Hinduism Religions Originating in South Asia

Timeline • Indus River Valley

Civilization • Aryan Migration to

South Asia; first Vedas compiled

• Vedas completed • Upanishads compiled • Bhagavad Gita

compiled • Laws of Manu

compiled; caste system formalized

• 2500-1500 BCE

• 1750-1200 BCE

• 400 BCE • 800-300 BCE • 200 BCE – 200CE

• 300 BCE – 300 CE

Timeline • Rise of devotional and

anti-caste movements • Shankara organizes

Vendanta • Moghul Empire; mostly

religious tolerance • Britain emerges as

major power in India • Life of Ram Mohan Roy • Life of Sri Ramakrisna • Indian independence

• 600-1600 CE • 788-820 CE

• 1556-1857 CE

• 1700 CE

• 1774-1833 CE • 1836-1886 CE • 1947

The Origins of Hinduism • No identifiable founder • Meaning of the word

“Hindu” oModern meaning oDerogatory term? oSanatana-dharma

Pre-Aryan India • In the Vedas of the Aryans, this

civilization was barbaric and less advanced then their own o In reality…

• Centered on the Indus River • Religion oFertility gods and goddesses oLotus flower

Pre-Aryan India

Aryan India • Meaning of “Aryan” • Migrated from Iran

o Spoke an Indo-European language • “Sanskrit”

• Aryan Society o Brahmins o Kshatriyas o Vaishyas o Sudras or Shudras o Basis for the caste system that developed later

Aryan Religion • Polytheistic • Sacrifices

o Animals o Milk and butter o Soma plant

• Hallucinogenic?

• Basis for the first sacred text of Hinduism o The Vedas

The Vedas

The Classical Era • The Vedas

o Transmitted orally for many centuries oDivided into 4 books

• Rig Veda • Yagur-Veda • Sama-Veda • Athvarva Veda

o Series of hymns and mantras o Important but only studied today by

scholars

The Classical Era • The Upanishads

o These are sections of each of the Vedas o Basis of Hindu philosophy o First mention of the impersonal, god-being of

Brahman o Emphasized meditation over sacrifice as the

proper way to worship the gods o Concepts like the soul (atman), reincarnation, and

karma are introduced o Not popular among most Hindus

• Studied by scholars and intellectuals

Brahman He is without any form, yet dwells inside and outside all things With form and shape, Yet He is entirely free of error, faultless and pure. He is far beyond anything a human body can comprehend. And being the Divine Poet. He is inspiration itself. He maintains peace and harmony because He is both peace and Harmony made manifest. -- Upanishad of the Yajur Veda

The Classical Era • Law of Manu

oOutlined social and ethical standards of early Hinduism

o The system of varnas (colors) was outlined and the concept of dharma (law or duty) was introduced

o In the retelling of the Vedic story of the cosmic man, Purusa, who was divided up by the gods to create human life, the 4 varnas are listed

Law of Manu When they divided Purusa, into how many parts did they separate him? What did his mouth become? What his two arms? What are declared to be his two thighs, his two feet? The Brahman [priest] was his mouth. His two arms became the Raja [ruler]; his two thighs are the Vaishya [artisans, merchants and farmers], from his two feet the Sudra [servant] was produced. The Law of Manu is more explicit concerning the duties of the four varna. It specifies particular occupations for each of the four social groups, which are seen as being divinely ordained. For the growth of the worlds, (Brahman) created Brahmanas (Brahmins), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders) and Shudras (manual workers) from his face, arms, thighs, and feet respectively.

Law of Manu For the Brahmanas (Brahmins), he created teaching, studying, sacrifice, officiating at sacrifice, giving gifts, and accepting gifts. For the Kshatriya, he created in short the protection of people, giving gifts, performing sacrifices, studying, and nonattachment to sense pleasures. For the Vaishya, he created the protection of cattle, charity, performance of sacrifices, studying, trading, lending on interest, and agriculture. The Lord created only one profession for the Shudra: service without envy of the above three castes.

The Classical Era • The Law of Manu oFour stages in the life of a man

• Student • Householder • Hermit • Beggar

oWomen – only one stage in life oProhibitions on the killing of cows

The Classical Era • Bhagavad Gita

o Epic poem o Part of a larger work called the Mahabharata o Contributions to Hinduism

• Perform duties of your caste • Importance of karma • Acceptance of personal forms of religious

expression • Emergence of Vishnu

Post-Classical Hinduism • Emergence of 3 main gods

o Brahma – the creator of the universe o Shiva – god of death, destruction and disease

• But also of human reproduction oRebirth

o Vishnu – god of love, forgiveness and kindness • The “preserver”

• Systems of philosophy o Called darshan o Different ways to be released from the cycle of

birth, life, death, and rebirth

Modern Hinduism • Interaction with

Christianity • Hindu Reformers oRam Mohan Roy oSri Ramakrishna oMohandas Gandhi

3-2-1 Exit Slip • Write down 3 things you learned today

that you did not know before this class. • Write down 2 things about the history

of Hinduism that you would like to learn more about.

