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Hindu Traditions Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. REL 117 Introduction to World Religions Berea College Spring 2005 1 WHO IS A HINDU? • • • 1. 2. 3. Hindu = from Persian Hind (India); originally ethnic, not religious, label Since medieval period, denotes person who is part of a broad set of devotional, philosophical, and scriptural traditions rooted in ancient India “Hinduism” = commitment to dharma (moral duty) based on… varna (one’s social role) and… ashrama (one’s life stage) 2 ANCIENT ROOTS OF HINDUISM • • • “Indus Valley civilization” (c. 2500-1500 BCE) – urban, agricultural, polytheistic, matriarchal? “Aryan invasion” (c. 1500 BCE) – nomadic, pastoral, polytheistic, patriarchal Indo-Aryan (Vedic) society (c. 1200-200 BCE) -- divided into 4 hereditary occupational divisions (varņas = colors): 1. Brāhman (priests) 2. Kshatriya/Rājanya (warrior-rulers) 3. Vaiśya (merchants and artisans) 3 4. Śūdra (peasants) KARMAMARGA: THE VEDAS • • Brāhman authors edit oral liturgical traditions, producing Vedas (“knowledges”), c. 1200-600 BCE – concerned with proper action in ritual 4 collections (samhitās) of Vedas: 1. Ŗigveda (ŗic = praise stanzas 2. 3. 4. sung by priests in ritual) Sāmaveda (sāman = songs sung by priestly entourage) Yajurveda (yajus = short incantations uttered by priests’ assistants in ritual) Atharvaveda (therapeutic spells and hymns used by atharvans = healers) 4 JÑANAMARGA: THE UPANISHADS • • • 1. 2. 3. Later Vedic texts (c. 1000-800 BCE) show interest in inner truth underlying outer ritual Upanişads (“sitting down close at hand,” c. 600 BCE) record master-disciple dialogues related to quest for inner knowledge Upanishadic goals: Realize unity of Brahman (world-soul) and ātman Avoid actions (karma) that promote selfishness and maximize selflessness Through knowledge of one’s true self and positive karma, attain moksha (liberation from samsara [cycle of rebirth] and full union with Brahman) 5 BHAKTIMARGA: THE EPICS AND PURĀŅAS • • 1. 2. 3. • Dissatisfaction with elite, intellectual, impersonal spirituality of Upanişads leads to renewed interest in popular, emotional, personal spirituality of bhakti (devotion) (c. 200 BCE-400 CE) New gods appear in multiple avataras (incarnations): Vishnu (best known as King Rama and Lord Krishna – associated with compassion, heroism, and mischief) Shiva (both creative and destructive; associated with luck, death, fertility) Devi (“Great Goddess,” known in many forms – associated with luck, death, and fertility) Goal of bhakti = moksha through selfless performance of dharma and selfless devotion to deity 6 330 MILLION GODS, 3 PATHS, 1 TRADITION • • Infinite number of deities, yet only one universal being Trimurti (“triple form”): 1. 2. 3. Brahma the Creator Vishnu the Preserver Shiva the Destroyer • Infinite number of ways to salvation, yet three basic paths: 1. 2. 3. Karmamarga (action) Jñanamarga (knowledge) Bhaktimarga (devotion) • Infinite number of sources of truth, yet two basic scriptural categories: 1. Shruti (“that which is heard” directly from the gods – Vedas, Upanişads, Brahmanas) Smriti (“that which is remembered” from human sages – Purāņas, epics) 2. 7 CLASSICAL HINDU GOALS FOR LIVING • 1. 2. 3. 4. Ashramas (“stages of life”) for males of of three upper varņas: Student (Vedic study with guru or master) Householder (marriage, family, career) Retiree (partial withdrawal from social life) Renunciant (complete isolation from society, devotion to spiritual life) • 1. 2. 3. For men and women of all varņas: Obedience to dharma (varņaappropriate career and marriage) Avoidance of negative karma (altruism, vegetarianism, eventual celibacy) Liberation from samsara (through purification of karma, development of jñana, or bhakti relationship with deity) 8 9