Hinduism

1. Hinduism AP Human Geography Mrs. Lacks

2. Hinduism • Considered the world’s oldest religion • From at least 2500 BCE there were people living in the Indus Valley. • Several cities with advanced plumbing, architecture, and populations of 40,000+ (e.g., Harappa and Mohenjo-daro) flourished. • 750+ million Hindus in India • 30+ million “Hindus”abroad • Third largest religion in the world

4. Hinduism • No founder or creed • The earliest forms of Hinduism are often called “Vedic.” (2500-800 BCE) • Dominated by a priestly class concerned with “fire sacrifices.” • The fire rituals communicated with the gods, influenced them, and restored the vital powers of the universe. • DyausPitr (cf: Zeus & Jupiter) • Agni (god of fire) • Soma (a god & a drug? A drink that produces immortality)

5. Three Sacred Texts • The Vedas • The oldest and most important is the Vedas (in 4 parts) • First in the form of oral histories • The Bhagavad Gītā(400 BCE) • It is perhaps the most famous, and definitely the most widely-read text of ancient India. • The Upanishads(400 BCE) • Focus on 1) meditation and 2) religious instruction with a guru

6. Polytheistic • Hindus believe in many gods, but differ by their importance • Brahman is considered “ultimate reality,”but Hinduism is highly polytheistic. • The Hindu Pantheon is structured around “divine couples” (male-structure/form::female-energy/matter) who serve different functions in the universe; in a way, they point to the various forces in life/the cosmos. • Many deities are depicted with a “vehicle”—an animal with whom they are often portrayed. • The “Trimurti” is organized around Brahma (creation), Vishnu (maintenance), Shiva (destruction).

7. Brahma (or Brahman) • Creator • Consort/wife: Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and speech. • Vehicle: hamsa or swan (seven swans) • The Vedas depict Brahman as the Universal Soul

8. Vishnu • Maintainer of the Universe or the Preserver • Consort: Lakshmi (good fortune and prosperity) • Vehicle: “Garuda”—eagle/human hybrid • most famously identified with his human and animal incarnations (AKA, avatars) • He is manifested by ten avatars • (Fish) • (Turtle) • (Pig/Boar) • (Lion man / from the torso upwards lion, below, human) • (First fully human form as a dwarf sage who has the ability to grow very, very tall) • (Fierce man / Hunter) • (Greatest Warrior/ Ideal man) • (Mentally advanced man) • (Sage who is completely still) • (Prophesied, yet to take place) • For Vaishnavas, he is the Ultimate Reality or God. The Brahman.

9. Shiva • Shiva is the Destroyer • Even though he represents destruction, Shiva is viewed as a positive force • Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism • Vehicle: Nandi, the Bull

10. Other gods • Kali: god of destruction (wears a necklace made of the skulls of men) • Krishna: 8th variation of Vishnu and most important (story also occurs in Jainism and Buddhism) • Ganesha (son of Shiva and Parvati) • Devi: the goddess (sometimes seen as the manifestation of Brahman)

11. Krishna

12. Core Beliefs that Unite Hindus

13. Jivas • Individual souls (jivas) enter the world mysteriously • They begin as the souls of the simplest forms of life and reincarnate/transmigrate (samsara) into more complex bodies until they enter human bodies • Souls in human bodies are engaged in issues of freedom and responsibility (karma)

14. What people seek • There are stages to “lives” that we all go through—some quicker than others • All humans seek: • 1. kāma (pleasure, physical or emotional) • 2, artha (material wealth) • 3. dharma (righteousness) • happens with maturity • learn to govern these desires within the higher framework • 4. mokṣha (salvation) • Results in ultimate happiness • Escape from the cycle of births and deaths

15. What limits us • pain (physical and psychological) • ignorance • restricted being

16. Reincarnation • Based on the idea that every living being has an eternally existing spirit • Reincarnation is the soul's cycle of birth and death until it attains Mokṣha (Moke-sha) (salvation) and is governed by Karma (see below)

