Hinduism Flashcards
The religion of the Veda
Hinduism
Describe the Indus Valley Civilization
Dravidian. They had a more advanced culture than you would think they did (writing system, seal stamps), planned city, agricultural society
What kind of society was the Indus Valley Civilization?
They were an agricultural society (irrigating agriculture), with some evidence of herding
When was the Indus Valley Civilization at its peak?
3000 BCE to 1500 BCE
When did the Indus Valley Civilization begin to decline?
Between 1800 BCE and 1500 BCE
How did the Indus Valley Civilization decline?
1) Theories say that it was a gradual decline. Could have been due to natural disasters or floods.
2) Migration of new people. Theory say that Dravidian culture did not just die out, but it fused with Aryan culture (Zoroastrianism), in what is modern day Iran.
What does the term Aryan mean?
Noble One (sanskrit)
Describe Aryan religion
Portable “religion on your back”. Oral tradition.
Where did the Aryans migrate from?
They migrated from the Mesopotamia basin to India
What kinds of people were the Aryans?
Poets, Pastoralists, Warriors
What do the Gods look like in Aryan culture?
Nature, personification. Human qualities in animal Gods.
What is the Aryan Invasion Theory?
Aryans were nomadic, that’s why they were travelling slowly downward to the Indus River Valley. Religion was oral. Gods had to do with nature and the personification of nature. This is where we get this Aryan invasion theory from, because we see a lot of instances of Aryan culture becoming predominant in Indus River Valley population. Invaded rather than slow fusion.
Aryans migrated in waves to
India
Aryan tribal communities has leaders called
Rajas
What were the societal distinctions in the Indus River Valley called?
Varnas
What does Varnas literally translate to?
Colors
What are the four Varnas?
1) Brahmins
2) Kshatriyas
3) Vaishyas
4) Shudras
*Brahmins were the most powerful
Priests who were powerful and has access to knowledge
Brahmins
Warriors, chieftans. Leaders of communities.
Kshatriyas
Commoners, merchants.
Vaishyas
Slaves, servants. People who existed in the Indus River Valley before the Aryan Invasion. Typically darker-skinned.
Shudras
Who were the most powerful people in the Indus River Valley?
Brahmin. Religious people were more powerful than warriors.
What were some arbutus of Aryan Religion?
1) Polytheistic
2) Gods were personifications of nature, natural forces
3) Animistic qualities
4) Main type of worship, sacrifice on altars (nomadic)
5) Sacrifice of animals, milk, butter, soma
6) Horse sacrifice
What is a horse sacrifice?
They would pick a young horse and let it wander for a year. Anywhere that the horse would travel, the king could claim. After a year, they slaughter it and eat the meat. Said to be very powerful. The more you do it, the more powerful you become. Also, very time consuming.
Hindu sacred writings, such as the Vedas, based on “heard” or “revealed” knowledge
Shruti
writings based on what human authors “remembered”of revelations to Hindus. Less authoritative than revealed scriptures.
Smriti
Revealed
Shruti
Remembered
Smriti
The oldest sacred texts of Hinduism
The Vedas
The VEDAS
1) oldest sacred text of Hinduism
2) Basic source for Hindu understanding of the universe
3) All other texts are seen as commentary on the Vedas
4) Created when Aryans came in and mingled with native people
5) Oral transmission for generations before written down
6) Vedic language- predecessor of early Sanskrit
What was the predecessor of early Sanskrit?
Vedic Language
How did people normally memorize the Vedas before it was written down?
Typically through hymns
What does Vedas mean?
“Knowledge” or “Sacred Lore”
what does “Ved” mean?
To know
The oldest of the Vedas
Rg Veda
Collection of over 1,000 hymns to the Aryan gods. Contains their mythology.
Rg Veda
Knowledge of rites. A collection of materials to be recited during sacrifice to the Gods.
Yajur Veda
Knowledge of chants. A collection of basic hymns recited to priests at sacrifices.
Sama Veda
Knowledge given by the sage Atharva. Rituals to be used in the home, popular prayers to the Gods, spells to ward off evil.
Atharva Veda
Sage
Wise person
What is considered to be the second most important of the Vedic books?
Atharva Veda
Hymns to the Gods
Mantra
Ritual materials on how to perform proper sacrifices.
Brahmana
Forest Treatises. Materials for hermits in their religious pursuits.
Aranyakas
Philosophical materials
Upanishads
Each to the four Vedic books can be divided into four different sections. What are they?
1) Mantra
2) Brahmana
3) Aranyakas
4) Upanishads
What is the foundation for much of later Indian philosophy?
Upanishads
People who separate themselves from society
Hermits
God of fire, priests
Agni
The God of the thunderbolt, of clouds and rain, and the ruler of heaven
Indra
The God who resides over the order of the universe, forgives sinners
Varuna
God of the dead
Yama
God of faith-keeping and loyalty
Mitra
deified plant
Soma
Where does Agni, the God of fire, come from?
