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Good Evening!. Ganesha Statue, Bali. Namaste !. Hinduism. When did Hinduism originate? What are some of the Hindu sacred texts? Who are the main Hindu deities? What do Hindus believe? How do Hindus practice their religion? What is the future of Hinduism?. When did it originate?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Good Evening!
Ganesha Statue, Bali
Namaste!
Hinduism
• When did Hinduism originate?• What are some of the Hindu sacred texts?• Who are the main Hindu deities?
• What do Hindus believe?• How do Hindus practice their religion?• What is the future of Hinduism?
When did it originate?
• Aryans: Rural steppe horsemen (1700 BC)• Urban Indus river valley people (3300 BC)• Other Indigenous Populations
Origins: Aryan Migration Theory (1700-1500 BC)
Theorized Aryan migration routes (Based on spread of chariot technology)
Aryan Traditions
Sanskrit Rig-Veda manuscript
Fire ritual sacrifices (Yajna)
Origins: Indus Valley Civilization(started 3300 BC)
Main Indus Valley Civilization settlements
The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro
“Pashupati Seal” from Mohenjo Daro
Meditating Shiva
Indus Valley and
Modern Hindu Swastikas
Cattle seal
Nandi, Shiva’s bull
Review of History:
• No known foundation date
• Mix of Aryan and local beliefs
• Identities of original Aryans and Indus Valley settlers remains unknown
What are the Sacred Texts?
VedasUpanishads
MahabharataBhagavad Gita
Ramayana
PuranasDevotional Writings
Modern Texts
Vedas (C. 1700 BC)
Indra
Fire Sacrifice
Suyra
Upanishads (starting 1000-500 BC)
“As the rivers flowing east and west Merge in the sea and become one with it, Forgetting they were separate rivers, So do all creatures lose their separateness When they merge at last into pure Being. There is nothing that does not come from him. Of everything he is the inmost Self. He is the truth; he is the Self supreme. You are that Shvetaketu, you are that.” (Chadogya Upanishad IV.10.1-3)
Mahabharata (starting 800-900 BC)
IncludesBhagavad Gita
Drona instructs the Pandava brothers The Pandavas renounce the world
Bhagavad Gita (C. 500 B)
Krishna’s Universal FormKrishna and Arjuna
Ramayana (400-500 BC)
Ravana captures Sita
Ram and Lakshman meet Hanuman and other Vanaras
Puranas (200-500 AD)
Krishna dances on the heads of Kaliya Varaha rescuing the Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha
Devotional Literature“Friend, my heart is steeped
In Krishna’s Love,I wore a robe of five colours
And went to play hide and seekI saw my Dark Lover there
And gave him my body for keeps.Others send letters to declare their love:
But my Lover is in my heartWhat need have I to go anywhere?”
-Song by Mira Bai
Modern Texts
Review of Main Texts
VedasUpanishads
Mahabharata(Bhagavad Gita)
Ramayana
PuranasDevotional Writings
Modern Texts
Who are the main Deities?
• Ishta Devata- A cherished deity
• Bhakti- Devotion
• Henotheism- Belief in one deity, while accepting the legitimacy of other deities
• Brahmaan- Transcendent and all permeating divine reality
But first… How do Hindus think about Deities?
Vedic Devas
Agni
Indra
Ancient Devas: Trimurti
Brahma
Shiva Vishnu
Avatars of Vishnu
Krishna speaking with Arjuna
Ram, along with Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman
Avatars of Vishnu
Shakti/Devi
Lakshami Parvati/Kali/Durga Saraswati
Shakti/Devi
Manasha Kali
Other popular deities
HanumanGanesha and Murugan
Review of Deities
• Ishta Devata- A cherished deity
• Bhakti- Devotion
• Henotheism- Belief in one deity, while accepting the legitimacy of other deities
• Brahmaan- Transcendent and all permeating divine reality
What are Hindu philosophical beliefs?
• Brahman• Devas as aspects of Brahman
• Cause and effect (Karma)• The cycle of reincarnation (Samsara)• Spiritual Liberation (Moksha)• Duty, Law, and Moral conduct (Dharma)
Brahman
The Law of Karma
Reincarnation (Samsara) and Liberation (Moksha)
Dharma
• Duty• Law• Morality
• Highly contextual
Four Stages of Life
Vanaprastha- Retirement
Student lifeHouseholder
Saanyasa- Renunciation
Orthodoxy
• Aastika, vs Naastika• Vedas• Karma
Heterodoxy
• Reject core features like Vedas, Gods, Karma, or reincarnation
• Materialist• Atomistic• Hedonistic• Skeptical• Anti-clerical
Pluralism
• “Truth is One, sages know it by many names” -Rig Veda
Review of Philosophy
• Brahman• Karma• The cycle of rebirth (Samsara) and liberation
(Moksha)• Dharma is contextual• Cycle of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy• Pluralism
How do Hindus practice their religion?
• Following the Bhagavad Gita• Yoga, Meditation, Vegetarianism• Pursuing the Four Goals of Life• Temple and Home Prayer• Holidays• Sacred Symbols• Art as worship
Gita’s Message
• Karma Yoga- Path of Action• Raja Yoga- Path of Self Control• Jnana Yoga- Path of Knowledge• Bhakti Yoga- Path of Devotion
Karma Yoga- The Path of Action
Raja Yoga- The Path of Self Control
Jnana Yoga- The Path of Knowledge
Bhakti Yoga- The Path of Devotion
Four Goals of life
Dharma- Doing one’s ethical duty
Artha- Material prosperity
Kama- Pleasure
Moksha- Spiritual Liberation
Daily practices
• Home prayer (puja/aarati) in shrines• Temple visits
• Yoga• Meditation• Vegetarianism
Idols (Murtis)
Divali
Raksha Bandhan
Holi
Veneration through Symbols
• Om• Rivers• Bindi• Swastika• Cows
Art as worship
• Architecture, Craftsmanship• Paintings, Sculpture• Music, Song• Dance• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prQOdTmF8u0
Review of Hindu Practices
• Following the Bhagavad Gita• Yoga, Meditation, Vegetarianism• Pursuing the Four Goals of Life• Temple and Home Prayer• Holidays• Sacred Symbols• Art as worship
Contemporary Issues
• Caste
• Hindutva and Communal Violence
Varna, or Caste• Rigid or malleable?
• Assigned birth or by action?
• Subcastes (Jati)
• Reform movements
Hindutva and Communal Violence
• Strong memory of Islamic Conquest• Modern Islamic terrorism, and persecution of
Hindus
• Communal issues
Book recommendations
By Linda JohnsenBy Wendy Doniger
By Paramhansa YoganandaA.L. Basham
Comics from Amar Chitra Katha By Kamala
SubramaniamBy Sanjay Patel
By A. Parthasarathy