Section 2 - Ramayana WorldsSection 2 - Ramayana Worlds

HinduismAn umbrella religion of various spiritual beliefs and

practices that developed over millennia:

• The Vedic Religion (Brahmanism) - “big tradition” - sacred texts, priests, caste system

• Texts and literary works expound upon and incorporate other gods (Mahabharata, Ramayana, and myriad legends of gods)

• Local traditions of gods and spirits incorporated into the corpus - “little tradition”

Vedic GodsFrom oldest collection of texts, the Vedas

1,500 – 1,000 BCE

Indra, primary warrior god

Agni, fire, key to rituals

Surya, the Sun, one of several

“elemental” gods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yS-Jky997Y&feature=related

Indra – hymn from the Rg VedaCOME HERE and sit down: sing your song to Indra,

1Companions, bringing hymns of praise.To him the richest of the rich, the Lord of treasures excellent,Indra, with soma juice outpoured.May he stand by us in our need and in abundance for our wealth:

5May he come near to us with his strength.Whose pair of tawny horses yoked in battles foemen do not

challenge: To Indra sing your song.

Come near to the soma-drinker, for his enjoyment, these pure drops,

The soma mingled with the curd.

10You, grown at once to perfect strength, were born to drink the soma

juice,Strong Indra, for pre-eminence.Indra, lover of the song, may these quick somas enter you:May they bring bliss to you, the sage.Our chants of praise have strengthened you, Satakratu, and our

lauds.

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Rg Veda – oldest collection of hymns of ritual praise

Brahmins and Ritual• The Sanskrit Vedas emphasized

ritual, songs of praise, importance of the ritual specialists – Brahmins.

• The tradition was oral, not recorded: chanted, memorized, and passed down over centuries as ritual (yajnya).

• Brahminism helped develop and strengthen the caste system, dividing the society by function:

Brahmin priestsKsatriya warriors, rulersVaisya merchants, craftsmenSudra servants

Youtube video of Vedic Chant, hymn in praise of Agni

A Key Concept:Macrocosmos and Microcosmos

Brahma and AtmanGod and Self

Each is a reflection of the other.Tat Twam Asi: “that thou art.”

Mandala: Physical depictions of the cosmos

Rulers had the ability to control the balance of the universe.

Borobudur, Java Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Hindu and Buddhist Mandala paintings

Angkor Wat layout

Mandala: visualization of the cosmos

Borobudur monument, Java

Angkor Wat, CambodiaHindu and Buddhist Mandala paintings

The Younger GodsThe “Hindu Triology”

Brahma: Creator Vishnu: Maintainer

Shiva: Destroyer

Vishnu and the Avatars9 or 10 manifestations (incarnations) of the god

Vishnu and the Avatars

In Bhagavad-Gita, the philosophic core of Mahabharata, Krishna (Vishnu) explains his character:

I am the birthless, the deathless, Lord of all that breathes....When goodness grows weak, when evil increases, I make myself a body. In every age I come back to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, to establish righteousness.

Shiva’s family

Paravati, the shakti aspector wife-consort

Ganesha, son

Refractions of Gods: Shiva

Shiva Nataraj:Cosmic Dancer

Ardhanarishwar:The Adrogyne

The Goddess: Devi, Shakti

Kali

Paravati

Rama, the 7th Avatar of Vishnu

Sita

Rama

Hanuman

Thursday: Ramayana DiscussionThursday: Ramayana Discussion

TAKE NOTES and bring them in!

1. List themes you see developing.

2. What are points for teaching/instruction/ ethics?

(e.g. Is it right for a Kysatria warrior to kill a woman? “A Woman of demoniac tendencies loses all consideration to be treated as a woman….You must rid the world of her. It is your duty.” – pg. 13)

3. Who are the key (or compelling) characters and their attributes?