Philosophical and metaphysical origins
Major philosophical systems
Religious foundations and theistic paths
The Hindu way of life
Hinduism in the modern world
Hinduism
Introduction• Some scholars claim there is no central tradition that
can be identified as Hinduism• The term Hinduism did not become common until the
19th century• A range of practices
that vary according to
region, caste, gender,
and education• The philosophic Brahmanic tradition often referred to
as Hinduism is but one aspect of a larger tradition
Philosophical and Metaphysical Origins
• Brahmanic tradition traces
back to the Vedic age,
thousands of years ago
• The Indus Valley Civilization
– The history and precise
dating of this period is
controversial
• The Vedas– Foundation of upper-caste Brahmanic Hinduism
– Revered collection of ancient sacred hymns
– The Rig Veda is the first & oldest of 4 collections
Major Philosophical Systems
Share • Roots in the vedas• Direct personal experience
of truth thru meditation• Ethics as necessary to
orderly social life (related to karma)• Suffering is due to ignorance of the
eternal self
Major Philosophical Systems (continued)
• Samkhya: Two states of reality– Purusha, the Self– Prakriti, the cause of the material universe
• Advaita Vedanta– Monistic– Based on the
Upanishads• Yoga: raja, jnana,
karma, bhakti– Union with the true Self
Religious Foundations and Theistic Paths
Three major groupings of deities worshipped by Hindus•Shaktas: worship a Mother Goddess•Shaivites: worship the god Shiva•Vaishnavites: worship the god Vishnu
The Epics and Puranas• Illustrate trend
toward personal
love for a deity• Two major epics
– Ramayana– Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad-Gita
• The Puranas– Poetic Sanskrit texts that narrate the myths of
ancient times
The Hindu Way of Life• Ritual: central to Hinduism• Castes, duties, and
life goals– 4 occupational groups:
Brahmins, Kshatriayas,
Vaishyas, Shudras– Untouchables lay outside the system– 4 major goals for a good life: dharma, artha,
kama, moksha
The Hindu Way of Life (continued)
• Life stages: student, householder, meditation/study, renunciation
• The guru: spiritual leader• Women’s duties: dharma,
marital wealth,
sensual pleasure• Fasts, prayers, and auspicious designs:
determined by a complex lunar or solar calendar
Hinduism in the Modern World
• Hinduism has been influenced by contact with Buddhism, Jainism, and later Islam, and Christianity
• Modern movements: currently being challenged by social reform movements
• Global Hinduism: Has spread through immigration and conversion
Hinduism in the Modern World (continued)
• Hindu identity– Some link Hinduism with nationalism– India’s constitution enshrines secularism– According to the Indian Supreme Court, to
be Hindu means [next slide]
Hindu Identity (continued)
• Acceptance and reverence for the Vedas as the foundation of Hindu philosophy;
• A spirit of tolerance, and willingness to understand and appreciate others’ points of view, recognizing that truth has many sides;
• Acceptance of the belief that vast cosmic periods of creation, maintenance, and dissolution continuously recur;
• Acceptance of belief in reincarnation; • Recognition that paths to salvation and truth are many; • Recognition that there may be numerous gods and
goddesses to worship, without necessarily believing
in worship through idols; • Unlike other religions, absence of belief in a specific set of
philosophic concepts.