MAJOR RELIGION // LESSON – 2 // HINDUISM //

 

MAJOR RELIGION

LESSON – 2   - HINDUISM

I. The Definition of Hinduism

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus. The name “Hindu” is derived from the name of the river Sindhu (Indus) now in Pakistan. The name India comes from the English name Indus for Sindhu River. The Europeans extended the name of the province of Sindh to the whole country lying across the Indus or Sindhu River. The inhabitants were called Hindus, and their religion was thus called Hinduism. The roots of Hinduism have been traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization and the Indo-Aryan culture. There are more than 400 million followers of Hindu faith. More than 80% of India’s population is Hindus.

II. Hinduism: A Major Religion

Hinduism is among the most widely practiced religions of the world. There are followers of the Hindu faith in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bali in Indonesia, and considerable numbers of Hindus in Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the West indies, and a few of the African states. They are the descendants of Indian emigrants.

Unlike Christianity, Buddhism and Islam, Hinduism was never a missionary religion. In recent years, however, Hindu missionaries have opened spiritual centers in several Western cities. Many people in the West are attracted to the Hindu way of life. Young people especially are increasingly drawn to it. But it is difficult to know people deep their interest is, or how permanent it will prove to be. It is too early to assess the influence of Hinduism in the West.

The influence of Hinduism on the culture of some of the East Asian countries, however, is much more evident. Buddhism was an offshoot of Hinduism, and Hindu elements are part of the Buddhist way of life. The spread of Buddhism, therefore, meant the spread of Hindu ideas as well.

III. Hinduism: The Oldest Living Religion

Hinduism is perhaps the oldest living religion in the world. The word Hindu, like the word Indian, is derived from the name of the river Indus, but the religion itself is older than the name. Hinduism was originally known as Arya Dharma, or the Aryan Way.

Dharma is a key word in Hinduism and means duty, right, virtue, morality, law, truth, righteousness. Dharma is the way that leads to salvation or liberation (Moksha). In other words, it is religion in its broadest sense. There was a flourishing civilization in India as early as 3000 BC, but we know very little about the religious beliefs of these pre-Aryan people. The Aryans came to India in about 2000 BC, but we do not know a great deal about their religion then. It is generally believed that Hinduism contains both Aryan and pre-Aryan elements.

IV. Scriptures of Hinduism

Scriptures for Hindus are not defined by means of a teachings and traditions of a founder, a canon or established b the verdict of a council. The sacred literature of Hinduism can be divided up into two distict categories: Sruti and Smriti.

1. Sruti

Sruti means that which is heard of divinely revealed consist of the Vedas, the most ancient of the Scriptures, the Upanishads, the Brahmanas, and the Aranyakas. Srutis refer to the manifestation of the divine in the world, and more specifically, the truths revealed by the deities to the early sages or rishis.

Vedas: The root word of Veda is vid which means knowledge. There are four collections which comprise the Vedas, the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. The Veda contains accounts of creation, information on ritual sacrifices, and prayers to the deities. The four Vedas were transmitted orally from generation to generation for about three thousand years. They are written in verse and contain hymns, ritual formulae, chants, and prayers.

A. The Rig Veda

The Rig Veda contains 1017 hymns and it is divided into eight chapters. They are addressed to various gods such as Agni, Indra and others. There are hymns describing creation, some tell about superstitions, charms and exorcism.

B. The Sama Veda

The Sama Veda contains some of the hymns from the Rig Veda. They were arranged to chant as well as sing, some worshippers even danced accompanying the Vedic ritual. This Veda is the oldest form of Indian music and the sources of later musical traditions.

C. The Yajur Veda

The Yajur Veda contains a collection of mantras for the sacrificial ritual, the preparing of the altar, and sacrificial materials.

D. Atharva Veda

Atharva Veda contains a number of magic spells, formulas for required for medical cures and love magic. It contains hymns for procuring expiation for sins, for appeasing the gods, to prevent harmful enemies, and hymns for securing love, amity and good will in various human relationships.

2. Smriti

The other type of Hindu literature, Smriti is that which is traditional, literally means ‘remembered’ or handed down. These texts are also considered to be based upon revealed truths however they are of human composition as opposed to that of the divine.

