HINDU SACRED TEXTS: What? When?

Hinduism has an extremely abundant literature, written over more than a millennium

(from 1200 B.C. to 300 C.E)

The English translation of the Mahabharata alone fills 13 volumes!

The classical Hinduism known and practiced today took shape during the 6th century B.C. as a result of a long religious history that started around 1000 B.C.

Vedic and Post-Vedic Hinduism is divided in 3 types based on 3 Sacred Texts

Vedas =>Many deities => Sacrifices=> 1000-600 BC Magic

Upanishad =>Brahman (Impersonal) =>Meditation=> 600 -200 BC

Bhagavad Gita =>Personified Brahman =>Love (devotion) (Shiva, Vishnu, Kali, etc)

=> 100 BC/100 AD up to now (This is Classical Hinduism)Each stage of Hinduism presents a specific conception of God, the world,

human nature, and the way to salvation.

The classical Hinduism known and practiced today took shape during the 6th century B.C. as a result of a long religious history that started around 1000 B.C.

But it is mainly during the first and 2nd century AD that most of its elements were in place:

- Yoga, - Laws of Manu - Bhagavad Gita

5000/2700-1500: Indus Valley Civilization 1500 : Aryan migration into India Sacred Texts written (1200 BC-300CE)

1500 BC - 500 CE 1200 BC - 300 CE 1000 BC - 100 CE (most texts written) 600 BC - 100 CE (most important period of production of texts)

It took over a millennium to complete Hindu Sacred Texts (It took over a millennium to complete Hindu Sacred Texts (1200 B.C.-300 C.E)!!

The classical Hinduism known and practiced today took shape during the 6th century B.C. as a result of a long religious history that started around 1000 B.C.

Hindu Sacred Text were written between 1200 B.C. and 300 C.E. (but mainly: 600 B.C-300 C.E.)

Hindu texts developed over a period of more or less 1000 years (the Bible: 1000 B.C.-100 C.E.; mainly 600 BC-100 AD)

1500 BC-500 CE: Birth of Hinduism and its texts 1200 BC-300AD: Sacred Texts of Hinduism written 600 BC-100 AD: Most Biblical and Hindu texts written

HINDU SACRED TEXTSSHRUTI SMRITI Vedas Itihasas

Rig Veda Mahabharata Sama Veda▪ Bhagavad Gita Yajur Veda Ramayana Atharva Veda Puranas

Brahmanas Tantras Aranyakas Sutras Upanishads Stotras

Ashtavakra GitaGita GovindaHatha Yoga Pradipika

5 MAJOR HINDU SACRED TEXTS

1. VEDAS2. UPANISHADS3. BHAGAVAD GITA4. MAHABHARATA5. RAMAYANA

When where the Hindu Sacred Texts written? 1200-600 B.C: Composition of the Vedas and foundation of

Hinduism 600 - 200 B.C: Composition of the UPANISHAD

6th century B.C. : Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism, Taoism; Shintoism.6th century B.C. : Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism, Taoism; Shintoism. 6th century B.C: Mahavira Vardhamana (540 - 468B.C), Founder of Jainism 6th century B.C: Gautama Buddha6th century B.C: Gautama Buddha(563-483 B.C.), founder of Buddhism(563-483 B.C.), founder of Buddhism 3th century B.C: King Ashoka (304-232 B.C.E): 2nd founder of Buddhism3th century B.C: King Ashoka (304-232 B.C.E): 2nd founder of Buddhism * 20th century AD: MAHATMA GANDHI (1869-1948 A.D.) and the revival of Hinduism 500 B.C-500 C.E: Hindu lawbooks and development of six orthodox systems of philosophy/theology: Samkhya, Nyaya,

Yoga, Vaisheshika, Purva-Mimamsa, and Vedanta. 500B.C- 400 C.E: composition of the MAHABHARATA (extensive teaching on the Dharma) 300 B.C-300 C.E: Composition of the RAMAYANA, the story of RAMA, who provides a model

for social relations and for the role of the enlightened ruler.

200 B.C-300 C.E (mostly around 100 BC): Composition of the BHAGAVAD GITA

2nd century B.C.: the sage PATANJAL codified the teachings of Yoga in his YOGA SUTRA

BHAGAVAD GITA: 200 B.C-300 C.E (mostly around 100 BC): Composition of the BHAGAVAD GITA (a late portion of the MAHABHARATA) which is the single most important scripture for many Hindus.

YOGA: 2nd century B.C.: the sage PATANJAL codified the teachings of Yoga in his YOGA SUTRA

LAWS OF MANU: 3rd century B.C-3rd century C.E or 200 B.C-200 C.E: compilation of the Laws of Manu by the Brahmins

100 BC - 100 C.E: Birth of present form of Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity!

The Canon of the Bible is established Palestinian Talmud: Completed around the 4th century A.D.

Babylonian Talmud:Completed in the 6th century A.D.

We may distinguish three main steps of Hinduism Pre-Vedic Hinduism Vedic Hinduism Post-Vedic Hinduism or Classical Hinduism

The Vedic and Post-Vedic Hinduism is divided in 3 types (or stages) based on 3 Sacred Texts

Each stage of Hinduism presents a specific conception of God, the world, human nature, and the way to salvation.

