Hindu concepts of God Flashcards
1
Q
Brahman Saguna
A
-Personal/with attributes
2
Q
Brahman Nirguna
A
-Impersonal/without attributes
3
Q
Qualities of Brahman Nirguna
A
- Without attributes
- Cannot be defined/understood by humans
- No relationship with humanity possible
- Impersonal, cannot be “lord” or “God”, only abstract: “tat” (that), “iti” (it is), “sat” (being), “citi” (consciousness), “ananda” (bliss)…or negative like “neti” (not this/that)
- No gender, form or name
- Eternal, infinite or unchanging
- Transcendent, yet omnipresent
4
Q
Terms describing Brahman Nirguna
A
- Para Brahman “The Absolute Truth”
- Paramatma “Supreme Self
- AUM - sound of God, assists realisation
- Impersonal, cannot be “lord” or “God”, only abstract: “tat” (that), “iti” (it is), “sat” (being), “citi” (consciousness), “ananda” (bliss)…or negative like “neti” (not this/that)
5
Q
Brahman Nirguna described in scripture
A
- Vedic texts, the Upanisads, recorded experiences of Sadhus 4000 years ago who lived reclusive lives and attempted to articulate the experiences of their meditation for their disciples (Chelas)
- Katha Upanisad: “This self cannot be apprehended/By voice mind or eye:/How, then, can He be understood,/Unless we say-He is?”
6
Q
How can Brahman Nirguna be experienced?
A
- Meditation/yoga
- Ascetic renounciation of all material pleasures and worldly desires
- Focus on truth that Brahman and Atman are one: “tat twam asi” (you are that) - attained through jnana yoga
7
Q
Qualities of Brahman Saguna
A
- With attributes
- Can be understood by humanity
- Can have relationship with humanity
- Has name and form (nama rupa)
- Proper description may be used: Lord, Guru, Muktidata (Giver of liberation), Mata (mother), Sakti (female energy), Creator, Preserver, Destroyer, various deity names
- Can have gender, form and name
- Transcendant and immanent
- Eternal, infinite, unchanging, ominscient, omnipresent, omnipotent
- One, but many - Muiller’s “Henotheism” represented with many devas
8
Q
Terms describing Brahman Saguna
A
- Proper description may be used: Lord, Guru, Muktidata (Giver of liberation), Mata (mother), Sakti (female energy), Creator, Preserver, Destroyer, various deity names
Can have gender, form and name
9
Q
Brahman Saguna described in scripture
A
- In epics (Maharabata), Bhagvadgita, Puranas
- Description of deities from Bhakti tradition (6th C.)
10
Q
How can Brahman Saguna be experienced
A
- Murtis/images
- Through those who have achieved Mocksha (gurus?)
- Devotion to istadeva, moksha acheived through Bhakti-yoga
11
Q
Brahma
A
Nature:
- creator and Lord of the world
- father of the gods
- conceived from the Golden cosmic egg in Puranas
- prajapati: lord of creatures
- female counterpart is sarasvati
Role:
- creator of the universe
- father of the gods
- create a aspect of the Trimurti
Importance:
- less important role than others in the Trimurti as Brahma’s creative role has finished
- incorrect to say that Trimurti is like trinity as not all equally important
- evident as not as important as worshipped at only two temples in India
12
Q
Murtis of brahma
A
Brahma:
- Pictured with four heads: four vedas, four varnas, for ashramas, four yugas (epochs of time)
- ->Created a woman, Shatrupa, Brahman sprouted 4 heads to look at her wherever she turned, 5th burned off by Siva for unholy behavior (material desire) so he should be worshipped no longer. Must forever recite vedas
- Seen holding sacred scriptures (author of knowledge)
- string of prayer beads (time), ladle (sacrifical spoon), water jug (water of creation like cosmic ocean).
