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HINDUISM

HINDUISM. SCRIPTURES, GODS and FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS of the VEDAS. Shruti (what is heard) Supreme scriptural authority Contains eternal divine wisdom not of human authorship Includes: Vedas Foundations of Hinduism Communicated by rishis (seer-poets in Ludwig)

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HINDUISM

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  1. HINDUISM SCRIPTURES, GODS and FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS of the VEDAS

  2. Shruti (what is heard) Supreme scriptural authority Contains eternal divine wisdom not of human authorship Includes: Vedas Foundations of Hinduism Communicated by rishis (seer-poets in Ludwig) Primordial authority; co-equal w/time Brahmanas (commentaries on Vedas concerned w/ceremonies) Upanishads (philosophical & spiritual wisdom books) Smriti (what is remembered) Of human origin Less authority Includes: Sutras (guides) Shastras (textbooks concerned w/laws) Puranas (mythological stories) Poems Ramayana & Mahabharata (includes Bhagavadgita Bhagavadgita considered by many Hindus as shruti I. Hindu Scripture

  3. Scriptures (cont.): Shruti • Shruti • The Vedas=knowledge • Gathered for ritual purposes, not as historical data • Originally orally transmitted through priests • To write them down would have polluted them • Early Vedic texts focus on sacrifice as main form of worship • Later texts (e.g. Upanishads shift focus away from ritual) • Focuses on worship in different forms, including sacrifice & praise

  4. Shruti: Reality • Levels of reality, both manifest and unmanifest • The deepest most fundamental (3/4) of reality is hidden or unmannifest • Manifest is what can be experienced • The unmanifest level is the source of the manifest • The more that manifest reality embodies rita(the fundamental governing principle), the more it possesses that reality • The manifest exists and continues to exist only to the degree that it is supported by rita • And it is only at the unmanifest level that ritafunctions fully

  5. Shruti: Reality: Rita • Rita • Both the basic ordering principle of the universe and the ground of whatever is ordered • The original rhythm of existence by which the manifest world emerges form its primordial ground of existence and in which orderliness is established • Guides all forms of existence and gives them energy and existence • Directs emergence, dissolution, and re-emergence at the cosmic level; and then gives each thing its own structure in nature • Rita – the proper order and performance of sacrifice • Later related to cosmic ordering • See dharma

  6. Shruti: Sacrifice (yajna) • Yajna: ritual sacrifice • The ritual correspondence to rita; ritais what makes yajnawork • Through yajna a way is provided for the manifest to connect to the deeper, unmanifestlevel of ultimate reality • ritual allows to penetrate into the deeper reality and thus more greatly embody the fundamental norm of existence • To move from fragmentation to wholeness • Important: acts of sacrifice serve to reinforce fabric of creation. I.e. all creation is upheld by the proper performance of these sacrifices • Rita – the proper order and performance of sacrifice • Importance of correct vocalization • Sanskrit corresponds perfectly to reality • Correct vocalization has transformative power • Improper vocalization could have cosmic consequences as in vocalizing, we connect with and participate in those deeper rhythms

  7. Scripture: The Four Samhitas • The Four Samhitas (collections) • The Rig Veda • Composed between 3000- 1500 B.C. (Western scholars tend to date it later [1900-1500 B.C.], Indian scholars earlier) • Oldest of Samhitas • World’s oldest living religious literature

  8. Scripture: Gods & Goddesses • Gods/Goddesses are not the most fundamental reality • Gods and Goddesses as symbols of fundamental powers of existence • E.g. wind, water, fire, consciousness • Different aspects of the same underlying reality (esp. towards end of Rig Veda) • See Rig Veda 10.114.5 • Gods do not create out of nothing but work with what is already there

  9. Indra Opens way for emergence of existence in overcoming forces of chaos and non-existence Warrior leader Main function to lead Ksatriya class ¼ hymns devoted to Indra In some sense creator as is Varuna Lord of the Thunderbolt Defender of the gods and humankind against evil Separates heaven & earth (notice he finds the Sun) Great drinker/capacity for soma Indra

