Worlds most ancient living religion Continued to India Sri Lanka other countries 800 million hindus 3rd largest religion 3000 4000 B C How to become Hindu One has to be born as a Hindu into a caste Implications wider sense a culture way of life as opposed to religion in narrower sense Origins of Hinduism No such word as Hindu in sacred books of Hinduism Iranians Persians came to India they called natives Hindus Greeks upon learning from Iranians called them Indos from which the word Indian Way of life thinking customs rites rituals Derived from word Sindhu meaning Indus Valley Sanskrit ancient writing Dravidians Original inhabitants of India Moherjo Daro Itareea underground cities 2500 B C Grid like patterns brick houses running water sewage system Agricultural people Aryan religious following Fertility cults phallus to shiva Aryans Religion of Aryans Came from Asia minor Turkey Greece Through Khyber Pass conquered Indus valley People at india today are product of dravidians aryans Dyaus Pitr or India God of rain parallel to greek god Zeus Uaruna Keeps natural physical order rits intact parallel to the roman god Ovrenos Rodia Merut Winds storms Rodia father Natures horses Agni fire most worshiped cherished loved Soma drink by which one can gain immortality amorat 3 realms of Gods celestial atmospheric terrestrial 3 million gods Hindu Scriptures Vedas c 1500 B C Upanishads c 500 B C Epic Literature Mahabharta Bhagavad Ramayana c 100 CE Rishis The Vedas Means knowledge There are four Rig veda Yajur Veda Sama veda Athrva veda Rig Veda Rig means praise Rig Veda contains the praise of Gods devas 1028 in number hymns chants to the Gods Aryans placed themselves into three upper castes and Dravidians into lowest Based on Varna meaning color specifically skin color In Rig Veda Brahman says I Created Brahmins from my mouth Chaitryas from my arms Vaishyas from my thighs and Shudras from my feet Economic class division part of religion Caste in Rig Veda Brahmin Priestly class religious authority Chaitrya Rulers kings defend country Vaishya tradesmen farmers serve people Shudras manual laborers also include Parayas Untouchables Chandlas illegitimate children Yajur Veda Contains hymns to be recited during sacrificial ceremony Instructions on how to carry out rituals IV Sama Veda Contains hymns to be chanted with appropriate music Ahinsa respect for life V Athrva Veda Contains spells against demons protection from sickness snakes etc Emphasizes house worship how priest should visit home help carry out religious ceremonies He should also act as a medicine man VI The Upanishads to sit under tree with Guru Swami or Sadhu Written c 500 BCE 128 Books or Chapters Written in Prose poetry By different people at different times Emphasize meditations fasting silence avoidance of sex etc Written in reaction to Vedas Reject priestly class Don t give importance to too many Gods rituals and sacrifices Hinduism had become too ritualistic VII Key Concepts of Hinduism Brahman the highest God Infinite eternal unchanging pure consciousness TATTVAMASI Thou art that NETI NETI It is neither this nor that Atman Translated as self soul or consciousness Also eternal unchanging unborn and undying God is transcending Moksha Highest goal of life Atman becoming one with Brahman Release from cycle of birth and death Reincarnation Avatra Being born again and again till one achieves moksha Maya Illusion referring to this empirical world of sense perception and thought Dharma Physical and moral order created by Brahman Karma Doing good deeds according to Dharma Yoga Union with God comes from the word Yoke Karma Yoga doing good deeds without expecting rewards Jnana Yoga knowing Brahman as different from Maya Bhakti Yoga Concentration only on Brahman becoming indifferent to anything VIII Four Stages of Life Student life After religions initiation one leaves the house around age 7 in order to learn scriptures rituals and other duties from a teacher Guru Household life Approximately from age 14 to 40 One assumes social responsibilities by Marrying Having a family Making a living Forest life After 40 start devoting more time to Brahman Retiring to live in the forest Relieving himself of social obligations Samyasin Complete devotion to Brahman Freed from any worldly possessions properties Freed from other social obligations IX The Bhagavad Gita Most sacred book of Hindus Bhagavad Gita forms 18 Chapters 2543 of the Mahabhrata the largest epic ever written Means Songs of God Main theme is that all Gods are simply incarnations of Brahman They all are millions of faces of Brahman Whichever God you worship whether it is Indra Agni Shiva or Vishnu you are worshipping Brahman Main characters of B G are Arjuna Krishna an incarnation Vishnu Arjuna is a prince Chatriya caste from the family of Pandavas His family is in conflict with the Kaurvas Krishna advises Arjuna to fight becase It is his caste duty Atman is eternal The slayer thinks he slays the slain thinks that he is being slayed They are fools They do not know anything The throne belongs to Arjuna rightly and he must fight for what is just B G speaks for four yogas with slight modification from the Upanishad New Raja Yoga X Brahman as God Is the only God others are his incarnations Trimurti Brahman understood as the Creator is Brahma Brahman understood as the Preserver is Vishnu Brahman understood as the Destroyer one who changes things from one form to another is Shiva XI Essentials of Hinduism Make this important distinction Brahman God Brahma Creator Brahmin Priestly caste Hindu daily life Hindu worship puja Mandir Offerings Japa tapa Sects of Hinduism Vishnuites Shivaites Buddha gods Buddhism Buddha was born a Hindu in the second caste His objections to Hinduism Too many gods Humans should get more attention than the Too many rituals too ritualistic Too much focus on castes Too much emphasis on sacrifices There is a difference between Atman Hinduism and Anatta Karma Reincarnation Ahinsa Nirvana moksha Common Elements with Hinduism Life of Buddha Buddha was born in 560 B C in the chatriyas second caste His father was a king of a small kingdom Nepal he hoped that his son would become a great king Siddhartha means The one who has overcome the cycle of His full name is Siddhartha Gautama Buddha birth and death wisdom Legends about Buddha Guatama means good soul Buddha means The one who has awakened and found The moment he was born Buddha walked seven steps This symbolized that this