Hinduism part one

Yoga

A Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.

Shruti

A canon of Hindu scripture, it is a word that means "what is heard." Oldest collection of hymns and commentaries of the Brahmins and the Vedas.

What makes up the shruti?

A canon of Hindu scriptures, from the word meaning, " what is heard."

Soma

A hallucinogenic beverage that was used as an offering to Hindu gods and used in Vedic ritual sacrifices.

Asceticism

A person who renounces material comforts to live a self-disciplined life, especially in the area of religious devotion.

Mantra

A sacred verbal formula that is repeated in prayer or meditation.

Transcendental Meditation

A technique derived from Hinduism that promotes deep relaxation through recitation of a mantra.

Hare Krishnas

During the 1960s, Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada founded the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. More popularly known as the Hare Krishnas because of their continual "Hare Krishna" chant, devotees could be commonly seen wearing saffron-colored robes in airports, on street corners, and on college campuses in the 1960s and the 70s.

Describe one movement of Hinduism that contributed to its expansion outside of India.

During the Modern Period, Hinduism has expanded due to various unique movements, including those connected with Transcendental Meditation and Hare Krishnas. The Beatles brought Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his advocasy of Transcendental Meditation to the world's attention.

Brahmatical period

Move south towards Ganges Elaborate civilization by 900 BCE Ritual, specialized sacrifices by Brahmins Development of the oldest Hindu scriptures - shruti Gurus - teachers

Hindu Muslim Period

Muslims invade India Hinduism practices become clearly distinguishable from those of Islam Religion of Sikhism develops (influenced by Hinduism and Islam)

Banyan Tree Analogy

Often used to describe Hinduism to non-hindus. It does not only have branches that grow up, but they grow down into the ground, become roots, and sprout new trunks alongside the old. In an old Banyan tree, it becomes difficult to distinguish which is the original trunk. So too, religions in India have expanded and changed so much that what we now call Hinduism does not have a linear path to a beginning.

Hinduism

One of the world's largest religions No specific founder of "founding event" 95% of Hindus live in India 1 billion followers Hindu: "Sindu" - "river" people of the Indus Valley (3000-1500 BCE)

Recently canonized

Oscar Romero and pope Paul the 6th.

Puja

Performed by the Brahmin, the practice of honoring a god or goddess in a worship service with minimum participation by the people.

Maya

Sanskrit for "illusion." A teaching of the Upanishads that says that only Brahman is permanent; everything else is only an illusion.

What happened when the Muslims came to India?

The Hindus tried to distinguish their practices from the Muslim practices, and the Sikhism was created, a synthesis of Hinduism and islam. Muslim rule influenced Hinduism, but not to the point of compromise.

Avatar

The incarnation of a Hindu god, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form. According to Hindu beliefs, Vishnu has been incarnated nine times. The tenth time will usher in the end of the world.

Atman

The individual soul or essence.

Satyagraha

The policy of non-violent resistance initiated by Gandhi as a means of pressing political reform.

Caste system

The social class system that is prevalent in Hindu India.

Sikhism

The tension between Hindus and Muslims also produced great creativity. The Hindu poet Kabir was influenced by Islamic mysticism, while his disciple Nanak (1459-1539) began the new religious tradition, Sikhism, a synthesis of Hinduism and Islam.

"Hindu"

The word "hindu" comes from the Sanskrit word "sindhu" meaning "river." (specifically the Indus River in northwest India). Hindu originally referred to people living in the Indus Valley region. Later, the British designated Hinduism to refer to all the religious beliefs and practices of the people of India who were not Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Parses, Muslims, Jews, or Christians.

Sanskrit

An ancient language of India that is the language of Hinduism and the Vedas. It is derived from a word that means "perfected."

Vedas

Ancient scriptures that are the foundation of Hinduism. They were composed in Sanskrit. The most important part of the Vedas is the Rig Veda, which consists of 1,028 hymns praising the gods of Aryan tribes who invaded India from the northwest around 2,000 BCE.

Karma

Based on the belief in reincarnation, the Hindu and Buddhist belief that the form of soul will take in the next life is determined by its behavior in this life.

Who were Brahmins and what was their main function?

Brahmins are Hindu priests. The word is also used to describe the highest social class in the Hindu cast system. They specialized in different types of ritual sacrifices.

Devas

From the Sanskrit for "sitting one." They are celestial beings in the Hindu tradition.

Gurus

From the Sanskrit for "teacher," Hindu teachers and guides in philosophical and spiritual matters.

Ahimsa

Ghandi advocated equality of all religions called Ahimsa, or non-violence.

What are some of the beliefs major Hindu figures of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries advocated?

Hindu figures such as Gandhi advocated passiveness, non-violence, and equality between all religions.

Brahmins

Hindu priests. The term is also used to describe the highest social class in the Hindu caste system.

Classical Period

Hinduism becomes recognized as a religion Nature and practice of the religion changes Establishment of temples and home based rituals (prayer and ritual no longer the exclusive domain of the brahmins) Shift from transcendent to immanent person transformation becomes more important (karma and samsara concepts are developed) Smriti scriptures developed - Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana Caste System becomes more defined

Describe Jainism.

Mahavira founded Jainism in 6th century BCE. Mahavira reacted against some of the practices of Hinduism. Jainism contains elements in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Jains are most noted for the establishment of ahisma, or non-violence.

Brahman

In Hinduism, Ultimate Reality or Absolute Reality.

Bhakti

In Hinduism, the devotional way of achieving liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, emphasizing the loving faith of a devotee for the gods.

Murti

In temples, there are sometimes special days for the deity when the statue, picture, or other image of the god (called Murti) are decorated and processed along the nearby streets. Households often have a murti of a god that has special meaning to their family.

Modern Period

India becomes a colony of Britain - see a British influence throughout India 1947: India becomes an independent country - Ghandi 1947: country of Pakistan is established 1948: Ghandi is killed.

History

Indus Valley (3000-1500 BCE - or earlier) Brahmanical Period (1500 BCE-300 CE) Aryan Invasion around 1500 BCE Classical Period (300-1200 CE) Hindu-Muslim Period (1200-1600 CE) Modern Period (1600 CE-present)

Contributions of the Aryans

Language - Sanskrit Scriptures - Vedas initially transmitted by oral tradition because written word would be a "defilement of the sacred" Beginnings of the caste system

Transcendent

Lying beyond the ordinary range of perception - beyond reach.

Why are the years 300 to 1200 CE known as the Classical period of Hinduism?

That was the first time Hinduism could be recognized as a religious tradition. Ritual forms changed dramatically during this period. There was the establishment of Hindu temples and the continual growth of home-based rituals. Sanskrit, the litergical and scriptural language of Hinduism that only a few understood, gave way to the Vernacular. Hindu concepts of karma and reincarnation emerged during this time. Also during this time the Aryan division of labor was transformed into the complex caste system of Hinduism.

Iconoclasm

The "breaking of icons," the belief that there should no human depiction of the sacred for it places the icon as a source of worship rather than what the image represents.

What was the Arian influence on the origins of Hinduism?

The Vedic religion of the Aryans who entered northwest India around 1500 BCE left a lasting legacy of language, scriptures, and gods, the forerunners of Hinduism.

Aryans

The aryans invaded northwest India in about 1500 BCE. Their main form of worship for Aryans was a fire sacrifice to the gods in which the priests chanted hymns known as Vedas. The Aryans introduced a three-fold caste system into India, and later a fourth caste was added. Nomadic society that invaded the Hindus.

Samsara

The experience of birth, life, and death over and over again until one has achieved oneness with Brahman.