 

A. The Puranas

The Puranas and the Epics are considered to be the scriptures of popular Hinduism. Many singers, story tellers, minstrels have kept these stories and legends and the teachings of the Vedas alive before the common people. The Puranas are the reinforcement and amplifications of the teachings of the Vedic teachings on subjects like creation, dissolution and recreation of the world, genealogies of gods, sages, kings and ancestors. The Puranas form a voluminous part of writings in Sanskrit. There are eighteen major and eighteen minor Puranas. They are popular handbook of knowledge of Hiduism. Bhagavata Purana is very popular which glorifies Vishnu.

B. The Epics: (Itihasa)

The Ramayana and Mahabharata-Bhagavad Gita is part of this Epic. The earliest of these epics are the Mahabharata, which includes the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayana. These sacred texts are lengthy poems which narrate episodes in the lives of the great warriors. Krishna appeared in the Mahabharata and Rama has a leading role in the Ramayana.

a. The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata describes the war between the Kauravas led by Duryodhana and his army with the help of Karna, against the Pandavas. The Pandavas were led by Arjuna and Krishna. Krishna is like Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. In the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Krishna reveals his transcendental form (virata roopa) to Arjuna. Throughout the epic the virtues of courage, devotion to duty, and right living are upheld. All ends well when the Pandavas return to their kingdom and rule over their people.

b. The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, the ‘Song of the Lord’ is part of the Mahabharata, is the most popular of the Hindu Scritures. The Gita is fampus because it teaches the main concerns of the Hindu orthodoxy. In addition important new doctrines, namely bhakti (devotion to God) and avatara (incarnation of God), were introduced in this text. The most widely known Hindu scripture is the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita has been called “India’s favorite Book’. It has inspired millions of people not only in India but various parts of the world. Many identify themselves in Arjuna’s dilemma of to fight or not, to perform duty or not in the face of trying situations. Krishna offers hope through the way of Bhakti (devotion).

c. The Ramayana

The Ramayana recounts the story of Rama, who is an avatar or incarnation of Vishnu, and his wife Sita. It exalts the ideals of family life. Rama obeys his father even though it means giving up his throne and kingdom and going to the forest for 14 years. When they were in the forest, Sita was abducted by Ravana. Rama went through many trials until he fought and defeated Ravana and regains his wife. Sita’s virtue as a committed wife is manifest as she goes into exile with Rama and laxmana. All ends well when Rama returns to Ayodhya and rules his people in an ideal kingdom called the Rama Rajya.

V. Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism

1. Brahman

In the Veda the ultimate or absolute is Brahman, defying an attempt to define. The Absolute Brahman is neutral and impersonal-the origin, the cause and the basis of all existence. In it is to be found: The Absolute is, Pure being (sat): Pure intelligence (cit): Pure delight (ananda). Brahman is the unknowable one. But the only way he can be considered is in terms of a personal deity. So it was natural for the Indians to see the several attributes or functions of divinity manifested in a multiplicity of forms. Brahman is one. The gods are simply ways of approaching the ultimate.

2. Brahma

Brahma is a representation of the impersonal Brahman in a human form, usually with four faces facing the cardinal directions and four arms in which he holds the four Vedas. At times he is depicted as riding on a swan; a other time he sits upon a lotus-a symbol of the fact that he come from himself and is not begotten. Despite his function as creator, Brahma remains abstract. His female consort is Saraswati, the energy that comes from him. She is identified with the Word on the hand, the godess of the sacred rivers: on the other, the symbol of knowledge and of the waters of truth.

It is often said that the Hindu pantheon has three gods at its head: Brahma, the creator of the universe: Vishnu, the preserver of life: and Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance.

3. Vishnu

Vishnu is the preserver and in charge of human fate. He is usually portrayed in symbolic form. He may be reclining or asleep on the ocean, under the shadow of the thousand headed Serpent. He is very popular as he is the symbol of divine love. He is in company with Lakshmi, his consort. She is the symbol of beauty, wealth and good fortune. Through his ten avataras (dashavataras) he comes to save mankind. The purpose of these avataras is to “destroy the wicked and welfare of the righteous”. Rama and Krishna are the popular manifestations of Vishnu.