17. Karma • Karma rests on the idea of human free-will (not moved by God) • One’s actions determine the course of one’s life cycle & rebirth • You can't refine your soul overnight, however. Hindus believe it takes many lifetimes to achieve moksha

18. Four Paths to Moksha yoga = “union”

19. Common Preliminary • Cultivate Habits of… • non-injury • truthfulness • non-stealing • self-control • cleanliness • contentment • self-discipline • compelling desire

20. The Devil • Hinduism does not recognize any central evil force or entity such as the Devil opposing God and man\ • Hinduism does recognize that different beings (e.g., asuras) and entities can perform evil acts, under the temporary dominance of the guna of tamas, and cause worldly sufferings. • The Rajasic and TamasicGunas of Maya are considered especially close to the Abrahamic concept, the hellish parts of the Ultimate Delusion called "Prakriti” • An embodiment of this is the concept of Advaita (non-dualism) where there is no good or evil but simply different levels of realization

21. Worship & Holy Places

22. Worship • Hindus worship principally through seeing (Darshan) an image of the divinity. • Shrines can be anywhere, in great temples, by the road, or in the home. • Puja is the act of worship, offering them fruit, flowers, incense, water, or cloth in order to symbolize an offering of the self to the god/goddess. • In some cases deities are processed through the streets (at festivals, etc.) • Sometimes the worshipper will take a pilgrimage to a sacred place, the most well-known being Varanasi, on the Ganges River.

23. GANGES RIVER

27. Most famous Hindu holy city On banks of Ganges River Varanasi, India

28. Varanasi • One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world (oldest in India) • Many Hindus believe if you die here you achieve moksha • History/Legend • Founded by the god, Shiva • Archaeological evidence found dates back to 11th century BC • Located on trade route • “city of temples” • “city of lights”

29. Hindu Temples in India

30. Hindu Religious Sects (Denominations)

31. Within Hinduism are four main denominations, all based on the same principles, but focusing on different gods However, there are some sects that many would consider extreme Hindu Religious Sects

32. Three Major Sects • Vaishnava (Vishnu) • Generally vegetarian • Worship Vishnu, Rama, Krishna • Oriented towards duty and tradition • Shaiva (Shiva) • Worship focuses on union of opposites, especially creation and destruction • Tend to emphasize austere practices. • Shakta (Devi) • Worship “the goddess” as ultimate reality • (Bengali)

33. The Aghori are a Hindu sect believed to have split off from the Kapalika order (which dates from 1000 CE) in the fourteenth century. Both Kapalika and Aghori sects are worshipers of Lord Shiva. Aghori means non-terrifying in Sanskrit, and may refer to how members of the sect view death. Aghori

34. Cannibalism Live in graveyards and on cremation pyres bathe amongst the dead Smearing themselves in the ashes of the dead Use bones of the dead for rituals Drink urine (even that of a dog) Aghori

35. The Aghoris willingly transgress all ascetic (and Hindu) taboos, convinced as they are that by 'reversing all values' they will speed up enlightenment. Nonetheless, the Aghoris represent a tradition that is thousands of years old, and there have been times that the sect was quite numerous Why?

36. Devoted to Shiva Foundr, Guru Gorakshanath, traditionally associated with Hatha Yoga, has been around for thousands of years watching the welfare of humanity Initiation ceremony = ear splitting The Gorakhnathis

37. Criticism of Hinduism

38. Caste System • Beginning with Aryan intrusion (2000 -1500 BCE) • Spans all denominations • You can not escape your caste but through good deeds, at which point you have the chance to be reincarnated into a higher caste in the next life • Four (plus) castes: • Brahmins (seers) • Kshatriyas (administrators) • Vaishyas(artisans, farmers, craftsmen) – 2/3rds of Indians • Shudras(unskilled laborers) • “untouchables” (today: “dalit”)

39. Untouchables (aka Dalit community) • Jobs • Taking life for a living (fishing) • Killing or disposing of carcasses (butchery, tanning leather) • Jobs that have anything to do with human emission (sweating, urine, feces); street sweepers or washer men • People who eat meats such as cattle, pig, chicken • Subservient, usually illiterate and poverty stricken • Historically deprived of many rights • Cannot attend temple • Cannot attend schools • Cannot drink from same water fountains

