dr. sneh kalia

April 5, 2006 SCSU-Faculty Forum Day 1

Dr. Sneh KaliaDr. Sneh Kalia

Professor of PhysicsProfessor of Physics Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud State University

April 5, 2006 2SCSU-Faculty Forum Day

Hindu Dharma or Hindu Dharma or SanatanSanatan Dharma is Dharma is world’s oldest living dharma (philosophy world’s oldest living dharma (philosophy and way of life)and way of life)

Hindu dharma has no founder, the word Hindu dharma has no founder, the word SanatanSanatan implies that it always existed implies that it always existed

It is third largest religion in the worldIt is third largest religion in the world 98% of Hindus live in Indian 98% of Hindus live in Indian

subcontinentsubcontinent Nepal is the only nation in the world with Nepal is the only nation in the world with

Hinduism as its state religionHinduism as its state religion


There is One God (Supreme Reality) There is One God (Supreme Reality) perceived perceived

Hindi Deities represent various Hindi Deities represent various perceptions of One Godperceptions of One God


Hinduism is flexible and provide many Hinduism is flexible and provide many ways to develop one’s spiritual ideas in ways to develop one’s spiritual ideas in order to suit individual needs “Unity in order to suit individual needs “Unity in the diverse plan of Nature” is recognized.the diverse plan of Nature” is recognized.

All gods and goddesses represent All gods and goddesses represent humans, animals or natural forces such as humans, animals or natural forces such as wind, water, fire and moon, each has wind, water, fire and moon, each has different powers to bless the worlddifferent powers to bless the world


Hindu TrinityHindu Trinity represents three represents three

manifestation of the Supreme Realitymanifestation of the Supreme Reality


Lord BrahmaLord Brahma

CreationCreation


Lord Brahma and Lord Brahma and SaraswatiSaraswati


Goddess SaraswatiGoddess Saraswati Is the consort or wife of Is the consort or wife of Lord BrahmaLord Brahma

and possesses the powers of speech, and possesses the powers of speech, wisdom and learningwisdom and learning

She has four hands representing four She has four hands representing four aspects of learning.aspects of learning.

Mind, Intellect, Alertness, EgoMind, Intellect, Alertness, Ego


Lord VishnuLord Vishnu

PreservationPreservation


Lord Vishnu and LakshmiLord Vishnu and Lakshmi


Goddess LakshmiGoddess Lakshmi

Goddess Lakshmi is the consort or wife of Goddess Lakshmi is the consort or wife of Lord VishnuLord Vishnu and is the goddess of and is the goddess of prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity. prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity.

http://www.hindunet.org/god/Gods/vishnu/index.htm


Lord ShivaLord Shiva

DestructionDestruction


Lord Shiva and ParvatiLord Shiva and Parvati


Goddess ParvatiGoddess Parvati Goddess Parvati is the wife Goddess Parvati is the wife

(consort) of (consort) of Lord ShivaLord Shiva and exists and exists in various divine (both friendly in various divine (both friendly and fearful) forms. Two of her and fearful) forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms fierce but very powerful forms are Durga (goddess beyond are Durga (goddess beyond reach) and Kali (goddess of reach) and Kali (goddess of destruction). destruction).


Three Cosmic Functions of Three Cosmic Functions of Supreme LordSupreme Lord

GeneratorGenerator++

OperatorOperator++

DestroyerDestroyer==

GodGod


India is the original India is the original home of the Mother home of the Mother

GoddessGoddess The complementary nature of male and The complementary nature of male and

female energies is valued in Hindu female energies is valued in Hindu society and deemed essential to achieve society and deemed essential to achieve balance within the gods and within balance within the gods and within mortals.mortals.


Mother Nature: Mother Nature: Prakriti Prakriti MaMa

Mother Earth: Mother Earth: Prithvi MaPrithvi Ma

Mother Land: Mother Land: Bharat Bharat MataMata


Devi AnnapuurnaaDevi Annapuurnaa –is –is presiding deity of Foodgrainspresiding deity of Foodgrains

Ganga DeviGanga Devi, , Yamuna Yamuna DeviDevi, and so on have been , and so on have been manifested as rivers to feed manifested as rivers to feed mankind. mankind.

