Hinduism

• Monothestic - Brahaman

Hinduism

Polythestic – functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahmā the creator, Viṣṇu the maintainer or preserver, and Śiva the destroyer or transformer

Hinduism

• Monothestic - Brahaman

• Polythestic – functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction

• Both

Hinduism

Combination of the religions of the early Indus Valley people and the Aryans

varna Brahman

atman dharma

karma samsara

moksha

HinduismOriginal caste system:

• supported the moving of individuals from one caste to another based on one's actions and performances (karma) in society

• believed that the suffering in their present life was a result of the bad deeds they committed in their past life

• karma is the deciding factor as to which position in the caste hierarchy they will belong to in their next lives

HinduismOriginal caste system:

•good karma will be a promise to raise them up through the different classes in reincarnation until they reach the top of the ranks

• take the next proceeding step to liberation (moksha).

Hinduism

dharma

A code of conduct for each caste’s members, spelling out their rights and duties which they

were required to perform to contribute to society

Hinduism

dharma

Ten Essential Rules for the Observance of Dharma

patience, forgiveness, self control, honesty, sanctity, control of senses, reason, truthfulness knowledge,

absence of anger

Manu further writes, "Non-violence, truth, non-coveting, purity of body and mind, control of senses are the essence of dharma".

Hinduism

That person is called a Brahmin who is

•sanctified by rites

•pure in behavior

•studying the Vedas

•devoted to the six well-known acts (washings, silent recitation of mantras, pouring rites on the sacrificial fire, worshipping the deities, duties of hospitality to guests, and offering food to the Viswedevas)

•properly observing all pious acts

•never eats food without having offered it first to gods and guests

•filled with reverence for his teacher

•always devoted to vows and truth

•a vegetarian diet

dharma

Hinduism

That person is called a Kshatriya who is

•engaged in the profession of battle

•studying the Vedas

•giving gifts to Brahmins

•taking wealth from those he protects

•consuming meat and alcohol

dharma

Hinduism

That person is called a Vaishya who is

•earning fame from keeping cattle

•employed in agriculture and the means of acquiring wealth

•pure in behaviour

•studying the Vedas

dharma

Hinduism

That person is called a Shudra who is

•eating every kind of food

•engaged in doing every kind of work

•impure in behavior

•not studying the Vedas

•engaged in conduct that is unclean

dharma

HinduismKarma- moral law of action and reaction

1. present condition of your soul is a product of your past decisions: You have made yourself what you are.

2. present thoughts and decisions are determining your future states

3. person gets what that person deserves--there is no chance in the universe

HinduismKarma- moral law of action and reaction

4. will not change the world in any significant way--the world is the training ground for Atman-Brahman.

5. no chance or accident in the universe

Hinduism

Samsara (reincarnation): if individual souls are eternal, where did they come from?

• spirit is independent of the body and the situation the spirit is in

"Worn out garments are shed by the body; worn out bodies are shed by the dweller."

1. At the subhuman level the passage is almost automatic up the chain of being.

Hinduism

Samsara (reincarnation): if individual souls are eternal, where did they come from?

2. At the human level comes consciousness which implies freedom, responsibility, and effort.

3. The consequences of your past decisions have determined your present state.

Hinduism

Hinduism

Moksha (final liberation):

1. dependent on perfect knowledge of the divine essence, Brahman

2. obtained by complete detachment of the mind from external objects

3. intense meditation on the divine

Hinduism

Moksha (final liberation):

4. total extinction of all sensual instincts by means of austere practices

5. become absorbed into the universal soul immediately on the death of the body

Hinduism

Goals of Life:

1.Path of Desire

– Kama (Pleasure)

– Artha (Worldly Success – wealth, power, fame)

Hinduism

Goals of Life:

2.Path of Renunciation

– Dharma (duty)

– Moksa (liberation)

Hinduism

Hindu Stages of Life or Asrama

1.The Brahmacharin or the Single Student

2.The Grihastha or the Head of House

3.The Vanaprastha or the Hermit

4.The Sannyasin or the Forsaker

Hinduism

Samskāra (rites of passage):

• sacraments, sacrifices and rituals • mark the various stages of the human life and to

signify entry to a particular Ashrama

Hinduism

Ashram or stage Age Description

Brahmacharya(student life)

0-24 The child typically would live with a Guru (spiritual teacher), acquiring knowledge, practicing self-discipline and celibacy, learning to live a life of dharma (right action), and practicing meditation

The Ashram System

HinduismSamskaras of childhood:

• namakarana:

"Name-giving" and formal entry into one or another sect of Hinduism, performed 11 to 41 days after birth

• annaprashana:

"Feeding.” Ceremony marking the first taking of solid food, held at about six months

• karnavedha:

"Earpiercing.“ Piercing of both ears, for boys and girls, and the inserting of gold earrings

HinduismSamskaras of childhood:

• chudakarana:

"Head-shaving.“ Shaving of the head, for boys and girls, between the 31st day and the fourth year

• vidyarambha:

The beginning of formal education. Boy or girl ceremoniously writes his/her first letter of the alphabet in a tray of uncooked rice

HinduismSamskaras of childhood:

• upanayana:

Given to boys at about 12 years of age, marks the beginning of the period of brahmacharya and formal study of scripture and sacred lore, usually with a guru

Hinduism

Ashram or stage Age Description

Grihastha(household life)

25-49 The ideal householder life is spent in selflessly carrying out one's duties to family and society, serving the saints, and gainful labor.

The Ashram System

Hinduism

Ashram or stage Age Description

Vanaprastha(retired life)

50-74 After the completion of one's householder duties, one gradually withdraws from the world, freely shares wisdom with others, and prepares for the complete renunciation of the final stage

The Ashram System

Hinduism

Ashram or stage Age Description

Sannyasa(renounced life

75-100 Completely withdrawing from the world, this is a time of complete dedication to spiritual pursuits, the seeking of moksha (spiritual freedom), and practicing meditation

The Ashram System

Caste System

Ashram and varnas:

Brahmacari Grihasta Vanaprastha Sannyasi

Brahmin Yes Yes Yes yes

Kshatriya Yes Yes Yes No formal

Vaishya Yes Yes No formal No formal

Shudra No formal Yes No formal No formal

Hinduism

Women: varna class applies, but a separate section of society, do not pass through four stages

1.child protected by her father: •did not receive a formal education•woman's role was learned in the home

2.married lady, protected by her husband: • pre-marital chastity• engaged and married at a very young age• in married life, role were centered on the home• not burdened with contributing towards the family income• a loving and available parent

Hinduism

Women: varna class applies, but a separate section of society, do not pass through four stages

3.a widow, protected by the oldest son: • elderly ladies were always treated with great respect

Hinduism

Traditional female values and duties:

• As a child, to be obedient and respectful to her parents and elders

• In household life, to serve a worthy husband and treat his friends and relatives with affection

• To avoid mixing intimately with other men • To be fully conversant in religious principles • To be expert in household affairs, and to keep the home

clean and well-decorated

Hinduism

Traditional female values and duties:

• To dress and decorate herself to please her husband. A wife should avoid dressing up if her husband is away from home

• To control her greed and passions and to speak truthfully and pleasingly

• To follow vows• To love, protect and nurture children

• In later life, to dedicate time to spiritual practices and to

give counsel to younger family members