Sanatana DharmaSanatana Dharma

The Eternal ReligionThe Eternal Religion(aka: Hinduism)(aka: Hinduism)FoundationsFoundations

uty

Et icsNatural L w

Transcendental ealizationCos ic Order

Soci l Welfare

The roots of HinduismThe roots of Hinduism

Harappan Civilization:Harappan Civilization: Indus river valley archeological ruinsIndus river valley archeological ruins At least 4500 years oldAt least 4500 years old The Great PoolThe Great Pool

Ancient Images still a Ancient Images still a part of Hinduism todaypart of Hinduism today

LingamsLingamsPrefiguring ShivaPrefiguring Shiva

(from the Harappan civilization)

The roots of HinduismThe roots of HinduismThe Aryan Invasion Theory:The Aryan Invasion Theory: Outside invaders Outside invaders

enter India from enter India from the northwestthe northwest

Beginning 4000 Beginning 4000 years agoyears ago

Bringing theirBringing theirculture & religionculture & religionwith themwith them

A hotly debated theory!A hotly debated theory!

The Vedic TraditionThe Vedic Tradition

Elements presumed to be of Aryan influence Elements presumed to be of Aryan influence that continue to be a part of Hinduism today:that continue to be a part of Hinduism today:

Sanskrit languageSanskrit language Vedic texts (composed in Sanskrit)Vedic texts (composed in Sanskrit) Patriarchal rulePatriarchal rule Social class distinctions (caste) & the role of the Social class distinctions (caste) & the role of the

priests (Brahmins)priests (Brahmins) Rituals & the Fire SacrificeRituals & the Fire Sacrifice

The VedasThe Vedas First written around 1500 BCE First written around 1500 BCE

but composed and transmitted but composed and transmitted orally long before thenorally long before then

““Heard” (Heard” (shrutishruti) by ancient sages) by ancient sages Four parts, developed over time:Four parts, developed over time:

SamhitasSamhitas: hymns of praise in worship of deities (Rig : hymns of praise in worship of deities (Rig Veda is oldest)Veda is oldest)

BrahmanasBrahmanas: directions for priestly performance of rituals: directions for priestly performance of rituals AranyakasAranyakas: “forest books” written by hermits: “forest books” written by hermits UpanishadsUpanishads: metaphysical teachings of spiritual masters : metaphysical teachings of spiritual masters

(Vedanta: the end of the Vedas) (composed 600-400 (Vedanta: the end of the Vedas) (composed 600-400 BCE)BCE)

The Fire SacrificeThe Fire Sacrifice Burnt offerings made to the gods through Burnt offerings made to the gods through

Agni (ignite), the god of fireAgni (ignite), the god of fire performed by the brahmin (priest), performed by the brahmin (priest), Maintaining the cosmic orderMaintaining the cosmic order through recreation of the original sacrifice through recreation of the original sacrifice

made by the gods to create this universemade by the gods to create this universe PurushaPurusha: the primal being dismembered by : the primal being dismembered by

the gods out of which all was createdthe gods out of which all was created(Rig Veda 10.90)(Rig Veda 10.90)

Philosophy of the Philosophy of the UpanishadsUpanishads

Spiritual instruction, focused on inner Spiritual instruction, focused on inner experience, as a path to realization and experience, as a path to realization and immortalityimmortality

BrahmanBrahman: The transcendent, all pervading, : The transcendent, all pervading, infinite and everlasting Ultimate Realityinfinite and everlasting Ultimate Reality

AtmanAtman: that Reality as it is found within : that Reality as it is found within ourselves – our soul is one with the “soul” of ourselves – our soul is one with the “soul” of the universethe universe

ReincarnationReincarnation SamsaraSamsara: continual cycle : continual cycle

of birth-life-death-rebirthof birth-life-death-rebirth Into any life form – human Into any life form – human

or animalor animal Only human rebirth affords Only human rebirth affords

the soul the opportunity to the soul the opportunity to advance toward the goal advance toward the goal of liberation from this cycle of liberation from this cycle = = mokshamoksha

KarmaKarma Consequences of our actionsConsequences of our actions In this life and beyond – carried over to our In this life and beyond – carried over to our

future livesfuture lives The law of cause and effect:The law of cause and effect:

Past actions affect our present lifePast actions affect our present life Present actions affect our future lifePresent actions affect our future life

Good deeds Good deeds good karma good karma good experiences good experiences Bad deeds Bad deeds bad karma bad karma bad experiences bad experiences

Karma keeps samsara goingKarma keeps samsara going

Yoga - TYoga - The Paths to he Paths to MokshaMoksha

MokshaMoksha: ultimate goal is to eliminate karma so : ultimate goal is to eliminate karma so as to be liberated from Samsara – the as to be liberated from Samsara – the limitations of space, time and matterlimitations of space, time and matter

YogaYoga: The path to Union with the divine: The path to Union with the divine Four options:Four options:

RajaRaja Yoga – the path of meditation Yoga – the path of meditation JnanaJnana Yoga – the path of knowledge Yoga – the path of knowledge KarmaKarma Yoga – the path of selfless action Yoga – the path of selfless action BhaktiBhakti Yoga – the path of loving devotion to god Yoga – the path of loving devotion to god

Review ActivitiesReview Activities

The Vedic TraditionThe Vedic TraditionUpanishadic MetaphysicsUpanishadic MetaphysicsYogaYoga

Access these and other review activities at:Access these and other review activities at:http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lshulman/

religions/Hinduism/index.html religions/Hinduism/index.html

IDENTIFY these terms IDENTIFY these terms 1.1. The people who invaded India The people who invaded India

bringing their Vedic sacrificial bringing their Vedic sacrificial religion with them religion with them

2.2. The cycle of birth, life, death and The cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth as well as the realm of rebirth as well as the realm of space and time wherein this takes space and time wherein this takes place place

3.3. Release (liberation) from this cycle Release (liberation) from this cycle 4.4. The true essence of the human The true essence of the human

self, identified with Brahman self, identified with Brahman 5.5. The impersonal Ultimate Reality in The impersonal Ultimate Reality in

Hindu philosophy Hindu philosophy

a.a. Aryans Aryans

b.b. Atman Atman

c.c. BrahmanBrahman

d.d. Moksha Moksha

e.e. Samsara Samsara

The oldest of Indian The oldest of Indian sacred texts is:sacred texts is:

a.a. UpanishadsUpanishadsb.b. Rig VedaRig Vedac.c. Adi GranthAdi Granthd.d. Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita

Do you know the Do you know the difference between... difference between...

1.1. Brahma Brahma

2.2. Brahman Brahman

3.3. Brahmin Brahmin

4.4. BrahmanaBrahmana

a.a. The creator god of the The creator god of the Hindu pantheonHindu pantheon

b.b. The priestly caste of Hindu The priestly caste of Hindu society society

c.c. Collection of early sacred Collection of early sacred textstexts

d.d. The impersonal ultimate The impersonal ultimate reality of Hindu reality of Hindu metaphysical philosophymetaphysical philosophy

MATCH the yogas:MATCH the yogas:

1.1. KarmaKarma2.2. JnanaJnana3.3. RajaRaja4.4. BhaktiBhakti

a)a) The path of knowledgeThe path of knowledgeb)b) The path of devotionThe path of devotionc)c) The path of meditationThe path of meditationd)d) The path of selfless actionThe path of selfless action