THE BHAGAVAD-GITA THE RAMAYANA Indian Philosophy Exam Review
Jan 02, 2016
Krishna, avatar of Vishnu, and Arjuna, his devotee
“Arjuna, see my forms in hundreds and thousands, diverse, divine, in many colors and shapes.
See the sun gods, gods of light, howling storm gods, twin gods of dawn, and gods of wind, Arjuna, wondrous forms not seen before.” (Gita 624)
Manthara, evil hunchback servant of Kaikeyi
“Consumed with rage, the malevlolent Manthara approached Kaikeyi as she lay upon her couch, and said, “Get up, you foolish woman, how can you lie there when danger is threatening you? Do you realize that a flood of human misery is about to overwhelm you?” (Ramayana, 587)
Shiva, the Divine Dissolver
Shiva’s dance represents both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth.
Shiva stands for letting go of everything in the world of forms.
Brahma, the Divine Creator
Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads, four faces and four arms. With each head he continually recites one of the four Vedas. He is often depicted with a white beard, indicating the near eternal nature of his existence. He is shown as having four arms, with none holding a weapon, unlike most other Hindu gods.
Dharma: faith, teachings, path of life
The dharma-wheel represents the path of righteousness that a person should follow if he or she is to achieve a balanced life.
If you do all of these things right, then you will be freed from the cycle of rebirth.
Ramayana: The Six Virtues and the Levels of Good and Evil
BenevolenceCompassionLearningGood CharacterRestraintEquanimity
“When the lord of the world is hurt so is all the world, as the fruit and flowers of the tree are hurt by an injury to its root.”