Hinduism. What is the relationship between god and man? –The essence in all living things is...
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Transcript of Hinduism. What is the relationship between god and man? –The essence in all living things is...
Hinduism
Hinduism
• What is the relationship between god and man?– The essence in all living things is Brahman– All a manifestation of Brahman
• Ahimsa• nonviolence
– Throughout everything– He is in all things– Created Gods to aid people– God=man– Release from reincarnation become one
Hinduism
• What is the purpose or goal of religion?– End cycle of reincarnation– Reach Brahman– Moksha = release form reincarnation– Time on earth you suffer– Release is ultimate bliss– Tolerant of other religions– “many paths, yet only one truth”
Hinduism
• How does one reach this goal?– When you die your atman (soul) goes on
• Inner spark • Source of all actions• Not responsible for quality of the actions• “worn out garments are shed by the body. Worn out
bodies are shed by the dweller” Vedas– Life is determined by your Karma (duty)– Affects where your being born next– Present life determined by past life– “Do your dharma have good karma”
• Follow caste/faithful to self and family• Do your “Duty”
Hinduism
• The “Holy Trinity”– Brahma
• Creator– 4 faces “four
corners of the earth– Holds sacrificial
ladle, four Vedas, jar of holy water from Ganges, necklace of prayer beads, sits upon a lotus
Hinduism• Vishnu
– Preserver– Role is to maintain
balance between good and evil
– 10 incarnations of Vishnu
• Rama• Krishna• Kalki – yet to come /
white horse / flaming sword / things get “fixed”
– Holds 4 weapons• Conch, disc, club, lotus
also bow (Sarnga) and sword (Nandaka)
Hinduism
• Shiva– Destroyer– Most popular form “lord
of the dance”– Dances in a halo of fire
= cycle of death and birth
– Crushes the dwarf = demon of ignorance
– Drum = hold the rhythm– Flame of destruction– Around arms and neck
snakes = power over evil forces
Sacred Texts
• Vedas– Contain hymns,
incantations, rituals– Rig Veda
• Most popular/oldest around 1500 BC
• Tells of 33 Gods• Tells of Brahma, Vishnu,
and Siva• Goddesses Lakshmi,
Sarasvati and Kali– Yajur Veda– Sama Veda– Atharva Veda
अग्नि��मी�ळे� पु�रो हि�तं� यज्ञस्य दे�वं� रोत्वं�जमी | � तं�रो� रोत्�धा�तंमीमी || अग्नि��� पु�वं�भि�रो !हि"भि�रो�ड्यो ��तं�$रुतं | स दे�वं���� वंक्षहितं || अग्नि���� रोयियमीश्नवंतं पु "मी�वं दिदेवं�-दिदेवं� | यशस� वं�रोवंत्तमीमी || अ��� य� यज्ञमीध्वंरो� हिवंश्वतं� पुरिरो��रोसिस | स इद्दे�वं�"� गछहितं || अग्नि���5तं� कहिवंक्रतं�� सत्यभि8त्रश्रवंस्तंमी� | दे�वं दे�वं�भि�रो� गमीतं || यदेङग दे�श�"� तंवंमी��� �द्रं� करिरोष्यसिस | तंवं�तं तंतं सत्यमीङहिगरो� || उपु तंवं���� दिदेवं�-दिदेवं� दे "�वंस्तंर्धिधा@य� वंयमी | �मी �रोन्तं एमीसिस || रो�जन्तंमीध्वंरो�णां�� ग पु�� रोतंस्य देDदिदेहिवंमी | वंधा!मी���स्वं� देमी� || स �� हिपुतं�वं स��वं�.अ��� स�पु�य� �वं | सचस्वं� �� सवंस्तंय� ||
Hymn written in Sanskrit in Rig Veda
Sacred Texts
• a continuation of the Vedic philosophy (800 – 400 BC)
• Upanishads– Adds more ideas
• Atman (soul)• Uniting with the ultimate truth
(Brahman)• meditation
– To leave body and mind – To be put in contact with
“God”• Karma – the effects of a
person’s actions
Epic Poems
• Mahabharata and Ramayana– the longest poems in any
language – The Mahabharata (540 to 300
B.C.)• tells the legends of the
Bharatas - a Vedic Aryan group • War between Kauravas and
Pandavas• Causes that lead to the war
– Over land/Kingdom– Panavas were exiled for 13 yrs
– the Bhagavad Gita – most famous – in Book Six of the Mahabharata – dialog between the god
Krishna and the warrior Arjuna
• The Ramayana (1st C. AD)
• love story with moral and spiritual theme
• The perfect boy and girl (Rama and Sita)
Ganesha• Name means “Lord of all beings”• First son of Lord Siva• Removes all obstacles, overcome all challenges of
life• Has a human for with an elephant’s head• All symbolize state of perfection
– large ear = listen more– Axe = cut off all bonds of attachment– Hand blessing = protection of spiritual path of ultimate
awareness– Large stomach = able to digest all good and bad in life– Food = whole world is at your feet, yet indifference towards
them– Rope = pull you nearer to the higher goal away from your
worldly entanglements– One tusk = retain good through away bad– Trunk = high efficiency– Rice balls = rewards of Sadhana– Rat = desire, greedy little animal
The Caste System
Background• Caste system – social group
within India (Hindu only)• Endo-European people (Aryans –
nobles) crossed into India• Left little archaeological records• What is knows is from the Vedas• Called the natives Dasas (dark)• Very different than the Aryans
Dasas Aryans
•Town dwellers•Dark skin•Shorter than Aryans•Worshiped life-giving principles
•Pastroal people•Lighter skin•taller•Cows determined wealth•Made sacrifices to nature Gods•Class determined role in society
• A first mixed freely
• Aryans wanted to maintain own separate identity and power
• Skin color distinguishing feature of separating into Varnas
• Portugal encountered social system called it Kasts (castes)
• With in each caste many sub castes
Brahmins
• Emerged from the mouth of Purusa
• Dharma- to teach the people, perform religious ceremonies, preserve scripture
Kshatriyas
• Emerged from the arms of Purusa
• Warriors and rulers• Dharma – to
protect the people, weak, helpless, relieve suffering, punish wrong doers
Lord Sri Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother-- Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. Rama and Lakshmana are always shown to be ready for battle (with bow and arrow) as it is their Kshatriya dharma to fight.
Vaishyas
• Emerged from the legs of Purusa
• Farmers, peasants, traders, landowners
• Dharma – to provide for the people, work for the joy of the job, spirit of service not for selfish gains
Sudras
• Emerged from the feet of Purusa
• Laborers, servants, craftsmen
• Dharma – to serve the people, do the work
Untouchables “Harijans”
• Most impure because of their work
• Butches, gravediggers, collectors of trash
• Their touch could endangered the purity of others
Restrictions
• Eat
• Marriage
• Work
• Livelihood