Eastern Religions Flashcards
Darsana
H… to see and be seen by a particular deity or guru.
Vedas
- 4 collections of hymns and texts w/ 4 subdivisions.
- revered by all Hindus, but not known by most Hindus (not expected to be known)
- two views… Vedas are the sacred reality and co-eternal w/ the sacred reality… the Vedas were composed by the sacred reality
- the rishis (visionaries) compile shruti (that which is heard)
Sight and Sound in Hinduism
Sight… Those to whom the Vedic texts were revealed to are known as rishis (visionaries). Integral part of temple worship is darsana, to see and be seen by a particular deity or guru.
Hearing…. the sacred words of the Vedas are called shurti (that which is heard)… recitation of ancient texts, stories of the gods, chanting prayers, and mediating on mantra are important rituals.
Common Denominators in Hinduism
It is hard to find common denominators in Hinduism. There is no single text, deity, teacher considered supremely authoritative by all Hindus. Extremely pluralistic both in beliefs and practices.
Origins of the term “Hinduism”
- used by Brits to denote non-Abraham Indian religions
- used for incredibly diverse array of groups, who have considerable differences and whose beliefs are often regionally specific
Origins of Indian Civilization
- Harappa civilization- original indus valley civilization, writing, collapsed around 2000 BC (potential reasons… ecological catastophe, invasion).
- Succeeded by Aryans or Indo-Europeans, whose origins are mysterious. May or may not have invaded. Aryan means noble ones, had indo-european language, later ideas of indo-european master race.
Purusha
- myth about the origin of humanity
- purusha is primordial being who is sacrificed… from this sacrifice all created things are created… including humanity
- origin of the four varnas, classes is in the very creation of the cosmos
Varnas
- the are four varnas or classes in Hinduism… these four varnas, mythically, have their origin in the very creation of the cosmos. In this regard, the varnas are a cosmic reality.
- Brahmins (priests) - from Parushas mouth
- Kshatriya (warriors and kings) - from the arm of Parusha
- Vaishya (merchant) - from the legs of Parusha
- Shudra (slave/servant class) - from the feet of Parusha
Vedic Religion
- ritual animal sacrifice, performed by the Brahmins, is important in vedic religion - cosmic harmony
- many deities in Vedic pantheon that are not actively worshipped
- importance of varnas
Upanishads
- fourth part of each of the Vedas
- pursuit of liberation through mental, spiritual quest
- ideas of karma, Dharma, samsara, moksha
- most philosophically speculative component
- diminished importance of ritual, animal sacrifice… feature women teachers
Karma
an individual’s merit
Dharma in Hinduism
your ethical and ritual duty
Atman
the soul. According to Hinduism, and in contra-distinction to Buddhism, the essential you is soul.
Samsara
the wandering of the soul through various cycles of rebirth
Moksha
liberation from samsara… union between Atman and Brahman
Brahman
the divine, ultimate sacred reality, oneness
Hinduism in a Diagram
Atman (the individual soul) -> Samsara - > Moksha -> Brahman
Movement from Atman, multiplicity, to Brahman, oneness.
Smrti
- that which is from memory
- comprised of epics (Itihasas), stories (puranas), ethical manuals (dharmashastras)
Examples of Itihasas
- Ramayana and Mahabharata
Ramayana (plot and upshot)
-The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic which follows Prince Rama’s quest to rescue his beloved wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana with the help of an army of monkeys
- upshot… Rama is the epitome of virtue as a husband, son, ruler
Sita is the epitome of womanly purity and virtue
Mahabharata (plot and upshot)
- concerned with the struggle between the descendants ofa king named Bharata…. Pandavas vs. Kauravas
- Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, is on the side of the Pandava. He refuses to fight, but serves as a charioteer of the warrior Arjuna, who is interpreted as symbolizing the human soul in quest of liberation
- Arjuna, in the midst of battle, pauses to ask Krishna whether it is correct to take up arms against one’s own kind. Krishna answers that it is correct to fight for what is right, for righteousness (dharma)
- Bhagavad Gita, which is the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna, teaches loving devotion to Krishna and selfless action.
