Hinduism

1. Hinduism Chapter 3

3. The Quest for Discovering Hinduism begins…

4. Hinduism Terms • Indus Valley Aryan Yoga Hinduism • Veda/Vedas Sanskrit Shruti Sutras • Rig Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads • Brahman Atman Deva Avatar • Brahmins Brahmanic tradition Puranas • Karma Samsara/reincarnation Maya • Moksha/ Release/ Liberation Dharma Santana Dharma • Ahimsa Asceticism Puja Mantra • Bhakti yoga Vedanta Tantras Prana • Monistic (Upanishads and Advaita Vedanta) Darshan • Om Brahma Shiva (Sheva) Vishnu • Trimurti Durga Kali Lingam • Caste system: Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudra • Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita • HoliDurga Puja Divali

5. Hinduism: Lecture Overview/ Outline Introduction/ Overview of Hinduism Origins of Hinduism and Vedic Times Classical Age Main Beliefs Main Sacred Texts Main Practices Main Divisions Main Festivals

6. Timeline of Hinduism Highlights 2500-1500 B.C.E Indus Valley civilization 1750-1200 B.C.E. Aryan migration to India 1st Vedas (texts) compiled 900-700 B.C.E. Brahmanas written 400 B.C.E. Vedas completed 600-100 B.C.E. Upanishads compiled 400 B.C.E.200 C.E. Ramayana (present form) 400 B.C.E. –400 C.E. Mahabhata (includes the Bhagavad Gita) compiled 100 C.E.-300 C.E. Laws of Manu compiled; caste system formalized 500-1500 C.E. Puranas recorded 711 C.E. Muslim invasion begins 1556-1707 Mogul Empire rules India 1857-1947 British rule of India

7. Hinduism: Introduction “Hinduism” term: not a single tradition;term applied by foreigners in the Colonial age Dharma: duty, right, natural law, social welfare, ethics, transcendental realization, religion Spiritual expressions/ traditions range from extreme asceticism to extreme sensuality and from heights of personal devotion to deity to abstract Brahmanic philosophy, from metaphysical monistic proclaims to the worship of a multiplicity of deity-images One of the most diverse and complex of all religions Hinduism one of the oldest & most complex of all religions of the world

8. Part II: Hinduism: Overview The Vedas are the oldest Hindu religious texts Karma--moral sense and consequential effect of all action In modern Hinduism, millions of gods and goddesses are worshipped The Laws of Manu are the “blueprint” for Hindu society (codified the Caste system) The Bhagavad Gita is among the great epic poems of Hinduism. Hinduism--the source for three more world religions:Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism

10. Origin of Hinduism I:historical and geographical context • From the 3rd to 2nd Millennium B.C.E. (2500–1500 B.C.E. in the Indus Valley • A civilization had come…and gone

11. Origin of Hinduism II:Setting the Stage Pre-Aryan India: the early Dravidian peoples of India developed a flourished civilization in Indus Valley Archaeology uncovered cities w/ streets, elaborate plumbing, irrigation, and amulets in “yoga”? position and fertility gods & goddesses images Then come the Ayrans…(Aryan theory: see next few slides)

12. Origin of Hinduism III:The Aryan Theory (a) Aryans (“Noble ones” from land of Persia) Indo-European invaders came into the Indus Valley in migratory waves 1750-1200 B.C.E. The highly civilized city culture had worn out their land w/ agriculture, & they declined Aryan migration in Indus Valley: assimilation into the culture The Aryans may have moved in AFTER the decline or they invaded & conquered before the decline

13. Origin of Hinduism IV:The Aryan Theory (a)Invasion into India They spoke an Indo-European language Some Aryans remained in the Iranian plateau where the ancient Iranian religion Zoroastrianism was founded

14. Origin of Hinduism V:Aryan Religion (1) • Best source of knowledge: the Vedic literature • Vedas use “Aryan” to mean a noble person, not a racial category • Polytheistic religion: the worship of personifications of the natural forces: storm, sun, moon, fire, & fertility of soil, as similarly did other Indo-European peoples

15. Origin of Hinduism VI:Aryan Religion (2) • Open air altars • The chief manner of worship of the Aryan gods was sacrifice of animal & diary products, on altars in open places • Agni, the god of fire, was the channel thru whom offerings were presented to the other gods (source: Vedas • The horse sacrifice (the Vedas)

16. Origin of Hinduism VII:Aryan Contributions & Society Early sources reveal Aryan society began to develop into 3 basic classes, varnas:Brahmins-the priests who served the cults Kshatriyas-the chieftains and warriors Vaishyas-the commoners and merchants A 4th group: Shudras, may have been the pre-Aryan conquered people and were not full members in society, but slaves, servants to the Aryans

