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HinduismHinduismLecture 7 (Part 1)Lecture 7 (Part 1)
29 September 200929 September 2009
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Historical: AntiHistorical: Anti--establishment figuresestablishment figures
What is the µEstablishment¶?What is the µEstablishment¶?
AbrahamAbraham
JesusJesus Prophet MuhammadProphet Muhammad
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Historical: Economics and War Historical: Economics and War
Economic rationale for religionEconomic rationale for religion
Military force in the name of religionMilitary force in the name of religion
Inward and outward StruggleInward and outward Struggle
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Historical: Schisms and DenominationsHistorical: Schisms and Denominations
Parent µReligions¶ Parent µReligions¶
RadicalsRadicals
Conservatives and OrthodoxiesConservatives and Orthodoxies Councils, Caliphates and FormalCouncils, Caliphates and Formal
ConferencesConferences
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Belief: One God or Many?Belief: One God or Many?
MonotheismMonotheism
Iconoclasm (destroying icons)Iconoclasm (destroying icons)
Malevolent beings/spiritsMalevolent beings/spirits Polytheism?Polytheism?
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Belief: Sacred TextsBelief: Sacred Texts
Origins and authorsOrigins and authors
Seen, heard and writtenSeen, heard and written
StructureStructure Versions and RevisionsVersions and Revisions
Interpretations, commentaries andInterpretations, commentaries and
µguides¶ µguides¶
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Belief:Belief: SoteriologySoteriology
How?How?
Who?Who?
What?What? When?When?
Where?Where?
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Practice: WorshipPractice: Worship
µRegular¶ worship µRegular¶ worship
�� PrayerPrayer
�� Everyday good deedsEveryday good deeds Calendar RitesCalendar Rites
Commemorative RitesCommemorative Rites
Sacramental RitesSacramental Rites
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Practice: Depiction of the DivinePractice: Depiction of the Divine
Prohibitions against depiction andProhibitions against depiction andalternative forms of representationalternative forms of representation
Influential depictionsInfluential depictions Widespread proliferation of Widespread proliferation of
symbolismsymbolism
Everyday depictionsEveryday depictions
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Practice: SacrificePractice: Sacrifice
Who what when where howWho what when where how
Historical basis for sacrificeHistorical basis for sacrifice
Self sacrificeSelf sacrifice Divine sacrificeDivine sacrifice
MartyrdomMartyrdom
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Practice: Religious FreedomPractice: Religious Freedom
CircumcisionCircumcision
SexualitySexuality
Prohibitions and RestrictionsProhibitions and Restrictions
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HinduismHinduism
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An Intellectual shift An Intellectual shift
³There is no historical founder, no ³There is no historical founder, nosingle scriptural text recognised bysingle scriptural text recognised byall, no single authoritative voice orall, no single authoritative voice ororganisation or institution, noorganisation or institution, nocommon creed for all who callcommon creed for all who callthemselves Hindu, and no single godthemselves Hindu, and no single god
or goddess or conception of divinity´ or goddess or conception of divinity´ �� Patterns..Patterns.. p. 121p. 121
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Continuing the conversation..Continuing the conversation..
Introduction to Hindu µscripture¶ Introduction to Hindu µscripture¶
The Divine:The Divine: BrahmanBrahman andand Atman Atman
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Early Hisotrical ContextEarly Hisotrical Context
The Indus Valley Civilization (6500The Indus Valley Civilization (6500 ±±1500 B.C.E.)1500 B.C.E.)
1000 BCE, Aryans migrated into1000 BCE, Aryans migrated into
Dravidian territoryDravidian territory Is Hinduism a ³parent religion´?Is Hinduism a ³parent religion´?
³Hinduism´ as a recent phenomenon? ³Hinduism´ as a recent phenomenon?
(see Patterns p.122)(see Patterns p.122)
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Early Hindu µScriptures¶ (see table 4.1)Early Hindu µScriptures¶ (see table 4.1)
³Shruti´ ³Shruti´ ±± TheTheFoundationalFoundational
ScripturesScriptures Vedic HymnsVedic Hymns
BrahamanasBrahamanas
AranyakasAranyakas
UpanishadsUpanishads
³Smriti´ ³Smriti´ ±± LaterLaterTexts with Texts with
ScriptureScriptureAuthorityAuthority
MahabharataMahabharata
RamayanaRamayana
Dharma shastrasDharma shastras
Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita
PuranasPuranas
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Hindu Scripture (Shruti): Vedas (contd.)Hindu Scripture (Shruti): Vedas (contd.)
Some Gods of the RigSome Gods of the Rig--VedaVeda�� Agni, the god of fire (a central elementAgni, the god of fire (a central element
in the ritual of sacrifice)in the ritual of sacrifice)
�� Indra, a warrior god who slays demonsIndra, a warrior god who slays demonsand protects human beings and godsand protects human beings and gods
�� Soma, the personification of a sacredSoma, the personification of a sacredplantplant
�� Varuna, the god of truthVaruna, the god of truth�� Mitra, the personification of agreementsMitra, the personification of agreements
or contractsor contracts
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Is Hinduism Monotheistic?Is Hinduism Monotheistic?
³Though Hinduism concedes the existence ³Though Hinduism concedes the existenceof several gods or deities, it accepts onlyof several gods or deities, it accepts onlyone God, the Supreme. All these myriadone God, the Supreme. All these myriad
popular deities are the diversepopular deities are the diversemanifestations of one God. The formlessmanifestations of one God. The formless
God assumes various forms in order toGod assumes various forms in order tofulfill the desires of His devotees« Everyfulfill the desires of His devotees« Everyone has he freedom to worshipone has he freedom to worship any formany form
of God and His formless aspectof God and His formless aspect.´ .´ ±± Religions in SingaporeReligions in Singapore, p.17, p.17
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Atman Atman
Who am I?Who am I? Atman Atman
Eternal and boundless, not physicalEternal and boundless, not physical
Atman survives throug
hphysicalAtman survives t
hroug
hphysicalexistence.existence.
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BrahmanBrahman
Brahman, is conceived of in various ways:Brahman, is conceived of in various ways:�� sagunasaguna, with attributes, with attributes
�� nirgunanirguna, beyond imagining, beyond imagining
An Ultimate RealityAn Ultimate Reality How is Brahman similar to AbrahamanicHow is Brahman similar to Abrahamanic ³God Almighty´? How is it different? ³God Almighty´? How is it different?
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BrahmanBrahman asas sagunasaguna
³God is One only, One without a second. ³God is One only, One without a second.His nature isHis nature is Sat Sat--chit chit--anandaananda i.e. eternali.e. eternalExistenceExistence--ConsciousnessConsciousness--Bliss. He is theBliss. He is the
Creator of this universe. He creates it byCreator of this universe. He creates it byHis power out of Himself, sustains it andHis power out of Himself, sustains it andthen withdraws it into Himself, once itsthen withdraws it into Himself, once itspurpose is over. This process goes onpurpose is over. This process goes on
forever, in a cyclical order.´ forever, in a cyclical order.´ ±± Religions in SingaporeReligions in Singapore, p.16, p.16
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For Next weekFor Next week
Dharma, Karma, Samsara, MokshaDharma, Karma, Samsara, Moksha
CasteCaste
Contemporary Issues in HinduismContemporary Issues in Hinduism
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