HinduismHinduism

OriginsOrigins The word `Hindu' The word `Hindu'

originally meant originally meant `those who lived on `those who lived on the other side of the the other side of the river Indus (in river Indus (in Sanskrit, Sindhu) Sanskrit, Sindhu)

The World ViewThe World View

Problem-DesireProblem-Desire

Humans have enormous appetites for Humans have enormous appetites for things, such as food, products, velocity, things, such as food, products, velocity, status, attention—implies ego attachmentstatus, attention—implies ego attachment

Tanha— rt. Sanskrit, “thirsting”Tanha— rt. Sanskrit, “thirsting”

World ViewWorld View

Cause= Cause= KarmaKarma-root Sanskrit- “create”-root Sanskrit- “create”

reaping and sowing, this for that, physical reaping and sowing, this for that, physical and moral causationand moral causation

World ViewWorld View

The Cycle of RebirthThe Cycle of Rebirth Cyclic sense of timeCyclic sense of time You are condemned to be reborn unless You are condemned to be reborn unless

you break the law of Karmayou break the law of Karma

World ViewWorld View

Moksha= “release” from samsara-Moksha= “release” from samsara- The overcoming of MayaThe overcoming of Maya

World ViewWorld View

Dharma= “duty”—or the order of the Dharma= “duty”—or the order of the cosmos.cosmos.

IntroductionIntroduction

Oral TraditionOral Tradition Shankara-acharyaShankara-acharya GurusGurus BrahminsBrahmins

Shruti: RevelationShruti: Revelation

Shruti: The Divine in the WorldShruti: The Divine in the World The Vedas and UpanishadsThe Vedas and Upanishads The Vedas are not the utterances of The Vedas are not the utterances of

persons. They do not owe their authority to persons. They do not owe their authority to anybody, they are themselves the anybody, they are themselves the authority, being eternal (Vid=“to see”authority, being eternal (Vid=“to see”

AuthorityAuthority CeremonialCeremonial PhilosophicalPhilosophical

Smriti: TraditionSmriti: Tradition

Popular Religious TextsPopular Religious Texts EpicsEpics

MahabharataMahabharata Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita RamayanaRamayana

Sutras: Laws of Sutras: Laws of ManuManu

Puranas: Puranas: MythologiesMythologies

Other TextsOther Texts

TantrasTantras 8th-9th Centuries8th-9th Centuries often non-brahmanicaloften non-brahmanical

Bhakti PoetryBhakti Poetry Period of IslamPeriod of Islam Local and lay Local and lay

movementsmovements

The BrahminThe Brahmin Responsible for Vedic HymnsResponsible for Vedic Hymns Oral traditionOral tradition Ritual SpecialistsRitual Specialists

Maintain DharmaMaintain Dharma Rituals of the lifecycleRituals of the lifecycle

Birth-Birth- Sacred Thread-brahmacarinSacred Thread-brahmacarin Marriage-grihastaMarriage-grihasta Forest-dweller-vanaprasthaForest-dweller-vanaprastha Sannya-renunciantSannya-renunciant DeathDeath

3-5 The Caste System3-5 The Caste System

Priest (Brahmin)Priest (Brahmin) Warrior-Noble (Kshatriya)Warrior-Noble (Kshatriya) Merchant-Craftsman (Vaishya)Merchant-Craftsman (Vaishya) Peasant (Shudra)Peasant (Shudra) Untouchable (Mlechcha)Untouchable (Mlechcha)

Caste SystemCaste System

VarnaVarna Four estates from Four estates from

ancient Indiaancient India Twice BornTwice Born

BrahminBrahmin KshatriyaKshatriya VaishyaVaishya

ShudraShudra OutcasteOutcaste

dalitsdalits HarijanHarijan UntouchablesUntouchables

Caste System (2)Caste System (2)

Jati: BirthJati: Birth HereditaryHereditary OccupationalOccupational Purity and pollutionPurity and pollution Multiple and VariousMultiple and Various Contemporary SituationContemporary Situation

Outlawed by ConstitutionOutlawed by Constitution Modern cities and educationModern cities and education

3-1 The Vedic Period3-1 The Vedic Period

Sacrifices to Nature GodsSacrifices to Nature Gods Hereditary PriesthoodHereditary Priesthood Outdoor Fire AltersOutdoor Fire Alters Memorized Vedic ChantsMemorized Vedic Chants Offerings of Food, Drink, AnimalsOfferings of Food, Drink, Animals

3-2 Major Literature of Hinduism3-2 Major Literature of Hinduism

VedasVedas UpanishadsUpanishads Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita RamayanaRamayana

3-3 Important Concepts of the 3-3 Important Concepts of the UpanishadsUpanishads

BrahmanBrahman AtmanAtman MayaMaya KarmaKarma MokshaMoksha

3-4 Major Yogas3-4 Major Yogas

Jnana—KnowledgeJnana—Knowledge Karma—Selfless ActionKarma—Selfless Action Bhakti—DevotionBhakti—Devotion Raja—MeditationRaja—Meditation Hatha—ExercisesHatha—Exercises

Four Stages of LifeFour Stages of Life

For Twice Born MalesFor Twice Born Males StudentStudent HouseholderHouseholder RetireeRetiree

RenouncerRenouncer

VedantaVedanta

The essence of the The essence of the knowledge of the knowledge of the Vedas was called by Vedas was called by the name of the name of Vedanta, which Vedanta, which comprises the comprises the Upanisads. Upanisads.

GuruGuru

Personal Personal CharacteristicsCharacteristics Near to GodNear to God

Personal Religious Personal Religious ExperienceExperience

AsceticAscetic Practices the messagePractices the message

WisdomWisdom Ability to teach othersAbility to teach others

Charisma not CasteCharisma not Caste

Hindu Conceptions of GodHindu Conceptions of God Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. are Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. are

not three independent and not three independent and separate deities, but three separate deities, but three different aspects of the same different aspects of the same Supreme God, while engaged Supreme God, while engaged in the processes of creation, in the processes of creation, sustenance and destruction of sustenance and destruction of the universe, in that order.the universe, in that order.

All of them, without exception, All of them, without exception, are different modes and are different modes and aspects of Paramatman, the aspects of Paramatman, the Supreme Self or God. Supreme Self or God.

Latter Day HinduismLatter Day Hinduism

The Eternal Soul (atman) is TrappedThe Eternal Soul (atman) is Trapped

Ignorance results in attachmentIgnorance results in attachment

Pierce through MayaPierce through Maya

LiberationLiberation

Yoga=rt yg=“yoke, union”Yoga=rt yg=“yoke, union”

Karma Yoga- do your Karma Yoga- do your dutyduty

Bhakti Yoga- Bhakti Yoga- devotionalismdevotionalism

Jnana Yoga-Jnana Yoga-knowledge, intellectknowledge, intellect

Hatha Yoga-health, Hatha Yoga-health, exerciseexercise

Brahman-AtmanBrahman-Atman

Philosophical Conceptions of GodPhilosophical Conceptions of God

The concept of God in Upanishads is the The concept of God in Upanishads is the ‘Brahman’ or the Universal Soul ‘Brahman’ or the Universal Soul (synonymous with The Absolute, Supreme (synonymous with The Absolute, Supreme Being or World Spirit – Being or World Spirit – param-atmanparam-atman). ). Every human being has an atman Every human being has an atman (individual soul - (individual soul - jiva-atmanjiva-atman) that ) that resembles the Universal Soul that is resembles the Universal Soul that is temporarily separated from It. temporarily separated from It.