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Transcript
Hinduism Found mostly in India Perhaps the oldest and most complex religion Parts of it are 4000-plus years old?? Diverse and varied From simple animism to elaborate philosophical systems Allows for millions of major and minor gods Source of Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism No single founder Aryans Peoples who migrated into India between 1750 and 1200 BC. Developed a class structure Would lead to the caste system Brought a polytheistic religion to India Personifications of natural forces Sacrifices, including horses! Vedas Oldest sacred books of Hinduism All later Hindu books are considered commentary on them Basic source of Hindu understanding of the universe Written/compiled over centuries Four basic books: Rig-Veda 1000 hymns to the gods Yajur-Veda Materials to be recited during sacrifice to the gods Sama-Veda Verses recited by priests at sacrifices Atharva-Veda Rituals to be used in the home, and popular prayers, spells, and incantations to ward off evil Each of the Vedic books: Four parts Section of hymns (mantras) to the gods Rituals Materials for hermits Upanishads (philosophy) The Upanishads Basis for Hindu philosophy 200 of various lengths 14 principle Upanishads Emphasize meditation as means of worship Teach that people are bound in a world of illusion and ignorance The only reality is the god Brahman All things are an expression of Brahman All else is illusion (somewhat contradicts rest of Vedas--polytheism) Complex and difficult to understand Karma A concept from the Upanishads “to do or act” Every action and thought has consequences These mark each individual internally Effects of this are felt in this life or the next So we reflect the choices made in our past (or in past lives), good or bad Samsara “to wander across” The life force of a person does not die with the body. It “wanders” to another time and body. Western version: “reincarnation” or “transmigration of souls” Thought of as a curse— Forced to live an endless cycle of ignorance and pain Moksha Breaking the cycle of karma and samsara This is the goal of Indian religions Be free from the burden/bondage of life This comes with true knowledge of the illusion of life Requires much study and many lifetimes The Law of Manu Ethical text written between 300 BC and 300 CE Illustrates ethical and social standards Reveals roots of social and religious traditions of modern Hinudism Cyclical view of history Includes Varna system of social stratification: Varna The Brahmin (priest) at top of social strata Raja (ruler) second Vaishya (artisans, merchants, farmers) third Sudra (servants) at bottom Dharma Each caste has its own duties (dharma) Members of lower castes can move up Through reincarnation If follow dharma of caste in this life Can also move down Even to animal or plant level If do evil in this life Four stages of upper caste males Student of the Vedas Marriage within caste Head the household Retreat from society Become hermit Learn non-attachment Become a wandering beggar (sannyasi) Women Constricted social and domestic life No independence allowed Perpetually under the control of males Bear and raise children Jainism and Buddhism 6th Century BC Challenge to mainstream Hinduism Both reject Vedas and the caste system Release is possible for all who live rightly Both too austere to appeal to average Hindus Main teachings eventually absorbed by Hinduism Bhagavad Gita Epic poem Contains much of the philosophy of Indian culture and religion A dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna Arjuna ponders the folly of war Krishna lectures him on the duty of his caste (dharma) Krishna reveals himself as incarnation of Vishnu Religious implications of Bhagavad Gita Duties to one’s caste are religious Bad karma if disobey duties Various ways of release from samsara cycle Asceticism (denial of pleasure), meditation, devotion/worship of gods, obedience to caste duties Vishnu comes to Earth to help humans, whom he loves Post-Classical Hinduism Classical version: “Brahminism” Public worship and sacrifice by priests New version: Simply “Hinduism” Focus on worship of a few major deities Through individual love and devotion No more sacrificial activity by priests Shift in attitudes: Away from classical optimism Toward Post-Classical life-denying pessimism Devotion to 3 major gods The “Trimurti” Each expresses one function of Brahman, who is ultimate reality Creation Destruction Preservation Worshippers of each one tend to attribute all these aspects to that one Also: Devi Great feminine goddess Source of other goddesses Counterpart to Brahman in this way The three: Brahma the Creator Creator of the world Post-Vedic (not in the Vedas) Receives the least attention Few temples No cult of devotees Wife: Sarasvati Goddess of knowledge, poetry, wisdom Shiva the Destroyer Very popular God of Death, Destruction, Disease Reproduction, Sexuality, Dance Ascetics favor him They are destroying their old lives Symbol: Trident Consorts: Kali More terrible than Shiva! Paravati Perfect wife and mother; erotic; fertility Vishnu the Preserver God of love, forgiveness, play Concern for humanity Has appeared in nine avatars (human forms) to help humans Tenth avatar will come at world’s end Judge wicked and reward virtuous Devoted wife: Lakshmi Mediator between humans and Vishnu Guardian of world’s welfare Hare Krishnas: Worship the “Krishna” avatar of Vishnu Vishnu The Way of Knowledge Alternative to worshipping one of the gods Focus on a system of philosophy (darshan) Six variations One variation: Yoga “to join” Central feature: Meditation The physical aspect of Yoga helps free the mind Muslim influences in India India invaded by Muslims beginning in 712 CE Converted many More Muslims in India/Pakistan than anywhere else Influenced India arts, architecture, science But Islam could not be absorbed Complete opposites in religion: Monotheism vs polytheism No images of Allah/many images of gods Sacrifice of cattle/ cattle are sacred All equal before Allah/ caste system 1000 years of coexistence Continuing tensions (India / Pakistan) Modern Hinduism British rule of India (1600s-1947) Abolish “suttee” Widows would burn on dead husband’s funeral pyre Abolish child marriages Christian missionaries Many worked to raise living standards and education of the Indian people Modern Hindu reformers: Ram Mohan Roy (1774-1833) Respected Christianity Monotheist Opposed polytheism of Hinduism Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) Taught that all truth and religion was essentially one Vivekananda (1863-1902) Traveled the world as Hindu missionary Spread Sri’s teachings Impressed American audiences Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) Religious reformer Included elements of Christianity, Islam, etc Political reformer Trained as lawyer in England Civil disobedience to British rule Opposed caste system Called the Untouchables the “Children of God” Caste system in India Dominates all aspects of life in traditional Hindu society Caste determines diet, vocation, place of residence, choice of mate Concepts of purity and pollution: The closer your contact with “pollution” (blood, death dirt)— --the lower your caste’s position. Untouchables: lowest caste Others avoid them but couldn’t live without them and their work “It must be their karma…” Challenges to Hinduism in modern world Democracy in India Challenges old assumptions Islamic Pakistan Urbanization; birth control Technology’s impact on India The Internet (faceless) blurs the caste lines