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The Evolution of Hinduism
The roots of Hinduism are
diverse, and yet have given
life to two other religions:
Percentage of
Hindus in
World Today
Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism:
1.
altars for sacrifice
and ceremonies
Traditional Flower Offering at
a lingam, Varanasi
Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism
2.
ritual bathing
-center of city was openair “pool temple” run
by priests
Great Bath, Mohenjodaro
Bathing in the Ganges
(modern Hinduism)
Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism:
3.
goddess worship
Lord of
Creatures??
Shiva??
Supreme Yogi??
Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism:
4.
concern for
social
order:
-where lived
based on
occupation
Reconstruction of Mohenjo-Daro
1500 BCE – 600 BCE
Aryan Migration
in the Indus
Valley
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
1. cattle worship
-herdsmen :. valued cattle
-socio-economic status
based on cattle
-sacrifices to gods
(cattle, horses, goats, sheep, grain)
Jaisalmer:
Desert Temple in the heart of
Thar Desert
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
2. Vedic gods
(devas)
-worshiped through
rituals and
sacrifices
Brahma, Siva, Vishnu
(Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebid)
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
3. The Vedas
(“knowledge”)
-instructions on
how to support,
enliven, and
nourish the Vedic
gods
The Vedas
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
4. Mantras
-sacred utterances
of utmost
importance to
ritual
“Om”
The sound of the universe
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
5. Sanskrit
-ancient language of India
“Aryan” -> “Erin” -> “Iran”
“naus” -> “nautical” -> “navigation”
“deva” -> “divine”
Sanskrit alphabet
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
6. There is a
cosmic order to
the universe.
(rita)
-maintained through ritual
Where did I come from?
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Brahma
7. “creator god”
(Brahma)
-spiritual core of:
temple
town
country
universe
all devas
“God”
If Brahma is not a “god”, what exactly is
Brahma?!
What is the nature of the universe?
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
8. Atman
(the transcendental essence of
Brahma = Atman
human life) – “the soul”
What is the
nature of “god”
and my
existence?
moksha
the release from the human
condition that prevents the
union between Brahma and
Atman
maya
the illusionary condition of
everyday existence
samsara
the cycle of birth and death that
makes up our physical existence
(Hindu idea of reincarnation as
it is written in the Upanishads)
What am I supposed to do here?
dharma
one's righteous duty or virtuous path
To answer the question:
But what IS
the “right
thing?!
Live a life that promises worldly joys
and heavenly happiness.
a.k.a… Do the right thing!
Just follow your
dharma and
obey the Vedas
How do I know what my dharma is?
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
9. Caste
– socio-economic class system
-adhere to the social expectations, and
cultural and religious obligations of
your role in society
Lakshmi: (caste goddess)
Goddess of wealth and success
How and why should I obey the Vedas?!
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
9.Brahmins
– priests
-the gatekeepers to Vedic
rituals
-knew mantras and
ceremonies
-were the spiritual
philosophers and
guides
Brahmin priests (today) practicing ancient Vedic rituals
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
10.
Upanishads
-priests started to
ponder the purpose
and meaning of the
Vedas
-through spiritual
philosophy, they
introduced new
concepts
Vedic priests explained the
reason for following one’s
obligations to his or her
dharma and the sacred texts
as “karma”.
karma
Oh wait, I get it! It’s
like good vs. evil!
the ongoing influence of past
actions on the future
NO! Karma is not about wha
is “good” vs “bad”. It is abo
what is “right” vs “wrong”
according to your position
society and the Vedic
What is karma?!
Good Karma:
Swedish Fish
Bad Karma:
Sour Patch Kids
Sacred Texts
Vedas
Ramayana
-oldest Hindu
texts
-four volumes of
spells and
incantations,
stories, charms,
and hymns
-one of the two
great Sanskrit
epics
-depicts discussion
about human
goals, karma, and
moksha
Mahabharata
-one of the
two great
Sanskrit
epics
-depicts the
duties of
relationships
Bhagavad
Gita
-the conversation
between Arjuna
and Krishna
Bhagavad Gita
Vishnu
-maintainer
or preserver
Krishna
Arjuna
-Hindu hero
-great warrior
-friend and
brother-in-law
to Krishna
-a god-child
-a prankster
-a divine hero
Wait… why should I bother following
my dharma and the sacred texts?!
