Hinduism Flashcards
Western Religions
Western: Emphasis on INDIVIDUAL, Continuation of life as ideal, resurrection, historicity, singleness of God, Uniqueness of path leading to salvation
Eastern Religions
COMMUNAL Identity Extinction of individual life as ideal REINCARNATION Little focus on HISTORICITY Divine manifestations embodied in DIFFERENT beings VARIOUS saving paths
How do they view time?
Eastern as one big circle, while Western as a line
Hindu belief in divine being expressed?
Can be expressed in many different ways - like religions have different responsibilities. Almost complementary!
Define Hinduism
Not a single founder or creed
A set of religious beliefs sharing a common core!
Is Hinduism a Western or Eastern Term?
Western
How large and how old of a world religion?
Third largest, oldest
Earliest roots were seen in?
Agriculturist Dravidians (2000 BCE) with the pastoralist INDOARYANS( in the Indus Valley
Earliest roots were seen in?
Agriculturist Dravidians (2000 BCE) with the pastoralist INDOARYANS (1800-1500 BCE) in the Indus Valley
Ancient religion of?
Nature worship and fertility goddesses!
The different historical periods?
The Vedic Period
The Upanishad Period (6th Century BCE)
The Bhakti Period (since 6th Century BCE)
The Vedic Period
AKA The Way of Works
- Four Vedas: hymns, magic spells, epic stories
- Devas: gods of earth, air, heaven,
- Preeminance of priests (Brahmins)
- Sacrifices on fire alters with proper formulas
The Unpanishad Period
AKA The Way of Knowledge
-Challenge to the priestly religion of ritual
-Interiorization: asceticism and meditation
-Philosophical questions: Universal Monism
-Tolerance for different forms of religious devotion
The Bhakti Period
AKA The Way of Devotion
- Loving and grateful devotion to one deity
- Open to everyone, regardless of class
- Temples and domestic shrines
What happened in the 19th century?
Revival of Hinduism!
YOGA
The different ways Hinduism is manifested!
Raja Yoga
Meditation and concentration
Juana Yoga
Spiritual/Intellectual, the path of rational inquiry
Karma Yoga
Active, the path of right action/service
Bhakti Yoga
emotional, the path of devotion
Shruti
Revealed: Vedas, Brahmanas (commentaries), Upanishads: philosophical writings before Christ
Smriti
The open/human side of the canon
- Beloved by all the people
- Epics: Major stories.
- Hundreds of other stories, etc.
Epics:
Mahabharata: (Bhagavad-Gita): Krishna
Ramayana: Rama
Brahman
The impersonal source of all objective reality, a universal force of all that is
Atman
The subjective manifestation of that reality in our inward world of reason, feeling, will and self-conciousness. (A spirit/soul of sort)
(Like a single drop of water in an ocean.)
Maya
Illusion, failure to recognize that we are not individuals but only a small part of Brahman
Karma
The external law that words, thoughts, and deeds fix our destiny through unavoidable consequences.
The Caste System has been explained in both
Dharma and Karma
Samsara
The cycle of reincarnation - up or down on the spectrum until MOKSHA (Salvation is achieved.)
Three main “Liberated” Dieties
- Brahma
- Shiva
- Vishnu
Shakti
Feminine divine power - A female wife next to the male deity
Devi
Goddess in all her forms and personifications
Another part of Devi
Consort of Males Gods where female represents the active energetic force in the union.
Shiva
God of life and death
- Shakti: Parvati
- Son: Ganesh (remover of obstacles)
Shiva
God of life and death
- Shakti: Parvati
- Son: Ganesh (remover of obstacles)
Vishnu
Loving God of preservation
Shakti: Lakshmi (beauty and generosity)
-Most popular deity
-Descends on earth as Krishna and Rama
Student has:
Dharma
Householder has:
Kama and Artha
Retired has:
Moksha
Ascetic has:
Moksha
Dharma:
Righteousness
Kama
Pleasure
Artha
Success
Moksha
Liberation
The four castes
Brahmins - Priests and philosophers
Kshatriyas - Rulers
Vaishyas - The common people
Shudras - The servants
Dalits (Outcasts)
Puja
In the home or mandira (temple) Centrality of murti (Hindu icons)
Pilgrimages
The River Ganga - High spiritual leaders have had experiences here
Festivals
Have an element of thanfulness and appreciation
-Holi-Colors, Diwali-Lights
Henotheists
Worship of any one god, but usually the same one
