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Ch3, Sec3-Hinduism Great works of Indian religious literature • Hinduism does not have just one holy scripture, like the Bible, but several. Great works of Indian religious literature • Hinduism does not have just one holy scripture, like the Bible, but several. • Vedas: The Vedas are the oldest, and the holiest, Hindu scriptures. • There are 4 Vedas, of which the oldest is the Rig Veda. • The Vedas are collections of prayers and hymns to the gods, composed orally by the Indo-Aryans between 1500BC-1000BC & passed down orally; eventually they were written down in Sanskrit. They are very poetic, and some parts are difficult to understand. UPANISHADS • Upanishads: philosophical writings that explain Hindu thought, written beginning about 700BC. They set forth Hindu religious ideas more clearly than the Vedas. • They were passed down orally at first, and then written in Sanskrit. Mahabharata • Epics-long poems based on historical or religious themes • Mahabharata- a very long Hindu epic about a war between two sets of cousins, 5 good brothers called the Pandavas, who fight a way with their cousins, 100 evil brothers called the Kauravas. • It is an exciting story of heroes and battles, but also contains philosophical teachings about Hinduism. • It represents the struggle of good against evil. BHAGAVAD GITA • The Bhagavad Gita is a section of the Mahabharata. It is the most famous part, and often stands alone • On the eve of the great battle, the hero Arjuna is full of doubt, realizing that he will be fighting his own relatives. • His charioteer is really the god Krishna. Krishna reveals himself, and explains to Arjuna the nature of the universe. Ramayana • The Ramayana is another epic story. • It is about Prince Rama, and his bride Sita. Sita is captured by a demon and Rama rescues her. • Rama and Sita became the role models for men and women in Hinduism. CASTE SYSTEM • As time went on, the caste system became more elaborate. • The four main varnas: Brahmins, Kshatryas, Vaisyas, Sudras, were further divided into subgroups called jati. • A person was born into his caste, and could not change it. • People married and had their close social relationships within their caste. • Hindus believed that if a person of a lower caste system lived a good moral life, doing his duty, he would be reborn in a higher caste. Caste system • Below the 4 varnas, a fifth group, called the Pariahs, or Untouchables developed. • People avoided them, and they carried clackers so others could get out of the way • They did the lowest jobs, that were regarded as unclean: skinning animals for leather, cleaning sewers, etc. • Today, the status of untouchability has been abolished by law in India. HINDU BELIEFS • Brahman: the divine essence that fills everything in the universe. All the individual Gods are part of Brahman. • Atman: the essence of an individual person, like a soul. The Atman is a little spark of Brahman. • Monism: term for the belief that all things (all “real” things) in the universe are of one essence, and this essence is the same as God. Hindu beliefs • Maya: the illusion of the world around us. What we see around us, the physical world, is an illusion, that is, maya. We must learn to recognize maya for what it is. • Reincarnation: rebirth in another body, human or animal. If someone lives a good moral life, he will move up in the next life. The whole cycle is called Samsara Hindu beliefs • Dharma: one’s moral duty in this present life. • Karma: the good or bad spiritual force created by a person’s actions, that follows you into your next life. If you fulfill your dharma, you get good karma, and move up in the next life. If you life an immoral life, you may move down. Hindu Beliefs • Ahimsa: non-violence, especially to all animate beings • Moksha: liberation of the cycle of rebirth, achieved when the soul has achieved perfection, and is reunited with Brahman. Hindu Gods • The three most important Hindu Gods are: – Brahma, the creator; – Vishnu, the preserver; – Shiva (Siva), the destroyer. All are part of Brahman, the single divine essence. • Sometimes Brahma is thought of as all three; sometimes Shiva is thought of as all three. – Brahmin-a member of the highest caste (human) – Brahman-the single divine essence – Brahma-the individual God, usually thought of as a member of the Hindu trinity. Other Hindu Gods • Ganesha-Elephant deity riding a mouse. • Durga-Mother Goddess • Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance • Avatar: an incarnation of a deity Hindu Beliefs • Some people consider Hinduism polytheistic, because if has many Gods • Some people consider Hinduism monotheistic, because all the Gods are part of the single divine essence, Brahman • Perhaps it is best to say Hinduism is monist, which means that it believes that everything in the universe (all really real things) are part of the same divine essence). Hindu religious practices • Yoga-mental and physical exercises to free the mind of thoughts about the body • Bathing in the Ganges River • Respect for all animals, especially cows • Vegetarianism: many Hindus are vegetarians