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Hinduism
 Word "Hindu" - root derives from Sindu or Indus River, no single
founder, called Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Law
 "India" also, Hindustan, in 13th Century
 Originally a secular term, applied to all on sub-continent
 Subsequently applied to those who did not embrace
Abrahamic, Sikh, or Buddhist religions (towards end of 18th
century
 Before 1500 BC, called "Historic Veda Religion"
 Vedas record the liturgy connected with the rituals and
sacrifices performed by the 16 or 17 shrauta priests and the
purohitas. (priests) Vedas are foremost in authority
The canonical division of the Vedas is fourfold (turīya) viz.
 Rigveda (RV) The Rigveda (Sanskrit: ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a
compound of It is one of the oldest extant texts in any IndoEuropean language. Philological and linguistic evidence
indicate that the Rigveda was composed in the north-western
region of the Indian subcontinent, roughly between 1700–1100
BC[4] (the early Vedic period). There are strong linguistic and
cultural similarities with the early Iranian Avesta, deriving from
the Proto-Indo-Iranian times, often associated with the early
Andronovo (Sintashta-Petrovka) culture of ca. 2200-1600 BC.
 Yajurveda (YV, with the main division TS vs. VS) The
Yajurveda (Sanskrit यजुर्वेदः yajurveda, a tatpurusha compound
of yajus "sacrificial formula', + veda "knowledge") is the third of
the four canonical texts of Hinduism, the Vedas. By some, it is
estimated to have been composed between 1,400 and 1000
BC, the Yajurveda 'Samhita', or 'compilation', contains the
liturgy (mantras) needed to perform the sacrifices of the religion
of the Vedic period, and the added Brahmana and Shrautasutra
add information on the interpretation and on the details of their
performance.
 Sama-Veda (SV) The Samaveda (Sanskrit: सामर्वेदः, sāmaveda,
from sāman "melody" + veda "knowledge" ), is second (in the
usual order) of the four Vedas, the ancient core Hindu
scriptures. Its earliest parts are believed to date from 1000 BC
and it ranks next in sanctity and liturgical importance to the
Rigveda. It consists of a collection (samhita) of hymns, portions
of hymns, and detached verses, all but 75 taken from the
Rigveda, to be sung, using specifically indicated melodies
called Samagana, by Udgatar priests at sacrifices in which the
juice of the Soma plant, clarified and mixed with milk and other
ingredients, is offered in libation to various deities.
 Atharva-Veda (AV) The Atharva Veda, while undoubtedly
belonging to the core Vedic corpus, in some ways represents
an independent parallel tradition to that of the Rigveda and
Yajurveda. It incorporates much of early traditions of healing
and magic that are paralleled in other Indo-European
literatures.
 Large body of texts discuss theology, philosophy, mythology
relevant to dharma (religious living)
 Other major scriptures include the Upanishads, Purāṇas and
the epics Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa. (late BC, early AD)
They contain mythological stories about the rulers and wars of
ancient India, and are interspersed with religious and
philosophical treatises. The Bhagavad Gītā, (Gita) The content
of the Gita is the conversation between Lord Krishna and
Arjuna taking place on the battlefield before the start of the
Kurukshetra war. a treatise from the Mahābhārata, spoken by
Krishna, is of special importance.
 Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu (supreme god)
 Buddhism teaches that nirvana (free from suffering, union with
god) can be attained without authority of Vedas (including
Caste System)
 Caste determined by Karma - In theistic schools of Hinduism,
humans have free will to choose good or evil and suffer the
consequences, which require the will of God to implement
karma's consequences
 Brahmins, (teachers) the Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), the
Vaishyas (agriculturists and traders), and Shudras (service
providers, laborers).
 "Untouchables" outside of caste, called Harijans by Gandhi
 Folk Hinduism, as based on local traditions nominal Hinduism
mixed with Animist practice and cults of local deities at a
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communal level and spanning back to prehistoric times or at
least prior to written Vedas.
Vedic Hinduism as still being practiced by traditionalist
brahmins (for example shrautins).
Vedantic Hinduism, for example Advaita (Smartism), as based
on the philosophical approach of the Upanishads (pre-Buddhist
philosophical texts asserting the union of the Brahman and the
Atmen).