Comes from Zoroastrianism. Fire was very important in Zoroastrianism.
(ultimate reality)-eternal, infinite, unknowable, sexless, without a past, present, or future, and totally impersonal
Brahman
false knowledge
Maya
*Humans have false knowledge when they believe that this life and our separation from Brahman are real
ignorance in the Upanishads
Avidya
(True/False) The Upanishads emphasizes meditation as a means of worship.
True
What is the philosophy of Brahman?
Living beings that inhabit our world are expressions of Brahman. They are souls (atman) in a collection that make up Brahman. All phenomenal existence is an illusion (maya), arising from ignorance (avidya) of the true nature of reality.
Karma means
Action
Where is the idea of karma introduced?
In the Upanishads
What does samsara mean?
“To wander across”- The round of rebirth
seen as a negative phenomenon, one is bound to a life in ignorance and pain, living over and over again through countless generations.
Samsara
The ultimate goal is _____, of breaking free from life.
Moksha
*No longer being reborn
The first man in Hinduism
Manu
Ethical and social standards that were held as the ideal during the classical era of Indian history
The Laws of Manu
Each caste had specific duties
Dharma
*Mobility within a caste is only possible through reincarnation
When is the classical era?
Starts when the Aryans come into the Indus River Valley and end when the Gita is finished.
*Big period for literature
What are the stages of life that an upper caste member would go through?
1) Student
2) Householder
3) Hermit
4) Wandering Aesthetic
*Women’s roles were dictated by the men in their lives
What are some characteristics of the Laws of Manu?
Pleasantness, patience, control of mind, non-stealing, purity, control of senses, intelligence, knowledge, truthfulness, non-irritability
What is the Indian concept of time?
Time moves endlessly through cycles, or ages of creation. No beginning or end.
Age of creation
Kalpas
Creator
Brahma
Maintainer
Vishnu
Destroyer
Shiva
Epic poem encompassing Indian religious philosophy and culture
Bhagavad Gita
What does the Bhagavad Gita translate to?
The song of the Lord
The Bhagavad Gita is part of what?
The Mahabharata
Conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna
*Battlefield struggle, metaphor for human struggles. Deals with philosophical and moral concepts
Bhagavad Gita
What is the overall message of the Bhagavad Gita?
It is more important to fulfill your duty than to protect your family.
From the Bhagavad Gita, we get four _____.
Yogas
What are yogas?
They are paths to meet Moksha. Realize that people are different and might meet moksha in different ways.
The way of works
Kharma yoga
The way of knowledge
Jnana yoga
The way of physical discipline
Raja yoga
The way of devotion
Bhakti yoga
Post-classical Brahma is broken up into what three parts?
1) Brahma
2) Vishnu
3) Shiva
*This is called the Trimurti
When does classical Hinduism end?
After the completion of the Bhagavad Gita
What are the four goals of life for modern Hindus?
1) Kama- sensual pleasures
2) Artha- wealth
3) Dharma- religious duty
4) Moksha
*Dharma and Moksha are almost a higher order of goals.
Sensual pleasures
Kama
Wealth
Artha
Religious duty
Dharma
Two parts. We exist as matter and spirit.
Sankhya
What is the goal of Sankhya?
The goal is to separate your spirit from the matter that it is being entangled in so you can get out.
Matter
prakriti
Spirit
Purusha
What is the goal of yoga?
To attempt to “yoke” atman and Brahman
Avoidance of rebirth by following the Vedas
Mimansa
*Lays presedence on the teachings of the Veda and rebirth.
Reality of the physical world. Nine eternal elements, no Gods.
Vaishesika
*No need for Gods, aesthetic
Logical analysis for arriving at truth
Nyaya
Non-dualism. Atman and Brahman are not separate. Realizing this is how you reach liberation.
Advaita Vedanta
celebrated during February/March to welcome spring, dedicated to the god Krishna, was once a fertility ceremony, now also celebrates the destruction of demons (festival of colors)
Holi
Hindu new year, festival of lights
Divali
nine days in October (started this year on the 14th!) reserved to celebrate Durga’s (a consort of Shiva) victory over evil. There are presents, dances, ad processions
Dasehra
Where does the word Hindu come from?
It comes from the Sanskrit word for the river Indus, “Shindu”
Initially referred to the religion of the people of India
Hindu
- only recently have people begun to refer to themselves as Hindus
- Possible that Muslim conquerors were the first to use the germ and British picked it up
Rejected the sacrifice system of the Vedas. Focused on spiritual accomplishments. Open to any caste. Liberation through aestheticism and non-violence.
Jainism
*Liberation is achieved by being super-aware of your surroundings
non-violence
ahimsa (Jainism)
How many people practice Jainism today?
About 2 million (out of a population of 1 billion in India)
