Hinduism Literature, Language, and the Search for Spiritual Liberation Hinduism 101 • Most Hindus live in India and Nepal • It is the third largest religion in the world • It gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism (Heehs 12) What makes Hinduism unique? There is no founder of Hinduism There is no clear date of origin The authors of the sacred texts are largely unknown (“History of Hinduism”) Defining Features of Hinduism In 1995 The Supreme Court of India highlighted Bal Gangadhar Tilak's formulation of Hinduism's defining features: – Acceptance of the Vedas with reverence – Recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse – Realization of the truth that the number of gods to be worshipped is large (Rajaram) Basic Beliefs: Brahman “The underlying universal life force that encompasses and embodies existence” (Hancock) It is the eternal, transcendent reality of the world Basic Beliefs: Reincarnation According to Hindu scriptures, one's ignorance of the true nature of the self (atman) as one with Brahman is what traps one in the cycle of endless death and reincarnation. (“History of Hinduism”) This reincarnation cycle is called samsara Basic Beliefs: Karma Karma is tied to the concept of cause and effect Your behavior shapes past, present, and future experiences in life Some sects of Hinduism believe gods play a role in one’s karma; others believe it is simply a matter of will Basic Belief: Moksha Thus, the highest goal of Hinduism is liberation (moksha) from the karmic cycle of death and rebirth. (“History of Hinduism”) http://images.exoticindiaart.com Basic Beliefs: Dharma Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. It is determined by one’s age, class, gender (“History of Hinduism”) It was inspired by Vedic scriptures Vedas The Vedic period = 5th/4th Century B.C.E Veda literally means “knowledge” Ancient religion rooted in mythology & sacrifice Vedas • Eternal truth is said to have been revealed to great sages. Classification of Vedas – Rig: General knowledge – Yajur: Knowledge of action – Saam: Knowledge of worship – Atharva: knowledge of science Veda http://images.google.com/imgres Vedic texts are the oldest works of Sanskrit Literature They serve as the foundation for many Hindu beliefs Upanishads Upanishad means “equivalences” These writings hoped to understand how the Atman was similar to Brahmans (24) Often considered gnostic in nature Major Upanishads Ishaa – Philosophy of God and God realization Mandukya – Niraakaar(without form) aspect of god Prashna – Questions like root cause of universe, functioning of vital force of life Aitareya – Atman and births of atman are described Kaushitaki – Course for souls after death, doctrine of prana and moksha Katha – Q&A between Yama and Nachiketa Taittariya – Tells more about the creation of god Brhadaranyaka – Negation of all conceptions of self Chhandogya – Sacrifices and other forms of worship Kena – Sacrifices and other forms of worship The Great Epics Unlike many cultures that enjoy literature as a commentary on canons and theological studies, the epic poems of Ancient India are considered Hindu scriptures The two Epics are – The Ramayana – The Mahabharata Literature as Scripture “Hero-worship was and is a central aspect of Indian culture, and thus readily lent itself to a literary tradition that abounded in epic poetry and literature” (Heesh 25) The Mahabharata Approximately 20x longer than The Odyssey, the The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world! (641) It is said to have been written between 540 to 300 B.C. The most famous section of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad-Gita (The Song of God) The Ramayana The Ramayana is the second Ancient Indian epic It is believed to have been recorded in the 4th century B.C.E. though scholars claim the story dates back to the 7th century The title literally means “Rama’s journey”, and it follows a protagonist by that name The Original Avatars ? www.nymag.com The word “Avatar” finds its roots in Hinduism Avatar literally means incarnation According to Hindu tradition, Rama is an Avatar of the god Vishnu (Satar 696) The main purpose of this incarnation is to demonstrate the righteous path (dharma) for all living creatures on earth. Vishnu – The Preserver http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_01/vishnu_468x672.jpg Brahma – The Creator http://phoolbari.com/god/vishnu%20%287%29.jpg Siva – The Destroyer http://www.lilitu.com.au/graphics/siva.jpg Varnas Varnas are castes They are said to be based on your Karma The Varnas are specifically addressed in the Rig – Veda and the Bhagavad – Gita Brahmanas = priests Ksatriyas = warriors Vaisyas = tradesmen Sudras = laborers Sudras were not allowed to hear the Vedas (Heesh 42) Varnas NOTE : The Pariahs are NOT mentioned in any of the scriptures Works Cited Hancock, Mary Elizabeth.Womanhood in the Making: Domestic Ritual and Public Culture in Urban South India. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1999. print. Heehs, Peter. Indian Religions: A Historical Reader of Spiritual Expression. New York: NYU Press ,2002. print. “History of Hinduism”. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. n.p. web. 12 March 2010 Rajaram, N.S. “Aryan Invasion – History or Politics?”. Archeology Online n.p. web. 13 March 2010. print. Sattar, Arshia.The Rāmāyaṇa by Vālmīki. New York: Viking Printers, 2006. print.