Forests that provide us with so Forests that provide us with so many resources are said to be many resources are said to be presided over by presided over by Vandevi.Vandevi.


Sacred TextsSacred Texts The primary sacred texts are the The primary sacred texts are the VedasVedas:: Rig VedaRig Veda Sama Veda Sama Veda Yajur VedaYajur Veda Atharva VedaAtharva Veda RamayanaRamayana: : a story with moral and spiritual a story with moral and spiritual

themetheme MahabharataMahabharata: : Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita is one of the is one of the

book of Mahabharatabook of Mahabharata


Four basic Attainments Four basic Attainments of Life: of Life:


DharmaDharmaRighteousness and good moral and Righteousness and good moral and

ethical practicesethical practices

Includes all duties – individual, Includes all duties – individual, social and religioussocial and religious


Artha (Wealth)Artha (Wealth) One must earn enough wealth in order to raise One must earn enough wealth in order to raise

a family and maintain a householda family and maintain a household

Wealth must not be for holding but for sharing Wealth must not be for holding but for sharing with those who are poor or less fortunatewith those who are poor or less fortunate

Dharma and Artha must be coordinated in Dharma and Artha must be coordinated in order to earn decent living while recognizing order to earn decent living while recognizing that Artha is not an ultimate goalthat Artha is not an ultimate goal


KamaKamaSatisfaction of genuine human Satisfaction of genuine human

desires such as art, music, love, desires such as art, music, love, affection, clothes and jewelry etc. are affection, clothes and jewelry etc. are not suppressed not suppressed

Through controlled satisfaction of Through controlled satisfaction of these desires an individual becomes these desires an individual becomes free from Kamafree from Kama


MokshaMoksha To make an individual a better person so To make an individual a better person so

that he/she can live harmoniously in this that he/she can live harmoniously in this world and seek union with Godworld and seek union with God

Freedom from desires and passion is Freedom from desires and passion is necessary for attaining necessary for attaining Moksha Moksha and is and is made possible by the proper coordination made possible by the proper coordination of of dharma, artha and kamadharma, artha and kama


Follow Ten Great Follow Ten Great ObservancesObservances::

1.1. Patience, firmness and stability Patience, firmness and stability (Dhruti)(Dhruti)

2.2. Forgiveness (Kshama)Forgiveness (Kshama)3.3. Self-control and contentment Self-control and contentment

(Dama)(Dama)4.4. Not be selfish (Astaya)Not be selfish (Astaya)5.5. Purity and honestyPurity and honesty


6.6. Control over senses (Indriya Control over senses (Indriya Nigraha)Nigraha)

7.7. Right knowledge of scriptures Right knowledge of scriptures (Dhee)(Dhee)

8.8. Knowledge and study (Vidya)Knowledge and study (Vidya)9.9. Truth (Satya)Truth (Satya)10.10. Absence of anger (Akrodha)Absence of anger (Akrodha)


Four Stages of Hindu Four Stages of Hindu LifeLife


Brahamacharya Brahamacharya AshramaAshrama

Begins when a child enters school at Begins when a child enters school at an early age and continues until he or an early age and continues until he or she has finished all schoolingshe has finished all schooling

The goal is to acquire knowledge The goal is to acquire knowledge build character and learn to shoulder build character and learn to shoulder responsibilitiesresponsibilities


Grahastha AshramaGrahastha AshramaThis stage begins at marriageThis stage begins at marriageIn this stage an individual pays debt In this stage an individual pays debt

by serving God and Ancestorsby serving God and AncestorsEnjoys good and noble things in life Enjoys good and noble things in life

in accordance with in accordance with Artha-Kama-Artha-Kama-MokshaMoksha


Vanaprastha AshramaVanaprastha AshramaWhen one’s children have reached When one’s children have reached

adulthood one enters this stageadulthood one enters this stage

In this stage one gradually withdraws In this stage one gradually withdraws from active life and begins devoting from active life and begins devoting more time to study of scriptures and more time to study of scriptures and meditationmeditation


Sanyasna AshramaSanyasna Ashrama This is the final stage of life in which This is the final stage of life in which

an individual mentally renounces all an individual mentally renounces all worldly ties, spends time in worldly ties, spends time in meditating and ponders over meditating and ponders over mysteries of lifemysteries of life


