Introduction to Hinduism

Introduction

to Hinduism

Misperceptions

• Hinduism is an organized religion

• It is polytheistic

• All Hindus are vegetarians

• All Hindus do yoga

History

• World’s oldest existing religion

• Indo-Aryan origins (Iran)

• Dravidian people (Indus Valley)

• 1500-1300 BCE

– 3102 BCE (birth of Krishna—stars)

– 5000-6000 BCE (legend of Rama)

• Revealed in the Vedas

– Poetic hymns used in the sacrificial rites of the Aryan priests.

• Origin of Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism

History

• Vedic civilization (2000 BCE)

• Religion evolved from hymn-singing and sacrifice to belief in samsara / karma

• The Vedas

• Ascetic hermits and forest wanderers

• Self-enlightenment

• One God or (Divine Reality)

Basic Beliefs

• An “approach to the universe”

• A way of life

• Religion and philosophy

• Wide range of beliefs and practices

• No central figure

• Does not purport to be the “only truth”

• Emphasis on practice vs. beliefs

Basic Beliefs

• Every soul is trapped in a cycle of birth, existence and death

• Ultimate goal is to escape the cycle (samsara)

• Time is circular

• The aim of life is to live in a way that will cause one’s next life to be better

Basic Beliefs

“ There are as many spiritual paths as there are spiritual aspirants. There are as many gods as there are devotees to suit the moods, spirits and social backgrounds of the devotees.”

• No hierarchical orthodoxy

Sanatana Dharma (eternal truth)

• Everything in existence is an expression of God

• The proper aim of life is to become one with God

• Wordly delights & temptations divert one from this goal

Maya

• The veil of illusion

• The prison of worldly senses

• Obsession with worldly things, distraction from spiritual purpose, forgetfulness

• Something to be feared, but no way out

• Four paths to penetrate the veil

The Four Paths

• Bhakti: Devotion

• Karma: Good works

• Jnana: Knowledge

• Yoga: Discipline of mind and body

Not mutually exclusive

May pursue one or all

Many paths to realization

Deities

• One Reality (Brahman)

• Many manifestations

Brahma: Creation

Vishnu: Protector of Existence

Shiva: Destruction

Deities

• One Reality (Brahman)

• Many manifestations

Brahma: Creation

Saraswathi—Goddess of wisdom

Vishnu: Protector of Existence

Kakshmi—Goddess of wealth

Shiva: Destruction

Kali—(a form of Shakti)

Deities

• Different traditions position deities differently in legends and mythology

• Shaktism:

Shakti is the Supreme Being

Divine force of universe, primal energy, Brahman’s female aspect

Unfolds as desire, action, wisdom(Shiva’s or Kali’s trident)

• Other traditions (e.g.,Shaivism):

– Active energy of male deities Vishu and Shiva

Ganesha (son of Shiva)

This God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles is also the older son of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha is also called Vinayak (knowledgeable ) or Vighneshwer (god to remove obstacles). He is worshipped, or at least remembered, in the beginning of any auspicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness.

A unique combination of his elephant-like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence, and presence of mind.  

Ganesha

Large head and ears: wisdom that one must have to attain perfection in life

Right tusk: wisdom (also right leg over left)

Left tusk: emotion (must break it)

Four arms: omnipresent and omnipotent

Ax: to cut emotions

Lotus: peace and wisdom

Laddos: sweet spiritual reward

Yellow: purity, peace, truthfulness

Big belly: capacity to deal with pleasant and unpleasant experiences in the world

Mouse: Ego that can nibble at the good and noble (must control)

Vedic Pantheon (33 dieties)

8 Vasus (earthly)

11 Rudras (heavenly)

12 Adityas (intermediate)

Indra

Vedic (Aryan) Dieties (2000-1200 BCE)

Indra (the God of creation & war) 

Varuna (ruler of the worlds and world order)  Dyaush-pita (the sky father)  Prithivi mata ( the earth mother)   Vayu (the wind God)   Parjanya (the rain God)  Surya (the sun God) Agni (the fire God, destroyer of darkness)   Soma (the God of speech and inspiration)Ushas (the Goddess of dawn)   Yama (the God of death) Adityas (12 dieities, 12 months of year) Brahmana,   Aswini (twin Deities)   Rudras (eight in number)   Vasus (eight in number),   Visvedevas ( ten in number) 

Indra

Vishnu

• The preserver and protector of creation

• Embodiment of mercy and goodness

• Keeps good and evil in balance

• When evil rises, other gods ask Vishnu to reincarnate in different human forms to conquer demons

• Epics highly symbolic cosmic morality plays

Forms of Lord Vishnu (avatars)

