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Hindu Traditions

Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D.

REL 117Introduction to World Religions

Berea College

Spring 2005

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WHO IS A HINDU?

• Hindu = from Persian Hind (India); originally ethnic, not religious, label

• Since medieval period, denotes person who is part of a broad set of devotional, philosophical, and scriptural traditions rooted in ancient India

• “Hinduism” =1. commitment to dharma

(moral duty) based on…2. varna (one’s social role)

and…3. ashrama (one’s life stage)

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ANCIENT ROOTS OF HINDUISM

• “Indus Valley civilization” (c. 2500-1500 BCE) – urban, agricultural, polytheistic, matriarchal?

• “Aryan invasion” (c. 1500 BCE) – nomadic, pastoral, polytheistic, patriarchal

• Indo-Aryan (Vedic) society (c. 1200-200 BCE) -- divided into 4 hereditary occupational divisions (varņas = colors):1. Brāhman (priests)2. Kshatriya/Rājanya (warrior-

rulers)3. Vaiśya (merchants and

artisans)4. Śūdra (peasants)

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KARMAMARGA: THE VEDAS

• Brāhman authors edit oral liturgical traditions, producing Vedas (“knowledges”), c. 1200-600 BCE – concerned with proper action in ritual

• 4 collections (samhitās) of Vedas:1. Ŗigveda (ŗic = praise stanzas

sung by priests in ritual)2. Sāmaveda (sāman = songs sung

by priestly entourage)3. Yajurveda (yajus = short

incantations uttered by priests’ assistants in ritual)

4. Atharvaveda (therapeutic spells and hymns used by atharvans = healers)

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JÑANAMARGA: THE UPANISHADS

• Later Vedic texts (c. 1000-800 BCE) show interest in inner truth underlying outer ritual

• Upanişads (“sitting down close at hand,” c. 600 BCE) record master-disciple dialogues related to quest for inner knowledge

• Upanishadic goals:1. Realize unity of Brahman (world-

soul) and ātman 2. Avoid actions (karma) that promote

selfishness and maximize selflessness3. Through knowledge of one’s true self

and positive karma, attain moksha (liberation from samsara [cycle of rebirth] and full union with Brahman)

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BHAKTIMARGA: THE EPICS AND PURĀŅAS

• Dissatisfaction with elite, intellectual, impersonal spirituality of Upanişads leads to renewed interest in popular, emotional, personal spirituality of bhakti (devotion) (c. 200 BCE-400 CE)

• New gods appear in multiple avataras (incarnations):

1. Vishnu (best known as King Rama and Lord Krishna – associated with compassion, heroism, and mischief)

2. Shiva (both creative and destructive; associated with luck, death, fertility)

3. Devi (“Great Goddess,” known in many forms – associated with luck, death, and fertility)

• Goal of bhakti = moksha through selfless performance of dharma and selfless devotion to deity

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330 MILLION GODS, 3 PATHS, 1 TRADITION

• Infinite number of deities, yet only one universal being

• Trimurti (“triple form”):1. Brahma the Creator2. Vishnu the Preserver3. Shiva the Destroyer

• Infinite number of ways to salvation, yet three basic paths:

1. Karmamarga (action)2. Jñanamarga (knowledge)3. Bhaktimarga (devotion)

• Infinite number of sources of truth, yet two basic scriptural categories:

1. Shruti (“that which is heard” directly from the gods – Vedas, Upanişads, Brahmanas)

2. Smriti (“that which is remembered” from human sages – Purāņas, epics)

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CLASSICAL HINDU GOALS FOR LIVING

• Ashramas (“stages of life”) for males of of three upper varņas:

1. Student (Vedic study with guru or master)

2. Householder (marriage, family, career)

3. Retiree (partial withdrawal from social life)

4. Renunciant (complete isolation from society, devotion to spiritual life)

• For men and women of all varņas:

1. Obedience to dharma (varņa-appropriate career and marriage)

2. Avoidance of negative karma (altruism, vegetarianism, eventual celibacy)

3. Liberation from samsara (through purification of karma, development of jñana, or bhakti relationship with deity)

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