- Sports beard (wisdom), wears white garment (purity), vahana is a swan with ability to separate mixture of milk/water. Shows equality for all creatures and teaches to disregard evil
- Holds lotus, may sit on one (creator of reality)
-Alternatively shown sprouting for Vishnu’s navel, suggests that Vishnu is dominant in trimurti
13
Q
Vishnu
A
Nature:
-Preserver aspect of the trimurti
-Naranaya: ever present and all pervading
-Characteristics revealed with Vishnusahasranama (the 1000 names of vishnu)
following of Vaishnavas
-Female consort is Lackshmi
-Minor in the rig veda, but in Puranas and epics he is important
Role:
- Preserver
- Sustainer of dharma
- Restores order in the universe, and maintains it
- Returns to earth as an avatar when dharma threatened
Importance:
- Very important, large following of vaishnavas
- Teaches dharma
- Most immanent as avatars are active in our world
- Thought to return as Kalki in the future, still very active
14
Q
Murtis of Vishnu
A
Reclining
-Depicted lying on Anata Shesha (a primal being who will remain and has remained throughout the life of the universe and beyond, shows vishnu is immortal), endless snake
-in the middle of an infinite cosmic ocean - state of pre creation
Brahma connected from his middle by umbilical chord, symbolic of Vishnu’s role in creation
-Feet are massaged by Lakshmi, devotion
Standing:
- Wears tilaka marking for Vaishnavs
- Carries a mace (kammodaki) for omnipotence/authority/power he draws on to destroy imbalance
- Conch shell (shankha) emits primeval sound of creation (aum)
- Spinning weapon (chakra) for continuum of time, and power to counter adharma
- Padma (lotus flower) - purity ie adherence to dharma
- Jewel on neck to show female consort, Lakshmi
15
Q
Vishnu’s avatars
A
- Matsya (fish, saved 7th manu from great flood)
- Kurma (tortoise in churning of ocean)
- Varaha (boar, destroyed demon Hiranyakcha)
- Narasimha (half lion, destroyed demon Hiranyakashipu)
- Vamana (tricked demon Bali, generous demon, 3 strides)
- Parashurama (Rama of the axe, protected Brahmins from Kshattriyas)
- Rama (vs Ravana, in the text the Ramayana)
- Krishna (established dharma)
- Buddha (founded Buddhism, showed detachment)
- Kalki (will come as rider on white horse at end of present “Age of Darkness”
16
Q
Krishna
A
Nature:
- Eight incarnation of Vishu
- Most popular deity in North India
- Raised in foster care to protect him from evil King Kamsa and became king of legendary city of Dvarka
- Revered by mothers, you can approach god with innocence of a child, pictured as eternally young
- Consort is Radha (favorite gopi)
Murtis:
- Dancing on poisonous snake, Kaliya, conquer of evil
- Divine herder (with cows, flute, gopis)
- Visvarupa (Vishnu’s true form) shows that Brahman saguna is Brahman nirguna as well
Stories:
- Eating clay, foster mother opens mouth, sees whole universe inside
- Butter thief: Foster mother tried to tie him up, couldn’t. Thus you can’t get your head around God (unknowable but personal?)
- Multiplied himself to dance with numerous gopis (God relationship with all)
- Steals clothes of gopis, shows you must be spiritually naked in front of the divine
- Talks to Arjuna on battlefield, tells him he must fight family/enemy (dharma)
- Lifts whole mountain to shelter inhabitants
17
Q
Rama
A
Nature:
- 7th incarnation of Vishnu
- Model husband, son, king, model of dharma, monarchical aspect of God
- Son of the King and Queen of Koshala in the second yuga
- Worshipped alongside consort, Siva/Lakshmi and Hanuman
- Model of Dharma and duty
- Vanquishes Ravana (restores dharma)
Murtis:
Shown with bow: Symbol of strength and defiance of adversity. Also how he won the hand of Sita (breaking bow of Lord Shiva
Stories:
-Story in Ramayana: banished by stepmother who wished younger brother to be king, agrees, enters woods, rescues Sita from demon king Ravana. Demands Siva show her purity so he may be her husband. Shows he is a model of duty, dharma and respect
18
Q
Hanuman
A
Nature:
- Monkey God
- Devotee of Vishnu as Rama
- Aids Rama in rescuing Sita
- Embodies, strength, resilience and devotion to duty and Brahman
- Patron of sportsmen and soldiers
Murti:
- Kneeling at Rama’s feet (devotion)
- Carrying mountain to give Rama medicinal herbs for Sita
- Tears open chest to show Rama/Sita are truly in his heart
- Model of Bhakti
Stories:
-Ramayana: Aids Rama in rescuing Sita from Ravana with his monkey army. Builds causeway to Lanka, fights and collects mountain herbs for Sita
19
Q
Siva
A
Nature:
- Destroyer and re-generator aspect of Trimurti
- Vanaha is bull
- Consort is Parvati, only she can console him in dance of Tandava
- Combines many contradictory elements
- ‘Mahadeva’ - great God but also Bhairava - terrible
- God of regeneration and sexuality as Linga (creation) but also of destruction (nataraja)
- Mahayogi as God of asceticism/destruction of desire (retention of energy) and of release (nataraja)
- Celibacy (mahayogi) and sexual activity (householder)
Role:
- Destroyer and re-generator (of life)
