Introduction to Hinduism

Dr. Shira LanderBoniuk Center for Religious Tolerance

at Rice University

What is “Hinduism”?

1. HINDU

– corruption of

SINDHU, the

ancient Sanskrit

name for the

INDUS river

2. Western scholarly

construction

– Included among

“Eastern Religions”

Hindu Population Distributionby Country

601,000-910,000,000

230,000-600,999

120,000-229,999

History

6,000–1900 BCE:

Indus-Sarasvati

Civilization

History, continued1500–500 BCE: Vedic Period (also referred to as the “Aryan migration”)

500 BCE–500 CE: Epic, Puranic and Classical Ages

500 CE–1200 CE: Early and Middle Medieval Period

Early development of bhakti (esp. in South India)

Formation of sampradayas

Theological establishment of Vedanta

1200–1757 CE: Muslim Period

Bhakti saints and the cultivation of personal piety

Development of the theistic traditions

1757–1947 CE: British Period

The reform movements and birth of neo-Hinduism

1947 CE–present: Independent India

Emigration to Britain, Europe, and North America

Beliefs: God (OM)

1. Monism: Advaita [“Mainstream”]– Underlying power in the universe, Brahman

– Brahman is perfect, omniscient, omnipresent, incorporeal,

independent, creator of the world, causeless, eternal,

immutable, immanent , and transcendent

1b. Attributive Monism: Vishishtadvaita– Brahman is composed of the universe, sentient beings, and

Ishvara

2. Monotheism: Dvaita– Supreme transcendent being known as “Vishnu”

– Distinct from human souls

Beliefs: Principles• Atman

– life-giving force, “soul”; In plants, animals, and human beings (vegetarianism)

• Moksha [or mukti]

– escape from cycle of reincarnation, samsara

• Dharma (path to right living)

– Sanatana Dharma (the eternal truth)

– Varnashrama Dharma (how to fulfill one‟s station in life)

• Karma

– acts from previous life that determine station in next life; results of thought, word and action; “what goes around, comes around”

• Maya

– Ignorance

• Samadhi

– super-consciousness of God, enlightenment

Teachings: Four Aims (of Life)

1. Dharma

– religious and moral life

2. Artha

– economic development

3. Kama

– appropriate gratification of the senses

4. Moksha

– escape from cycle of reincarnation, samsara

Teachings: Four Pathways

1. Karma yoga

– action and selfless deeds

2. Jnana yoga

– spiritual knowledge

3. Raj(a) yoga

– self-control through meditation

4. Bhakti yoga

– devotion

Four Stages of Life (Ashramas)

1. Brahmacharya

– student

2. Grihastha

– householder

3. Vaanaprastha

– retreat, meditation

4. Sanyaasa

– renunciation, seeking Moksha

Four Varnas (stations)1. Brahmins

• scholars & priests

2. Kshatriyas

• kings, nobles, & warriors

3. Vaishyas

• farmers & merchants

4. Shudras

• artisans & servants

Jatis (communities; “scheduled castes”—British term)1.Brahmins (scholars & priests)

• Rarhi Brahmins (Northeast Indian priests)

• Kashmiri Pandits (Kashmir scholars)

2.Kshatriyas (kings, nobles, & warriors)• Khatri (Punjabi warriors)

• Nadars (South Indian rulers)

3.Vaishyas (farmers & merchants)• Patels (Northwest Indian farmers)

• Vaniyas (Northwest Indian traders)

4.Shudras (artisans & servants)• Lohars (North Indian iron-workers)

• Kumhars (potters)

Scriptures & Literature1. Dharma sutras = “shruti” (divinely revealed)

– Vedas (truths of existence)—most sacredA. Samhitas (hymns)

B. Braahmanas (rituals)

C. Aranyakas (rituals)

D. Upanishads (wisdom, spirituality)

2. Dharma shastras = “smriti” (laws, ways of living)– Manusmriti (code for living, rights & responsibilities)

– Itihasas (records, legendary past)• Ramayana (epic)

• Mahabharata (epic poem)

• Darshanas (philosophy)

• Puranas (mythological literature)

• Agamas, Sutras, Vedanga, Dharma Shastras, & Prasthana-vakyas

Philosophical Systems (darshanas)