According to the Vedic priests, it
is the only way to break the
cycle of samara (reincarnation).
It is the only way to have one’s
atman reunite with Brahma.
Can there be any other way to attain
moksha?
Actually, we believe there
is!
The Ascetic Roots of Hinduism
1. Shramanas
– “spiritual rebels” during the time the Upanishads
were being written Modern day sadhu, ascetics that practice yoga
-ascetics: practiced
celibacy, poverty,
fasting, exposing
the body to
hardships in an
attempt to achieve
moksha
Wandering Hindu ascetic.
Ommmmmmm…
shramana
s or “strivers” who seek the
“seekers”
inner Atman through meditation rather
than ritual sacrifices
jnana
•knowledge
•Shramanas felt that jnana was more
important than karma
(knowledge more important than action)
Usually sadhus live by themselves,
on the fringes of society, and spend
their days in devotion to their
chosen deity.
•“cultivate detachment from the material
world through ascetic practices”
The Ascetic Roots of Hinduism
2. Yoga
- “union”
Yoga poses
goal of yoga:
- To become one with one’s Atman
Yoga
• Restraint: nonviolence, speaking truth, no stealing,
celibacy, lack of greed
•
•
•
•
Discipline: cleanliness, serenity, devotion to god
Posture: controlled, comfortable firm yoga poses
Breath Control: mind can be controlled by breath
Withdrawal of the Five Senses: as yogini enters
into deeper awareness, witness loss of five senses as
mind retreats into the body
Yoga
• Concentration: as yogini enters deeper awareness,
mind becomes increasingly focused and
concentrated
• Meditation: uninterrupted flow of awareness
• Absorption/Union:
1. awareness of self and surroundings has vanished
2. then attain perfect consciousness—there is nothing left
to reflect in the mind.
The mind has been released!
One ascetic is said to have achieved true
knowledge of the universe through
ascetic practice. His teachings became
the foundation of a new religion,
Jainism.
The Jainist Root of Hinduism
1. Mahavira
– teacher and religious leader
-lived at the same time as the Buddha
-was an Indian king who renounced his throne
and all worldly possessions (including his
clothes) to become an ascetic
-said he achieved complete freedom from
worldly desires after 12 years of strict
austere practice
-rejected the Vedas as an infallible authority in
developing one’s own view of reality
Mahavira
The Jainist Root of Hinduism
2. Ascetism
- Acts of self-discipline,
self-deprivation, and
self-denial as a means
of purifying the self
Jain monk wearing mask.
Jain nun displaying broom.
The Jainist Root of Hinduism
3. ahimsa
The hand with a wheel on the palm
symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahimsa
- the moral principle of
respect for life
- “non-injury”; “nonviolence”
- nonviolence
- vegetarianism
The Jainist Root of Hinduism
4. “sacred cow”
- Spiritual lore has it that
because Jains refused to eat
meat and spread
vegetarianism, cows were
permitted to wander free
without fear of slaughter or
sacrifice
Sacred cow in Calcutta
(photo taken during WWII)
"Friendship to all living forms,
delight in the qualities of the virtuous ones,
unlimited compassion for all suffering beings,
equanimity toward all who wish me harm,
may my soul have these dispositions now
and forever."
-- Jain prayer
Jainist Nonviolence
Synthesis and Review
1. What is meant by the term “democracy in religion”?
2. Why is Hinduism not really a polytheistic religion?
3. What is the ultimate spiritual goal that unites all Hindus?
period of
death
period
of life
(collection
of karma)
period
of birth
period of
death
period
of life
period (collection
of karma)
of birth