Chapter 2: Hinduism "The Way of Devotion"

Religions of Release

India

• When faced with the realities of a broken world, the Indian religions of release look for a way to escape from the unsatisfactory cycle of ^^samsara ^^

• The vicious cycle of life, death, rebirth, and redeath which is fueled by karma (means actions)

• Refers to the consequences (both positive and negative) that flow from moral and immoral words, thoughts, and actions

• The three religions of release: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism

• According to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs, we all find ourselves in a moral universe in which our karmic actions in past and present lives have huge consequences for who we are today

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Hinduism in Today’s World

• Unlike Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists, Hindus have not traditionally attempted to attract converts

• To be a Hindu is to be born into a Hindu family, and to be born into a Hindu family is to be a Hindu

  • They^^(Hindus) view their religion of a people^^ rather than the religion of all ppl, so it is classified as ethnic religion rather than missionary religion

• Hinduism is ^^predominantly a Southeast Asian ethnic religion^^. Vast majority of Hindus live in India

• Hindus ^^refuse to self-identify^^, and instead think of themselves as inhabitants of particular regions, speakers of particular languages, and members of particular castes

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Hinduism: A Genealogy

• Term ^^Hindu^^ was originally a geographical marker, pointing to ancient ppl who occupied the valley of the river Sindhu
• Americans used ^^Hindoo^^ to refer to all Indian immigrants, regardless of religion
• NONE OF THE WORK YOU READ will be free from the influences of this struggle that school textbooks fail to conform to their understanding o proper Hinduism. However, Hindus don’t agree on what Hinduism is, and their claims vary

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Hinduism: How to escape from rebirth and death?

• The Hindu world has traditionally been divided into ^^4 classes, or varnas^^ (colors)

  • The priestly class (Brahmins)
  • The warrior class (Kshatriyas)
  • The merchant class (Vaishyas
  • The servant class (Shudras)

• Hinduism is an umbrella term for a diverse array of religious concepts, symbols, beliefs, and behaviors

• Hindu goddess Kali is depicted as ferocious bc of her willingness to fight for justice for her devotees

• Ppl view reincarnation as an opportunity to do better in the next life, but Hindus see rebirth, as being strapped on the hamster “wheel of redeath”

• ^^Samsara^^, is a trap rather than an opportunity, and the goal is to be liberated from this cycle

• Hindus refer to this liberation as ^^moksha^^

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Hindu Gods and Goddesses

• ^^Brahman^^: the all-pervading, impersonal Spirit of God

• Some Hindus speak of a ^^Trimurti of 3 gods^^ (the manifestation/avatar of this god):

  • Brahma (the creator)
  • Vishnu (the sustainer)
  • Said to have 10 avatars (deity who come to earth in human or animal form to combat evil and restore order) who come to earth to make things right when the world has gone wrong
  • Shiva (the destroyer, or recycler)

• ^^Issue with Trimurti^^: overestimates the importance of Brahma, neglects Hinduism’s many goddesses, and the most popular divinities in India are Shiva, Vishnu, the goddess Devi, and Ganesha

• Ganesha: elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati. The god of good fortune. He’s the deity to worship at the beginning of any new venture, such as college, marriage, or a new job

  • Depicted holding an axe to destroy obstacles, a rope to rescue devotees from harm, and a cake symbolizing the bliss of spiritual liberation

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Ways of Being Hindu

• According to Indologist William Halfbass, ^^Hindu worshipers can be divided into 4 main Religious Constellations^^
  • Shaivas who worship Shiva as supreme are monotheistic
  • Vaishnavas who worship one of the avatars Vishnu, Krishna, and Rama as their deity of choice are monotheistic
  • Shaktas who worship as the supreme goddess Devi or some other manifestation of her goddess power (shakti). These manifestations include unmarried goddesses who are worshipped as individuals, spouse goddesses who are worshipped in male/female pairs
  • Smartas refuse to choose among the above options bc of their belief that the various manifestations of the divine are essentially the same