1. Mimamsa (action)

2. Nyaya (logic)

3. Vaisheshika (composition and structure

of matter)

4. Sankhya (function of matter)

5. Yoga (mind-body discipline)

6. Vedanta (ultimate reality and spiritual

knowledge)

Deities

• Represent divine attributes

– Many consider attributes to be incarnated or

“born” into exemplary human beings

(avataars)

• „Enlivened‟ through priestly rite

– Many regard as containing a divine spark

• Ishta-devata

– Individuals choose which deity to worship

Deity “Genealogy”

BRAHMA(N):ABSOLUTE

UNSEEN POWER

PARVATI:LOVE &

DEVOTION

SHIVA:CREATIVE &

DESTRUCTIVE FORCE

GANESHA:REMOVES

OBSTACLES

KARTIKEYA/SUBRAMANIAM:COMMANDER,

ARMY OF GODS

VISHNU:PROTECTION &

CONCERN

10 INCARNATIONS

KRISHNA:WARRIOR/YOUTH

RAMA:IDEAL MAN

Divine

“Trinity”

Sri (Lord) Ganesha

• son of Parvati and

Shiva

• remover of all

obstacles

• worshipped first

before starting any

religious function

• two consorts, siddhi

(achievement) &

buddhi (intellect), or

siddhi & ruddhi

(prosperity)

Ritual: Prayer-Chant

Gayatri MantraDear God, You are the Giver and Sustainer of all life, the

Remover of all sorrows, the Bestower of bliss. [The

Creator of the Universe, the One who always inspires us,

You alone are worthy of worship, You are the Light

which illuminates us, the Fire which burns away all our

evil desires. You are the Supreme Being. We meditate

on You. You who have all these qualities, please inspire

our intellect so that we may move forward, may we be

able to tell right from wrong and always follow the right

path.]--Rig Veda 3:63:20, Yajur Veda 3:35, and Saam Veda 6:3:10:1, tr. Anand.

Ritual, continued

• Puja (worship)– Washing before (purity/pollution)

– Hymns, Blessings, Prayers

– Prasada (consecrated food)

• Arati or Aarti, “highest love for God”

• Pilgrimage

Tirupati

Ritual, continued

• Pilgrimage, continued

Mathura

Varanasi

Ritual, continued

• Pilgrimage, continued Mt. Kailash

Ganges

Ritual, continued

Samskaras (sacraments*)

– Pregnancy

– Naming

– Solid food

– Hair-cutting

– Alphabet-teaching

*The number and selection of

these varies from 8-40.

– Formal education

– Marriage

– 60th Birthday

– Funeral

Sacred Space: TempleSri Meenakshi Devasthanam TemplePearland, TX

Sacred Space: TempleSri Meenakshi Devasthanam TemplePearland, TX

Temple Layout

Festivals (vary considerably)

• New Year (Nov. 3, 2010)

• Ramanavami

• Hanuman Jayanti

• Guru Purnima

• Raksha Bandhan

• Sri Krishna Jayanti

• Krishna

Janmashtami

• Ganesha Chaturthi

• Navaratri

• Dasera

• Diwali

• Vasant Panchami

• Maha Shivaratri

• Holi

Most commonly observed

Authority Figures

Traditionally Male*

• Household Priest (purohita)

– Family rituals outside the

temple

• Temple Priest (pujari)

– Veneration and care of

temple deities

*In recent years, women have trained

as priests, yet they face opposition

in certain areas

Male and Female

• Rishis

– advanced sages who have

accomplished samadhi

• Mahatma/Deva (saint)

• Sannyasi (ascetic)

– Often called “swami”

• Guru

– master teacher/guide

• Yogi

– spiritual master or adherent

of yoga

Symbols and Iconography

• Carvings representing

Hindu lore

• OM, or AUM

• Deities & their

accoutrements

• Food offerings

(raisins, milk, rice,

bananas, turmeric,

rose water, ghee,

coconut, e.g.)

• Fire

• Holy Water

• Incense

• Conch

• Cow

• Swastika

• Six-pointed star

• Tilak

• Bindi

Sources• Karma bumper sticker from Café Press 11/30/09

<http://images9.cafepress.com/product/30756069v1_225x225_Front.jpg >.