17. The Vedas

18. The Vedic Era and the Vedas (1) The Vedas: Oldest sacred books of Hinduism Begun as early as 2000 BCE But others date it 1500-400 B.C.E. The Four basic Vedic Books: Rig-Veda-basic mythology of the Aryan gods Yajur-Veda-knowledge of rites Sama-Veda-knowledge of chants Atharva-Veda-Knowledge of sage Atharva

19. The Vedas (2) Each Vedic book contains Mantras, hymns to be sung to the gods These hymn/mantra sections are considered to be the most ancient material, since it is believed that in the case of most ancient religions, these were conveyed, memorized, chanted, and passed from one generation to generation to the next orally before they ever got written down (Hopfe and Woodward p. 85). Together, the Mantra and Brahmana (priestly rites) sections are considered to be the oldest material in the Vedas.

20. Vedic Deities Ingra-god of thunderbolt, clouds, & rain, and ruler of the heaven, receives most of the attention in the Vedas Agni-the god of fire, and god of the priests Varuna-god who presides over the order of the universe & who forgives those who sin Vishnu-at time of the Vedas, he was not an important deity, and so mentioned briefly Post-Vedic Times: Shiva & Vishnu became two of the most popular gods of Hinduism Devi—deity Behind the myriad aspects of divinity, the sages perceived ONE unseen reality

21. Comparative: The Vedas Story of the Flood comparative w/ the Biblical Account (1) • The Vedas, besides hymns to the many Aryan gods, also contain legendary and mythological material from earlier Indian life, such as the Story of Manu:“They brought water to Manu for washing, customary for washing hands. While he was washing, a fish came into his hands. It said to him in word, ‘Bring me up, I shall save you.’ ‘From what shall you save me?’ ‘A flood will carry away all creatures. I shall save you from that flood… The flood will come in such and such a year. Take my advice and build a ship. Enter it when the flood arises, and I shall save you from the flood.’ After rearing the fish, Manu took it to sea. In the year indicated to him by the fish, he acted according to the advice of the fish and built a ship. When the flood arose, he entered it. The fish…

22. Comparative: The Vedas Story of the Flood comparative w/ the Biblical Account (2) • Then swam to him. He tied the rope of the ship to the horn of the fish and thus reached swiftly the Northern Mountain there…. The fish then said, ‘I have saved you. Tie the ship…and descend as the water subsides.’ Thus he gradually descended the slope of the Northern Mountain. The flood carried off all the creatures, Manu alone survived. Wishing for a progeny, he began to worship and do penance. Then he performed a sacrifice of cooked meat. In the waters he offered melted butter, buttermilk, whey, and curd as oblations. In a year, a woman was created out of them. She rose dripping, melted butter collected at her footprints…he continued to worship and perform penance along with her. Through her this race was generated by him. This is the race of Manu. Whatever blessing he desired through her were all conferred on him.” Satapatha Brahmana 1:8

23. The Religion of Vedic Times • The Brahmin priests compiled the Vedas, and were most influential over the religion • Worship of deities through chants, mantras, and sacrifices • Sacrifices, including animals, were still in practice • This period of early Hinduism, being controlled by the Brahmin priests, is sometimes called Brahmanism or Brahmanic tradition

24. The Varna Classes Brahmin (priest) Kshatriya (warrior)

25. The Varna Classes, continued Vaishya (merchant) Shudra (servant)

26. Other Ancient Shruti Texts(after the Vedas) Brahmanas-ritual material: directions to performance of the ritual sacrifices to deities Aranyakas-Forest Treatises-material for hermits Upanishads-Philosophical materials from “highly realized” spiritual masters

27. Brahman: All Encompassing • The ancient sages (rishis) believed that the cosmos was one unified whole, the Absolute Reality, they called Brahman • The Hindu system of thought the belief begins with Brahman • Brahman, the Absolute, Unknowable, Impersonal Reality, pervades all nature • The sages found Brahman in their self-soul, the atman (universal soul)

28. Understanding Brahman and The Atman (1) • All things in creation flow out of the Brahman, and the Brahman is in everything • The atman is the soul in all beings, thus, the universal soul, whose source is Brahman • Some scholars call the atman in humans as the self/ Self • The atman or soul is what transmigrates from one life to the next, and carries the karmic consequences (good or bad) of the previous life into the next life