- Dances of creation (lasya) and destruction (tandava)
Importance:
- Important following of Saivas
- Model of ascetism but also of sexuality
20
Q
Murtis of Siva
A
Mahayogi:
- Ascetic Shiva
- Naked man with matted hair
- Smeared with ash
- Sits on Tiger skin (tiger vehicle of shakti (power)=conquered by him
- Contemplation
- 3rd eye: Pavarti loves Siva, God of desire about to shoot Siva so reciprocated, but shoots God with 3rd eye
- Has renounced all material desire, model for ascetics
- Celibate, retains all sexual energy
Nataraja:
- Symbolic of cosmic energy sustaining the world. Dance=release of energy
- Drum - lord of creation
- Loose hair - powerful movement, energy
- Ring of fire, destructive force (torana, ring of flames, circle of life)
- Hands point to feet, liberation for those who seek him
- Hand motion of abhaya (protection)
- Dances on demon of ignorance
- Snakes (sexuality)
Linga/Yoni: Phallic symbol of sexuality and reproduction
Householder: With Parvati, Ganesh and Skanda (balance of householder and ascetic)
Androgynous Ardhanarishvara: opposites of m/f, both necessary for preservation of universe/re-generation
21
Q
Shakti
A
Nature:
- derived from Indus Valley civilisation
- in Puranas goddesses began to be worshipped in own right not just as consorts
- divine female energy/ female aspect of Brahman
- as consort she is sati (virtuous wife)
- worshipped by shaktas
- worshipped as maternal as parvati, but harsher as Durga or Kali
- God may be androgynous (make and female) ie. siva
22
Q
Lakshmi
A
Nature:
- Goddess of wealth and fortune
- worshipped equally alongside Vishnu
- daughter of sage, bhigru, who cursed all beings. Lakshmi retreated into cosmic ocean, which as churned to attain elixir of life and she emerged on lotus. - thus also known as ‘padma’ or lotus
- Worshipped at Lakshmi-puja day in divali
role:
- goddess of wealth and fortune
- assists Vishnu in preserving dharma as she accompanies his avatar in her own form. Ie as Sita with Rama
importance:
- worshipped equally alongside Vishnu (own festival day at divali)
Murtis:
- holds two lotus flowers
- stands on lotus - purity and perfection
- blesses worshipped
- coins cascade from one hand (wealth and prosperity)
- does not bestow wealth on greedy
- pictured with two elephants with water from trunks, shows effort focused on dharma leads to prosperity
23
Q
Kali
A
Nature:
- Entirely destructive
- Literally means ‘time’ (3 eyes meaning past present future)
- Slays demons. In Devi Mahatmya she slew Raktavija who duplicated himself with every drop of blood shed. She drained him from a wound then beheaded him.
- -> then her destructive urges became uncontrollable. Only Siva could control her
- Polar opposite of Parvati, seen to provoke not domesticate him
- Also seen as maternal, protective mother
Role:
- Destroys demons but also ego so one can achieve mocksha
- Motherly
- Provokes shiva into tandava
Importance:
- Contemporary following as maternal God
- Seen in Daksinakali as dominant
Murtis:
- Skirt of hands - symbolizes escape from karmic cycle
- necklace of 50 heads, sanskrit alphabet. Jnana yoga
- Holds sword and trident to show destructive urges and destruction of ego/association with Siva (trident)
- Holds severed demon head. Bloodthirsty and primeval
- Abhaya mudra
OR Daksinakali (south facing) Kali stands enraged with Siva at feet (passive) shows sakti dominance
24
Q
Durga
A
Nature:
- Worshipped independently from male counterpart, siva
- literally means ‘inaccessible’ or ‘fort’
- strong and assertive manifestation of Shakti
- destructive, icon of fulfilment of dharma (also shows relation to shiva who is destructive)
- in purana, splayed mahisaura for male gods, shows independence and authority
- Middle way between Parvati and Kali as both destructive and maternal (mother to Ganesh, sarasvati, Lakshmi, kartikeya)
- shakambhari: bringer of crops (maternal provider for earth)
Role:
- destructive with shiva, and slayed demon mahisaura
- maternal as mother of Ganesh, katikeya, Parvati, sarasvati
Importance:
- worshipped independently from siva, good standing
-teaches fulfilment of dharma
-model of materialism
-Durga puja festival to honour her
-revered by Kshatriyas as she is strong warrior
Murtis:
- bow, sword, shakra, trident
- shakra/trident donated by Vishnu and shiva
- shakra connotes cycle of time
- weapons show strength in face of adversity
- conch shell, sound of creation
- partially bloomed lotus, peace
- abhaya hasham, symbol of peace
- vahana is lion, dominance
25
Q
Parvati
A
Nature:
- she who dwells in the mountains after the mountain god, her father
- consort of siva
- mild and maternal through care of Ganesh and skanda
- won shifts respect through ascetic meditation showing devotion to him (model of ideal partner)
- tempted away from meditation by crying child, test from siva, who married her for maternal instinct
Role:
- ascetic
- maternal
- ideal partner
- balances sivas instincts of release and retention of energy, ascetic and householder.
