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Unit 2 // Hinduism (Origins of Hinduism (One of if not the most ancient…
Unit 2 // Hinduism
Origins of Hinduism
One of if not the most ancient and oldest of the world's major religions
The Vedas (Hindu scriptural documents) first books were written 3,500 years ago
Most likely passed down by oral tradition
No defining point in which the Hindu religion was separated from predating spiritual traditions
Has some origins in the Vedic times (times of the Vedas)
No clear founder like other religions
Excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization reveals evidence of ancient rituals and worship of deities, which are speculated to be early forms of Hinduism and early forms/origins (?) of Hindu gods and traditions
Four Paths to God
The Path of Knowledge
Jnana Yoga is the path to God through knowledge and understanding. The practitioner seeks an understanding of absolute truth. Appeals to the logically minded, intellectually curious.
No single best way for a person to obtain Moksha, all depends on the individual
Employ many of these strategies, typically focus on one specific one
The Path of Love
Bhakti yoga is the practice of fostering a loving, selfless devotion toward the head god, most popular path foster a relationship that can resemble different relationships (parent-child, friends, etc.)
The Path of Work
Karma Yoga, the path to god through work. A person who chooses this path wants to serve and take pride and fulfillment out of their work.
The Path of Meditation
Raja yoga is the path to the divine through meditation, disciplining one's mind through self-restraint and practice. The goal is to separate the mind from the body and from worldly concerns.
Four Stages of Life
Hinduism specifies different roles depending on who they are (backgrounds, personalities, stations in life). It also recognizes a person's roles and responsibilities change somewhat over the course of a single life
Men's stages of life
Brahmacharya
First 25 years, purpose is to learn, practice celibacy, act highly moral, concentrate on studies
Grihastha
the householder stage, when a man marries, supporting the spouse, raising children, caring for elderly parents
Vanaprastha
After the children have grown, the men enter the hermit stage in life, retreating from society, living in isolation, very few material possessions
Sannyasa
75 years of age, a man enters the stage where he withdraws from life completely, cutting off all worldly relationships, denouncing belongings and pleasures
Women's stages of life
Not really given stages of life, though they're present in all stages of family life, religious service, though they're under the care and authority of responsible males
Sati - practice not done much anymore in which widows are burned at the stake (women)
Very few Hindu men follow the four stage model, stay in the Grihastha stage, surrounded by their families
Some men choose to go into the Sunnyasa phase early in life and live asceticly
Hindu Lifestyle and Rituals
One or more daily spiritual rituals in Hindu homes, varying from family to family
Rituals may include ritual bathing, meditations, recitations of scripture, chanting of mantras, or offering of food to deities
There are big events, celebrations, and rituals for major life events, weddings, betrothals, births, funerals, Annaprashan (child's first taking of steps), Upanayana (coming of age)
Vegetarianism is common in order to respect and honor higher forms of life
Cattle are held in special regard
Goals of Human Life
Kama
The desire for sensual and rewarding life pleasures
Artha
Worldly success, it is natural and good for people to work toward earthly goals of wealth, fame, and power
Dharma
People should strive to be moral citizens and to conduct their lives according to both secular and religious laws and customs
Moksha
Highest aspiration, to free the soul from the constant cycle of life, death, and reincarnation
Hindu Scripture
Hindus follow scriptures written in 1500 B.C., written in Sanskrit (language of the ancient Aryan people) who settled in India in 1500 B.C.
There's no one, specific body of scripture they follow
Each Hindu and denomination prefers different texts
Major Hindu Texts
Upanishads
are philosophical documents, written before 500 B.C. mostly
Epics
long narrative poems about great warriors, like the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana poems telling the stories of Krishna and Rama, important in Vaishnavist Hinduism
Sutras
offer information on many topics important to Hindu life (law, rituals, astrology, grammar, etc.)
Puranas
offer mythological stories of the Hindu gods, written between 300 and 900 A.D. mostly
The Caste System
Controversial, not quite inherent to Hinduism, mentioned in scriptures, but discrimination is not endorsed
System is still a part of South Asian culture
How It Works
Person is born into their parents' caste
Determines the social and occupational opportunities available to a person
Marriage between two of different castes is discouraged
Five Primary Castes
Brahmin Caste
highest and most elite, priests, scholars, teachers. The Vedic writings say they have a special role in conveying the word of god or gods to humanity
Kshatriya Caste
warrior or prince caste. The caste of leaders, regarded as secondary to Brahmans, but having precedence in areas like military and the government
Vaishya Caste
Caste of merchants and tradesmen, are able to partake in Hindu worship with the Kshatriya and Brahman, other castes are traditionally excluded
Shudra Caste
Servants, Peasants, extreme limitations in career and social advancement opportunities
Chandalas Caste
lowest caste, "untouchables," beneath the caste entirely by some considerations, do dirty duties (disposing of dead bodies)
Hindu Art and Architecture
Prominent deities are popular in Hindu art, often with many arms to demonstrate gods' great powers and ability to do and be many things at once
Many gods have identifying characteristics, too (Vishnu has blue skin, Ganesha is in the form of an elephant)
Hindu religious architectures are very decorative and elaborate with images in the walls as they're integral to the structure
Modern-Day Hinduism
Majority live in India, surrounding South Asian countries of Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Are not very evangelical, don't try to convert other people
There's a limited following outside it's origin, but expats to the area often adopt Hindu cultural practices and religious beliefs
Hindu's Beliefs
Four denominations
Shaktism
Worship
Shakti
over all other gods
One of few modern religions that observe a feminine deity as their supreme being
Through Shakti, all creation is possible
Shiva is the principle male deity to Shakties (?), who is of secondary importance to Shakti
Vaishnavism
Honor
Vishnu
as their central god
Avatar - incarnation
Vishnu takes on the form of many avatars
Followers worship Krishna and Rama as they're worshiped as avatars of Vishnu
Shaivism
Worship
Shiva
over all other gods
Shiva is omnipotent, omniscient being who creates, destroys, and reveals all
Smartism
Give equal importance to
all five major Hindu deities
: Shiva, VIshnu, Shakti, the sun god Surya, and Ganesha (god of beginnings, obstacles, intellectual pursuits)
All five are manifestations of the divine
Can give preference to certain gods
There is freedom of religion/denomination in Hinduism and everyone respects other's rights to worship as they see fit