Introductory Introductory Questions: HinduismQuestions: Hinduism

• Hinduism has no founder. Explain.Hinduism has no founder. Explain.

• What did the Indus Valley and Aryan What did the Indus Valley and Aryan cultures contribute to Hindu thought?cultures contribute to Hindu thought?

• What evidence is there of Hinduism’s What evidence is there of Hinduism’s complex web of religious ideas? Is complex web of religious ideas? Is Hinduism polytheistic or Hinduism polytheistic or monotheistic?monotheistic?

Basics of HinduismBasics of Hinduism• Originated in India (no specific Originated in India (no specific

founder or text): oldest living founder or text): oldest living religionreligion

• Dates back to 1500 BCE and Dates back to 1500 BCE and many consider it the oldest many consider it the oldest religion in the world religion in the world ((Stevens 2011, Stevens 2011, Merriam-WebsterMerriam-Webster))

• Third largest religion with approx Third largest religion with approx 1 billion adherents 1 billion adherents (adherents.com)(adherents.com)

• Practiced by approx 80% of IndiaPracticed by approx 80% of India’’s inhabitants (2011 Census)s inhabitants (2011 Census)

• Derivative of word Hindu is the Derivative of word Hindu is the geographical term (Sindu River geographical term (Sindu River or Indus Valley)or Indus Valley)

Indus ValleyIndus Valley• 3300 – 1300 BCE 3300 – 1300 BCE (Most of (Most of

modern-day Pakistan, parts modern-day Pakistan, parts of northwestern India, and of northwestern India, and Afghanistan)Afghanistan)

• Built houses for worshipBuilt houses for worship• Great Male God and Mother Great Male God and Mother

GoddessGoddess• First identifier of Shiva?First identifier of Shiva?• Stone sculptures and charms Stone sculptures and charms

to ward off evil,to ward off evil,• Fire altars & animal Fire altars & animal

sacrifices, as well as Baths sacrifices, as well as Baths as spiritual worship (water as spiritual worship (water plays key role in society and plays key role in society and religion)religion)

Aryans (Noble – Sanskrit)Aryans (Noble – Sanskrit)• Entered Indus Valley from Entered Indus Valley from

modern-day Russia 1500-modern-day Russia 1500-322 BCE322 BCE

• Nomadic people with no Nomadic people with no sophisticated government; sophisticated government; clans with chiefs (clans with chiefs (rajasrajas))

• Culture of story-telling:Culture of story-telling: 1500 BCE Poems and ritual 1500 BCE Poems and ritual

texts called VEDAS (early texts called VEDAS (early sacred writings) – sacred writings) – see next see next slideslide

Agni – Agni – god of fire; messenger god of fire; messenger to other gods (key figure of the to other gods (key figure of the Vedas)Vedas)

• Atman - Atman - human soul or inner human soul or inner self (leads to liberation and self (leads to liberation and return to Brahman)return to Brahman)

VEDASVEDAS• Composed in Sanskrit Composed in Sanskrit • Vedas literally means literally means

““knowledgeknowledge““• Vedas called Vedas called ““ShrutiShruti”” by by

the Hindus the Hindus • RIG VEDA RIG VEDA • Upanishads – mystical Upanishads – mystical

texts on human existencetexts on human existence

EPICSEPICS• Ramayana – Hindu Epic of Ramayana – Hindu Epic of

about 24000 verses about 24000 verses including hero story of including hero story of RamaRama

• Mahabharata and Mahabharata and Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

Legal CodesLegal Codes• Laws of ManuLaws of Manu

Hindu Beliefs & DeitiesHindu Beliefs & Deities

Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing: Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing:

• POLYTHEISTICPOLYTHEISTIC= worships multiple deities: gods and = worships multiple deities: gods and goddessesgoddesses

• MONOTHEISTICMONOTHEISTIC = it recognizes only one supreme God: the = it recognizes only one supreme God: the panentheistic principle of panentheistic principle of BrahmanBrahman, that all reality is a unity. , that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is The entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as wellit as well

• TRINITARIANTRINITARIAN= Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a = Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a triad -- one God with three persons: triad -- one God with three persons: BrahmaBrahma (the Creator) (the Creator) Vishnu (Vishnu (the Preserver, the Preserver, Shiva (Shiva (the Destroyer)the Destroyer)

• HENOTHEISTICHENOTHEISTIC= = recognize a single deity, and recognizes recognize a single deity, and recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme Godaspects of that supreme God

Brahman

Brahma(Saraswati)

Shiva(Parvati)

Vishnu(Lakshmi)

Creator DestroyerPreserver

-is the supreme being-entity without form or quality-soul of universe-divine, invisible, unlimited

• Son of Shiva and ParvatiSon of Shiva and Parvati

• Human body and an Human body and an elephantelephant’’s head with only s head with only one short tuskone short tusk

• Worshipped as the Worshipped as the remover of all obstaclesremover of all obstacles

• Milk Miracle – Sept. 25, Milk Miracle – Sept. 25, 19951995

The ultimate aim of all Hindu thoughts The ultimate aim of all Hindu thoughts is to attain the universal soul or divine is to attain the universal soul or divine wisdom called Brahmanwisdom called Brahman

Hindu’s believe in the freedom to individually Hindu’s believe in the freedom to individually worship and guide own spiritual experience. worship and guide own spiritual experience.