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Hindu History

• ^^Hinduism at a Glance^^
  • Problem: samsara, the unsatisfactory cycle of life, death, rebirth, and redeath
  • Solution: moksha, release from this cycle
  • Techniques: the disciplines of karma (action), jnana (wisdom), and bhakti (devotion)
  • Exemplars: yogis, renouncers, and poet-saints
  • In short, Hinduism is a tradition in which people trapped in the unsatisfactory cycle of rebirth and redeath seek liberation from that cycle thru the disciplines of action, wisdom, and devotion

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• Vedic Religion: Proto-Hinduism as a Way of Action

  • Hindus divide their scriptures into 2 categories: smriti (what is remembered), and shruti (what is heard)

  • ^^Classification of 4 Veda Texts:^^

  • Rig Veda “Verse Knowledge”: poems or chants praising god, recited by priests during sacrifices and other rituals

  • Yajur Veda “Sacrifical Knowledge”: prose mantras or sacred formulas, to recite during these rites

  • Sama Veda “Musical Knowledge”: hymns

  • Athara Veda “Priestly Knowledge”: later texts, including practical prayers, charms, and incantations used to bring on success and to ward off sickness

  • Four Vedic Gods

  • Indra: most important Vedic deity, warrior god, god of war, high god. Role was killing a demon who had locked away the world’s waters

  • Agni: second most important deity in Vedas. Fire itself and god of fire, sacrifice, and sun. messenger between human and heavenly realms

  • Varuna: moral god, guardian of cosmic order and social harmony. Practice appropriate speech, performed rituals, punished evildoers with disease and rewarding those who did good deeds w/ happiness

  • Soma: hallucinogenic plant, the intoxicating juice from that plant, and the god of all plants. Inspired priests to compose Vedic hymns and steeled warriors into battle

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• ^^Subclassifactions of Veda Texts^^ (associated w/ the main Vedas listed earlier: Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva)

  • Brahmanas: prose commentary on a given Veda, explaining, often via allegorical interpretation, the meanings of Vedic sacrifice and procedures for performing it
  • Aranyakas: most ecstatic medications on the meanings of Vedic sacrifice, rooted in secret discussions of the Vedas among forest-dwelling renouncers
  • Upanishads: later philosophical speculation on the Ultimate Reality to which Vedic rituals point, often presented as dialogues between teachers and students

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• The Bhakti Tradition: Hinduism and a Way of Devotion
  • Those who walked in this new way of devotion set aside the fire sacrifices of Vedic religion and the philosophical speculation of classical Hinduism for an easier path to spiritual liberation
  • Instead of hoping for a better rebirth, they took aim at moksha, and didn’t want to give up home, family, and employment to get it

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• ^^Profiles in Hinduism^^
  • Kabir: 15th-century poet viewed as a sharp-tongued champion of interreligious harmony. Is lionized today for celebrating all religions equally, but he was actually an equal opportunity critic of organized religion
  • Tantra: rose around devotional Hinduism, presented an alternative to the paths of ritual action, wisdom, and devotion. Based on transgressive rituals and secret texts called Tantras. Was open to women and low-caste practitioners

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Hinduism in the U.S.

• ^^Swami Vivekananda^^ introduced Hinduism to the U.S at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago 1893

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Lived Hinduism (how Hindus demonstrate devotion/worship)

• Puja

  • Hindu devotees worship gods on their own times, in the temple and home. This worship is called Puja. they offer flowers, food, water, or money to a god said to reside in an image

• Festivals

  • Festivals to deities and gods. Festivals feature theatrical performances rooted in episodes of the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, or popular vernacular epics
  • DivaliOf all the pan-Indian festivals is most popular. Celebrated Hindus, and others as well. Devotees light earthenware lamps, set off firecrackers, watch fireworks, dress in new clothes, visit friend/family, tell stories, pray, worship, exchange presents, dance, enjoy sweets
  • Devotees sweep their floors to prepare for a visit from Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Set up lamps to guice her to their homes and businesses, and open doors/windows
  • HoliHoli festival is the most photographed Hindu festival. Celebrants throw colored powders and spray one another w/ colored water

• Pilgrimage

  • Another way Hindus demonstrate devotion to gods of their choosing. They visit places where rivers meet or places associated w/ a particular deity
  • Many shave their heads and present as an offering to the god Venkateswara, in hopes that they will help them get into college, land a job, or have a child

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