• Write down 1 thing you already knew about the history of Hinduism before this class.

Hinduism Beliefs, Practices, and Ethics

Vocabulary • Brahman • Moksha • Atman • Karma • Dharma

Brahman • A state of being • The “Ultimate Reality,” “The Supreme

Being,” “The Supreme Reality,” or the “God-Head”

• Infinite knowledge • Infinite love • Infinite existence • Infinite happiness

Moksha • Release from the cycle of death and

rebirth • Oneness with Brahman • Oneness with the universe • Liberation • Release from the finitude that restricts

humans from the limitless being, consciousness, and bliss

Atman • God within • The infinite center of every life • The hidden self • The inner self • The immortal aspect of mortal

existence • The deepest part of the jiva or

soul

Karma • That which binds one to the

endless cycles of life, death, and rebirth

• The moral law of cause and effect • Cosmic balance • The state of total and absolute

personal responsibility

Dharma • Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “to

sustain” • Duties of a person in traditional Hindu life

based on caste and station of life • Moral and ethical law • Order with laws to govern creation • Religious law that binds humans to the universe • Religious duty and obligation

Hinduism’s Ultimate Goal • To achieve moksha oEnd the cycle of life, death and

rebirth • How? oFollow dharma oEnsure that actions (karma) do not

further separate the atman from Brahman

Moksha Drop in the Ocean Analogy

• The inner self (atman) is

compared to a drop of water and liberation to its merging into the vast ocean which represents the Supreme Soul (Brahma).

• According to the advaita schools, the soul and God are equal in every respect, and liberation entails realization of one's Godhood.

• Thus, one's mistaken sense of individuality is dissolved, and one merges into the all-pervading Supreme.

Why Moksha? • The world in which humans live is but

an illusion; it’s not real. • There is a constant striving for meaning

but humans are fooled by their senses into pursuing meaningless goals.

• Only by achieving moksha can humans escape the false world and achieve ultimate truth.

Samsara or Reincarnation Worn-out garments

Are shed by the body: Worn-out bodies

Are shed by the dweller (atman) - Bhagavad Gita, II:22

- The soul passes through numerous bodies in its journey towards Brahman - Tea Kettle analogy

- Each passage goes through more and more complex life forms until human form is achieved

- Human form brings with the realization of self-consciousness, freedom, responsibility, and effort

What is Karma…Really? • Literal meaning is “work” or “action” • Every event, physical or spiritual, has its cause • Every event, physical or spiritual, has its effect(s) • Each act that is directed upon the world has its

equal and opposite reaction on oneself o Shapes the person’s destiny

• But not fatalism (i.e. fate already decided) o Playing card analogy

Karma • However, the effect is NOT

experienced in the current life. • The consequences are faced in the

next life as potentially a person would be reincarnated at a station or life form FURTHER away from the realization of moksha

Karma and Caste (Varna) • The concept of karma underscores that all actions

are freely chosen. • Therefore, both good and poor choices result in the

rebirth of humans into a particular station in life • Lower castes consist of people with

o jivas that are still working along an upward trail towards moksha

o jivas that have made poor choices in past lives and have moved farther away from moksha.

• Regardless of the effects of karma, it is the obligation for each person to perform the duties and obligations of his/her cast

The Role of Dharma • Dharma is the religious, moral and ethical code of

Hindu religious belief • Influences all human activity • A person's dharma consists of duties that sustain

him, according to his innate characteristics. Such characteristics are both material and spiritual, generating two corresponding types of dharma: o Sanatana-dharma – universal religious law oVarnashrama-dharma – laws pertaining to

that individual at a particular time

Sanatana-Dharma • Examples of concepts associated

with Santana-Dharma o Ahimsa (non-violence) for the priestly class o Compassion for all living things o Seva – spirit of service and selfless work for others o Studying sacred scriptures o Puja – worship in a temple or in one’s home o Practicing one or more of the Yogas

Varnashrama-Dharma • Examples of concepts associated with

Varnashrama-Dharma oPerform the jobs/occupations of

your varna or class oDietary restrictions oMarriage requirements and

restrictions oCustoms relating to social

interactirons with other castes

Exit Slip • What did you find most interesting

about Hindu beliefs, practices, or ethics?

• What are you still curious to find out about Hindu beliefs, practices or ethics?