World Religions- Hinduism

Where and when did hinduism begin?

1500 BCE Indus Valley

List the three paths to liberation.

1. Path of Works/Action (karma yoga) 2. Path of Knowledge (jnana yoga) 3. Path of Devotion (bhakti yoga) *each person has own dislikes/likes so each can choose own path toward liberation bc liberation is a personal affair

list 3 vedas

1. Rig Veda-4000 years old + hinduism's oldest sacred text 2. Upanishads- ancient philosophical writings 3. Bhagavad-Gita- an epic poem ; most popular sacred text

List the four goals/purposes of life.

1. dharma - fulfilling one's individual purpose, righteousness 2. artha - material wealth 3. kama - enjoyment, sexuality, desire 4. moksha - spiritual liberation

What can you compare the different gods/goddesses as one Brahman through an analolgy

7 ocesns all lone water

Holi

"Festival of Colors" -national indian holiday -celebrates beginning of Spring -people chase each other with colored powder/water

Devali

"Festival of Lights" -celebrates end of harvest- farmers give thanks for successful crops -october/november -5 days long- super important holiday! -celebrates atman triumph over evil -fireworks/worship/new clothes/sharing sweets/lights

Explain why Gandhi was given the nickname "Mahatma".

"Great Soul" because he got rights for the Untouchables

Ganesha

"Lord of Obstacles" - invoked by Hindus before undertaking a large task and ask for smooth performance and successful outcome - son of shiva - occupies special place in heart of hindus - not in trinity but most have him in houses

Bhakti yoga

"Path of Devotion" *total unconditional surrender to God *take part in worship, associate with the Temple

Jnana yoga

"Path of Knowledge" *high level of intellect/determination *deep study of philosophy, Vedas, knowing oneself + meditation

Karma yoga

"Path of Works/Action" *selfless service to society *attitude of unselfishness *detachment- do right thing not for outcome

Shiva

"The Destroyer" - destructive power is regenerative - its the necessary step that makes renewal possible

Shudra

(labourers and servants)- craftsmen who work in many trades like farmer, tailor + duty is to serve other classes, not allowed to study vedas - 4th caste

kshatriya

(nobles and warriors)- protectors and rulers- dispense justice, study vedas, offer sacrifices- 2nd caste

What percentage of people living in India are Hindu?

80%

Who founded Hinduism? Explain your answer.

No one founded Hinduism- mesh/harmony of many different religious beliefs + practices

puja

Hindu rituals for worshipping a deity involving all senses: - seeing pics -hearing bells + chants - smelling flowers, fruits, incense - taste offering - touch water

Brahma

The Creator - represented with 3-5 heads four arms, red skin - unlike other hindu gods, carries no weapon - hold water pot, spoon, book of prayers (vedas), rosary and sometimes lotus - sits on lotus in lotus pose and moves around on a white swan -often depicted as having long white bear, with each of his heads reciting four vedas

The Ganges River

pilgrimage here *rivers are seen as sacred *the most sacred place for Hindus *ritual bathing purifies all sins

Funeral Rituals

scatter ashes usually over sacred river like Ganges (most pop)

Brahmin

(priests, scholars, philosophers)- expected to lead virtuous life, moral behaviour + pursue divine knowledge- highest caste

Vaishya

(traders and merchants)- peasant class expected to do work, study vedas + do services that benefit society as a whole- 3rd caste

Cow Veneration

*cows are respected *rig veda refers to the cow as "mother" *the cow represent life *they are worshipped like deities (decorate/anoint) *the killing of a cow is against the law *do not eat beef

Prayer

- Hinduism places great emphasis on displaying images of deities in art - prayer takes place in temples, but can be done individually at home - when they pray is a choice - no set day or times for prayer

sannaysin

- age 72+ OR at any time Ancient - become wandering hermits - live life without any shelter or possessions - never work to get food - must be given/found - becoming holy men, seeking spiritual enlightenment Modern - go to church/pray - become mentors

Householder

- ages 27-47 - life is spent: raising fam + pursuing career

forest dweller

- ages 48-72 (middle age) Ancient - retirement - focus is on meditation/prayer - time to think about their coming death + rebirth

Student Stage

- ages 5-27 Ancient - intense study of the vedas - may live with a guru Modern - other subjects besides vedas - hindu boy/girl go to school + don't live with teacher