4. Shiva

The third of the Trimurti is Shiva. He is the destroyer and the deity in whom all opposites meet and become resolved in a fundamental unity. He is portrayed as half-naked, smeared with ashes, with skulls around his waist and a necklace of intertwining serpents.

VI. Ten Avataras of Vishnu

 

1. Matsya, the fish, from the Satya Yuga. lord Vishnu takes the form of a fish to save Manu from apocalypse, after which he takes his boat to the new world along with one of every species of plant and animal, gathered in a massive cyclone.

 

2. Kurma, the tortoise, appeared in the Satya Yuga. When the devas and asuras were churning the Ocean of milk in order to getamrita, the nectar of immortality, the mount Mandara they were using as the churning staff started to sink and Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to bear the weight of the mountain.

 

3. Varaha, the boar, from the Satya Yuga. He appeared to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth, or Prithvi, and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe.

 

4. Narasimha, the half-man/half-lion appeared in the Satya Yuga. The rakshasa(An evil person) Hiranyakashipu, the elder brother of Hiranyaksha, was granted a powerful boon from Brahma, not allowing him to be killed by man or animal, inside or out, day or night, on earth or the stars, with a weapon either living or inanimate. Vishnu descended as an anthropomorphic incarnation, with the body of a man and head and claws of a lion. He then disembowels the rakshasaat the courtyard threshold of his house, at dusk, with his claws, while he lay on his thighs.

 

5. Vamana, the dwarf, appeared in the Treta Yuga. The fourth descendant of Hiranyakashyap, Bali, with devotion and penance was able to defeat Indra, the god of firmament. This humbled the other deities and extended his authority over the three worlds. The gods appealed to Vishnu for protection and he descended as the dwarf Vamana. During ayajna of the king, Vamana approached him in the midst of other Brahmins. Bali was happy to see the diminutive holy man, and promised whatever he asked. Vamana asked for three paces of land. Bali agreed, and the dwarf then changed his size to that of a giant. He stepped over heaven in his first stride and the netherworld with the second. Bali realized that Vamana was Vishnu incarnate. In deference, the king offered his head as the third place for Vamana to place his foot. The avatar did so and thus granted Bali immortality. Then in appreciation to Bali and his grandfatherPrahlada, Vamana made him ruler of Pathala, the netherworld. Bali is believed to have ruled Kerala and Tulunadu. He is still worshiped there as the king of prosperity and recalled before the time of harvest.

 

6. Parashurama, Warrior with the axe, appeared in the Treta Yuga. He is son of Jamadagni and Renuka. He received an axe after a penance to Shiva. Parashurama is the first Brahmin-Kshatriya in Hinduism, or warrior-saint, with duties between a Brahmana and a Kshatriya). His mother was from the Kshatriya Suryavanshi clan that ruled Ayodhya, of the line of Rama. King Kartavirya Arjuna and his army visited the father of Parashurama at his ashram, and the saint was able to feed them with the divine cow Kamadhenu. The king demanded the animal, Jamadagni refused, and the king took it by force and destroyed the ashram. Parashurama then killed the king at his palace and destroyed his army. In revenge, the sons of Kartavirya killed Jamadagni. Parashurama took a vow to kill every Kshatriya on earth twenty-one times over, and filled five lakes with their blood. Ultimately, his grandfather, the great rishi Rucheeka, appeared and made him halt. He is a Chiranjivi, and believed to be alive today in penance at Mahendragiri.

 

7. Rama, Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Rama is a commonly worshiped avatar in Hinduism, and is thought of as the ideal heroic man. His story is recounted in one of the most widely read scriptures of Hinduism, the Ramayana. While in exile from his own kingdom with his brother Lakshman and the monkey king Hanuman, his wife Sita was abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana. He travelled to Ashoka Vatika in Lanka, killed the demon king and saved Sita.

 

8. Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudev. Krishna is the most commonly worshiped deity in Hinduism and an avatar in Vaishnava belief. He appeared in theDwapara Yuga alongside his brother Balarama. Balarama is the elder brother of Krishna (an avatar of the god Vishnu) and is regarded generally as an avatar of Shesha. He is included as the eighth avatar of Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnava lists, where Buddha is omitted. Krishna appears as the ninth avatar in this list. He particularly included in the lists, where Krishna is removed and becomes the source of all avatars.

