Philosophical and metaphysical origins

Major philosophical systems

Religious foundations and theistic paths

The Hindu way of life

Hinduism in the modern world

Hinduism

Introduction• Some scholars claim there is no central tradition that

can be identified as Hinduism• The term Hinduism did not become common until the

19th century• A range of practices

that vary according to

region, caste, gender,

and education• The philosophic Brahmanic tradition often referred to

as Hinduism is but one aspect of a larger tradition

Philosophical and Metaphysical Origins

• Brahmanic tradition traces

back to the Vedic age,

thousands of years ago

• The Indus Valley Civilization

– The history and precise

dating of this period is

controversial

• The Vedas– Foundation of upper-caste Brahmanic Hinduism

– Revered collection of ancient sacred hymns

– The Rig Veda is the first & oldest of 4 collections

Major Philosophical Systems

Share • Roots in the vedas• Direct personal experience

of truth thru meditation• Ethics as necessary to

orderly social life (related to karma)• Suffering is due to ignorance of the

eternal self

Major Philosophical Systems (continued)

• Samkhya: Two states of reality– Purusha, the Self– Prakriti, the cause of the material universe

• Advaita Vedanta– Monistic– Based on the

Upanishads• Yoga: raja, jnana,

karma, bhakti– Union with the true Self

Religious Foundations and Theistic Paths

Three major groupings of deities worshipped by Hindus•Shaktas: worship a Mother Goddess•Shaivites: worship the god Shiva•Vaishnavites: worship the god Vishnu

Yogi meditating in the Himalaya Mountains near the home of Shiva at the source of the Ganges River.

The Epics and Puranas• Illustrate trend

toward personal

love for a deity• Two major epics

– Ramayana– Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad-Gita

• The Puranas– Poetic Sanskrit texts that narrate the myths of

ancient times

The Hindu Way of Life• Ritual: central to Hinduism• Castes, duties, and

life goals– 4 occupational groups:

Brahmins, Kshatriayas,

Vaishyas, Shudras– Untouchables lay outside the system– 4 major goals for a good life: dharma, artha,

kama, moksha

The Hindu Way of Life (continued)

• Life stages: student, householder, meditation/study, renunciation

• The guru: spiritual leader• Women’s duties: dharma,

marital wealth,

sensual pleasure• Fasts, prayers, and auspicious designs:

determined by a complex lunar or solar calendar

The 2001 Kumbha Mela was the largest ever gathering of people.

Hinduism in the Modern World

• Hinduism has been influenced by contact with Buddhism, Jainism, and later Islam, and Christianity

• Modern movements: currently being challenged by social reform movements

• Global Hinduism: Has spread through immigration and conversion

Hinduism in the Modern World (continued)

• Hindu identity– Some link Hinduism with nationalism– India’s constitution enshrines secularism– According to the Indian Supreme Court, to

be Hindu means [next slide]

Hindu Identity (continued)

• Acceptance and reverence for the Vedas as the foundation of Hindu philosophy;

• A spirit of tolerance, and willingness to understand and appreciate others’ points of view, recognizing that truth has many sides;

• Acceptance of the belief that vast cosmic periods of creation, maintenance, and dissolution continuously recur;

• Acceptance of belief in reincarnation; • Recognition that paths to salvation and truth are many; • Recognition that there may be numerous gods and

goddesses to worship, without necessarily believing

in worship through idols; • Unlike other religions, absence of belief in a specific set of

philosophic concepts.