Hinduism

Left: Indus Valley seal depicting possible prototype of later Hindu god, Shiva (right).
Vedic Gods
Some Vedic Gods of the elements: Indra, storm god; Varuna, sky god, guardian of
cosmic order; Ushas, goddess of dawn; Agni, god of sacrificial fire messenger,
purifier; Soma, intoxicating power; Surya, sun god (above)
From herdsmen to settlers: changes over time
Vedic era nomadic herders: sacrificial ritual and elemental gods
Later Vedas and Upanishads: farms and villages: towards a reflective life.
Meditational ,philosophical. Forest dwellers, ascetics.
Brahman: monistic. absolute cosmic power. Verily, this whole world is Brahman.
Atman/Brahman: self realised as one with the ultimate. That thou art, Svetataku. The seed
contains the invisible essence of life.
Nirguna Brahman (without attributes)
Saguna Brahman (with attributes): Shiva (and goddess consorts Durga, Parvati , Kali), Vishnu
(consort Lakshmi; 10 avatars esp. Krishna and Rama).
Yet all gods are aspects of the One.
The Hindu Scripture
Shruti (That Which is Heard)
1. Samhita - collection of hymns.
Rig-Veda (hymns) ca. 1500 - 900 BCE
Sama-Veda (Chant)
Yajur-Veda (Sacrifice)
Arthava-Veda (magical spells and incantations)
2. Brahmanas ca. 850 BCE - key concepts: Varna (caste).
Aranayakas ca. 500BCE
3. Upanishads Vedanta ca. 500BCE - Philosophical works.
Key concepts Brahman, Atman, Maya, Yoga, Nirvana
Smriti (That Which is Remembered)
1. Dharma Shastras -conduct, hygiene, administration
Laws of Manu ca. 200BCE
2. Puranas and Epics - popular literature
Bhagavata Purana, glorifying Vishnu and Krishna
Suta Samhita, glorifying Shiva (advaita philosophy)
Ramayana
Mahabharata (incuding the Bhagavadgita).
3. Darshanas - the 6 schools of philosophy
4. Agamas or Tantras (sectarian scriptures)
Adapted from V. Raghavan in K.W. Morgan, The Religion of the Hindus.
Some Hindu Principles
4 aims of life: kama (pleasure), artha( worldly success), dharma (duty),
moksha (release, bliss).
4 stages of life: student, householder, forest dweller, renunciant.
4 paths to moksha: jnana yoga (knowledge), karma yoga (action), bhakti
yoga (devotion), raja yoga (meditation).
4 classes (varna) of society: brahmins (priestly caste),ksatriyas(warrior
caste, rulers), vaishyas (merchants), sudras (servants).
Untouchables.
Rama
and
Sita
Ramayana
Rama, Sita, Lakshama, and
Hanuman the Monkey God
Vishnu the Preserver
100_0333.JPG 100_0333.JPG
Shiva as Nataraj
The Goddess Durga
Durga
Durga, Ganesha, Saraswati
Brahma
Kali
Ritual: Bathing at Varanasi
Preparing for Ganga Puja, Varanasi
Puja
Puja (act of worship)
8evl
lndus valley, c. 3000 8CL: ferullLy gods/goddesses, yoglc pracuces,
reverence for anlmals, purlcauon by waLer, relncarnauon.
Aryans, c. 1200 8CL: elemenLal gods (lndra, Agnl, varuna, Soma, eLc).
8lLual re sacrlce. vedas dellvered by seers, rlshls: hymns, chanLs,
lncanLauons - 'vedlc Lra'.
8rahmlnlsm: prlesLly conLrol, lncreased rlLual. CasLe sysLem [usued by ldeas
of karma, relncarnauon.
hllosophy: ulumaLe Cod -8rahman. ALman/brahman = ulumaLe goal:
LruLh, moksha, release from round of blrLh and deaLh (samsara).
1erms: kama (pleasure), arLha ( worldly success), dharma (duLy, law),
moksha (bllss ,release), karma (acuon, work, resulL), bhaku (devouon),
[nana (knowledge).
Cods of '8rahmlnlc era' and 'classlcal Plndulsm": 8rahman (lnnlLe),
8rahma (creaLor god), vlshnu (preserver ,wlLh 10 avaLars or lncarnauons,
esp. krlshna, 8ama), Shlva (desLroyer, ausplclous, symbol llngam, shaku -
female energy, kall, uurga, arvau eLc).
Worshlp
Cne god or many - all aspecLs of 8rahman. 8ellglon of lncluslon, Lolerance.
lorms of worshlp: lndlvldual, home shrlnes or Lemple, congregauonal,
bha[ans (songs), fesuvals, chanLs, pllgrlmage.
Ceremonles: pu[a -oerlngs ,owers, food, lncense (prasad). Aaru: clrcllng
of sacred ame, boLh domesuc and Lemple. rlesLs auend Lo Lemple
delues: dresslng, baLhlng, anolnung.
Samskaras: rlLual ceremonlal rlLes, llfe passages, eg: blrLh, namlng, halrcuL,
marrlage, deaLh. urlcauon and blesslng.
llgrlmage: sacred spaces (urLha, crosslng place). 1emples, rlver [uncuons,
mounuans, caves, rlver source, blrLhplace of salnLs or myLhlc heroes and
gods, eLc.
Sacred ume: yugas, or cycllc eras of ume, annlversarles of myLhlc Lales,
salnLs blrLhs/deaLhs, seasonal rounds. LLernal ume - noL llnear.
lesuvals: Many seasonal and myLhlc fesuvals, eg, kumbh mela (plLcher
fesuval), dlwalal (fesuval of llghLs), 8amllla (enacLmenL of 8amayana),
uurga pu[a (worshlp of warrlor goddess uurga).
1he Lplcs
MahabharaLa (lncludlng 8hagavadglLa)
8amayana