Religion Study

Brahman: Is the eternal form of life. It is the force in which all come from, and which all
will return. Brahman is an entity without form, but can be depicted throughout all the
Gods of Hinduism.

Atman: Is the human soul or spirit. The atman is eternal and immortal.

What Hinduism advocates: Love and respect for all living things.

Hidu goal: have an atman reunited with Brahman, or to reach Moksha.

Maya: the imperfect world in which we live in as humans. The world we live in is
temporary and artificial, and is considered meaningless.

Samsara:

Brahman (force of creation)  Atman (soul)  Samsara (cycle of life)  reincarnation

Maya (imperfect world)  Karma (negative or good)

Paths to Salvation:
1-Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion): on of the simpler paths that implies love and
compassion toward a personal diety. Provides opportunity to worship Brahman in a
concrete way rather than an abstract notion.

2-Karma (path of action): through good deeds and positive thoughts.

3-Jnana Yoga (path of wisdom): through teachings of guru or teachers. Notions are
learnt through scriptures.

4- Raja Yoga (path of meditation): achieve salvation through deep contemplation. Deep
meditation= knowledge of truth and becoming one with Brahman.

Dharma: is ones code of moral and reighteous duty. The ways to be aware of this is
through:
1- sacred scriptures
2- scared traditions
3- sacred people/practices
4- conscience

Karma  Caste  Dharma  Actions

Varna (Caste) Occupations Goals Duties Required

Characteristics
Brahmins Religious Acquire -study arts, -highly
guides. knowledge religion, intellectual
 sciences, music
etc.
-performance of
rituals
- research and
teach
Kshatriya Warriors, Political power -inforce laws Courage,
political leaders and order governing
-protection skills, physical
from invaders strength
Vaishya Merchants, wealth -management -management
farmers of wealth skills,
-trade with entrepreneurial
other societies skills
Sudra Servants, Manual skills -service to -ability to
labourers other castes acquire
particular skills

Asprishyas: or the untouchables are not a part of the caste system. They are considered
to be so impure that they are not deemed worthy to be a part of the system. They have
degrading jobs such as toilet cleaners, laundry washers, carcass dumpers, shoes polishers
etc.

Mahatman Gandi renamed the outcastes to “Haryan” meaning “Gods children”. He felt
bad for them, and thought that they should be treated with some dignity. Thanks to him,
in 1948 the Indian government forbid discrimination against outcastes.

Stage Responsibilities
Student -learn hindu traditions
-respect elders
-discipline mind and body
Housholder -marry and have family
-provide for family
-give to charity
-care for family elders
-practice social and religious traditions
Forest Dweller -give household duties to wife or son
-read and study
-participate in religious pilgrimages
Ascetic -leave worldly life behind
-wander
-meditate
-attain salvation
Four aims or goals in life:
1-Dharma: conducting ones duties with compassion toward all beings, no jelousy etc.

2-Artha: gaining wealth through proper means to provide for family.

3-Kama: pursuing love and physical pleasures to balance life and to sanctify marriage.

4-Moksha: leading soul toward salvation through honest and moral actions.

Women in Hinduism:
-laws of manu state that a woman must always obey a man throughout her life
-women hold place of honour in home.
-now women can work
-Indira Gandhi was prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and 1980 to 1984

Puja: is the most common form of worship at home. It is a form of thanksgiving where
offerings are made to the deities. Devotees place all offerings(flowers, fruits, incense,
water, milk, clarified butter, and a lamp) on tray near shrine and preset them to the
deities. Traditional puja follows 16 steps. All pujas end with waving of a lamp called
arati around altar while whorshippers sing hymns and verses of praise.

Homa: is a ritual that involves burning of offering in a fire that has been blessed by a
priest.

*at special pujas, families invite a priest to perform a ceremony.*

Worship in temples: Hindus usually visit temples during festivals or for specila
functions. Priests lead devotions everyday, where they offer fresh flowers, incense, and
food on behalf of devotees. Images of deities in t4emples are treated like royalty. They
are given baths, adorned and taken on procession on special occasions.

Significance of cow: Hindus see the cow as a mother figure. The cow does no harm and
is only used in a beneficial way, therefore it is adored.
• Cow provides milk
• Gives butter, ghee, yogurt, cream and cheese
• Ghee is used for offerings
• Pulls chariots

Pilgrimages: are journeys to holy places as acts of devotion.

Varanasi (Benares): the holy place all Hindus strive to visit.
Ganges River: the holiest river located on the west bank of Veranasi. It is said that the
river fell from heaven to earth, giving life to people and watering the plains that produce
much needed food.
Symbols

Swastika: Hindu good luck symbol.

