The Hindu Tradition

The Hindu Tradition

History

Dravidian(Pre-Aryan)

2500BCE

Indo-Aryan(Vedic)

2500-500BCE

Classical Hinduism400BCE-f.

The Vedic Period

• Sacred rites and rituals require a ritual expert who is trained in making offerings or sacrifices in accordance with the sound of sacred words. This is how things are done properly– Pandit-one who chants sacred texts by memory at

official religious sacrifices.• Vedas (knowledge/vision): written in Sanskrit, these are

the earliest and most revered texts in Hindu traditions. • Composed between 1500 and 500 BCE (Vedic Age)

The Vedas:• Composed somewhere around the 2nd millenium BCE• 4 Works all based on the hymns of the rishis (seers) which were

compiled and written by brahmins.– Rg Veda (The Veda of Verses)

• Oldest and most important; collection of hymns (samhitas) to the early deities/devas (shining ones) including, for example, Indra (god of war), Varuna (god of law), Maruts (wind), Ushas (dawn), and Agni (god of fire). These devas give rise to the Trimūrti (trinity of deities) of Hindu cosmology

– Sama Veda (The Veda of Chants) • Anthology of mantras drawn from Rg Veda and rearranged for ceremonial

musical performance– Yajur Veda (The Veda of Sacrificial Prayers)-

• Formulas used at sacrifices– Atharva Veda (The Veda of the Fire Priests)

• Magic spells and incantations of folk religion

• Contents of the Vedas – Shruti (“that which is heard”)-implies non-human source

/divine source of revelation; śruti/shruti contain the eternal truth of the Rta (force that sets universe in order)• Written for adult males of 3upper classes (twice-born)

– Smriti (“remembered”): mix of divine inspiration and human composition. Less authoritative than Shruti, but also less restricted. Include some of most well known tales including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata which inlcludes the Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord)

Upanishads and Vedanta

• Vedanta is the theological tradition inspired by the Upanishads, understood as the fulfillment or completion of the Vedas, bringing them to their highest purpose.

• The Upanishads (composed between the 8th and 3rd centuries BCE) and the Aranyakas are part of the philosophical/spiritual division (as opposed to the ritual texts/hymns) of the Vedas that speak of universal spirit and the individual self.

Bhagavad Gita• The Gita is part of the Mahabarata, a great Hindu Epic.

– 700-verse poem– Conversation between Arjuna and Krishna (avatar of Vishnu

disguised as Arjuna’s charioteer). – Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of duty and

devotion – Epitomizes the 4 ways of liberation the 4 ways to liberation

taught in Hinduism: • Meditation• Selfless action• Wisdom• Loving devotion

Philosophical Tradition of Hinduism

• Nature of Existence• Problem of Existence• Solutions to the Problem of Existence

Nature of Existence

• Universe is without beginning and end/Cycles of Existence/Yugas (ages move in cycle)– 4 major ages/periods of time

1st age-Cow with 4 feet on ground2nd age-Cow with 3 feet on ground3rd age-Cow with 2 feet on ground4th age-cow with 1 foot on the ground

– currently in the 4th and worst—unstable, ignorance, inability to see the truth)

Nature of Existence, ctd.

• What is the nature of the atman?– When body dies, atman remains and is

reincarnated in samsara.– Atman is not just energy. It is unique.

Central Problem of Existence

• Rebirth according to karma until one acheives moksha• How do you get out of samsara?– Achieve liberation or moksha – Find the answers on how to accomplish this through the

Vedas– Karma-consequences (not fate) for the things you do that

travel with your atman and determines where you are reborn/shapes your rebirth in samsara

– Dharma (that which is upheld)-moral and social duty; violating your dharma generates bad karma

Solutions to the Problem of Existence

• 4 paths to moksha associated with history of Hinduism

1. Ritual/Sacrifice2. Philosophical3. Social4. Devotional

From Poets to Priests: Ritual/Sacrifice

• Through proper rituals and ritual sacrifices-performed by ritual priests/experts, brahmins, one can be properly ordered with the universe. Performance of the rituals in accordance with laws of the universe occur independently (to some extent) of divinities. Divine beings may receive some measure of sacrifice but primarily for the atman.Why might this vedic ritual system be problematic?

Philosophical Response

• Some of these priests begin to see the external physical sacrifice as possible metaphorically through personal austerities such as meditative and physical offerings. Many of these became renunciates, leading an increasingly austere or ascetic life as a means of internalizing the ritual sacrifice. Austerities become more important than the vedas for these renunciates or “forest dwellers”, initiating a speculative period. –this raises questions (leads to 6 philosophical systems, darshnas, about the body and its relationship to the atman)

Social Solution

• Varnashramadharma: moral and social duty as determined by caste and life stage.– 1. Priests/brahmins– 2. Warriors/shakya– 3. Merchants– 4. Servants/slaves (shudras)– Untouchables/outcasts

• The social solution to achieving moksha means you don’t have to have to become a renunciate or follow a guru.

Devotional/Bhakti Period

• Defining character of Classical Hinduism • Devotion to gods and goddesses will help one

fulfill their duties and obligations and thereby achieve moksha

• 3 primary gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva• Millions of gods but always related/part of

one either Vishnu, Shiva or Devi (goddess(es))

Om/Aum

• The power that pervades the Universe/Brahaman is held together in the sound of the aum.

Gods

Trimurti (3 forms)Brahma: CreatorVishnu: SustainerShiva: Destroyer

Vishnu (protect and preserve)

Avatars of Vishnu• 1. Matsya (the fish) saves ancient Hindus from flood• 2. Kurma (the tortoise): rescued people from tumultuous ocean• 3. Varaha (boar): slays demon Hiranyaksha• 4. Narasimha (half-man;half-lion) slays demon Hiranyakashipu• 5. Vamana (dwarf): tricks demon king Bali• 6. Parashurama (Rama with Ax): comes to conquer earth• 7. Rama (Present in Everything): embodies right way to live• 8. Krishna (source of Dharma): vanquishes wicked and restores eternal

law• 9. Buddha (The enlightened One): brings enlightenment to the world• 10. Kalki-avatar yet to come will arrive at end of our current yuga

riding a white horse

Rama (7th avatar)

Krishna (8th avatar)

• Krishna (pictured with Radha)

Baby Krishna

Shiva (destroyer/ushers in new creation)

Shiva: cosmic dancer

Other popular gods

• Ginesha: Remover of Obstacles

Devi/Shakti “The Goddess”

• Goddesses appear in many forms. They can be helpful and auspicious or malevolent and dangerous.

• Shakti=positive power; often coupled with male gods

• Durga= power of violence • Goddesses may be portrayed differently

depending on whether they are exhibiting Shakti or Durga

Other goddesses

• Saraswati: goddess of the arts, knowledge, and music

Kali

• Kali is a fierce goddess infused with Shakti and Durga; can protect like as a mother goddess

Other goddesses

• Lakshmi: goddess of wealth and beauty/prosperity

Hindu Worship

• Puja: daily ritual worship often in form of food offerings

• Prayer• Reciting texts• Telling stories of the gods• Chanting or singing prayers or devotional songs• Meditating on a mantra• Murtis: embodiments of the gods/houses of the

gods as idols, icons, or other objects to be worshiped

Pilgrimage

• Darshana: a visit to a temple or a pilgrimage for/to a deity or guru

Hinduism in Modern India

• http://video.pbs.org/video/2204103677/

Hinduism in America

• Part 1 http://video.pbs.org/video/2283071363/

• Part 2 http://video.pbs.org/video/2283099390/