Transcript Hinduism
World Religious Beliefs, Common Symbols & Imagery: Hinduism Bill Strickland East Grand Rapids HS East Grand Rapids, MI [email protected] “Major” World Religions • • • • • • • • • Buddhism Christianity Confucianism Daoism Greco-Roman Philosophy & Gods Hinduism(s) Islam Judaism Zoroastrianism What is Hinduism? A range of traditions / beliefs / practices with a common basis in the Vedic scriptures. Concept of “Hinduism” as a unified “religion” comes from Greek and Persian visitors who called India “Hindustan” (land of the Hindus) Om Why Hinduisms? • Malleable faith, adapting to 100s of local religions & customs – Greater local acceptance – Tolerant of co-existing customs • Many gods exist in >1 form / incarnation • No specific dogma (teachings) • No single founder • “There are an infinite number of paths to, and manifestations of, the limitless One.” Upanishad Is Hinduism Polytheistic? Monotheistic? Pantheistic? What? • Henotheism – devotion to a single god while accepting the existence of others • Monotheism – only 1 deity/god exists • Polytheism – many gods • Panentheism – God exists and interpenetrates every part of nature • Pantheism – God is synonymous with the material universe Hinduism 101: Brahman • Brahma • Shiva (Siva) • Vishnu the Creator the Destroyer the Preserver • Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are not three independent Gods. They represent the same power as the Supreme Being, but are entitled with three different aspects. Brahman • • • • • • • • The one supreme force, creator who is in all things The ultimate, both transcendent and imminent The absolute infinite existence The sum total of all that ever is, was, or ever shall be. Lies outside the realm of human description, can only be sensed as a presence within oneself and the rest of the universe The universe is the manifestation, rather than the creation of God Individuals – Atman Goal of one’s life is to merge with Brahman. Brahma • the Creator • Close parallel to Divine Force of Universe Shiva • Usually labeled “the Destroyer,” Shiva could also be called “the Transformer” • Lord of Dance, Shiva as Nataraja. Other images of Shiva Other images of Shiva Vishnu • Preserver, Benevolent • Concern for the world brings him to earth as an “avatar” • 10 avatars – including: – – – – Rama – the Just King Krishna – (Bhagavad Gita) Buddha – the teacher Kalkin – horseman who will bring an end to evil at the end of the age. Vishnu (rescuing the Earth goddess) Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva • Hindu gods are manifestations of Brahman, notably: – Brahma – Creator – Vishnu – Preserver – Shiva – Destroyer Everything in the Universe is in a state of creation, maintenance or destruction Other Deities Ganesh – God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, remover of obstacles Lakshmi – goddess of wealth, prosperity • Devi, the Mother Goddess Upanishads Sample: Fetch me a fruit of the banyan tree. Here is one, sir. Break it. I have broken it, sir. What do you see? Very tiny seeds, sir. Break one. I have broken it, sir. What do you see now? Nothing, sir. My son, … what you do not perceive is the essence, and in that essence the mighty banyon tree exists. Believe me, my son, in that essence is the self of all that is. That is the True, that is the self. Sacred Texts • Vedas = “wisdom” or “knowledge,” most ancient oral traditions. (Vedic age = 1500-500 BCE) • Upanishads = works of religious teachings (800-400 BCE) literally “sitting at the feet of” stories • Bhagavad Gita = “Song of the Lord” is read in the form of a dialogue between two characters and is considered to be the 6th book of the epic Mahabharata poem Upanishads • Anti-Shallowness: Forget worldly concerns – riches & health Common Beliefs • Dharma = moral path • Brahman = Universal soul • Moksha = permanent liberation from cycle of incarnation (Hinduism’s Moksha = Buddhism’s Nirvana) • Samsara = reincarnation Hinduism Today Hindu Temple Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India Hindu Temple Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India Detail of Temple Hinduism Basic Beliefs • Common Images Hindu Sculpture Hindu Architecture – Hindu Painting Relevant Vocabulary (you need to know) • • • • • ascetic (-ism) atman avatar bakhti dharma (no, not the movie) • • • • • karma moksha samsara sanskrit & prakrit varna & jati