Vishnu
- god of preservation, mercy, compassion
- becomes incarnate at various points in human history for the good of humanity
- examples of incarnations…. Krishna
- eschatological aspect (10th avatar will initiate eschaton)
Shiva
- god of destruction, but destruction for the sake of creation (i.e. creative destruction)
- associated with asceticism
Devi
- female principle of cosmos
- consort of Shiva
- destroyer of demons
Timurti
- lit. three faces
- Hindu “trinity”
- three faces of Brahman (i.e. the divine, ultimate reality)
- Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer
Brahman vs. Brahma vs. Brahmin
Brahman = the divine, sacred, ultimate reality, oneness Brahma = the creator god, one of the "faces" of Brahman Brahmin= a priest, the priestly caste
Dharmashastras
- ethical part of the smrti
- essentially… your duty depends on your varna and, within that, your gender
- the laws of Manu (the primordial man)
The Laws of Manu
- part of the Dharmashastras, Smrti
- traditionally associated with Manu, who is the primordial man
- establishes ethical principles for all humanity, but differentiates in particulars between varnas and sexes
- the males in the top 3 varnas are twice-born… ritual of manhood and 4 stages of life
- student, family, forest, ascetic
Vedanta
- school of Hinduism, Hindu philosophy
- divided between Shankara (non-dualistic) and Ramanuja (dualistic) factions
Advaita
- faction of the Vedanta school of Hinduism
- non dualistic
- everything is, essentially, one, the same
- Brahman=Atman
- Maya is the illusion that atmas is distinct from Brahman
- Moksha is liberation from Maya
Ramanuja
- faction of the Vedanta school of Hinduism
- dualistic
- reject Advaita, argue that Advaita is incoherent insofar as it must assert either that Maya = Brahman or Maya doesnt = Brahaman, and thus there are two things
- Brahman is both transcendent and immanent
- Brahman does not = atman, but Brahman is immanently present in atman
Yoga
- lit. yoke… yoking atman to Brahman
- pre-Aryan precedents according to archaelogical evidence
- dualistic insofar as yoking soul to Brahman
- physical and mental discipline through which practitioners ‘yoke’ their souls to Brahan
Yoga
- lit. yoke… yoking atman to Brahman
- pre-Aryan precedents according to archaelogical evidence
- dualistic insofar as yoking soul to Brahman
- physical and mental discipline through which practitioners ‘yoke’ their souls to Brahman
- 8 limbs of moral/spiritual, mental, physical discipline that lead one to samadhi (absorption into and union with the divine) which culminates in moksha
Tantra
- esoteric systems of yoking atman to Brahman
- use of mantras, geometric patterns, etc.
South Indian Bhakti
- focus of devotion is Vishnu (god of preservation, mercy, compassion, incarnation) and Shiva (god of destruction and creation together, dance, asceticism)
Alvars
- branch of South Indian Bhakti
- devoted to Vishnu, lover of Atman
- kind of like troubadours speaking poetically of divine love
- prominent women alvars
- Tamil poetry, some of which is written by women, is regarded as holy
Nayanmars
- branch of South Indian Bhakti
- devoted to Shiva
- some reject caste and sacrifice
North Indian Bhakti
- focal point of devotion is Vishnu, or divine without attributes or images (Nirguna Brahman)
- reflects monotheistic, Muslim influence
- God as imageless, formless, w/o attributes … via negative … anything you can imagine is not God… as you do this you approach closer to God
- sants (i.e. holy ones) - those who practice North Indian via negativa
Brahmo Samaj
- argued that sati is not Vedic and thus may be faithfully abolished
- rejected the Purannas as false developments
- Hinduism should be based only on Vedas
- monotheistic… Brahman is God
- religion should be “rational”, sympathetic with hristian Unitarian
- favored public education and schools for women
Arya Smaj
- reject post-Vedic literature
- oppose Sati
- promoted social activism
- true religion compatible with reason, science
- nontheistic… oneness
Ramakrishna Movement
- religions are essentiall the same
- reject role of caste
- mission of social activism, humanism
- advaita (Brahman = atman)
- beginnings of Hindu missionary movement
Affects of British Colonization on Hinduism
- Rise of reform movements
- partition of Muslim India from Hindu India
- personal and/or family law differs depending on the religious tradition
Affects of British Colonization on Hinduism
- Rise of reform movements
- partition of Muslim India from Hindu India
- personal and/or family law differs depending on the religious tradition
- Hindu diaspora… Hinduism as a world religon
Temple Worship
- priests (Brahmins) provide devotion on behalf of community
- murti = divine image; prominent feature of temple worship; conduit to the divine; special presence of divine that is, at the same time, present everywhere; darsana
- prasada = divine gift /// lay people present offerings and, via the auspices of the priest, are presented with prasada
Temple Worship in Hinduism
- priests (Brahmins) provide devotion on behalf of community
- murti = divine image; prominent feature of temple worship; conduit to the divine; special presence of divine that is, at the same time, present everywhere; darsana
- prasada = divine gift /// lay people present offerings and, via the auspices of the priest, are presented with prasada
Open-Air Shrines in Hinduism
- sacred tree
- naga - good, protective, powerful snake
- associated with female devotion… they come seeking protection, prosperity, etc.
Puja
- home devotion
- sacred space with images of gods
- daily devotion often done by women
Erotic imagery in Hinduism
- serves both as a celebration of sensuality in bodily existence and metaphor for union of soul and Brahman
- ex: Linga and Yoni representing masculinity and femininity respectively, and, together, oneness
Forehead Marks
- most famous is the bindi, which is a forehead mark used by married women
- ascetics, priests, and devotees also wear forehead marks
Hinduism and Food
- not all Hindus are vegetarians
- gradations of asceticism
- plant-based diet is believed to promote tranquillity and meditation
- particular foods reserved for particular times, festivals, etc.
- food preparers must be of equal or higher varna as that of served
- if food is prepared by unclean person than food is unclean
Dance in Hinduism
- reflects fact that oneness is not a static reality … Brahman is reality of dynamism and dance is participation in that
- Shiva (multiplicity of arms of SHiva… signifying multiple realities conveyed at once)
Holi
- North Indian holiday that takes place in March or April
- celebration of light, color, renewal of life
- bonfire, dancing, commemorates Vishnu
Navarati
- takes place in September or October
- both the act and object of celebration depends largely on place
- generally… devotion to femal principles of cosmos through processions of women with dolls and bright dresses
- can commemorate Bhagavad Gita and Arjuna