29. Understanding Brahman and The Atman (2) • Scholars/ Sources Definitions: • Brahman - impersonal, pantheistic world-soul, the Absolute or total reality, union w/ which is the highest goal of the Upanishads • Atman - universal soul Fisher on Atman: inner self, Self, individual soul H. Smith on Atman: hidden self, infinite, the atman-Brahman • “The joyous discovery of the rishis was that they could find Brahman as the subtle self or soul (atman) within themselves (Fisher p. 79)

30. The Upanishads (1):Central Doctrines to all forms of Hinduism • Expresses several doctrines central to all forms of Hinduism • Karma from Sanskrit karma root means “to do or act” now takes on new meaning of consequence of action, and moral grounding • Samsara/ reincarnation, lit. samsara “to wonder across,” referring to souls that leave one body & onto the next, (also called transmigration of souls); each lives many lives until or if released… • Moksha, lit. means “release,” break the cycle of karma & samsara (=“liberation”) and be free from burden of life and merge with the Absolute Reality; the Ultmate Goal: break the karmic cycle/wheel to be free

31. Karma: meaning transformed from Veda to Upanishads in Classical Period Karma originally meant to act, perform, i.e. perform sacrifices (religious/cultic context) in the 2nd mill. BCE era of open-air altar sacrifices Upanishads introduce the concept of karma as it has since come to mean Upanishads introduce the concept of Samsara (wonder-across) soul migration from one life/body to next Karma drives this process, the cycle Every action and every thought had its consequence, marking internally in the person, an effect felt in this life or the next One may be born as a human or animal

32. The Upanishads (2):Overview “Teachings from highly realized spiritual masters” (Fisher) Date from c. 600—100 B.C.E. (Fisher) About 200 Upanishads Some consider these the cream of Indian thought Became the basis of later Hindu philosophy Ancient Indian thinkers preferred to attribute virtue or evil to choices made by individuals

33. The Upanishads(3):Meditation on Brahman & Atman Mystical insights from the rishis (sages) who sought ultimate reality through meditations The Upanishads emphasize meditation as a means of worship, not the worship of deities The rishis taught the outward senses-fleeting; what is real is the all-pervading reality found inside ourselves, called Brahman, and the self/soul (atman) is a part of the Brahman

34. The Upanishads(4):(from Hopfe & Woodward text) The living beings that inhabit our world are really only expressions of the Brahman They are souls (atman) that are a part of the great ocean of souls that make up Brahman Phenomenal existence is an illusion (maya) A person’s individuality apart from Brahman is illusion, a dream, and ignorance The plight of human beings is that we are bound up in this world of illusion & ignorance It is the task of religion to reveal the divine within us and to show us how to live on a new plane.

35. The Upanishads (5):Presumption and Assumptions Some scholars assert that they operate from a monistic presupposition in contrast w/ the polytheism of the rest of the Vedas The Upanishads assume that there is only one reality, the impersonal god-being Brahman. All that is not Brahman is not real. Humans have false knowledge (maya) when they believe that this life and our separation from Brahman are real Fundamental assumption is that there is but one true reality in the universe—Brahman-eternal, infinite, unknowable, sexless, and totally impersonal (Brahman is neuter, lit. means “ever growing”)

36. The Upanishads (6):Influence Tremendous influential for later Hindu philosophy Never extremely popular among the masses, yet its teaching has had wide influence laying a foundation for Hinduism: Karma, Samsara/ reincarnation, Brahman, Atman, “Om” “I will tell you the Word that all the Vedas glorify, all self-sacrifice expresses, all sacred studies and holy life seek. That word is OM. That Word is the everlasting Brahman: that Word is the highest End…. It is the supreme means of salvation….”The Upanishads, trans. J. Mascaro, Penguin Books, 1965

37. Theistic and Divinity ”Within You” Hindu Paths • The Upanishads-not about worship gods, but realizing the divinity within you, & monistic • They were for the few in the BCE times • The masses, and popular religion was still theistic, very polytheistic • In Common era, the popular worship of deities by individuals came to be called Bhakti devotion (and Bhakti yoga)

38. Two Alternative Paths arise out of Hinduism 6th cent. B.C.E., two alternative paths to Hindu sacrificial deity-worshipping arose in India, within the Indian worldview, but challenging deity worship: Jainism & Buddhism These Serious challenges arose when the Vedas were being compiled in the early Classical period Hinduism gradually enveloped these alternative paths attests to the strength of the Hindu religion(s) Question: How did the tolerant attitude of multiple expressions aid Hinduism’s success?

