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Hinduism
Introduction
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Oldest and most complex of all Religions
 3rd millennium B.C.E.
Most diverse and varied religion
Allows for literally millions of major and minor gods, their
temples, and their priests.
Therefore, for the Hindu, the possible religious views are
virtually infinite.
Been the source of 3 other religions Jainism, Buddhism, &
Sikhism
Hindu comes from the Sanskrit name for the river Indus, Sindhu
The term Hindu was not used until Muslim invaders used this
term for the non coverts, Then the British used it, and it is not
until recently that Hindus use this term the same way.
Today substantial Hindu communities exists in India, Southeast
Asia, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America
Origins: Pre-Aryan
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Begins with migratory waves of the Aryan people, “the
noble ones”, in to India during the 2nd millennium
B.C.E.
We know of early civilizations in India around 30002500 B.C.E. but have not deciphered the language to
know if they had any religious structure
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Statues and figures have been found:
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Sitting in lotus position
Fertiltity gods and goddesses
Large ceremonial buildings (possible worship place)
Hinduism may have been influence3d from these early
people
Origins: Pre-Aryan cont…
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Have found many similarities between the Indian Vedic
Literature and the Gaths of Zoroastrianism
Aryan society developed 3 basic classes called varnas
(became the basis of the caste system):
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Brahmins: Priests of the cults (upper)
Kshatriyas: Chieftains and warriors (upper)
Vaishays: Commoners and merchants (middle)
Shudras: Conquered people, slaves & servants
Origins: Aryan Religion
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Polytheistic (multiple gods)
Believed in sacrifices
Because Aryans were nomadic no temples were built
in the early days
 Animals, dairy products (poured onto the god), fire,
juice of soma plant,
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Horse sacrifice: elaborate and expensive, a male horse
roamed and was followed for 1 year, when sacrifice
occurred over 600 other animals were sacrificed also from
bees to elephants.
The Vedic Era:
The Vedas
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Oldest sacred book of Hinduism
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Were developed as Aryans came into India
Exact time frame disputed
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Basic source of understanding the universe
Written in Vedic, predecessor of Sanskrit
Some say created before 2000 B.C.E. and were developing as late as 6th
century C.E.
Others contend development between 1500-400 B.C.E
No way to know exact date of origin
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1st ones were composed and told verbally over many generations
Centuries may have passed between their origin and completion
The Vedic Era:
The Vedas
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Four basic Vedic books
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Rig-Veda (knowledge or sacred lore) (most important)
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Yajur-Veda (knowledge of rites)
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Collection of materials to be recited during sacrifice to the gods
Sama-Veda (knowledge of the chants)
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Collection of 1,000 hymns to the Aryan Gods
Contains basic mythology of these gods
Collection of verses from the basic hymns recited by priests at
sacrifices
Atharva-Veda (knowledge given by the sage Atharava)
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2nd most important
Contains rituals to be used in the home and popular prayers to the
gods
Also has spells an incantations to ward off evil
The Vedic Era:
The Vedas
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Each Vedic book has 4 parts
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Mantras (hymns to the gods) oldest
Brahmanas (ritual materials) oldest
Aranyakas (Forest Treatises) newer
Upanishads (philosophical material) newer
Within the Vedas are basic descriptions and mythology of the various Aryan
and pre-Aryan gods
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Most mentioned god:
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Important story is the Story of Manu
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Indra (god of thunderbolt, clouds, rain, ruler of heaven0
Angi (god of fire & priests)
Varuna (presides over the order of the universe & forgives those who have sinned)
Speaks of the origin of women and the growth of the human race
Only grew are well versed in the Vedic language today
Some gods mentioned in the Vedas are no longer worshiped
The Upanishads
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Becomes the basis for later
Hindu thought
Currently are about 200
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Vary in length 1- over 50 pages
14 of them are considered as
principal
Earliest around 9th cent B.C.E.
