2. The “NO” of Hinduism
• NO single founder
• NO specific theological system
• NO single system of morality
• NO central religious organization
Because of the “no” there is great diversity within Hinduism;
in some manner it may be the most tolerant of all religions.
The possible religious views are virtually infinite.
Today, there are about 760 million followers of Hinduism
3. With no identifiable founder, where
does Hinduism come from?
The Word Hindu
May come from the Persian word for India
May come from a British corruption of the Sanskrit
name for the Indus River: Sindhu
The word was applied to all Indian people. Thus, to
be from India is to be Hindu
4. A Brief History
• Migrations of Aryan peoples into India c. 2500 BC
Aryan does not describe a race but a language
group
Language is similar to European languages
Aryan is Sanskrit for “noble ones”
May be related to the Celts of the British Isles
Created the Persian Empire
When naming their country, the Persians called it Iran,
land of the Aryans
• Advanced peoples who built complex cities covering
nearly 500,000 sq. miles
• Brought their polytheistic religions with them and
mingled them with those of the people of India
• From this mingling, classical Hinduism was born
6. A Brief History
• These peoples organized along tribal lines with chiefs
called “rajas”
• In time classes developed called “varnas”
• Other classes (varnas):
Brahmins---priests
Chieftains (rajas) and Warriors---top of the scale
Merchants
Commoners
Conquered peoples (not considered full members)
• These divisions later became the basis for the caste
system
7. Three Branches of Hinduism
• Vedic (Classical)
• Post-Classical
• Modern
More than to specific time periods, these
branches refer to periods when certain teachings,
deities, worship styles, or rituals either had not
developed, or had developed but were by
dominated others.
8. The Vedic or Classical Era
• The Vedas
Mean “Knowledge” or “sacred lore”
Are the basic sacred literature (books) of Hindus,
considered by many Hindus to be divine
Four Vedic books made up of four parts each
Part one: hymns or mantras to the gods
Part four: The Upanishads (material written after the
Vedas)
Provide a Hindu understanding of the universe
Other Hindu literature is considered commentary on
the Vedas
Vedas were still developing as late as c. 400 BC
9. The Vedic or Classical Era
The oldest and most important Veda, the Rig-
Veda, dates back to c. 2000 BC
Collection of 1,000 hymns to the Aryan gods
Contains much mythology of these gods
The god given most attention in the Rig-Veda is Indra
Vishnu (later the most important Hindu god) is given
only minor mention
10. The Vedic or Classical Era
The Upanishads
Early philosophical statements (date to c. 9th century BC)
Are clearly monistic (not polytheistic as early Vedas)
Only one reality---the god-being Brahman
All other beings are expressions of Brahman---all that is not
Brahman is not real
Human beings are consumed with Maya (false knowledge)
and believe that this life and separation from Brahman are
real
Humanity’s real problem is Avidya (ignorance) of their plight;
they are deceived about their true nature
The task of religion is to show the divine nature within us and
how to live on a new plane
Proper worship is meditation, not making sacrifice to the gods
11. Terms & Concepts Introduced in the
Upanishads
• BRAHMAN ULTIMATE REALITY
• MAYA ILLUSION
• AVIDYA IGNORANCE
• ATMAN INDIVIDUAL SELF OR SOUL
• SAMSARA ENDLESS WHEEL OF CYCLICAL
TIME
• MOKSHA LIBERATION FROM WHEEL
• BRAHMIN ONE WHO HAS ACHIEVED
ENLIGHTENMENT
• KARMA A MEASURE
• VARNA CASTE SYSTEM
12. The Code of Manu
• Further developed the ethical standards of
Hinduism
• Affirmed the varna system as divinely ordained
• Discusses marriage, male female relationships,
dietary restrictions, etc.
• Claims the killing of cows is a great sin punishable
by having a cow control your brain for a year
13. Bhagavad Gita
• An epic poem forming the concluding statement of
classical Hindu culture
• The story of leading Hindu families and their struggle for
domination
• Key characters: Arjuna and Krishna
• Krishna is revealed as the reincarnation of Vishnu
• Krishna affirms:
the Upanishads as supreme scriptures
People should perform their caste duties and avoid
karma
Be open and devoted to a variety of religious
expressions
14. Post-Classical Hinduism
A Period Marked By:
Worship centered on a few gods
Temples built to honor these gods
These gods took wives or consorts
Negative, world and life (pleasure)-denying forces
predominate
Life-view is an endless cycle of birth, death, rebirth
The goal of religion is to cease living
Ascetics who deny themselves pleasure—not mighty
warriors—are the real heros
15. Post-Classical Hinduism
During the Period, Devotion Centered on Three Major
Gods
Brahma
Given least attention—pictured as red with four
bearded faces and four arms
Shiva
God of death, destruction, and reproduction
Most popular of the period
Followers put a trident on their faces
Special to ascetics because he tortures their flesh
Believed to be ultimate reality
16. Post-Classical Hinduism
• Death and reproduction come under his power
• Humans are separated from Shiva due to ignorance,
Karma, and illusion
• Many Shivaites in India today
• His consort is the more destructive Kali, who is depicted
with a necklace of skulls, tearing away the flesh of
sacrificed victims and drinking blood
Vishnu
God of love, play, and forgiveness
Enjoys tricks and pranks
Appeared many times on earth as avatars like Krishna
Hare Krishna is example of the sect’s devotees
17. Post-Classical Hinduism
Devotion to Knowledge:
Five Philosophical Systems
Sankhya system
Atheistic – recognizes no personal gods
Dualistic – posits a spirit and matter that encompasses all
that is
Yoga system
Means “to join”
The world is a dualism between atman and Brahman
Yoga seeks to join the individual spirit (atman) to
Brahman
Main feature: meditation (even essential for the gods)
18. Post-Classical Hinduism
Eight Steps to Yoga
Vows of restraint
Internal control, calmness and equanimity
Certain bodily postures to achieve the aims of yoga
Breath control
Control of the senses for shutting out the world
Extreme concentration on a single object
Meditation
Trance in which “yogin” becomes one with Brahman
19. Post-Classical Hinduism
Mimansa System
Held to the early Vedas
Revered Shiva as the highest God
Concerned with avoiding rebirth
Vaisheshika System
Believes that the world is made of nine distinct
elements: earth, air, water, fire, soul, mind, ether,
time, space
These elements are eternal and uncreated; thus,
no gods are needed
20. Post-Classical Hinduism
• Vedanta System
Most popular system
Committed to the Upanishads
It is monistic: the human world really does not exist
Humankind’s basic problem is not evil but
ignorance as to its true state
A primary branch of Vendanta is called Advaita,
meaning “nondual”