Om: Hindus use this syllable to evoke the supreme essence of Brahman. Believe to
contain the secrets of the universe and is chanted at the beginning of prayer, blessings and
meditation. Om symbolises the first three Vedas (past, present, future) and the three states
of consciousness (waking, dreaming and deep sleep).

Forehead Marks: -diety that they worship

-married hindu women marks foreheads with a red dot called bindi, signifying that a
woman is married.
-dot against 3 eye.

Festivals

Diwali: festival of lights and is most popular. Celebrated over five days at the end of
October. Hindus set fireworks, decorate houses with lights etc. to celebrate triumph of
good and knowledge over dark forces of evil and ignorance. Lavish vegetarian dinners
are prepared. Diwali honours Lakshmi, and Vishnu who defeated demon Naraka.

Holi: spring festival celebrated on the last full moon day of the last month on the Hindu
calendar. The night, before, bonfire is lit, signifying burning of evil. Legend  young
Prahalad was resented by his wicked father for being pius and God fearing. His evil aunt
took Prahalad away and tried to burn him in a fire, but instead she was burned to ashes.
Hindus of all ages squirt coloured water on each other and distribute sweets.

Mahashivarati: before new moon during month of frebruary. Special event dedicated to
devotion of Shiva. Fasting for him takes place over 24hrs. Between midnight and sunrise,
devotees worship him by repeating his name and placing flowers and grains on his image.
Water is poured in a steady stream from a copper vessel.

Navarati: Nine nights festival held in spring and autumn. On first three nights, hindus
worship Durga. Next three nights, puja is offered to Lakshm. Final 3, is dedicated to
Saraswati.

How Hinduism portrays Gods: each with various forms and roles.
Highest achievement: knowledge of God
What Hinduism thinks about other religions: all religions are equal paths to one God.
Hindus in world today: about 700 million
Early Hindus believed: gods lived in mountains.
Dieties represent: infinite complexity of life.
Kinds of karma: 1- karma from past
2- karma from future
3- karma accumulated from present

Ways to gain Moksha: 1- way of good deeds

2- self control
3- love for God

Hindu Milestones
Birth:
1- Womb placing: right of conception
2- Male rite- prayer during 3rd month of pregnancy for male child
3- Hair parting- during 4th and 7th months husband combs wifes hair
(support+comfort)
4- Rite of birth- father welcomes newborn + gives taste of ghee

Childhood:
1- Name giving- six weeks after birth
2- Feeding – first time child eats solid food
3- Ear piercing – boys + girls
4- First hair cutting – boys
5- Formal education – writing first letter of alphabet in uncooked rice

Adulthood:
1- fit of proper season – first menstrual period
2- beard shaving
3- settlement of aim or words giving – man and woman pledge themselves to each
other
4- marriage – elaborate + lasts for days

Funeral Rite:
1- preparation – eldest son washes, dresses, and adorns body with flowers
2- Cremation – body laid on funeral pyre. Fire is set and ghee is poured on fire.
3- Scattering ashes – over river near funeral pyre.

Hindu Goddesses

Sraswati: wife of Brahma

- goddess of wisdom and all learning (art, music, literature)
- has 4 arms book(scriptures), pen, instrument(Veena), and crystal
- Rides a swan
- Shown wearing white sari
Lakshmi: wife of Vishnu
- goddess of beauty and prosperity (wealth)
- carries conch shell, lotus flower and is giving coins to devotees
- elephants spraying her
- wearing red sari

Parvati: wife of Shiva

- mother goddess of India
- shown as normal woman
- at times she can be beautiful and sweet (Parvati), but takes forms of Durga and
Kali.

Durga: - Parvati in role of warrior

- fierce
- riding tiger or lion
- 10 arms with weapons in each
- very popular today

Kali: - Parvati in role of destroyer

- clears to restart cycle of creation
- shown as black figure wearing necklace of skulls
- bringer of disease, strife and war.

God Shiva and goddess Parvati have two sons:

Kartikaya: - god of war

- 10 head and 10 arms with weapons
- rides peacock

Ganesha (Ganesh): - elephant headed god

- god of good luck and new beginnings
- remover of obstacles
- shown with mouse
- holding sweets symbol of sweet nature of the divine

Nature Gods

Indra: - war god and weather god

- bringer of storms and thunder
- ride an elephant

Surya: sun god

- pulled on chariot by 7 horses

Agni: moon god

-goes across heavens at night on envelope
Hanuman- monkey god
- helped Rama find his wife when she was kidnapped by an evil demon.
- Shown leaping through sky carrying a mountain
- On mountain grows 4 special herbs which will cure the wounded army of the god
Kama.
- Sometimes shown holding mace and sometimes a mountains both symbolic of
strength
- -personification of strength