Transcript Hindu - Berea College

Hindu Traditions
Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D.
REL 117
Introduction to World Religions
Berea College
Spring 2005
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WHO IS A HINDU?
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Hindu = from Persian Hind
(India); originally ethnic, not
religious, label
Since medieval period,
denotes person who is part of
a broad set of devotional,
philosophical, and scriptural
traditions rooted in ancient
India
“Hinduism” =
commitment to dharma
(moral duty) based on…
varna (one’s social role)
and…
ashrama (one’s life stage)
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ANCIENT ROOTS OF
HINDUISM
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“Indus Valley civilization” (c.
2500-1500 BCE) – urban,
agricultural, polytheistic,
matriarchal?
“Aryan invasion” (c. 1500
BCE) – nomadic, pastoral,
polytheistic, patriarchal
Indo-Aryan (Vedic) society (c.
1200-200 BCE) -- divided into
4 hereditary occupational
divisions (varņas = colors):
1. Brāhman (priests)
2. Kshatriya/Rājanya
(warrior-rulers)
3. Vaiśya (merchants and
artisans)
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4. Śūdra (peasants)
KARMAMARGA: THE VEDAS
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Brāhman authors edit oral
liturgical traditions, producing
Vedas (“knowledges”), c.
1200-600 BCE – concerned
with proper action in ritual
4 collections (samhitās) of
Vedas:
1. Ŗigveda (ŗic = praise stanzas
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sung by priests in ritual)
Sāmaveda (sāman = songs
sung by priestly entourage)
Yajurveda (yajus = short
incantations uttered by
priests’ assistants in ritual)
Atharvaveda (therapeutic
spells and hymns used by
atharvans = healers)
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JÑANAMARGA:
THE UPANISHADS
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Later Vedic texts (c. 1000-800
BCE) show interest in inner truth
underlying outer ritual
Upanişads (“sitting down close
at hand,” c. 600 BCE) record
master-disciple dialogues related
to quest for inner knowledge
Upanishadic goals:
Realize unity of Brahman
(world-soul) and ātman
Avoid actions (karma) that
promote selfishness and
maximize selflessness
Through knowledge of one’s true
self and positive karma, attain
moksha (liberation from samsara
[cycle of rebirth] and full union
with Brahman)
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BHAKTIMARGA:
THE EPICS AND PURĀŅAS
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Dissatisfaction with elite, intellectual,
impersonal spirituality of Upanişads
leads to renewed interest in popular,
emotional, personal spirituality of
bhakti (devotion) (c. 200 BCE-400
CE)
New gods appear in multiple
avataras (incarnations):
Vishnu (best known as King Rama
and Lord Krishna – associated with
compassion, heroism, and mischief)
Shiva (both creative and destructive;
associated with luck, death, fertility)
Devi (“Great Goddess,” known in
many forms – associated with luck,
death, and fertility)
Goal of bhakti = moksha through
selfless performance of dharma and
selfless devotion to deity
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330 MILLION GODS, 3 PATHS,
1 TRADITION
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Infinite number of deities, yet
only one universal being
Trimurti (“triple form”):
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Brahma the Creator
Vishnu the Preserver
Shiva the Destroyer
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Infinite number of ways to
salvation, yet three basic paths:
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Karmamarga (action)
Jñanamarga (knowledge)
Bhaktimarga (devotion)
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Infinite number of sources of truth,
yet two basic scriptural categories:
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Shruti (“that which is heard” directly
from the gods – Vedas, Upanişads,
Brahmanas)
Smriti (“that which is remembered”
from human sages – Purāņas, epics)
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CLASSICAL HINDU GOALS
FOR LIVING
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Ashramas (“stages of life”)
for males of of three upper
varņas:
Student (Vedic study with
guru or master)
Householder (marriage,
family, career)
Retiree (partial withdrawal
from social life)
Renunciant (complete
isolation from society,
devotion to spiritual life)
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For men and women of all
varņas:
Obedience to dharma (varņaappropriate career and
marriage)
Avoidance of negative karma
(altruism, vegetarianism,
eventual celibacy)
Liberation from samsara
(through purification of
karma, development of jñana,
or bhakti relationship with
deity)
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