The goals of Hinduism consist of personal The goals of Hinduism consist of personal conduct and righteous living which equals to conduct and righteous living which equals to dharmadharma

Goal to achieve moksha, (liberation) Goal to achieve moksha, (liberation) from endless cycle of rebirths called from endless cycle of rebirths called Samsara and reunite atman with Samsara and reunite atman with BrahmanBrahman

• MAYAMAYA= all forms of existence are = all forms of existence are temporary and illusionarytemporary and illusionary

• SAMSARASAMSARA = endless cycle of reincarnation = endless cycle of reincarnation

• KARMAKARMA = Basic belief of cause and effect = Basic belief of cause and effect (all actions have a consequence)(all actions have a consequence)

• DHARMADHARMA =personal conduct and righteous =personal conduct and righteous livingliving

• MOKSHAMOKSHA= the liberation from samsara and = the liberation from samsara and the uniting of the uniting of ATMANATMAN (human soul) with (human soul) with Brahman (ultimate soul)Brahman (ultimate soul)

– ॐ । असतो� मा सद्गमाय । तोमास� मा ज्य�तितोर्ग�माय । मा�त्य�मा�मा�तो� र्गमाय ।।ॐ । असतो� मा सद्गमाय । तोमास� मा ज्य�तितोर्ग�माय । मा�त्य�मा�मा�तो� र्गमाय ।। – OMOM Asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya, Asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya,

mrityormāmritam gamayamrityormāmritam gamaya – "OM (Lead me) from falsehood to truth, from darkness to "OM (Lead me) from falsehood to truth, from darkness to

light, from death to immortality."light, from death to immortality."

• AumAum (also (also OmOm, , ॐॐ) is the most sacred syllable in ) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism and VedasHinduism and Vedas

• Used in meditation and prayer as sound gives Used in meditation and prayer as sound gives supernatural powersupernatural power

• Represents the original sound of creationRepresents the original sound of creation• To chant To chant ““omom”” will steady and elevate the mind will steady and elevate the mind

• Good luck symbol Good luck symbol representing representing ““well beinwell beingg ””

• Usually illustrated in redUsually illustrated in red

• Used on wedding Used on wedding invitations, drawingsinvitations, drawings

• Used in rituals to bring Used in rituals to bring good luck and protect good luck and protect against evilagainst evil

•4 Paths to 4 Paths to SalvationSalvation

•4 Stages of Life4 Stages of Life•4 Goals of Life 4 Goals of Life •Caste SystemCaste System•PujaPuja•UpanayanaUpanayana

•Vegetarianism Vegetarianism ““holy cowholy cow””

•Arranged MarriagesArranged Marriages•Diwali – Diwali – Festival of LightsFestival of Lights

•Ahimsa – Ahimsa – non-violencenon-violence

•Yoga – Yoga – philosophy and philosophy and exercise together – very exercise together – very spiritualspiritual

• Best known Hindu in worldBest known Hindu in world• Fought to end discrimination Fought to end discrimination

against Indians in South against Indians in South AfricaAfrica

• Tolerant of all religionsTolerant of all religions• Religious ideals on duty, Religious ideals on duty,

truth, non-violence (ahimsa) truth, non-violence (ahimsa) and spiritual liberation and spiritual liberation (moksha)(moksha)

• Negotiated independence of Negotiated independence of India in 1947India in 1947

• Opposed social injustice of Opposed social injustice of Hindu society (ie. Hindu society (ie. untouchables)untouchables)

• Assassinated in 1948 Assassinated in 1948

Works CitedWorks Cited

• Stevens, Anthony (2001), Stevens, Anthony (2001), Ariadne's Clue: A Guide to the Ariadne's Clue: A Guide to the Symbols of HumankindSymbols of Humankind, Princeton University Press , Princeton University Press

• The "oldest living major religion" in the world (Merriam-The "oldest living major religion" in the world (Merriam-Webster 2000, p. 751; Klostermaier 2007, p. 1)Webster 2000, p. 751; Klostermaier 2007, p. 1)