 

9. Buddha: Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is generally included as an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. Buddha may be depicted in Hindu scriptures as a preacher who deludes and leads demons and heretics away from the path of the Vedic scriptures. Another view praises them as a compassionate teacher who preached the path ofahimsa (non-violence).

 

10. Kalki ("Eternity", or "White Horse", or "Destroyer of Filth"), is the final incarnation of Vishnu, foretold to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, our present epoch. He will be atop a white horse and his sword will be drawn, blazing like a comet. He is the harbinger of end time in Hindu eschatology, and will destroy all unrighteousness and evil at the end of Kali Yuga.

 

VII. Beliefs and Practices of Hinduism

Hinduism is polytheistic and monotheistic religion, all at the same time. Whether it is theistic or atheistic Hinduism believes in an overall Supreme Being. Hinduism believes that the essential nature of man is spiritual. The physical aspect of man is external and superficial. In his inner being man is a soul (atman). This soul in man is immortal. Hinduism believes in the immortality and transmigration of the soul. This is known as the doctrine of transmigration of the soul. Liberation from this cycle of birth and rebirth is the real goal of man. All actions done with a sense of attachment is the root cause of man’s continued involvement in the chain of birth and rebirth. Karma and Samsara therefore go hand in hand, and if one wants to be liberated from the chain of Samsara, he will have to be free from karmas. Release from this cycle of birth and rebirth is possible and this release is called Moksha or Mukti.

VIII. The Doctrine of Karma and Liberation

The important concept of atman (the human soul) is an individual manifestation of Brahman. Atman is of the same nature as Brahman has as its goal the recognition of identity with Brahman. This union is not possible as long as the individual remains bound to this world of the flesh and desires. The deathless atman is so bound in the world that it will not join Brahman after the death of the body. Therefore it experiences continuous rebirths. This fundamental concept of the transmigration of atman, or reincarnation is the central teaching of the religions of India. Karma is the source of the problem of transmigration. When the time comes for leaving the body, the good and evil actions (karma) accrued in the past remain with atman, clinging to it. This causes rebirth. Good deeds in this life may lead to a rebirth in a better life, and evil deeds may lead to a lower existence.

Every Hindu is trying to get out of the cycle of births and rebirths (cycle of reincarnation). Liberation from Karma results when the atman becomes one with Brahman (Paramatma), impersonal immortality. The ultimate goal of atman is liberation, or release (moksha), from the world of experience and realization of union with God or Brahman.

1. Liberation

Hinduism offers a variety of beliefs, varieties of gods and goddesses, various scriptural traditions and also provides different ways of salvation or liberation. Mukti (liberation) means deliverance from rebirth. There are four ways or margas namely, Karma Marga (Way of Action), Jnana Marga (Way of Knowledge),  Bhakti Marga (Way of Devotion), and  Dhyana Marga (Way of Meditation).

(i)Karma Marga (Way of Action)

Karma binds a person in the endless cycle of rebirths. There is in every atman, the ardent desire to unite with the Brahman. The problem is the consequences of karma or actions in this life, and previous life, pull back the soul from achieving its goal. Until this union occurs, the atman goes through a cycle of births called the transmigration of soul (samsara). As the atman goes on performing good actions in ever birth, the possibility of reaching the goal of liberation approaches closer. The ultimate goal is to attain liberation (moksha or mukti). This will occur when good karma reaches the required standard or limit and the punarjanma cycle comes to an end.

(ii)Jnana Marga (Way of Knowledge)

The Way of Knowledge offers the meaning and essence of life and all things in the world. This way was first taught in the Upanishads, then in Manu Dharmashastra. Brahman is the basis of all knowledge. A person has to leave his/her family, home, work or business and enter the forest for meditation attaining of knowledge (jnana). The moment the atman unites with the Brahman, the liberation or salvation is attained.

(iii)Bhakti Marga (Way of Devotion)

Bhakti Marga advocates a person to worship personal deity with bhakti (devotion) who gives grace to overcome his/her bad karma. According to this Marga, grace and devotion go hand in hand to provide good karma. This will break the chain of births and enables one to attain (mukti).