Importance:
- model of devotion and asceticism
- helps Siva maintain opposites
- model for mothers
Murtis:
- two hands when with siva, holds Ganesh and skanda (maternal)
- alone has four hands, holds two lotuses (purity) and hands raised in abhaya mudra sigh (protection/ care as she is maternal )
- linga yoni ( yoni is parvatis creative force)
26
Q
Sarasvati
A
Nature:
- Consort of Brahma
- Patron of the arts, culture and of education
- not of academic knowledge, but divine knowledge to attain mocksha (jnana yoha)
- Originally associated with rivers, the river god (in vedas)
- Associated with sacred sound (sabda), an agent of creation
Role:
- Moksha through Jnana yoga
- Patron of the arts
- Consort of Brahma
Importance:
- Important as some believe only through worship of Sarasvati can they attain mocksha
- Birthday is celebrated yearly on Vasant Panchami
- Honored at festival of Navaratri
Murtis:
- Seen to sit on lotus connoting purity. Further emphasized with white Sari
- May also sit on swan, spiritual perfection
- Holds stringed instrument (veena) associated with sabda (holy sound) and the arts
- Holds books (knowledge)
27
Q
Ganesh
A
Nature:
- Patron of the arts (like siva) but also remover of obstacles
- Siva made him leader of the Ganas hence Ganesh meaning ‘lord or leader’
- Created from Parvati’s scurf (dead skin) or in another story was guarding home for parvati as she bathed and was beheaded by Siva for refusing him entry. Parvati demanded Siva find him the next available head so he received an elephant’s - guardian to worshipers
- Sometimes associated with Siddhi/Rhiddi (for prosperity)
- Celebrated at festival of Ganesa Catuthi
Role:
- Assists others in removing obstacles
- Guardian to worshipers
- Patron of the arts as Nrttaganapati (dancing ganesh)
Importance:
- Own festival (Ganesa Catuthi)
- Worshipped widely
- Teaches to attain mocksha (holds both axe and noose/is restricted) but also holds sweets (is fulfilled)
Murtis:
- Large head, wisdom and macrocosm
- Large ears to hear troubles of worshiper
- Squints in concentration
- Pot bellied (lambodora)
- One tusk broken to connote faults of material desires. complete one connotes truth
- Axe (goad) and noose to show detachment/restriction from material desires
- Sweets (enjoyment of material comfort - paradoxical?)
- Symbol of hand of abhaya mudra (protection)
-Alternatively Nrttaganapati (dancing ganesh) as patron of the arts. Likened to Siva as Nataraja
28
Q
Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic?
A
Monotheistic:
- Only worship one God at a time
- Personal Gods are all manifestations of one and the same Brahman
- Example of this is Vishnu, who had 8 avatars who are worshiped, but ultimately it is just Vishnu
- Takes many forms to allow you to form a personal relationship with him - to relate to different aspects of Brahman
- Nasadiya hymn: the Gods themselves are later than creation (came from one brahman)
Polytheistic:
- Multiple, personal deities
- Are all very different in personality, can they truly be the same?
- -> for example Parvati and Kali are so different
- Some are animals (Ganesh)
- Some are female (sakti)
Conclusion:
- May appear polytheistic as many personal deities
- However they are all manifestations of one brahman
- “The Gods themselves are later than creation”-Nasadiya
29
Q
Is Brahman male or female?
A
Male: Trimurti -Brahma -Vishnu -Shiva -Consorts are assistants
Female: Female trimurti -Sarasvati -Durga -Lakshmi -Consorts may be seen as dominant (ie kali as facing south)
OR God may be androgynous (Linga and Yoni)/Shiva as both male and female
Conclusion:
- Male and female aspects to God
- Ultimately the same
30
Q
Is Brahman personal or impersonal?
A
Personal:
- Many deities
- Can interact with them (avatars of vishnu)
- May experience them (darshan)
- Anthropomorphic (human qualities)
- Krishna, may be experienced as child (innocent and understandable)
Impersonal:
- Personal deities are manifestations of something we cannot understand. Ie vishnu revealed as Visvarupa to arjuna who is overcome
- In beginning there was just Brahman and nothing else, who exploded into everything. Just creative force, no human attributes (Upanisads)
Conclusion:
- Personal aspects of Brahman allow us to form relationship with him (through puja with murtis and reading scripture)
- Ultimate aim is moksha (union with Brahman) so ultimately he must be knowable
- “As they approach me, I reward them accordingly” (Shri Krishna - Bhagvad - Brahman lets us understand him so we may be united with him
- Thus Brahman makes himself understandable, so he is personal