• Matsyavataram (Form of a fish)  

• Kurmavataram (Form of a tortoise)  

• Varahavataram (Form of a boar)  

• Narasimhavataram (Form of a lion headed man)   

• Vamanavataram (Form of a dwarf )  

• Parasuramavataram  

• Ramavataram  (Ram)

• Balaramavataram  

• Krishnavataram  -- Hare Krishna

• BUDDHA Kalkiavataram (yet to come)

Ramavataram (Ram)

• 7th incarnation of Vishnu

• “The very soul of India”

• Legend is a “complete guide to God-realization and the path to righteousness”

• Married Sita, consort of Vishnu

• Over came ordeals, remained loyal to father, resisted temptations, joined with the Monkey King to defeat King Ravana 

The "Hare Krishna" movement

• Based upon 9th incarnation of Vishnu

• International Society for Krishna Consciousness

• Founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

• Bhagavad-Gita

• The words "Hare Krishna" are part of a mantra comprising three Sanskrit names of God (Vishnu), Hari, Krishna and Rama

Eras

4th-6th C: Gupta dynasty– Dedicated temples to different deities– Science, medicine, art & literature– Strict caste system

8th C: Shankara (reformer)– Upset with ritualism and caste system– Meditation over ritualism– Concept of maya– Brahma transcendent– Spiritual ignorance is the result of

seeing the self

Eras

1893: Swami Vivekananda– World Parliament of Religions (Chicago)– Brought meditation and yoga to the West

Expansion to SE Asia

• Trade routes

• Malay empire

• Khmer empire

• Cham empire (Vietnam)

Hindu Scriptural Canon

SHRUTI Divine recordings ofcosmic truth; God-given;for priests & educated

Vedas 1500-500 BCE; poetic liturgy

Rig Veda Hymns of praiseSama Veda ChantsYajur Veda Priest handbook Atharva Veda Magic

Brahmanas 900 BCEVedic commentaries

Aranyakas Philosophical & mystical

Upanishads Religious instructions

Hindu Scriptural Canon

SMRITI Created by man; for common person

Itihasas

Mahābhārata

Bhagavad Gītā

Ramayana

Puranas

Tantras

Sutras

Stotras

Ashtavakra Gita

Gherand Samhita

Gita Govinda

Hatha Yoga Pradipik

“Historical” legends

2.5 million word history of India

Climatic cosmic battle

Legend of Ram

300 BCE: Cosmology

Buddhist and Hindu “wisdom”

Aphorisms

Chanting prayers

Mystical and esoteric

17th C: Yoga manual

12Th C: Bhakti; devotion & equality

15th C: The “bible” of Yoga

Scriptures (Vedas=wisdom)

Rig Veda

• Poems used in sacrifices & rites

• Praise the god being addressed

• Ask the god for favors or benefits

• Includes petitions for forgiveness which indicate a developed sense of morality

–o        it is evidence of a religion centered on free choices between good and evil.

Puranas (300 BCE)

• Interpretations of the Vedas

• For the common man

• Myths, parables and allegories

• 18: 3 groups of 6

• Creation of universe

• Dharma

• Karma

• Reincarnation

Uphanishads (300 BCE)

• Interpretation of Vedas

• Spiritual instruction

• Meditation

• Teacher-student dialogues

The Paramahamsa UpanishadMystic or spiritual interpretations on the Vedas

1. Narada (Lord of Events) inquired of the Lord of Love:"What is the state of the illumined man?"The Lord replied: "Hard to reach is the stateOf the illumined man. Only a fewAttain to it. But even one is enough.For he is the pure Self of the Scriptures;He is truly great because he serves me.And I reveal myself through him always."He has renounced all selfish attachmentsAnd observes no rites or ceremonies.He has only minimum possessions,

And lives his life for the welfare of all.

2. He has no staff nor tuft nor sacred thread.He faces heat and cold, pleasure and pain,Honor and dishonor with equal calm. He is not affected by calumny,Pride, jealousy, status, joy, or sorrow,Greed, anger, or infatuation,Excitement, egoism, or other goads;For he knows he is neither body nor mind.

The Paramahamsa Upanishad

Free from the sway of doubt and false knowledgeHe lives united with the Lord of Love.Who is ever serene, immutable,Indivisible, the source of all joyAnd wisdom. The Lord is his true home,His pilgrim's tuft of hair, his sacred thread;For he has entered the unitive state.

The Paramahamsa Upanishad

3. Having renounced every selfish desire,He has found his rest in the Lord of Love.Wisdom is the staff that supports him now.Those who take a mendicant's staff while theyAre still at the mercy of their sensesCannot escape enormous suffering.The illumined man knows this truth of life.

