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Hinduism Hinduism: Nuts ‘n’ Bolts • From roughly 1500 BCE – With earlier roots in the Vedas(ancient texts) – Many beliefs and forms of Hinduism exist- no one way to practice – No single founder • Third largest religion (4th is “unaffiliated” is considered) – World’s oldest organized religion – Currently practiced by roughly 15% of global population – Most in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka (Tamils) • 1 million in United States Geography of the Subcontinent • Monsoons- Regular winds create regular cycles of rain – Influence on religion? • River System – Indus, Ganges, Bramhaputra – Ganges or Ganga is a goddess and most sacred river. People bathe in river to cleanse sins and ashes of dead are placed in river. •atman -the individual soul •Brahman • the supreme god or spirit, the world soul • continually creates, maintains, destroys, re-creates the universe •The atman is always one with Brahman but the individual ego creates Maya- the illusion of separation •Major Hindu Gods •Brahma- Creator •Vishnu- Preserver, 10 incarnations •Shiva– Destroyer •“Indian Monotheism,” Monism or henotheism. Different terms to describe a belief in one god that can take many forms (called avatars or incarnations) • literally millions of gods and goddesses Darsana • • • • • To see and be seen by gods/goddesses Bhakti- devotion and worship to a personal god Puja- the act of worship Some go to temples to perform puja- appeals to the senses Murtis- images of a deity (iconic image)- often taken home for worshiping at a home shrine- murti puja • Shiva linga- symbol of god Shiva- indivisible “two in oneness” of male and female- Shiva and Shakti (aniconic image) • Dancing Shiva • Aniconic(non-human like) and iconic(human-like) images (See text ‘The Concept of Darsan in Hinduism”) The Hindu Pantheon Ganesha Lord Krishna Rama Vishnu Sita Hanuman Lakshmi Durga Shiva Buddha Varna: (1) Brahmin- priests (caste) (2) Kshatriyas- nobles, warriors (3) Vaishyasmerchants, land owners, cattle herders, artisans (4) Sudras- landless farmers, labourers (5) Dalit- untouchables“outcasts”-16% of pop.do “impure jobs” Caste is unchangeable in this lifetime(sometimes). Caste is determined by level of rebirth, which is determined by dharma and karma See “Misconceptions” handout Dharma—duty in life; staying within one’s role/caste Karma--a sort of cosmic balance sheet. The total balance of your good and bad actions Karma ripening Samsara—the continuous cycle of death and rebirth; Westerners gave it the name reincarnation Moksha—release from the cycle of Samsara; the re-merging with Brahman after many lives of following the laws of dharma and karma Yoga • Yoga is the spiritual, mental, and physical practice of Hinduism originating in ancient India. • The goal of Yoga is moksha- oneness with God. • Guru- the master, teacher, enlightened one- may be alive or dead • Yogi- practitioner of yoga Hinduism’s Holy Texts • No one, definitive holy book • The Vedas – Oral form from at least 2500 BCE; written between 600 and 300 BCE (caste, animal sacrifice, significant to highest caste – Brahmin) • Upanishads • From 8th cent BCE to 1600’s – Discusses meditation, philosophy, nature of god, etc. - karma, samsara, moksha, Atman and Brahman - “tat tvam asi” • Ramayana – Epic poem from c. 500 BCE • Mahabharata – Epic poem from c. 500 BCE – Includes the Baghavad Gita Battle of Kurukshetra from the Mahabharata Diwali • “Festival of Light” and the major Hindu holiday • Celebrates: – Homecoming of King Rama after exile… OR – The victory of good over evil in every soul…OR – The new harvest…OR… • Also celebrated by Jains & Sikhs • Date determined by lunar calendar – October/November Bindi Dot (also referred to as tika, pottu, sindoor, tilak, tilakam, and kumkum) • Third eye • Seat of “concealed wisdom” • “point at which creation begins and may become unity” • also described as “the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state” • dates back to Vedic period Additional Important Tidbits • Because of the beliefs that all beings have souls and that it is wrong to kill, practicing Hindus are vegetarian • Cattle are sacred, cannot be killed or eaten, first domestication of them in South Asia • Hinduism is an ethnic religion • Ethnic vs. universalizing religions Areas of Conflict(Simplified) • Jammu and Kashmir- Muslim majority states under Indian rule; frequent fighting between Indian army and Pakistani backed separatists • India vs. Pakistan- Hindu vs. Muslim • Rising Hindu Nationalism- BJP party led by Prime Minister Modi; have been connected to antiMuslim acts and violence; destruction of Babri mosque; discrimination against Sikhs and Chrisitans • Caste vs. caste conflict- often targeting Dalits