gek1045 hinduism lecture 7

8/6/2019 GEK1045 Hinduism Lecture 7

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HinduismHinduismLecture 7 (Part 1)Lecture 7 (Part 1)

29 September 200929 September 2009



Historical: AntiHistorical: Anti--establishment figuresestablishment figures

What is the µEstablishment¶?What is the µEstablishment¶?

AbrahamAbraham

JesusJesus Prophet MuhammadProphet Muhammad



Historical: Economics and War Historical: Economics and War

Economic rationale for religionEconomic rationale for religion

Military force in the name of religionMilitary force in the name of religion

Inward and outward StruggleInward and outward Struggle



Historical: Schisms and DenominationsHistorical: Schisms and Denominations

Parent µReligions¶ Parent µReligions¶

RadicalsRadicals

Conservatives and OrthodoxiesConservatives and Orthodoxies Councils, Caliphates and FormalCouncils, Caliphates and Formal

ConferencesConferences



Belief: One God or Many?Belief: One God or Many?

MonotheismMonotheism

Iconoclasm (destroying icons)Iconoclasm (destroying icons)

Malevolent beings/spiritsMalevolent beings/spirits Polytheism?Polytheism?



Belief: Sacred TextsBelief: Sacred Texts

Origins and authorsOrigins and authors

Seen, heard and writtenSeen, heard and written

StructureStructure Versions and RevisionsVersions and Revisions

Interpretations, commentaries andInterpretations, commentaries and

µguides¶ µguides¶



Belief:Belief: SoteriologySoteriology

How?How?

Who?Who?

What?What? When?When?

Where?Where?



Practice: WorshipPractice: Worship

µRegular¶ worship µRegular¶ worship

�� PrayerPrayer

�� Everyday good deedsEveryday good deeds Calendar RitesCalendar Rites

Commemorative RitesCommemorative Rites

Sacramental RitesSacramental Rites



Practice: Depiction of the DivinePractice: Depiction of the Divine

Prohibitions against depiction andProhibitions against depiction andalternative forms of representationalternative forms of representation

Influential depictionsInfluential depictions Widespread proliferation of Widespread proliferation of

symbolismsymbolism

Everyday depictionsEveryday depictions



Practice: SacrificePractice: Sacrifice

Who what when where howWho what when where how

Historical basis for sacrificeHistorical basis for sacrifice

Self sacrificeSelf sacrifice Divine sacrificeDivine sacrifice

MartyrdomMartyrdom



Practice: Religious FreedomPractice: Religious Freedom

CircumcisionCircumcision

SexualitySexuality

Prohibitions and RestrictionsProhibitions and Restrictions



HinduismHinduism



An Intellectual shift An Intellectual shift

³There is no historical founder, no ³There is no historical founder, nosingle scriptural text recognised bysingle scriptural text recognised byall, no single authoritative voice orall, no single authoritative voice ororganisation or institution, noorganisation or institution, nocommon creed for all who callcommon creed for all who callthemselves Hindu, and no single godthemselves Hindu, and no single god

or goddess or conception of divinity´ or goddess or conception of divinity´ �� Patterns..Patterns.. p. 121p. 121



Continuing the conversation..Continuing the conversation..

Introduction to Hindu µscripture¶ Introduction to Hindu µscripture¶

The Divine:The Divine: BrahmanBrahman andand Atman Atman



Early Hisotrical ContextEarly Hisotrical Context

The Indus Valley Civilization (6500The Indus Valley Civilization (6500 ±±1500 B.C.E.)1500 B.C.E.)

1000 BCE, Aryans migrated into1000 BCE, Aryans migrated into

Dravidian territoryDravidian territory Is Hinduism a ³parent religion´?Is Hinduism a ³parent religion´?

³Hinduism´ as a recent phenomenon? ³Hinduism´ as a recent phenomenon?

(see Patterns p.122)(see Patterns p.122)



Early Hindu µScriptures¶ (see table 4.1)Early Hindu µScriptures¶ (see table 4.1)

³Shruti´ ³Shruti´ ±± TheTheFoundationalFoundational

ScripturesScriptures Vedic HymnsVedic Hymns

BrahamanasBrahamanas

AranyakasAranyakas

UpanishadsUpanishads

³Smriti´ ³Smriti´ ±± LaterLaterTexts with Texts with

ScriptureScriptureAuthorityAuthority

MahabharataMahabharata

RamayanaRamayana

Dharma shastrasDharma shastras

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

PuranasPuranas



Hindu Scripture (Shruti): Vedas (contd.)Hindu Scripture (Shruti): Vedas (contd.)

Some Gods of the RigSome Gods of the Rig--VedaVeda�� Agni, the god of fire (a central elementAgni, the god of fire (a central element

in the ritual of sacrifice)in the ritual of sacrifice)

�� Indra, a warrior god who slays demonsIndra, a warrior god who slays demonsand protects human beings and godsand protects human beings and gods

�� Soma, the personification of a sacredSoma, the personification of a sacredplantplant

�� Varuna, the god of truthVaruna, the god of truth�� Mitra, the personification of agreementsMitra, the personification of agreements

or contractsor contracts



Is Hinduism Monotheistic?Is Hinduism Monotheistic?

³Though Hinduism concedes the existence ³Though Hinduism concedes the existenceof several gods or deities, it accepts onlyof several gods or deities, it accepts onlyone God, the Supreme. All these myriadone God, the Supreme. All these myriad

popular deities are the diversepopular deities are the diversemanifestations of one God. The formlessmanifestations of one God. The formless

God assumes various forms in order toGod assumes various forms in order tofulfill the desires of His devotees« Everyfulfill the desires of His devotees« Everyone has he freedom to worshipone has he freedom to worship any formany form

of God and His formless aspectof God and His formless aspect.´ .´ ±± Religions in SingaporeReligions in Singapore, p.17, p.17



Atman Atman

Who am I?Who am I? Atman Atman

Eternal and boundless, not physicalEternal and boundless, not physical

Atman survives throug

hphysicalAtman survives t

hroug

hphysicalexistence.existence.



BrahmanBrahman

Brahman, is conceived of in various ways:Brahman, is conceived of in various ways:�� sagunasaguna, with attributes, with attributes

�� nirgunanirguna, beyond imagining, beyond imagining

An Ultimate RealityAn Ultimate Reality How is Brahman similar to AbrahamanicHow is Brahman similar to Abrahamanic ³God Almighty´? How is it different? ³God Almighty´? How is it different?



BrahmanBrahman asas sagunasaguna

³God is One only, One without a second. ³God is One only, One without a second.His nature isHis nature is Sat Sat--chit chit--anandaananda i.e. eternali.e. eternalExistenceExistence--ConsciousnessConsciousness--Bliss. He is theBliss. He is the

Creator of this universe. He creates it byCreator of this universe. He creates it byHis power out of Himself, sustains it andHis power out of Himself, sustains it andthen withdraws it into Himself, once itsthen withdraws it into Himself, once itspurpose is over. This process goes onpurpose is over. This process goes on

forever, in a cyclical order.´ forever, in a cyclical order.´ ±± Religions in SingaporeReligions in Singapore, p.16, p.16



For Next weekFor Next week

Dharma, Karma, Samsara, MokshaDharma, Karma, Samsara, Moksha

CasteCaste

Contemporary Issues in HinduismContemporary Issues in Hinduism

gek1045 hinduism lecture 7

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