Yogic Hinduism, especially that based on the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali. The Yoga-sutras acknowledge the Personality of
Godhead in an oblique way, but only as a helper whom the
advancing yogi can utilize. Isvara-pranidhanad va: "Devotional
meditation on God is yet another means of achieving
concentration." (Sanskrit, Pāli: योग yóga) refers to traditional
physical and mental disciplines that originated in India.
"Dharmic" Hinduism or "daily morality", based on the notion of
Karma, and upon societal norms such as Hindu marriage
customs. According to Hinduism, marriage is a union between a
male and a female with a commitment so that they can pursue
Dharma, Artha (possessions) and Kama (physical desires)
together. It joins two families. It is at once a gateway to earthly
life of pleasure, progress, prosperity and joy as it is also an altar
of elevation to a level of spiritual experience. Eight kinds of
marriage are enumerated in Manu Smrti III.20-34, these are
Brahma Vivah: In Brahma marriage once the boy completes
his Brahmacharya Ashram (student hood), he is eligible to get
married. His parents then approach the parents or guardian of a
girl belonging to a good family and same Varna and ask them
for the hand of their daughter for their son. The father of the girl
also carefully chooses the groom who is well versed in Vedas
and of a noble character. This is how a Brahma marriage was
arranged. There was no dowry system at that time; a girl came
with two garments and a few ornaments only. According to
Dharmashastras, "Brahma Vivah" is the best marriage among
all.
Daiva Vivah: If the girl is groomed with ornaments and married
to a priest during a sacrifice, it is called Daiva Vivah. In this type
of marriage the girl's family wait for a reasonable period for a
suitable man for their daughter but when nobody turns up they
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go looking for a groom in such places where a sacrifice is being
conducted. According to the Dharmashastra, Daiva marriage is
considered inferior to Brahma marriage because it is
considered degrading for the womanhood to look for groom.
Arsha Vivah: In this type of marriage the bridegroom gives a
cow and a pair of bull to the guardian of girl. Marriages of this
type used to happen because the parents of the bride couldn't
afford the expense of their daughter's marriage at the right time
according to the brahma rite. So the girl is married off to an old
sage. The cows, which were taken in exchange of the bride
shows that even the groom does not have any remarkable
qualities. According to sastras noble marriages had no
monetary or business transactions so this kind of marriages
were not considered noble.
Prajapatya Vivah: In this type of marriage, the bride's father
goes in search for a groom for his daughter. The protection of
the bride or daughter is handed over by the father to the
bridegroom during the Panigrahan ceremony or the acceptance
of the bride's hands. The actual wedding ceremony takes place
after Panigrahan.
Gandharva Vivah: However when a man and a woman marry
with each others consent but may not have the consent of their
family then this wedding is called Gandharva Vivah or 'love
marriage'.
Asura Vivah: In the Asura type of marriage the groom is not at
all suitable for the bride . In no way he is a match for the girl but
the bridegroom willingly gives as much wealth as he can afford
to the bride's parents and relatives. In Arsha type cows are
given in exchange for the bride but there is no compulsion like
the Asura type. Even the groom is also not so rich and powerful
like his counterpart in Asura type.
Rakshasa Vivah: If a bride is taken by force and then
persuades her to marry. This is not considered as the right kind
of marriage as you are forcing somebody to marry.
Paishacha Vivah: In this type the girl's wish is not considered
whether she wants to marry or not instead she was force to
marry and even the bride's family is also not given anything in
cash or kind. This kind of marriage was later prohibited. It is
considered as the most inferior type of marriage.
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 Bhakti or devotionalism, especially as in Vaishnavism. a
tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its
worship of Vishnu or his associated avatars, principally as
Rama and Krishna , as the original and supreme God
 Main gods Vishnu, the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the
master of—and beyond—the past, present and future, the
creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports,
Brahma the Hindu god (deva) of creation and one of the
Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva] In the Shaiva
tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God. In the
Smarta tradition, he is regarded as one of the five primary
forms of God.[3. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the
father of Mānu, and from Mānu all Hindus are descended. &
Shiva
 Dots (Bindi) Center of forehead spiritually significant. Sign of
marriage (on women)
MOGULS
 was an Indian-Islamic power that ruled a large portion of the
Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, invaded and ruled
most of South Asia by the late 17th and early 18th centuries
and ended in the mid-19th century
 Taj Mahal
GANDHI, Mohhandas Karamchand 1869-1948
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Satyagraha (Ahimsa) earliest references in Vedas
Bapu (Father)
Independence 1948
Split between India & Pakistan