39. Foundations of Hinduism Established by 1st cent. B.C.E. • To the foundational three: Karma Samsara/ Reincarnation, and Moksha, add: • Dharma, within this Indian cultural context of the developing caste system, rooted in the Rig Veda, in which “duty” meant duty to one’s caste/class • Dharma: came to mean not only duty, but right, natural law, social welfare, ethics, transcendental realization, and most generally: religion

40. Hinduism:Main Individual Practices • Brahmin Rituals—source: Vedas • Mantra Chanting--source: Vedas • Puja worship—Hindu ritual worship (for people & priests) source: Vedas • Bhakti--devotion to deities by the popular masses • Meditation—source: Upanishads • Yoga: Raja yoga, Jnana yoga, karma yoga, Bhakti yoga • Asceticism-extreme self-denial

41. Mantras: a Foundation Hindu Practice • Origin from the priestly Brahmanas of the Vedas • Reinforced in the Upanishads • Practiced ubiquitously by all kinds of Hindus of various classes since the Classical into modern times

42. Om (or Aum) • The most sacred syllable, first appears in the Upanishads • The supreme syllable • Regarded as the seed of all mantra Source: Oxford Dict. Of World Religions • The most important sacred sound in the Vedic & Hindu traditions • A symbol and expression of the Brahman Source: Dict. Of Comparative Religion

43. Classical Age of Hinduism • Marked by the compiling of the great classic works of Hinduism and Indian Lit. • 900-700 B.C.E. Brahmanas written • 400 B.C.E. Vedas completed • 600-100 B.C.E. Upanishads compiled • 400 B.C.E.200 C.E. Ramayana (present form) • 400 B.C.E. –400 C.E. Mahabhata (includes the Bhagavad Gita) • 100 C.E.-300 C.E. Laws of Manu compiled

44. The Law of Manu (1)300 B.C.E. – 300 C.E. Another piece of traditional Indian literature produced during the Classical era: *Two Main Things to Remember: 1) Formalized the Indian Caste System 2) Gave divine authority to the Caste System Valuable for its religious teachings as well as what it reveals about Indian life, culture, society during Classical era, but some scholars see it as priestly propaganda They provide the outline for the caste system which are hereditary occupational groups One finds ethical and social standards which were held as ideal during this era

45. The Law of Manu(2) Basic Assumption: the Varna system apparently developed from early Aryan divisions of society Description of the Varna system is based on earlier account in Rig-Veda that describes the gods’ sacrifice of the cosmic man Purusa as origin of Hindu society: “The Brahman [priest] was his mouth. His two arms became the Raja [ruler]; his two thighs are the Vaishya [artisans, merchants, farmers], from his two feet the Sudra [servant] was produced.”

46. The Law of Manu(3) • It is more explicit in the duties of the 4 varna and these 4 social groups are seen as being divinely ordained: “For the growth of the worlds, (Brahman) created Brahmanas (Brahmins), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (manual workers)…” • Members of each group have specific duties (dharma) and opportunities and must obey them only. • The Law also shows the state of understanding of reincarnation at this period • Shows also the effect the religious & philosophical teachings of the Vedas had on Indian society & roots of religious traditions in modern Hinduism

47. Bhagavad Gita (1)400 B.C.E. – 400 C.E. Contained within the Mahabharata (ch. 25-42), the story of the struggle of two leading families in beginning of Indian history, the two of which come together in a battle It’s a great epic poem, a dialog between Arjuna, a warrior, and his charioteer, Krishna.

48. Bhagavad Gita (2) • The Bhagavad Gita means the “Song of God,” and is sometimes referred to by its short title of “Gita” • Term: Avatar: an earthly incarnation of a deity • Considered the concluding statement on Classical Hinduism • A conversation between Krishna & the warrior Arjuna as he ponders the folly, human,& karmic consequences of war. Krishna explains that because Arjuna is a Kshatriya (ruler caste), & obligated to fight, he will not suffer the consequences that members of other castes would in battle

49. Bhagavad Gita (3)Highlights of the Teaching You should perform the duty of your caste, thus avoiding karma (bad karma) Obligations of each caste is raised to the level of religious duties Openness to a variety of means of religious expressions: asceticism, yoga, meditation, devotions to and worship of the gods, obedience to rules of the caste. It is for this reason that Hinduism is often described as the most tolerant of all the world religions

50. Quotes from Bhagavad Gita On the Atman:Some yogis merely worship the devas. Others are able, by the grace of the Atman, to meditate on the identity of the Atman with Brahman. For these, the Atman is the offering, and Brahman the sacrificial fire into which It is offered. When a man is made perfect in yoga, he knows the truth within his heart. The man of faith, whose heart is devoted, whose senses are mastered; He finds Brahman. Enlightened, he passes at once to the highest, the peace beyondpassion.” Bhagavad-Gita, trans. Swami Prabhavananda, Mentor, 1972, Renunciation through Knowledge section