Download The Hindu Tradition

The Hindu Tradition
History
Dravidian
(Pre-Aryan)
2500BCE
Indo-Aryan
(Vedic)
2500-500BCE
Classical
Hinduism
400BCE-f.
The Vedic Period
• Sacred rites and rituals require a ritual expert who is
trained in making offerings or sacrifices in accordance
with the sound of sacred words. This is how things are
done properly
– Pandit-one who chants sacred texts by memory at
official religious sacrifices.
• Vedas (knowledge/vision): written in Sanskrit, these are
the earliest and most revered texts in Hindu traditions.
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Composed between 1500 and 500 BCE (Vedic Age)
The Vedas:
• Composed somewhere around the 2nd millenium BCE
• 4 Works all based on the hymns of the rishis (seers) which
were compiled and written by brahmins.
– Rg Veda (The Veda of Verses)
• Oldest and most important; collection of hymns (samhitas) to the early
deities/devas (shining ones) including, for example, Indra (god of war),
Varuna (god of law), Maruts (wind), Ushas (dawn), and Agni (god of
fire). These devas give rise to the Trimūrti (trinity of deities) of Hindu
cosmology
– Sama Veda (The Veda of Chants)
• Anthology of mantras drawn from Rg Veda and rearranged for
ceremonial musical performance
– Yajur Veda (The Veda of Sacrificial Prayers)• Formulas used at sacrifices
– Atharva Veda (The Veda of the Fire Priests)
• Magic spells and incantations of folk religion
• Contents of the Vedas
– Shruti (“that which is heard”)-implies non-human
source /divine source of revelation; śruti/shruti
contain the eternal truth of the Rta (force that sets
universe in order)
• Written for adult males of 3upper classes (twice-born)
– Smriti (“remembered”): mix of divine inspiration and
human composition. Less authoritative than Shruti,
but also less restricted. Include some of most well
known tales including the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata which inlcludes the Bhagavad Gita (Song
of the Lord)
Upanishads and Vedanta
• Vedanta is the theological tradition inspired by
the Upanishads, understood as the fulfillment or
completion of the Vedas, bringing them to their
highest purpose.
• The Upanishads (composed between the 8th and
3rd centuries BCE) and the Aranyakas are part of
the philosophical/spiritual division (as opposed to
the ritual texts/hymns) of the Vedas that speak of
universal spirit and the individual self.
Bhagavad Gita
• The Gita is part of the Mahabarata, a great Hindu Epic.
– 700-verse poem
– Conversation between Arjuna and Krishna (avatar of
Vishnu disguised as Arjuna’s charioteer).
– Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of duty and
devotion
– Epitomizes the 4 ways of liberation the 4 ways to liberation
taught in Hinduism:
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Meditation
Selfless action
Wisdom
Loving devotion
Philosophical Tradition of Hinduism
• Nature of Existence
• Problem of Existence
• Solutions to the Problem of Existence
Nature of Existence
• Universe is without beginning and end/Cycles
of Existence/Yugas (ages move in cycle)
– 4 major ages/periods of time
1st age-Cow with 4 feet on ground
2nd age-Cow with 3 feet on ground
3rd age-Cow with 2 feet on ground
4th age-cow with 1 foot on the ground
– currently in the 4th and worst—unstable,
ignorance, inability to see the truth)
Nature of Existence, ctd.
• What is the nature of the atman?
– When body dies, atman remains and is
reincarnated in samsara.
– Atman is not just energy. It is unique.
Central Problem of Existence
• Rebirth according to karma until one acheives
moksha
• How do you get out of samsara?
– Achieve liberation or moksha
– Find the answers on how to accomplish this through
the Vedas
– Karma-consequences (not fate) for the things you do
that travel with your atman and determines where
you are reborn/shapes your rebirth in samsara
– Dharma (that which is upheld)-moral and social duty;
violating your dharma generates bad karma
Solutions to the Problem of Existence
• 4 paths to moksha associated with history of
Hinduism
1. Ritual/Sacrifice
2. Philosophical
3. Social
4. Devotional
From Poets to Priests: Ritual/Sacrifice
• Through proper rituals and ritual sacrificesperformed by ritual priests/experts, brahmins,
one can be properly ordered with the universe.
