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Hinduism. A Hindu is…. “Any Indian who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jew.” (Republic of India, Hindu Family Law) Term coined by Europeans circa 1800s to describe India’s most common patterns of religious thought and behavior. Hinduism is….
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A Hindu is… • “Any Indian who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jew.” (Republic of India, Hindu Family Law) • Term coined by Europeans circa 1800s to describe India’s most common patterns of religious thought and behavior.
Hinduism is… • A collection of diverse practices with many sects. • A polytheistic religion originating in India.
Goals of Life • Moksha = release from the cycle of death and rebirth. • Kama = sexual love. • Artha = success in worldly pursuits. • Dharma = ethical conduct.
3 Historical Ages • Age of the Vedas 2500 BCE - 600 BCE • Age of the Epics 600 BCE - 200 CE • Age of the Upanishads/Vaishnava Movement 7th - 12th centuries CE
Age of the Vedas • 2500 BCE - 600 BCE • The Vedas are the most sacred of Hindu scriptures, common to all sects of Hinduism.
Age of the Epics • 600 BCE - 200 CE • The literature originating during this period is less authoritative but still very influential. • Bhagavad-Gita written during this period.
Age of the Upanishads • 7th - 12th Centuries CE • Persian and Muslim invaders and influences • These new influences resisted assimilation, but resulted in new tendency in Hinduism toward monotheism.
Spread of Islam into India Note especially the Punjab region in the NW 1200-1400 CE
Religious Texts • The Vedas • The Upanishads • The Bhagavad-Gita
The Vedas • Rg Veda • Sama Veda • Yajur Veda • Atharva Veda * All sects of Hinduism share the Vedic texts.
Rg Veda • Lyric hymns (sukta) to various deities. • Earliest portions written circa 1200 BCE • Mostly devotional and laudatory. • The sacrificer calls upon the gods through his singing and asks for some blessing.
Sama Veda • Hymns relating specifically to soma sacrifice. • Soma = a ritual inebriating drink. • All but 75 of the verses in the Sama Veda are found in the Rg Veda.
Yajur Veda • Sacrificial prayers • The Rg Veda, Sama Veda, and Yajur Veda form the Trayi Vidya, or “3-fold knowledge.”
Atharva Veda • A lesser collection of hymns, not included in the trayi vidya. • Includes hymns intended for healing, battle, and medicinal charms as well as some hymns of praise.
The Pantheon of Gods • Thousands of gods. • Brahman = Ultimate Being • Hindu Trinity • Shiva = Destroyer • Vishnu = Preserver • Brahma = Creator • The gods have many incarnations, spouses, progeny, and aspects. Vishnu
Vishnu the Boar Rescuing the earth from the oceans. Vishnu in this incarnation is called Varaha.
4 Estates ~ Varna • Brahmin (priest class) • Kshatriya (warrior/king class) • Vaishya (merchant class) • Shudra (serf/peasant class) 5) Harijans (untouchables) <-- not used by all
What’s Next? • Week 3 Handout will be ready Friday. • Monday next week will be devoted to the Eastman Hinduism readings. • Friday’s film is Monsoon Wedding • It’s time to reserve your tickets for the Rosza events.