva and paravati

mantras

chants, hymns, rituals,

caste system

system to seperate social classes

1. brahmins - priests and scholars

2. kshatriyas - warriors and royalty

3. vaishyas - marchants and farmers

4. shudras - people of the land

agni

god of fire

puja

worship

darshan

the movement of the flame that allows you to be in the presence of the deity (wipes away the maya)

maya

concept of illusion

upanishads

-"to sit down beside"

-philosophical and speculative scripture which shifted concerns from rituals to understanding the self and reality

-emphasizes critical thought on brahman

yoga

"to yoke"

"to join/attach"

"to discipline"

"the way"

moksha

release or liberation from samsara. to live in blissful communion with the divine

samsara

-cycle of birth, death and rebirth

-wandering, transmigration of soul through time

karma yoga

"way of action" selfless duty

-if you live a good life, you will be rewarded in your next life

jnana yoga

"way of wisdom"

dhyana yoga

"way of meditation"

bhakti yoga

"way of devotion" love

-offers food to lord krishna, prays mantras. (shows devotion)

karma

the law of justice

1. attending to ones duties

2. the stages of life

3. attending puja

atman

the self or soul

brahman

the ultimate power or mystery

hanuman

-represents devotion to vishnu

-monkey

mahabharata

the longest single poem in the world, about a war fought between two branches of the same family. One of India's greatest epics written between 1000 and 700 BC

vishnu

preserves and sustains the world

bhagavad gita

"song of the lord"

indus river

first traces of hinduism can be dated to around 2500 BC on the banks of the indus river.

forms of the mother goddess

the earliest gods who worshipped at the cities of harappa and mohenjo-daron

bindi

-for decoration, style, and marriage

-to represent the third eye of enlightenemnt and wisdom

-dot on forehead (type of tilak)

tilak

-shows their denomination

ganesha

shiva and paravatis son

avatar

literally "to descend into"

om

first sound of the universe and embodies brahman and all creation

saivism

focuses on worship of lord shiva

shaktism

worship of goddess shakti

krishna

The 8th avatar of Vishnu. Main character of the Bhagavad Gita. The most popular incarnation of Vishnu

lakshmi

goddess of wealth and prosperity

vaishnavism

worship of vishnu

arjuna

(Hindu mythology) the warrior prince in the Bhagavad-Gita to whom Krishna explains the nature of being and of God and how humans can come to know God

namaste

greeting or salutation