AUMAUM


AUMAUM The most sacred symbol is the sound of The most sacred symbol is the sound of

the infinitethe infinite By sound and form By sound and form AUM AUM symbolizes the symbolizes the

ultimate reality and the entire universeultimate reality and the entire universe The character is a composite of three The character is a composite of three

different letters of the Sanskrit alphabets different letters of the Sanskrit alphabets and represents the Trinityand represents the Trinity

This sacred symbol is spoken before any This sacred symbol is spoken before any chants to remember Godchants to remember God


SwastikaSwastika


SWASTIKASWASTIKA Is regarded as a divine symbol by HindusIs regarded as a divine symbol by Hindus The word means auspicious in the The word means auspicious in the

Sanskrit language and hence is used to Sanskrit language and hence is used to symbolize the welcoming of symbolize the welcoming of auspiciousness and driving away evilsauspiciousness and driving away evils

The symbol represents the changing of The symbol represents the changing of the universe around the unchanging the universe around the unchanging nature of Godnature of God


WelcomeWelcome

NamaskarNamaskar


The daily ritual of The daily ritual of PujaPuja is performed is performed in a Home Shrine or Puja Roomin a Home Shrine or Puja Room


PrayersPrayers Hindu prayer always end with three chants of Hindu prayer always end with three chants of

invocation- invocation- “Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Aum”“Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Aum” The three repetition are addressed to three The three repetition are addressed to three

groups into which all obstacles can be classifiedgroups into which all obstacles can be classified1.1. Cosmic – earth quakes, lightning (Aadhidaivika)Cosmic – earth quakes, lightning (Aadhidaivika)2.2. Phenomenal – robbers, wild beast Phenomenal – robbers, wild beast

(Aadhibhautika)(Aadhibhautika)3.3. Subjective – body ailments, agitation of mind, Subjective – body ailments, agitation of mind,

negative thought (Aadhyaatmika)negative thought (Aadhyaatmika)


KarmaKarma

The central doctrine of Hinduism is The central doctrine of Hinduism is KarmaKarma.. KarmaKarma (or destiny) means the quality of (or destiny) means the quality of somebody's current and future lives as somebody's current and future lives as determined by that person's behavior in this determined by that person's behavior in this and in previous livesand in previous lives


The holy dot or The holy dot or bindi bindi is an is an auspicious makeup worn by auspicious makeup worn by Hindu women on their Hindu women on their forehead. forehead.

It is usually a red dot made It is usually a red dot made with vermilion (finely powdered with vermilion (finely powdered bright red mercuric sulphide). bright red mercuric sulphide).


Traditionally a symbol of marriage it has now become a decorative item and is worn today by unmarried girls and women of other religions as well.

No longer restricted in color or shape, bindis today are seen in many colors and designs and are manufactured with self-adhesives and felt.


Hindu WeddingHindu Wedding Jaimala (Exchange of Garlands)Jaimala (Exchange of Garlands) Kanyadan (Giving away of the Bride)Kanyadan (Giving away of the Bride) Havan – the God of Fire – witness their Havan – the God of Fire – witness their

commitment to each othercommitment to each other Gath Bandhan (Tying of the Nuptial Gath Bandhan (Tying of the Nuptial

Knot)Knot) Saptapadi ( seven Steps together)Saptapadi ( seven Steps together) Sindhoor ( Red Powder)Sindhoor ( Red Powder) Aashirwad ( Parental Blessings)Aashirwad ( Parental Blessings)


DeathDeath Hindus believe in reincarnation and view death Hindus believe in reincarnation and view death

as the soul moving from one body to the next as the soul moving from one body to the next on its path to reach Nirvanaon its path to reach Nirvana

Hindus cremate their dead, believing that the Hindus cremate their dead, believing that the burning of a body signifies the release of the burning of a body signifies the release of the spirit and that the flames represent spirit and that the flames represent BrahmaBrahma, the creator, the creator

13 days mourning period13 days mourning period ShradhShradh – annual event – giving food to the – annual event – giving food to the

poor in memory of the deceasedpoor in memory of the deceased

dr. sneh kalia

Documents

godscsufaculty forum

sanatan dharma

wife consort of lord

wife of lord brahma

wife of lord vishnu

durga goddess

mother goddess

goddess of prosperity