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Ganesha Statue, Bali

Namaste!

Hinduism

• When did Hinduism originate?• What are some of the Hindu sacred texts?• Who are the main Hindu deities?

• What do Hindus believe?• How do Hindus practice their religion?• What is the future of Hinduism?

When did it originate?

• Aryans: Rural steppe horsemen (1700 BC)• Urban Indus river valley people (3300 BC)• Other Indigenous Populations

Origins: Aryan Migration Theory (1700-1500 BC)

Theorized Aryan migration routes (Based on spread of chariot technology)

Aryan Traditions

Sanskrit Rig-Veda manuscript

Fire ritual sacrifices (Yajna)

Origins: Indus Valley Civilization(started 3300 BC)

Main Indus Valley Civilization settlements

The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro

“Pashupati Seal” from Mohenjo Daro

Meditating Shiva

Indus Valley and

Modern Hindu Swastikas

Cattle seal

Nandi, Shiva’s bull

Review of History:

• No known foundation date

• Mix of Aryan and local beliefs

• Identities of original Aryans and Indus Valley settlers remains unknown

What are the Sacred Texts?

VedasUpanishads

MahabharataBhagavad Gita

Ramayana

PuranasDevotional Writings

Modern Texts

Vedas (C. 1700 BC)

Indra

Fire Sacrifice

Suyra

Upanishads (starting 1000-500 BC)

“As the rivers flowing east and west Merge in the sea and become one with it, Forgetting they were separate rivers, So do all creatures lose their separateness When they merge at last into pure Being. There is nothing that does not come from him. Of everything he is the inmost Self. He is the truth; he is the Self supreme. You are that Shvetaketu, you are that.” (Chadogya Upanishad IV.10.1-3)

Mahabharata (starting 800-900 BC)

IncludesBhagavad Gita

Drona instructs the Pandava brothers The Pandavas renounce the world

Bhagavad Gita (C. 500 B)

Krishna’s Universal FormKrishna and Arjuna

Ramayana (400-500 BC)

Ravana captures Sita

Ram and Lakshman meet Hanuman and other Vanaras

Puranas (200-500 AD)

Krishna dances on the heads of Kaliya Varaha rescuing the Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha

Devotional Literature“Friend, my heart is steeped

In Krishna’s Love,I wore a robe of five colours

And went to play hide and seekI saw my Dark Lover there

And gave him my body for keeps.Others send letters to declare their love:

But my Lover is in my heartWhat need have I to go anywhere?”

-Song by Mira Bai

Modern Texts

Review of Main Texts

VedasUpanishads

Mahabharata(Bhagavad Gita)

Ramayana

PuranasDevotional Writings

Modern Texts

Who are the main Deities?

• Ishta Devata- A cherished deity

• Bhakti- Devotion

• Henotheism- Belief in one deity, while accepting the legitimacy of other deities

• Brahmaan- Transcendent and all permeating divine reality

But first… How do Hindus think about Deities?

Vedic Devas

Agni

Indra

Ancient Devas: Trimurti

Brahma

Shiva Vishnu

Avatars of Vishnu

Krishna speaking with Arjuna

Ram, along with Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman

Avatars of Vishnu

Shakti/Devi

Lakshami Parvati/Kali/Durga Saraswati

Shakti/Devi

Manasha Kali

Other popular deities

HanumanGanesha and Murugan

Review of Deities

• Ishta Devata- A cherished deity

• Bhakti- Devotion

• Henotheism- Belief in one deity, while accepting the legitimacy of other deities

• Brahmaan- Transcendent and all permeating divine reality

What are Hindu philosophical beliefs?

• Brahman• Devas as aspects of Brahman

• Cause and effect (Karma)• The cycle of reincarnation (Samsara)• Spiritual Liberation (Moksha)• Duty, Law, and Moral conduct (Dharma)

Brahman

The Law of Karma

Reincarnation (Samsara) and Liberation (Moksha)

Dharma

• Duty• Law• Morality

• Highly contextual

Four Stages of Life

Vanaprastha- Retirement

Student lifeHouseholder

Saanyasa- Renunciation

Orthodoxy

• Aastika, vs Naastika• Vedas• Karma

Heterodoxy

• Reject core features like Vedas, Gods, Karma, or reincarnation

• Materialist• Atomistic• Hedonistic• Skeptical• Anti-clerical

Pluralism

• “Truth is One, sages know it by many names” -Rig Veda

Review of Philosophy

• Brahman• Karma• The cycle of rebirth (Samsara) and liberation

(Moksha)• Dharma is contextual• Cycle of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy• Pluralism

How do Hindus practice their religion?

• Following the Bhagavad Gita• Yoga, Meditation, Vegetarianism• Pursuing the Four Goals of Life• Temple and Home Prayer• Holidays• Sacred Symbols• Art as worship

Gita’s Message

• Karma Yoga- Path of Action• Raja Yoga- Path of Self Control• Jnana Yoga- Path of Knowledge• Bhakti Yoga- Path of Devotion

Karma Yoga- The Path of Action

Raja Yoga- The Path of Self Control

Jnana Yoga- The Path of Knowledge

Bhakti Yoga- The Path of Devotion

Four Goals of life

Dharma- Doing one’s ethical duty

Artha- Material prosperity

Kama- Pleasure

Moksha- Spiritual Liberation

Daily practices

• Home prayer (puja/aarati) in shrines• Temple visits

• Yoga• Meditation• Vegetarianism

Idols (Murtis)

Divali

Raksha Bandhan

Holi

Veneration through Symbols

• Om• Rivers• Bindi• Swastika• Cows

Art as worship

• Architecture, Craftsmanship• Paintings, Sculpture• Music, Song• Dance• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prQOdTmF8u0

Review of Hindu Practices

• Following the Bhagavad Gita• Yoga, Meditation, Vegetarianism• Pursuing the Four Goals of Life• Temple and Home Prayer• Holidays• Sacred Symbols• Art as worship

Contemporary Issues

• Caste

• Hindutva and Communal Violence

Varna, or Caste• Rigid or malleable?

• Assigned birth or by action?

• Subcastes (Jati)

• Reform movements

Hindutva and Communal Violence

• Strong memory of Islamic Conquest• Modern Islamic terrorism, and persecution of

Hindus

• Communal issues

Book recommendations

By Linda JohnsenBy Wendy Doniger

By Paramhansa YoganandaA.L. Basham

Comics from Amar Chitra Katha By Kamala

SubramaniamBy Sanjay Patel

By A. Parthasarathy

no2258@columbia.eduVideshisutra.com