The Paramahamsa Upanishad

4. For him the universe is his garmentAnd the Lord not separate from himself.He offers no ancestral oblations;He praises nobody, blames nobody,Is never dependent on anyone.He has no need to repeat the mantram,No more need to practice meditation.The world of change and changeless realityAre one to him, for he sees all in God.

The Paramahamsa Upanishad

5. The aspirant who is seeking the LordMust free himself from selfish attachmentsTo people, money, and possessions.When his mind sheds every selfish desire,He becomes free from the dualityOf pleasure and pain and rules his senses.No more is he capable of ill will;No more is he subject to elation,For his senses come to rest in the Self.Entering into the unitive state,He attains the goal of evolution.Truly he attains the goal of evolution.

The Paramahamsa Upanishad

Worship (Puja)

• Images (puja)

• Prayers

• Diagrams of the universe (yantra)

• Water, fruit, flowers and incense offerings

Shri Haridra Ganesh Sidhi Yantra

Worship (Puja)

• Images (puja)

• Prayers

• Diagrams of the universe (yantra)

• Water, fruit, flowers and incense offerings

Shri Maruti Yantra

Worship (Puja)

• Images (puja)

• Prayers

• Diagrams of the universe (yantra)

• Water, fruit, flowers and incense offerings

Worship (Puja)

• Images (puja)

• Prayers

• Diagrams of the universe (yantra)

• Water, fruit, flowers and incense offerings

Karma in Hinduism

• “Action” or deeds

• Law of cause and effect

• Beneficial events are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful events from past harmful actions

• Reincarnations

• Explains the problem of evil

• Must follow dharma to achieve liberation from the karma cycle

Ethic

• Family unity

• Kindness and caring

• Honesty

• Hard work

• Care for elderly in home

• Respect for animals (gods present in animals)

• Emphasis on education

• Community service

Family and Marriage (traditional)

• Patriarchial

• Few liberties for women

• Married women live with husbands’ families

• Sex before marriage criticized

• Widows cannot remarry (traditional view)

• Many marriages still arranged

Sikhism

• 5th largest religion (23 million)

• Punjab region (N. India)—2 %

• 1469: Guru Nanak

• All people are all equal in the eyes of one God (“There is no Hindu, no Muslim.”)

• Rejects Hindu ritual & caste system

• Meditation, reincarnation, 10 gurus

• Persecuted by Hindus and Muslims

• 1984: India Army attached Sikh temple

• Sikh extremists assassinated Indira Ghandi

Sikhism Beliefs

• The goal of human life is to break the cycle of birth's and deaths and merge with God. This can be accomplished by following the teachings of the Guru, meditation on the Holy Name and performance of acts of service and charity.

• The five cardinal vices are; Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (worldly attachment) and Ahankar (pride). If one can overcome these, they will achieve salvation.

• Rejection of all forms of blind rituals such as fasting, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages, superstitions, veil wearing, yoga, as well as any form of idol worship. Permits widow remarriage.

Golden Temple

Amritsar, India

Jainism

• 800 BCE

• 1 % of Indian population

• Does not include a belief in an omnipotent supreme being or creator, but rather in an eternal universe governed by natural laws

• Rejects Vedas and Hindu deities

• Non-violence (ahimsa) is the core

• Vegetarianism

• Karma and reincarnation

• Influenced Ghandi

Sikh Attitude toward Jainism

• They have their heads plucked, drink dirty water and repeatedly beg … The daily routine of their mothers and fathers they give up, and their kith and kin bewail loudly. For them none gives barley rolls and food on leaves, nor performs last rites, nor lights earthen lamp. After death where shall they be cast? They ever remain filthy day and night, and bear not sacrificial marks on their brow. They ever sit in groups, as if mourning and go not into the True Court. With begging bowls slung round their loins and a clew in their hands, they walk in single file. They are neither disciples of Gorakh nor adorers of Shiva, nor Muslim Qazis and Mullah's." (Guru Nanak, Slok, pg. 149)

Fire by Deepa Mehta

• Mehta born in Armistar, Punjab

• Best known for her Elements Trilogy, Fire (1996), Earth (1998) (released in India as 1947: Earth), and Water (2005), which won her much critical acclaim

• Expatriate (lives in Toronto)

Fire by Deepa Mehta

“A wife’s God is her husband, he is her friend, he is her guru, evern her life is less than her husband’s happiness.”

