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A History of the World’s Religions Thirteenth Edition David S. Noss Blake R. Grangaard Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 3 Early Hinduism The Passage from Ritual Sacrifice to Mystical Union Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Introduction • The term “Hinduism” represents a diversity of faiths and can be conceptualized as a family of religions. • Modern Hindus use the word “dharma” rather than Hindu. • Scholars are more inclined to a narrower definition of Hinduism that separates the Vedic and Brahmanistic periods from Hinduism proper. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • Pre-Aryan India archaeological remains – Mother-goddess figurines – Soapstone seals featuring the bull and buffalo • The Indo-Aryans conquered the Dasas and settled in villages and their culture became more agricultural and they brought with them – – – – – Cows Horses Sheep Goats Dogs Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • Aryan social structure – The Rajah – Warriors – Priests – Head of the family – The wife and mother Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • The Rig Veda – Public rites – Brahman and the brahman’s role – Ritual sacrifice: soma – Sacrifice and cosmic origins – Deities of earth and Sky – Primary Vedic gods – Liturgical deities Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • The Vedic attitude can be described as ritual or devotional henotheism – “temporary flattering elevation of one of many gods to the highest rank that can be accorded, verbally or ritualistically” Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • The other Vedas are dependent upon, or are appendages of the Rig-Veda – Yajur-Veda – Sama-Veda • The Atharva –Veda is more independent and includes charms incantations, curses and spells of great antiquity Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • Magic and rudimentary science (the AtharvaVeda) – Magic spells – Focus on the human body • Vital organs • Body secretions • Bones – Emergence of an informed medical art Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Religion of the Vedic Age • The close of the Vedic period – Vedic literature shows an exuberant and positive people – Priests were growing in numbers and power – The Aryans continued to press eastward and southward – Religious resistance continued – Lifestyles of the governing classes changed gradually Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • The rise of the class system – the Brahmins – the Kshatriyas – the Vaisyas – the Shudras • Brahmin Ascendancy – Occupied the central place of power – Compiled the Brahmanas Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • Public rites were extensive – Grain harvest – Full moon, new moon, beginning of spring, rainy season, autumn – Victories in war – Consecration of kings – Building of altars – The Horse Sacrifice Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • Domestic rites – Simpler than public rites – May take place in the house and use the hearth fire – Morning and evening grain offerings – Monthly offering of pinda in an outside ceremony Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • The Upanishads – Appended the Vedas – Means “sittings near a teacher” – The Shruti of the sacred Hindu literature Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • Ritual interiorized • The trend toward monism • Brahman – Brahman and He-She/It – Manifest and Unmanifest Brahman Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • Brahman and Atman – “That art thou” – Experiential unity – Pure consciousness: Turiya • Cosmic cycles: kalpas Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • First appearance of Reincarnation and Karma in Indian thought – Samsara • Birth—death—rebirth—redeath • Imperishable atman • Transmigration of the soul from life form to life form – Karma • Thoughts, words, and deeds have an ethical consequence • Karma is the cause of what is happening in one’s life now Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • Caste in religious dogma – Imposed by the Brahamins – May have replaced a more complex system – Four varna and the outcastes – Linked with the law of karma Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • The need of a way of release – Decline in the positive mood expressed in the Vedas – Disaffection grew • The rise of the caste system • Reincarnation and the Law of Karma • Asceticism Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Brahmanism, Caste, and Ceremonial Life • Moksha: liberation from the cycle of samsara Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.