• Karma button from Northern Sun 11/30/09 <http://www.northernsun.com/images/imagethumb/%20My%20Karma%20Ran%20Over%20Dogma%20Button%20(0098).jpg >.

• Indus River Map from My Bru Café, 3/16/09, 11/30/09 <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4m8Rz_zZlVQ/Sb3d-EDZTXI/AAAAAAAABwk/H8oLGg7H6ng/s400/the-indus-river0.gif>.

• Population distribution map adapted and corrected from 3/17/07, 11/29/09 <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hindu_population_numbers.png>.

• History from Versions of Hindu History 2004, 11/29/09 <http://hinduism.iskcon.com/tradition/1001.htm>.

• Deity Genealogy Chart from A Huggins. Hindu Gods and Goddesses. © Copyright 2004, Davis School District. 1/13/2007 <http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/staff/ahuggins/files/828AB86770C24C82A5A6A887A5DA798F.ppt#267,13,REVIEW>, adapted.

Sources, continued• Tirupati, Maradhi Manni , 10/30/09, 12/1/09

<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4uvyB_DGKAI/SuqTC5EJlCI/AAAAAAAAEWY/8wwATcdW-To/s400/tirupati-temple-635_m.jpg >.

• Varanasi, Travel Asia - Asian Travel Destinations, 2/22/08, 12/1/09 <http://travelasia.findairlines.net/images/varanasi.jpg >.

• Mathura, 12/1/09 <http://www.dharmakshetra.com/holy%20land/kesava%20deo%201.jpg >.

• Ganges, National Geographic. Travel and Cultures,12/1/09 <http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/images/ga/india_ganges-river-bathing.jpg >.

• Mt. Kailash, Places of Peace and Power, 12/1/09 <http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/tibet/mt_kailash.html >.

• Music of “Gayatri Mantra” from 11/29/2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFpd3mcVv0>.

• Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam Temple and Deity, 11/27/2009 <http://www.emeenakshi.org>.

Sources, continued• Brass ewer, Amir Mohtashemi. Muslim and Indian Works of Art,

12/2/09 <http://www.amirmohtashemi.com/art/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=194&g2_serialNumber=2>.

• Incense, Zee Gift Shop, 12/2/09 <http://shopping.zeenews.com/gifts-to-india/gifts-YC07.html>.

• Conch, Exotic India: The One Stop Shop for Indian Arts, 12/2/09 <http://images.exoticindiaart.com/sculptures/musical_ganesha_conch_rl47.jpg>.

• Swastika, Arya Dharma -- The Noble Way of the Higher Truths, 12/2/09 <http://www.aryadharma.org/>.

• Six-pointed star, Love of India. The First Polish Portal about India,12/2/09 <http://loveindia.co.uk/portal/img/article/symbols/shatkona.jpg>.

• Tilak, Steve Evans, “Man in Varanasi with red tilak on his forehead,” 12/2/09 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Babasteve-Varanasi_man.jpg>.

• Bindi, 3/8/08, 12/2/09 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bindi.pottu.battu.jpg>.

Recommended Reading

• Hinnels, John, ed. Handbook of Living Religions (London: Penguin,

1991, pp. 261-309). ISBN: 0140514805.

• Knott, Kim. Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction. (Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 2000). ISBN: 0192853872.

• Knipe, D. Hinduism. Experiments in the Sacred (Waveland Press,

1998). ISBN: 1577660110.

• Flood, Gavin D. An Introduction to Hinduism (Foundation Books,

2004). ISBN: 8175960280.

A neo-Hindu perspective:

• Anand, Sudhir. The Essence of the Hindu Religion (With an

Introduction to the Vedas and Yoga) (UBS Publishers & Distributors

Ltd., 2002). ISBN: 8174764011.

Recommended Reading

FOR THE BJP issue, see:

Sahu, Sunil K., “Religion and Politics in India: The Emergence of Hindu

Nationalism and the Bharatiya Janata Party,” in Jelen, Ted Gerald,

and Wilcox, Clyde, eds. Religion and Politics in Comparative

Perspective: The One, the Few, and the Many (New York:

Cambridge University Press, 2002), 243-68.