RS2Hinduism Outline 7.1
HINDUISM
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Indus Valley civilization (IVC)
Mohenjo Dara and Harappa
“Dravidian” Religion ?
The ‘Aryan Invasions’(?) (Migrations?) 1800? bce.
II. THE VEDIC PERIOD 1500-500 bce.
RELIGION IN THE VEDA: THE BRAHMANICAL TRADITION (Vedic Religion)
The VEDA (Shruti = “heard”): Rig, Sama, Yajur (& Atharva)
Vedic Gods: The Devas: Agni, Indra, Varuna, Surya, etc.
The Fire Sacrifice
Brahmanas
Aranyakas
UPANISHADS
Important Upanishadic themes: Moksha, Atman=Brahman, Karma/Samsara
Avidya (ignorance)
The Four Values: Artha, Kama, Dharma, Moksha
The Four Classes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra
The Four Stages of Life: Student, Householder, Reclusion, Sannyasin
III. CLASSICAL HINDUISM: TO 500 CE.
THE BEGINNINGS OF "HINDUISM”
TEXTS: “Tradition” (Smriti = “remembered):
The Great Epics: Ramayana
Mahabharata (Bhagavad-Gita)
Vedanta Sutras
Dharma Shastras
The Laws of Manu
The Puranas
Sectarian Agamas
Tantras
The Indian Theogony
The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Consorts, sons, daughters; Avatars of Vishnu: Fish, Tortoise, Boar,
Dwarf, Narasinha, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalkin
Mounts of the Gods: Swan/Peacock, Garuda, Nandi the Bull
Shri Devi (The Great Goddess): Parvati/Durga/Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi,
Other Gods of Importance: Ganesha, Hanuman, Skandha (Murugan)
RS2Hinduism Outline 7.1
The Six Orthodox Darshanas (Viewpoints): Logic and Atomism,
Samkhya and Yoga,
Purva Mimamsa (Exegesis)
and SCHOOLS OF VEDANTA
IV. MEDIEVAL HINDUISM: 500 TO 1500 CE
Shaivism: Devotion to Shiva
Shankara and Advaita ("non-dual") Vedanta
Shaktism: Devotion to Shri Devi (The Goddess) in her various forms
Kali Ma, Bhoo Devi, Durga
Tantrism : sexualized rituals for obtaining supernormal powers (siddhis), etc
Shri Vaishnavism
The Alvars
Ramanuja and "Qualified Non-Dualism”
V. MODERN HINDUISM: 1500 TO PRESENT
Islam in India: The Moghul Empire
Europe in India: Portuguese, French, British (The Raj),
SOME MAJOR 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY FIGURES AND MOVEMENTS
The Brahmo Samaj - Ram Mohan Roy
The Arya Samaj Devananda Saraswati
Smarta ("Liberal") Hinduism
Hindutva: Hindu cultural nationalism
Important Figures/Gurus/Leaders
Shri Ramakrishna
Swami Vivekenanda
Rabindranath Tagore
Mahatma Gandhi
Shri Aurobindo
Shri Satya Sai Baba
The Indian Diaspora in the U.S.
The Vedanta Society
The Self Realization Fellowship of Paramahansa Yogananda
Krishna Consciousness Movement
Shri Venkateswara Temple (Calabasas, Los Angeles area)
“Little India” (Westminster, CA)
Hindu Temples and Communities in Europe, Africa, and S.E. Asia