Performance of the rituals in accordance with
laws of the universe occur independently (to
some extent) of divinities. Divine beings may
receive some measure of sacrifice but primarily
for the atman.
Why might this vedic ritual system be problematic?
Philosophical Response
• Some of these priests begin to see the external
physical sacrifice as possible metaphorically
through personal austerities such as meditative
and physical offerings. Many of these became
renunciates, leading an increasingly austere or
ascetic life as a means of internalizing the ritual
sacrifice. Austerities become more important
than the vedas for these renunciates or “forest
dwellers”, initiating a speculative period. –this
raises questions (leads to 6 philosophical systems,
darshnas, about the body and its relationship to
the atman)
Social Solution
• Varnashramadharma: moral and social duty as
determined by caste and life stage.
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1. Priests/brahmins
2. Warriors/shakya
3. Merchants
4. Servants/slaves (shudras)
Untouchables/outcasts
• The social solution to achieving moksha means
you don’t have to have to become a renunciate or
follow a guru.
Devotional/Bhakti Period
• Defining character of Classical Hinduism
• Devotion to gods and goddesses will help one
fulfill their duties and obligations and thereby
achieve moksha
• 3 primary gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
• Millions of gods but always related/part of
one either Vishnu, Shiva or Devi (goddess(es))
Om/Aum
• The power that pervades the
Universe/Brahaman is held together in the
sound of the aum.
Gods
Trimurti (3 forms)
Brahma: Creator
Vishnu: Sustainer
Shiva: Destroyer
Vishnu (protect and preserve)
Avatars of Vishnu
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1. Matsya (the fish) saves ancient Hindus from flood
2. Kurma (the tortoise): rescued people from tumultuous ocean
3. Varaha (boar): slays demon Hiranyaksha
4. Narasimha (half-man;half-lion) slays demon Hiranyakashipu
5. Vamana (dwarf): tricks demon king Bali
6. Parashurama (Rama with Ax): comes to conquer earth
7. Rama (Present in Everything): embodies right way to live
8. Krishna (source of Dharma): vanquishes wicked and restores
eternal law
• 9. Buddha (The enlightened One): brings enlightenment to the
world
• 10. Kalki-avatar yet to come will arrive at end of our current yuga
riding a white horse
Rama (7th avatar)
Krishna (8th avatar)
• Krishna (pictured with Radha)
Baby Krishna
Shiva (destroyer/ushers in new
creation)
Shiva: cosmic dancer
Other popular gods
• Ginesha: Remover of Obstacles
Devi/Shakti “The Goddess”
• Goddesses appear in many forms. They can
be helpful and auspicious or malevolent and
dangerous.
• Shakti=positive power; often coupled with
male gods
• Durga= power of violence
• Goddesses may be portrayed differently
depending on whether they are exhibiting
Shakti or Durga
Other goddesses
• Saraswati: goddess of the arts, knowledge,
and music
Kali
• Kali is a fierce goddess infused with Shakti and
Durga; can protect like as a mother goddess
Other goddesses
• Lakshmi: goddess of wealth and
beauty/prosperity
Hindu Worship
• Puja: daily ritual worship often in form of food
offerings
• Prayer
• Reciting texts
• Telling stories of the gods
• Chanting or singing prayers or devotional songs
• Meditating on a mantra
• Murtis: embodiments of the gods/houses of the
gods as idols, icons, or other objects to be
worshiped
Pilgrimage
• Darshana: a visit to a temple or a pilgrimage
for/to a deity or guru
Hinduism in Modern India
• http://video.pbs.org/video/2204103677/
Hinduism in America
• Part 1
http://video.pbs.org/video/2283071363/
• Part 2
http://video.pbs.org/video/2283099390/