Transcript Week 3.1 Hindu Pantheon

Section 2 - Ramayana Worlds
Hinduism
An umbrella religion of various spiritual beliefs and
practices that developed over millennia:
• The Vedic Religion (Brahmanism) - “big tradition” sacred texts, priests, caste system
• Texts and literary works expound upon and
incorporate other gods (Mahabharata, Ramayana, and
myriad legends of gods)
• Local traditions of gods and spirits incorporated into
the corpus - “little tradition”
Vedic Gods
From oldest collection of texts, the Vedas
1,500 – 1,000 BCE
Indra, primary
warrior god
Agni, fire, key to
rituals
Surya, the Sun,
one of several
“elemental” gods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yS-Jky997Y&feature=related
Indra – hymn from the Rg Veda
COME HERE and sit down: sing your song to Indra,
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Companions, bringing hymns of praise.
To him the richest of the rich, the Lord of treasures excellent,
Indra, with soma juice outpoured.
May he stand by us in our need and in abundance for our wealth: 5
May he come near to us with his strength.
Whose pair of tawny horses yoked in battles foemen do not
challenge:
To Indra sing your song.
Rg Veda – oldest
collection of hymns
of ritual praise
Come near to the soma-drinker, for his enjoyment, these pure
drops,
The soma mingled with the curd.
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You, grown at once to perfect strength, were born to drink the soma
juice,
Strong Indra, for pre-eminence.
Indra, lover of the song, may these quick somas enter you:
May they bring bliss to you, the sage.
Our chants of praise have strengthened you, Satakratu, and our
lauds.
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Brahmins and Ritual
• The Sanskrit Vedas emphasized
ritual, songs of praise, importance of
the ritual specialists – Brahmins.
• The tradition was oral, not recorded:
chanted, memorized, and passed
down over centuries as ritual (yajnya).
• Brahminism helped develop and
strengthen the caste system, dividing
the society by function:
Brahmin
Ksatriya
Vaisya
craftsmen
Sudra
priests
warriors, rulers
merchants,
servants
A Key Concept:
Macrocosmos and Microcosmos
Brahma and Atman
God and Self
Each is a reflection of the other.
Tat Twam Asi: “that thou art.”
Mandala:
Physical depictions of the cosmos
Borobudur, Java
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Rulers had the ability to control
the balance of the universe.
Hindu and Buddhist
Mandala paintings
Angkor Wat layout
Mandala: visualization of the cosmos
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Hindu and Buddhist
Mandala paintings
Borobudur
monument, Java
The Younger Gods
The “Hindu Triology”
Brahma: Creator
Vishnu:
Maintainer
Shiva: Destroyer
Vishnu and the Avatars
9 or 10 manifestations (incarnations) of the god
Vishnu and the Avatars
In Bhagavad-Gita, the philosophic core of
Mahabharata, Krishna (Vishnu) explains his
character:
I am the birthless, the deathless,
Lord of all that breathes....When
goodness grows weak, when evil
increases, I make myself a body.
In every age I come back to
deliver the holy, to destroy the sin
of the sinner, to establish
righteousness.
Shiva’s family
Ganesha, son
Paravati, the shakti aspect
or wife-consort
Refractions of Gods:
Shiva
Ardhanarishwar:
The Adrogyne
Shiva Nataraj:
Cosmic Dancer
The Goddess: Devi, Shakti
Kali
Paravati
Rama, the 7th Avatar of Vishnu
Sita
Rama
Hanuman
Thursday: Ramayana Discussion
TAKE NOTES and bring them in!
1. List themes you see developing.
2. What are points for
teaching/instruction/ ethics?
(e.g. Is it right for a Kysatria warrior to
kill a woman? “A Woman of demoniac
tendencies loses all consideration to be
treated as a woman….You must rid the
world of her. It is your duty.” – pg. 13)
3. Who are the key (or compelling)
characters and their attributes?