Exploring Hinduism: Three Paths of Transformation and Brahmanical Traditions

1. Hinduism Hindu Life and Ritual

2. Three Paths of Transformation -Accommodation of Brahmanical tradition to new ways of thought • Karma Marga = path of action • Brahmanical tradition • Goal = dharma; maintaining social & cosmic order • Not liberation • Special focus on kama, artha • Practices • Purity • Puja • Vedic rituals; through rituals gods are strengthened • Duties of caste system

3. Jnana Marga • Jnana Marga = path of knowledge • Philosophical/intellectual • More elitist path since few can obtain liberation • Yogic practices to focus and to directly experience atman=Brahman • Beyond cognitive knowledge of atman=Brahman • Goal=liberation from moksha through realization atman= Brahman • N.b. notuniting with Brahman (or personal idea of God) like bhakti tradition but realization of identity of atman with Brhaman (impersonal) • Focus is impersonal Nirguna Brahman

4. Bhakti Marga • Bhakti Marga = path of devotion Especially: Shiva, Devi, Visnu (Krishna, Ram) • Goal = union with God • Personal god in realm of saguna Brahman • Not necessarily leading to liberation as gods are trapped in samsara • N.b. another form of bhakti tradition is to identify God with Brahman and thus liberation may be achieved • Scriptural focus • Puranas, Epics, Bhagavid-Gita • Social aspects • Breakdown of caste distinctions • Tension between dharma & karma • Practices • Devotional (e.g. puja, pilgrimages) • Yogic practices

5. Bhakti Marga (cont.) • Accommodation by Brahmanical Tradition • incorporates images alongside the aniconic Vedic tradition • Incorporation of puja with rituals • Devotional practices, (e.g. pilgrimage) • Incorporation of scriptures into canon (e.g. Puranas)

6. Structure of Hindu Society • Varna (class) & Jati (caste) System • Brahman –study & teach Vedas; provide over rituals; custodians of dharma • Kshatriya- warriors; administrators • Vaishya –merchants; business people • Shudra – serve the higher castes • Untouchables – without varna • (Harijans - Children of God) • Birth is not an accident • Permanent state of impurity • Live according to dharma prescribed by caste

7. Caste System (cont.) • Revolves around notions of purity and impurity • Each has its own dharma with its own code of contact • Inequalities part of divine order • Castes often associated with a an occupation • Limits to inter-caste social intercourse

8. Structure: 4 Stages of Life • Four Stages of Life (ashramas) For males of the three highest castes • Student • Initiation ritual (twice-born) • Obtain teacher • Study Vedas • Learning values of dharma • Householder • Engage with the world • concerned with dharma ,kama

9. 4 Stages (cont.) • Forest-dweller • Moving away from dharma in preparation for moksha • Renouncer (samnyasin) • Renounces all attachments • Ascetic; rejecting selfish desires (cf. lifelong samnyasin) • Beyond caste

10. Structure (cont.) • For Aims of Human Life (purusarthas) Related to stages of life; different at some levels for different castes • Dharma - duty • Artha- political & economic well-being (e.g. contrast warrior & merchant caste) • Kama- sensual pleasure; also desire in wider sense • Moksha- liberation

11. Hinduism in Transition • Practice of suti outlawed by the British • Mahatma Gandhi • Pacifism; equality of women;dignity of labor • Congress passed legislation prohibiting discrimination against the ‘untouchables’ • In 1955 & 56’ full rights of inheritance were given to widows and daughters; also enforced monogamy • 1961 law passed prohibiting dowries • Social structure still very strong in India but: • But in cities & outside India breaking down • Increasing intercaste marriages

12. OM: The Sacred Sound • Vedic tradition places great emphasis on sound and correct recitation • OM (AUM) • Greatest of Hindu mantras • Used also by Buddhists and Jains • OM- the eternal vibratory sound of Brahman that permeates creation • OM represents unity of universe • Often chanted in Hindu mantras and during Hindu ceremonies

13. OM (cont.) • Can represent the triads of: • Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva • Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda • Earth,atmosphere, heaven • Meditation on OM can lead to enlightenment • AUM (from Ludwig 64) • A – waking state, consciousness directed outwards • U- dreaming state, consciousness directed inwards, but not unified • M- deep sleep state; ‘blissful, unified, massive consciousness.’ • Silence - fourth state and final goal; experience of Atman=Brahman

14. 15. Yama said: 'That word (or place) which all the Vedas record, which all penances proclaim, which men desire when they live as religious students, that word I tell thee briefly, it is Om .‘ 16. 'That (imperishable) syllable means Brahman, that syllable means the highest (Brahman); he who knows that syllable, whatever he desires, is his.‘ 17. 'This is the best support, this is the highest support; he who knows that support is magnified in the world of Brahmâ -- Katha Upanishad 1.2. 15-17 OM