  10. Varuna • Varuna • Model of order • Presides over order of cosmos; not unlike later Hindu idea of dharma • Dharma= sacred pattern underlying both the cosmic and social orders; micro and macrocosms • Knows all • Moral judge; includes punishment • Upholds truth

  11. Agni • Agni • God of fire • Thus symbolizes central element of sacrifice • Sacrifice is consumed/transformed • Essence travels upwards to realm of gods – from human to divine realm • Agni coveys that which is sacrificed to gods • (Hindus are still cremated, not buried; perhaps linked w/funeral fire sacrifice; atman is thus transported to heavenly realm)

  12. Scriptures: Soma, Hymns • Soma • God of intoxicating beverage • Consumed as part of the sacrificial ritual • Special consciousness achieved through divine power of soma • Vishnu & Shiva • Hymns indicate henotheism (one god at a time) • A kind of theism • Later hymns in the Rig Veda begin to probe for an overarching reality; prior to the gods – cf. Creation hymn

  13. Scriptures: Brahmanas & Aranyakas (four samhitas) • Brahmanas – sacrificial manuals • Aranyakas –philosophical speculations esp. on sacrificial fire

  14. Scriptures:Upanishads • Upanishads (c. 600 B.C.E.) • Latest portion of the Vedas • Moves from sacrifice & rituals to philosophy, esp. doctrine of reincarnation • Concerned with knowledgeof the ultimate reality as opposed to concentration on action • Samsara- cycle of death and rebirth. Humans are caught in the eternal wheel of existence • Samsara linked to karma (action). Every action has a consequence which is carried on to the next life • Atman and deeds • Problem includes gods

  15. Upanishads (cont.) • Develop speculation of overarching reality behind gods and phenomenal world • This reality is source of all – termed Brahman • Brahman is outside eternal cycle • Knowledge of Brahman helps bring about moksha of atman from samsara • Power of transformation lies in inner knowledge gained through meditation on atman as Brahman

  16. Scriptures:Smirti • Smirti Gods tend to be more personal • Dharma Sutras – law codes; legal texts, moral guides • Regulate human life & society • Part of eternal order • Eternal order = dharma; specifically one’s religious & moral duty • Great epic stories • Mahabarata (contains Bhavagad Gita) • Ramayana • Emphasis on bhakti • Provide paradigms for human conduct • Reinforce values of dharma

  17. Smirti (cont.) • Puranas • Develop mythology of classical Hinduism • Details cycles of creation and destruction of the world • Genealogies of kings and gods

  18. The long lower curve of the Sanskrit letter OM represents the dream state The upper curve stands for the waking state The curve issuing from the centre symbolizes deep, dreamless sleep. The crescent shape stands for "maya", the veil of illusion The dot represents the transcendental state. One passes ‘through’ the veil of illusion, achieving liberation from the first three states, finally reaching the transcendental state OM: Sanskrit Letter

  19. Summary of Key Ideas • Ultimate reality as undivided wholeness • Especially as we move into Upanishads and non-dualistic (advaita) philosophies • This world in which there are distinctions is the manifestation of a deeper reality which is unconditioned and undivided; this deeper reality grounds our existence • Levels of reality • Non-existence to existence to consciousness/awareness to the indescribable (beyond conditions and limits) • Reality as unbounded • Reconciliation of opposites and contradictions; that is, all possibilities exist without contradiction but rather are complementary

  20. Summary (cont.) • Gods and Goddesses are Symbols of Ultimate Reality • As symbol, the god or goddess both participates in the reality and points to the ultimate reality • As there is no limit to unbounded reality, there is no limit to the number of gods and goddesses that symbolize that reality • These ideas develop further with the bhakti (devotional) form of theistic Hinduism

  21. Summary (cont.) • Implications • As the deepest level of reality is normative, grounding all other levels, there is strong connection with the normative gounding and how we should live according to those norms • Norms are not just about right living, but living in accordance with ultimate reality • How we live is connected to reality at its deepest level • Thus, when one is true to the inner norms, one has great power • This is key to understanding the concept of dharma • Dharma is not just a social convention; how one lives affects the cosmic level

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