40. Untouchables • Higher castes could become “polluted” if untouchable • Touched you • Entered your house • Sat a close distance from you • Came in contact with your shadow • If polluted, you must become purified • Wash yourself with water • Stricter Hindus – perform religious ceremonies

41. Untouchability Act (1955) • Banned untouchability • Provides penalty to those who deny the religious, occupational, or educational rights of others • Not highly enforced at first; now enforced in most of India (still rampant in rural areas (ex. Khairlanji Massacre) • 2001: 16.2% of Indian population (greatest population in Punjab region near Pakistan) • Not limited to Hindus (ex. 42% of Christians, 90% of Buddhists in India follow caste system)

42. Kherlanji massacre • 2006 torture and murders of four members of a Buddhist family by members of the politically dominant upper caste • Two women were tortured and paraded naked through the streets before their murders • 11 people found guilty by high court (six received 25 yrs in prison, two received less jail time, three acquitted)

43. Other Criticism of Hinduism • Dowry • Sati

44. Dowry System in India • payment in cash or some kind of gifts given to groom's family along with the bride • Generally includes cash, jewelry, electrical appliances, furniture, bedding, crockery, utensils and other household items that help the newlywed set up her home. • Often puts great financial burden on bride’s family • Given rise to female foeticide (sex selection abortion) • Prohibited by law in 1961, but still widely practiced • 2001: over 7,000 dowry deaths reported

45. Bride Burning • Domestic violence that occurs when a groom (or his family) kills his bride due to dissatisfaction over dowry • Most common way is death by kerosene (“kitchen fire”) • Indian police report over 5,000 deaths per year (ex. In 2008, there were 1,948 convictions and 3,876 acquittals) • Also prevalent in Pakistan • Bride Burning Video

46. Sati • Recently widowed woman immolates herself on her husband’s funeral pyre (supposed to be voluntary) • First ban in 1829 by British • Sati prevention act ratified in 1987 • Coercing a woman to perform Sati: death or life in prison • glorifying Sati: 1 – 7 yrs in prison • Still happens rarely in rural parts of India via coercion or voluntary burning • Also prevalent in other cultures, historically (parts of ancient Egypt, China, Africa, Scandinavia); Nepal & Bali continued it into the 20th century

47. Religions Born from Hinduism

48. Jainism • There are about 4 million Jains today, most of them “lay people” • Historians consider Jainism to have been founded by Mahavira (599-527 BCE) as a reaction to the conservative Brahminism of the 6th-century BCE • In general, they do NOT accept the Hindu Scriptures or rituals, but they do share a belief in the transmigration of souls • The most obvious characteristic of them is their devotion to the principle of ahimsa, or non-injury • monks wear a veil • even lay people forbidden to drink after sunset

49. Jainism (cont.) • Jains are followers of the Jinas, or “tirthankaras” (the ford-makers, who reveal the path to moksha) • They believe 24 tirthankaras appear in every half cycle • Mahavira is the 24th tirthankara in this cycle • A contemporary of Buddha, Mahavira renounced the world at the age of 30, and after 12 years as a wandering ascetic achieved enlightenment • He then converted 12 disciples who structure his teachings into the Jain Scriptures • He died in meditation and became a liberated soul

50. Jainism • Jain monks commit to the Great Vows: • non-injury (ahisma) • truth-speaking (satya) • sexual abstinence (brahmacharya) • non-stealing (asteya) • detachment from persons, places, and things (aparigraha) • Lay people take the “lesser vows” which try to apply the great vows to more “normal” modes of living: e.g., strict vegetarianism, no work that involves the deliberate destruction of life (e.g., hunting no, farming okay). • In the fourth century CE a major split occurred: • Digambaras: all possessions, including clothing are hindrance to liberation • Shvetambaras: detachment is in the mind (and not wearing clothes can also cause injury; e.g., if you light a fire to stay warm) The only objects a Digambara monk is allowed to carry are a water-pot and a fly-whisk of peacock feathers.