Hinduism took three different steps corresponding to three main sacred texts, to which some scholars add a four stage, the prevedic religion:

* Pre-Vedic period ( 2700-1500 B.C.E. : Indus Valley Civilization (original people) : Pre-vedic Hinduism

*Vedic and post-Vedic Hinduism: The Vedas (c.1200-600 B.C: development): sacrifices/Magic The Upanishads (600-200 B.C. :Composition): Meditation The Bhagavad-Gita(c.100 B.C.: Composition): classical: devotion

Each stage of Hinduism presents a specific conception of God, the world, human nature, and the way to salvation.

Vedic and Post-Vedic Hinduism is divided in 3 types based on 3 Sacred Texts

Vedas =>Many deities => Sacrifices Upanishad =>Brahman (Impersonal) =>Meditation Bhagavad Gita =>Personified Brahman =>Love (devotion)

(Shiva, Vishnu, Kali, etc)

6500-1500: Indus Valley Civilization I500: Aryan migrations in India1200 BC-300 CE: Sacred Texts written 1200-600 B.C: Composition of the VEDAS 600 - 200 B.C: Composition of the UPANISHAD

500 B.C-500 C.E: Hindu law books and development of six orthodox systems of philosophy/theology: Samkhya, Nyaya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, Purva-Mimamsa, and Vedanta.

500B.C- 400 C.E: composition of the MAHABHARATA (extensive teaching on the Dharma)

300 B.C-300 C.E: Composition of the RAMAYANA, the story of RAMA, who provides a model for social relations and for the role of the enlightened ruler.

200 B.C-300 C.E (mostly around 100 BC): Composition of the BHAGAVAD GITA (a late portion of the MAHABHARATA) which is the single most important scripture for many Hindus).

200 B.C-200 C.E: compilation of the Laws of Manu by the Brahmins

Hinduism divides its Religious texts into two categories: 1. The SHRUTI (divine revelation) : the Vedas and the upanishads= Sacred writings, based on what Hindu writers “heard’ in revelation. = They are considered Divine Revelation. =>Example: the Vedas, and to a lesser degree the Upanishads.

2. The SMRITI (human tradition): Bhagavadgita= Writings based on what their human authors “remembered” of

revelations to Hindus.=> These works are less authoritative than revealed scriptures.

The Veda specialists granted such smriti works great authority, considering them necessary and nearly error-free restatements of the meaning of the shruti.

Hindus understand the Upanishads to be a continuation and clarification of the Vedic tradition. For this reason the upanishads are referred to as the Vedanta ("end of the Vedas"), extending recognition to the upanishads as the last literary installation of the Vedas.

The Vedas

* the Vedas are the Sacred Scriptures of Hinduism it is a collection (book) of hymns, prayers and rituals. An orthodox Hindu is one who recognizes the authority

of the Vedas and that of the Brahmin Priests. * Veda means "Knowledge and wisdom"

(as in the word "video", "vision"). * There are four kinds of Vedas

* There are four kinds of Vedas

1. Rig Veda Response to metaphysical questions, myths of the origin of the

universe,... the oldest of Hindu scriptures.

2. Yajur Veda: Contains sacrificial formulas.

3. Sama Veda:3. Sama Veda: deal with melodies of hymns and rituals.

4. Arthava Veda4. Arthava Veda Healing, long lifeHealing, long life

4. Arthava Veda Contains magical formulas describing incantations and

spells for healing diseases, for long life.

* Here lies the beginning of Indian medical science.

=>These four Vedas, including some later additions to them, such as the Upanishads, comprise

the sacred scriptures of Hinduism.

The Laws of Manu- Attributed to Manu- But developed late, between 200 B.C and 200 C.E by

the Brahmins- A set of moral codes that set the standards of

conduct for every Hindu- They describe an ideal code of behavior for Hindus.

The MAHABHARATA (extensive teaching on the Dharma) the RAMAYANA is the story of RAMA, the ideal man and Sita

the ideal woman. It is the story of Rama who provides a model for social relations and for the role of the enlightened ruler.

The BHAGAVAD GITA is a late portion of the MAHABHARATA. It is the single most important scripture for many Hindus.

- The influence of the Bhagavadgita has been profound. It was a popular text, open to all who would listen, and it was fundamental for all later Hinduism which recognized it as the third authoritative text, with the Upanishads and the Brahmasutras.

Even in the 20th century, as is evident from the lives of such diverse personalities as the Indian freedom fighters, Tilak and Gandhi, who acknowledged its influence, it has continued to shape the attitudes of Hindus.

BHAGAVAD GITA Composed around 100 B.C. (or between 2nd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D.) This great epic poem is part of a longer epic called the MAHABHARATA

whose composition started in 9th or 8th century B.C. The Gita is a brief text, of 700 verses found between chapters 25 and 42

of the Mahabharata The Gita is made up of 18 chapters divided into three sections of 6

chapters each. The Mahabharata itself contains 110,000 couplets, or 220,000 lines

(around 15,000 pages!) The English translation of the Mahabharata fills 13 volumes!

The word “Bhagavad Gita” means "Song of the Lord” (=Lord Krishna)

The Gita is written in quasi-dialogue form, as a conversation between the warrior Arjuna and Lord Krishna.

The Gita is to Hinduism what the Homeric epic poems are to Greek and Hellenistic culture.

Like the Homeric poems, the Gita is about a great battle; it relates the stories of the struggles of notable heroes and gods and contains much of the basic philosophy of Indian culture.