Monism

- all reality is ONE thing (Brahman) - gods/goddesses are manifestations of Brahman

Explain caste system

- caste determined by birth+dictated occupation etc. - if did something outside caste you could be excommunicated from caste - marriage determined by caste

Hindu death

- preparation of body: eldest son washes, dresses and flowers body - cremation: body is laid on funeral pyre, usually located near holy river, prayer recited, + ppl stay still fire is out * to hindu body dies but soul never dies - goes into cycle - so no try to preserve body

samsara

- the cycle of rebirth - universe in an endless cycle of birth, life, death --> many times to get out

kharma

- the moral law of cause and effect - shapes your destiny

Brahman

-Hindus worship a single deity (Brahman) -essence of all things - all reality is Brahman - not a person/material - spirit

Name and explain the two major holidays in Hinduism.

-Holi (festival of color) -Diwali (festival of light)

bindi

-sanksrit "bindu" = "a dot or small particle" -used to be sign of marriage -placement between eyebrows- "place of wisdom" -bindi retains energy + strengthen concentration

Shudra

...

list the 4 stages of life

1. apprentice - learns roles within religion, politics, or trades 2. householder - works and raises family 3. forest dweller - focuses on spiritual matters and helps with grandchildren 4. renouncer - renounces ties to family and property, focuses on liberation * these stages of life are for hindus choosing to follow vedic - not necessary for labourers ancient - males, but now females too meant for 3 highest classes

Aspects of Daily Devotion

1. individual practices like worshipping at home + mandir 2. community/village rituals 3. pilgrimages to holy places 4. cow veneration

Vedas

Mean knowledge - written in sanskrit - the scriptures of Hinduism + source of guidance - collection of texts written from 1200BCE to 100CE. - not written by single person, but heard and passed down orally until recorded

What is the problem + solution in Hinduism?

Problem: humans caught in cycle of rebirth that spins according to one's karma Solution: to become one with the Absolute, Brahman (Moksha)

Moksha

The goal of Hinduism: to be liberated/released from the cycle and become one with Brahman. Takes many lifetimes to achieve this.

Of the Five Major World Religions, where does Hinduism fall?

Third largest- 950 million

Identify the gods of the Trimurti and their functions.

Trimurti = three principal deities - correspond to functions of creation, sustenance, and destruction 1. Brahma - the Creator 2. Vishnu - the Maintainer 3. Shiva - the Destroyer (but only to bring about what is new)

kama

enjoyment, sexuality, desire - kama appropriate for householder

Mandir

hindu temple - go there to prayer together

List two places that Hindus worship

home at shrine and at mandir

Mohandas K. Gandhi

indian leader who fought for rights for the Untouchables/"God's Children"

Dharma

your duty - means righteousness, living morally + ethically at all times - for every activity, way of acting that conforms to dharma Dharma 1. shifts focus from satisfying personal wants to caring for others 2. is equal to christian concept of unconditional love * determined by gender, caste, stage of life

Hinduism

- the religion of the Hindus of India - began in the Indus Valley (Pakistan) 1500 B.C.E - world's oldest organised religion

Atman

Brahman in one's self (one's self is (atman) ultimately one with brahman)

Explain the relationship between Brahman and Atman.

Brahman is external, Atman is a persons internal Brahman

Explain Hindu ethics

Hindu advised to restrain all emotions that may lead to a sinful existence like: kama (lust), krodha (anger), mada (ego,pride) and Matsara (jealousy) - Kindness + tolerance to all human relations along with non-violence (ahimsa) - desire for the wellbeing of others + almsgiving are encouraged especially when done with no expectation of reward

artha

material wealth - appropriate pursuit for householder Hindu - encouraged to make money in bounds of dharam

Example of ahimsa

not killing cows

16. Identify and explain the symbol of Hinduism.

om - Hindu sacred sound that represent Brahman, the essence of the entire universe - God first created sound +everything arose from this sound - used in Hindu mantra

Hindu

person from the land beyond the Indus River people of a particular geographic location follower of hinduism

Vishnu

protector of the word - he is peaceful, merciful, compassionate - usually depicted w/four arms each holing emblem of divinity (conch, discus, club, lotus) - curl of hair on chest signifies his immorality - often shown reclining or asleep as awaits next annihilation or renewal

the untouchables

the LOWEST class- have no caste, do most degrading jobs, high class no touch bc would contaminate them