--Legend of Sita

Fire by Deepa Mehta

• Main characters Sita and Rhada

– Sita was Ram’s wife

– Rhada was Krishna’s lover

• Sita’s trial by fire

– Ram accused Sita of being unfaithful

– She offered to walk in fire

– If guilty, would be consumed

– She walked through fire and was not burned

Amritsar Golden Temple

• The Buddha meditated there (500 BC)

• Temple of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion (1649-1539)

• Destroyed by Moslems several times

• Sanctuary contains sacred scriptures of the Sikh, which includes devotional poems, prayers, and hymns composed by the ten Sikh gurus and various Moslem and Hindu saints

• Amritsar mean "pool of ambrosial nectar" --a drink of the gods, a rare and magical substance that catalyzes euphoric states of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment

• The waters of Amritsar flowing into the lake of the Hari Mandir were long ago - and remain today - a bringer of peacefulness

Sufism

• Adherents to the mystical tradition of Islam Also called Dervish

• Reaction against worldliness of certain Muslim sects

• Considered “universal” in nature, with a philosophy that predates Islam and influenced by Buddhism and Jainism

• Seeker must abandon self and worldly desires.

• Cannot be learned through books.

• For a Hindu, would be considered the space of “the Other”

• Banned in some traditional Islamic cultures

Sufi Shrine of Nizamuddin

• The Holy Shrine of the great Sufi Saint of India Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia is a world-renowned spiritual centre at New Delhi (India).T

• The Shrine is more than 700 years old.

• People of different faiths and religions visit the holy shrine (Dargah)

• A centre of spiritualism that promotes world peace, universal brotherhood, harmony and tolerance.

• The Saint has said, "To hurt a human heart is to hurt the grace of God.” A Sufi Dervesh (Sufi Saint) must never curse any body however great may be the persecution which he may suffer. He must always refrain from disclosing the faults of the people, which is a virtue and one of the best devotions to God.

India Today

• Over 1 billion people

• Federal democratic republic

• Dozens of political parties and factions

• 60% agriculture

• High tech, manufacturing and service industries

• High emphasis on education

• Increasing Westernization

• Conservative society

Indian Film Industry• Produces more films than Hollywood (1100 vs

500 /yr.)

• Cheapest tickets in the world

• 4 billion attendance / year

• 30 different languages:

– Hindi: Bollywood (Bombay-Mumbai)

– Bengali: Tollywood and Dhaliwood (Calcutta)

– Tamil: Kollywood (Madurai)

– Telugi: (Hyderabad)-#2 to Bollywood

– Marathi: (Mumbai)

– Malayalam (Southwest tip)

– Kannada (Southwest)

– Punjab (Amristar)

Hindi Film Industry

“...the contemporary Hindi cinema is the medium through which a fragmented, multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-caste and multi-class political union that is India, is invited to see itself as a seamlessly united and modern nation.’

• --Kasbakar, 1996

Indian Film Industry• Reflective of the conservative nature of society

& Hindu values

• Film censorship board

• Purely capitalistic enterprise—no state subsidies

• Star-centric, proven genres & plot formulas

• Familiar plot of thwarted love, profusion of sub-plots and digressions

• Independent producers

• Expatriots, such as Mehta

– Mehta (“maverick,” funded by West)

– Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding)

Indian Film Industry

• Reflects Hindu concept of Dharma:(Law of the Universe)

• Preserve the social order through well-defined and regulated castes

• Individual acceptance of fate & caste

• Women have an orderly place

• A Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender.

• Widows, for example, are considered the “outcast of the outcast,” may not remarry, are abandoned by their families, must shave their heads, sent to “ashrams” to live in seclusion, and beg for food (in some parts of India).

Bollywood (Hindi)

• Largest segment of industry

• Big musical productions (3 hrs) with traditional dances

• Highly melodramatic stories

• At least 8 big song & dance scenes

• Traditionally, no kissing or forbidden topics (censors)

• Key influence on pop culture throughout Asian subcontinent

• “Masala”—”a blend of spices”: wide range of emotions

• Rarely use actor voices (dubbing)

Bollywood (Hindi)

• Largest segment of industry

• Big musical productions (3 hrs) with traditional dances

• Highly melodramatic stories

• At least 8 big song & dance scenes

• Traditionally, no kissing or forbidden topics (censors)

• Key influence on pop culture throughout Asian subcontinent

• “Masala”—”a blend of spices”: wide range of emotions

• Rarely use actor voices (dubbing)

Indian Film Industry

• Becoming more “Western”

• Some controversial topics: - Marriage between Hindus & Muslims - Gay & lesbian rights - Treatment of women

• Impact of globalization

• Questioning of traditional values

Indian Film Industry

• Becoming more “Western”

• Some controversial topics: - Marriage between Hindus & Muslims - Gay & lesbian rights - Treatment of women

• Impact of globalization

• Questioning of traditional values

• Reflects conflict between dharma and progress