Transcript 7 dimensions of Hinduism

7 dimensions of Hinduism
Karma and Samsara
Transmigration
Moksha
Aryan-Greek/Roman Polytheism
 Aryan
 Henotheistic
 One of many Gods is raised to
highest rank
 Mother goddess and fertility
ideas
 Law of Karma-reincarnation
 Brahman-unitary principle of
the universe
 Atman-inner life or soul
 Brahmin-Vishnu-Shiva:Trinity
have consorts
 Greek-Roman
 Polytheism of many
gods/goddesses
 One life
 Appeasement of
Gods/goddesses
Principles in the world
Karma-action or deeds
Dharma- ethical rules of right conduct
Samsara-wheel of rebirth
Moksha-liberation from this rebirth
Society
 Caste system
 Brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra
 Priest, warriors and admin., producers, laborers and servants
 4 stages of life
 Student, householder, forest dweller, sannyasin
 4 goals of life
 Kama, sensual pleasure; artha, material success;
 Dharma, right conduct; moksha, liberation
 3 paths to liberation
 Karma marga-works, right conduct
 Jnana Marga-knowledge, Vedanta, Sankhya, Yoga
 Bhakti Marga-devotion, rituals, pilgrimages, sacred cows
3 paths of liberation
 Karma Marga
Right conduct according to Dharma
 Jnana Marga
Vedanta, maya-cosmic illusion, monism
Sankhya, matter and many selfs-free from bondage of
personality
Yoga, physical and psychological way, 8 steps, get to
samadhi-transcendent state
 Bhakti Marga
Gods and goddesses, pilgrimages, cow veneration
Periods of Hindu Historical development
 Indus Valley Civilization 3-2 BCE
Aryan invasions, incorporated into India
 A Vedic Age
2-1 BCE
Vedas intuited by Brahmin, Sanskrit, oral tradition
 Agni-fire, life maintaining
 Soma-plant, life transcending
Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Arthaveda
 Rigveda, hymnal to all the deities
 Yajurveda; manual of sacrifices and mantras
 Samaveda; index to melodies of SOMA sacrifices
 Athaveda; domestic rituals and religious concerns of
popular culture
Epic Age
 Verse Dramas-smriti, traditions
 Mahabharata
 Ramayana
 Dharma Sutras, instructions on proper conduct
 Dharma Shastras, laws of conduct
 Code of Manu-series of laws
 Beginning of Classical Hinduism: codification of beliefs
 3 debts: Gods, Ancestors, and ……
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Puranas-collections of old stories
Dharma, samsara, karma, and moksha
Shakti-feminine cosmic energy
Bhakta-yogin ways, ritual ways of 5 Ms
Upanishads
Gave all Hindus ability to perform
household rituals
World of rituals
Atman-Brahman understanding emerges
Samsara-distinction of separation is
illusion, continue to transmigration until
TRUTH understood-Moksha, release
follows.
Bhagavad Gita; first of these texts
Purusha
 Cosmic Body of Purusha
 God’s self sacrifice brings
world into being.
 Life body of social body
 Humanity reflects this in
our life
 Cosmic Body
 All are one, and will be
reunited as one
 Monism-all is ultimately
one
Gods and Goddesses
Shiva-god of dance
Vishnu-great deity
Avatars-decents of Vishnu
Krishna, Rama, Narasimha
Devi-goddess
Durga, Kali, Parvati