2 thought of what they are
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Considered to be the
philosophical expression of
what one finds in the Vedas
It points out disharmony
Other Vedas Upanishads
Polytheistic
Monotheistic
Gives
Gods
instruction on
proper worship of
myriad gods
Sacrifice
of early lit not
important
Only one reality, the
impersonal god-being
called Brahman
All that is not
Brahman is not real
Written as a reaction
to prescribed worship
Meditation=worship
The Upanishads
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Brahman (one true reality in the universe)
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The living beings that inhabit the world are really only expressions of the
Brahman
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Is eternal
Infinite
Unknowable
Sexless
Without past, present, future
Totally impersonal
They are souls that are a part of something bigger
All phenomenal existence is illusion
A persons individuality apart from Brahman (lives, sees, hears, touches, and feels)
is all an illusion, a dream
It is the task of religion to reveal the divine within us and to show us how to
live on the new plane
The Upanishads
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Karma: comes from Sanskrit root meaning “to
do or act”
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In classical period, Indians came to believe that every
action and every thought had its consequence
Marking the individual internally
 An effect felt either in life or in a succeeding one
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Someone with positive qualities = a positive past
A criminal = a negative past
The Upanishads
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Samsara: “to wander across”
Indians believe that the life force of an individual
does not die with the death of the body, but instead
“wanders across”
 Life force moves on to another time and body,
where it continues to live (reincarnation or
transmigration of souls)
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The Upanishads
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Some view samsara as a curse
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One is bound to life in ignorance & pain
Living over and over again through countless generations
Goal of most Indian religions is to break the cycle of
karma & samsara and be free from the burden of life
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This is called moksha
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This is being freed from all bonds
Achieve unity with the Brahman
This is difficult (many lifetimes)
The Law of Manu
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Written 300 B.C.E. - 300 C.E.
Contains ethical and social standards
Roots of many social and religious traditions
that characterize modern Hinduism
Varna system:
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Brahman, Raja, Vaishya, Sudra
Understanding of reincarnation
The Law of Manu
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Stages of life that upper-caste (the upper 3 caste levels) men were expected to
pass through:
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Student (study the Vedas)
Be a householder and marry within his caste
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This is most important
Time of wealth and pleasure
After Grandchildren are grown man may retreat to forest and live as a hermit,
meditating and offering sacrifices
Wandering beggars (sannyasi)
Women are to stay at home under the control and protection of the chief
male of the household.
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Nothing should be done independently
Male dies the sons take over
Meant for children
To be worshiped
The Law of Manu
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10 Characteristics of the moral aims
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Pleasantness
Patience
Control of mind
Non-stealing
Purity
Control of the senses
Inytelligence
Knowledge
Truthfulness
Non-irriatability
Protection of cattle
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Listed as a great sin
Bhagavad Gita
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Epic poem within the longer epic poem Mahabharata
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About the great battle
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Teachings
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Should perform duties to avoid karma cycle of rebirth
Openness to a variety of means of religious expression
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Relates to the stories of notable struggles of notable heroes and gods
and contains much of the basic philosophy of the culture
People can achieve release from life, moksha
Picture of Vinshu as a god who loves and is concerned about
human beings
Ends the classical erain Indian religion
Postclassical Hinduism
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Worship a few major deities in many forms
Worship came to love and devotion to those
gods
Temples were built
Literature tends to center on gods and
goddesses
Gods involved in human affairs
Wives of gods become important (temples
made in honor)
Postclassical Hinduism
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Brahman is seen in three forms or functions
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Called Trimurti
Brahma (creation)
 Shiva (destruction)
 Vishnu (preservation)
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Three Major Gods
Brahma
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Brahma
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Creator of the world
2 temples
No cult devotees
Chief wife: Saraavati
Goddess of Knowledge
Not mentioned in the
Vedas
Three Major Gods
Shiva
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Shiva (god of death)
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Most popular
The destroyer
Not mentioned in Vedas
Believed to be based on Aryan god
Rudra
God of dance
Common symbol is the trident
God of vegi, animal, & human
reproduction
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Death is prelude to rebirth
Mythology depicted very sexually
Cult following, sects have been
created
Main goddess connection is Kali
Three Major Gods
Vishnu
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Vishnu
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The preserver
God of love, benevolence, and
forgiveness
Loves to play (tricks and pranks)
Concern for humanity
Appears in numerous forms on
earth (avatars)
9 different forms that come to the
aid of humankind
He will appear in a 10th form at
time end (punish the wicked,
reward the virtuous)
Has a cult following
Wife is Lakshima (goddess of
fertility and wealth)
Is mentioned in Vedas