HINDU HOLY POWERS
RELATIONSHIPS,
SOCIETY, COMMUNITY:
THE HOLINESS OF BEING
TOGETHER
1
THE ISOLATION OF ANCIENT INDIA
2
AN ANCIENT TRADITION
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
• 3500-1500 BCE
3
AN ANCIENT TRADITION
1500-800 BCE
VEDIC LITERATURE DEVELOPES
4
AN ANCIENT TRADITION
600-200 BCE
COMPOSITION
OF
UPHANISHADS
5
AN ANCIENT TRADITION
THE ARYAN INVASION
• 1900-1600 BCE DECLINE –
INDUS VALLEY CIV
• C. 1500 BCE ARYANS BEGIN TO
INFILTRATE
FROM CENTRAL ASIA
6
THE HINDU WAY OF LIFE
TRADITIONALLY,
TO BE HINDU MEANT
• TO LIVE IN (H)INDIA
• TO BE PART OF THE “CASTE”
SYSTEM
7
ORGANIZING SOCIAL
RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT MIGHT BE SOME WAYS TO
DO IT?
WHAT IS IN YOUR PISTIS?
8
ORGANIZING SOCIAL
RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT MIGHT BE SOME WAYS?
1. FAMILY?
2. SOCIAL RANK?
3. OCCUPATION?
4. INDIVIDUAL TALENT?
5. AGE ?
9
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
• THE INDO-ARYANS SEEM TO
HAVE BROUGHT WITH THEM A
THREE PART SOCIAL SYSTEM:
1. PRIESTS
2. MILITARY
3. AGRICULTURE AND TRADE
10
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
• OVER TIME THEY ADDED ANOTHER LEVEL
FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF INDIA
WHOM THEY HAD SUBJUGATED.
THE SHUDRAS
• THESE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIKELY ALREADY
HAD A SIMILAR SYSTEM, THE “JATI” SYSTEM
• CLOSED ENDOGAMOUS GROUPS BASED ON
OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIZATION
11
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
12
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
IN THE VEDIC LAW OF MANU, THE IDEAL SOCIAL
SYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF FOUR VARNAS
THE “TWICE BORN”:
1. BRAHMINS- PRIESTS AND SCHOLARS
2. KSHATRIYAS- WARRIORS AND RULERS
3. VAISHYAS- IN COMMERCE AND TRADE
_____________________________________
4. SHUDRAS- LABORERS
13
BRAHMINS
PRIESTS AND SCHOLARS
• INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL
LEADERS
• PHILOSOPHERS
• ARTISTS
• TEACHERS
14
KSHATRIYAS
WARRIORS AND RULERS
•
•
•
•
•
ADMINISTRATORS
ORGANIZE PEOPLE AND PROJECTS
MILITARY
POLITICIANS
POLITICAL LEADERS
15
VAISHYAS
COMMERCE AND TRADE
•
•
•
•
•
PRODUCERS
ARTISANS
TRADES PEOPLE
FARMERS
SKILLED WORKERS
16
SHUDRAS- LABORERS
• FOLLOWERS
• SERVANTS
• UNSKILLED LABORERS
17
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
IN SOME OF THE VEDIC LAW BOOKS, THERE IS
A FIFTH GROUP CALLED
5. DASYUS (“ALIENS”)
• HUNTERS, FISHERMEN, LEATHER WORKERS,
EXECUTIONERS, HANDLERS OF CORPSES
• CONSIDERED UNCLEAN
• “OUTCASTES”: LIVE OUTSIDE VARNA SYSTEM
• “UNTOUCHABLES” VS. “HARIJAN”
18
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
• THE LAW OF KARMA- A MORAL UNIVERSE
• REINCARNATION- YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT
– PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF
• MOKSHA- SOONER OR LATER EVERYONE
WISES UP AND ACHIEVES LIBERATION
• THIS WORLD DOES NOT LAST
• TRUE FULIFLLMENT LIES BEYOND
19
THE “VARNA” SYSTEM
IS THERE A COSMIC
DIMENSION OR REAL,
LASTING MEANING TO
HUMAN BEING AND
ACTION?
20
THE JATI SYSTEM
21
THE “JATI” SYSTEM
• “JATI” MEANS “BIRTH”
• THE PROPER TERM FOR “CASTE” (Pg = race,
lineage)
• GEOGRAPHICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
LIMITED
• LARGE KIN GROUP W/ OWN CUSTOMS,
DRESS, DIET, BEHAVIOR
• DETERMINES RELATIONSHIPS IN AND OUT
22
LEADING A HOLY LIFE
• YOGAS: DIFFERENT PATHS FOR
DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS (in next
segment)
• STAGES OF LIFE- HOW OUGHT WE
TO LIVE?:
–STUDENT: ACQUIRE PISTIS FOR
YOUR DHARMA
23
LEADING A HOLY LIFE
HOUSEHOLDER: FAMILY, VOCATION,
COMMUNITY
• ENACT YOUR DHARMA
• ENGAGE PLEASURE IN FAMILY
• ACHIEVE SUCCESS THROUGH
VOCATION
• DUTY IN COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION
24
LEADING A HOLY LIFE
RETIREMENT:
– WITHDRAW FROM SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS
– PURSUE ENDS OF PERSONAL INTEREST
– SPEND TIME WITH THE YOUNG
– LOOK INTO THE MEANING OF LIFE’S JOURNEY
– THEN THE FOREST DWELLER
– SIMPLICITY AND DEPTH
25
LEADING A HOLY LIFE
SANNYASIN
• EXPANDING ONE’S IDENTITY BEYOND
SOCIAL OR EARTHLY PURPOSE
• FINDING ONE’S LINK WITH THE
ABSOLUTE
• NO EARTHLY GOAL
• LEAVING ALL BEHIND
26
RESOURCES
Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions. New York:
HarperCollins, 1991.
Nielsen, Niles C., Jr., et. al. Religions of the
World. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988. 2nd
ed.
27