(iv)Dhyana Marga (Way of Meditation)

According to this Marga in order to get out of the cycle of rebirths or to get liberation, a person need to meditate and should have right concentration towards his/her God.

 

 

 

 

IX. The Caste System (Varnasharama Dharma)

There are four castes (jatis) among the Hindus, namely, The Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaisyas and the Sudras.

1. The Brahmin

The Brahmin is the privileged caste that is top of the order but vulnerable to pollution. The Brahmins are priestly class of people, who are the pundits (experts) in the Vedas, they officiate in all pujas and ceremonies at home and in the temple and pilgrimage centers, offer sacrifices, protect and keep a general oversight of the community.

2. The Kshatriyas (Warriors)

The Kshatriyas is the caste responsible for fighting wars, to rule the people as kings, and control politics, army and administration. They make government policies, collect taxes, defend people in times of danger and war.

3. The Vaisyas

The Vaisyas include middle class people who are composed of business people, traders, merchants, teachers, craftsmen.

4. The Sudras

The Sudras make up the lowers class who are assigned all kinds of menial and manual laborers and servants.

The Outcastes or Untouchables are also. They perform main jobs like tanners, cobblers, sweepers of roads, washing gutters, latrines, keepers of cemeteries and cremation grounds. They were treated with such contempt in the past that they used to tie a broom behind them so that as they walked their footprints could be obliterated and they tied a mud pot to a thread and put it around their neck so that they could spit in it (instead of making others areas dirty). They have no access to worship in temples, wells, rituals and ceremonies of the castes.

X. Festivals of Hinduism

Hindus celebrate vast number of festivals which are woven around the worship of gods and various religious events. Hindu festivals are largely linked with the seasonal changes. They also incorporate the events of the Ramayana and of Krishna’s activities.

There are a number of Hindu religious festivals that are officially recognized by the government as closed holidays, on which work stops throughout the country. They are celebrated with joy and happiness.

1. Dasara (Dussehra)

Dasara, the big festival occurs within two blocks of time after the end of the southwest monsoon. The first comes at the end of the ten-day festival of Dasara, late in the month of Asvina (September-October) according to the Shaka calendar, the official calendar of Hindus. This festival commemorates Rama’s victory over Ravana and the rescue of his wife Sita. On the ninth day of Dasara, people celebrated Ayudha Puja, by blessing things from plows to computers by applying sandalwood paste to the weapons of their daily business life. On the final day of Dasara the celebrating crowds set fire to huge paper effigies of Ravana in North India. The Dasara celebration in Karnataka especially at Mysore is world famous.

2. Diwali or Deepavali (festival of lights)

Divali is the autumn festival that is linked to Durga or Kali (Shiva’s female consort) and Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort). This festival is celebrated in the month of Kartika (October-November). This is officially a one day festival but in reality it becomes a weeklong event when many people take vacations. One tradition links this festival to the victory of Krishna over the demon Naraka, but for most devotees this festival is a recreation of Rama’s triumphant return with Sita his wife who was captured by Ravana.

People light rows of lamps and place them in various places around their homes. They set off large amounts of fireworks pray for wealth and good fortune, distribute sweets, and send greetings cards and relatives.

3. Holi

Holi is the festival of colours and it is the most popular festival. India’s festival of colorHoli, marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring is celebrated in many places. It is a spring festival associated with Krishna, and caste and taboo are set aside in its celebration. In this festival there is a stromg emphasis on pleasure.

Various legends are associated with the celebration of this festival. Some link the festival with the worship of Kama, God of pleasure. The festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. Hence, Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan and Mathura, the two cities with which Lord Krishna is closely associated. It is believed that Holi symbolizes the victory of the good and pious over the wicked Holika, after whom the festival is named. According to the legend king Hirankashyapu was a powerful Devil, who defeated even the Gods. In his arrogance he issued a directive that no one could pray to God. His son Pralhada, a staunch a devotee of Vishnu, disobeyed the order. As a punishment, Hirankashyap ordered his sister Holika to take Pralhad on her lap and sit on a bed of fire, Holika had the boon that fire could cause her no harm. However, Holika was burnt in the fire and Pralhad survived unscathed. Another legend relate the death of demon Putana at the hands of Krishna and the burning of demoness Hoda by children.