Hinduism1

samhitas (Vedas), Brahmanas (rituals), aranyakas (Forest books - sacrifice rites, to be learned in wilderness), Upanisads (Brahman vs. atman)

communal sacrifice, offering into the fire for the Gods

horse sacrifice - consolidation of a king's dominion and power and the assurance of offspring

indigenous population of India - assimilated, had different habits, customs, economic organizaiton

the treatise that offers insight into teh Hindu caste system

dharma (morality - laws of cosmos) and karma (destiny - everyone must accept that in a previous life actions were performed that affected their current life)

• tried to remove notions of discrimination of the Varna system
• explored reasons for caste system - especialy the untouchables - tried to remove the taboos of this status

• creator of Buddhism (500 years BCE)
• turned to Buddhism b/c he disliked the social system

• another important tradition in India, similar to Buddhism, extremist
• beliefs in peace, no harm to any being

the untouchables - Ghandi coined this word - Children/People of God

• purity/impurity
• must address contact between people and things properly - solved through ritual forms
• Brahmin - leader of the rituals
• no contact between shudras the upper 3 classes - rituals solve these problems (pollution problems)

there are certain times to do certain things for purity/pollution problems and to get the best luck?

• has a huge importance in Hinduism as well
• govern rules for human life (cosmic order)
• religious behavior, social interaction

Law Code of Manu

• part of dharmasastras - laws in accordance to this varna system (justification for Varna system)
• keep social order in society

• verses that provide a specific metric order for rhyme to be easily memorable to the reader (memorize them quickly and repeat them)
• part of Law of Manu

Vedic student, househoulder, forest hermit, wandering ascetic

• intro, abotu Brahmins, about Kstatriyas, very small chapter about the lower classes
• discussion on teh various activities proper to each class
• sins/penance like purity/impurity
• chapter devoted to Karma - actions and consequences

• action - the consequences of those actions, you are responsible for your actions
• present, past, future

• counter movement to Brahmin domination
• abandon referal to Brahmin - take individual route to moska (liberation by themselves)
• developed into Buddhisms and Jainisms
• through specific practices you can achieve moksa and be relieved from the endless cycles of rebirth

• action (karma) leads to rebirth/suffering
• detachment from action = spiritual emancipation
• complete detachment - spiritual emancipation through asceticism and focused conciousness

only the teacher can transmit info to their pupils - the pupils sit right next to them and teach by speaking not writing

• the main figure in the Upanisads
• taught that truth can only be found through the negation of all thoughts about it
• come up with personal solutions, natural/spontaneous understandings of reality

• Sankya and yoga (metaphysics)
• Nyaya and Vaisesika (disccusion on logic, epistemology)
• Mimamsa and Vedanta (interpretation of sruti literature)

• awakening
• final element of sankhya trend
• ability to truthfully see what reality is
• appreciate reality

yoke, to join, to unite

the editor of pre-existing material (rather than the creator) of the Yoga Sutras

• Yogic esctasy (Samadhi) - prolonged state of meditation
• Realization (sadhana) - practices for ritual/liturgies (contains the 8 limbs of yoga)
• Marvelous powers (vibhuti) - signs of advancement with supernormal powers
• isolation (kaivalya)

• basically a text on yoga
• Bhagavad - Ultimate God, leader (Lord Krsna)
• centers on dialogue between Krsna and Arun
• transmitted orally
• about a war between families (Mahabharata Epic)
• authorship = Vyasa
• 5th century BCE
• 18 sections - called teahings

• represents the intimate love between teh people and God
• a mentor for Arjun
• ways to practice exercises to unite themselves with the divinity (to attain liberation)
• path is yoga! unite with Brahman

the authorship of Bhagavad Gita

• Jnana yoga (yoga of transcendental knowledge)
• Karma yoga (yoga of action)
• Bhakti yoga (yoga of diving loving devotin)

yoga of transcendental knowledge - self-restraint, concentration, consideration for all social classes

• yoga of action
• action, willing, in accordance with one's own duties and caste ordained dharma
• perform actions without any attachment to their results/fruits

• yoga of diving loving devotion
• overarchign message of Gita - subcurrent of yogic practice
• profound love of divinity
• tolerance
• democratization of deity worship

• linked to 2nd century BCE in South INdia
• Tamil saints
• characteristic of Sangham literature: Tolkappiyam (early Tamil composition that contains a series of passages that associate landscape with elements of romantic love)

• the hindu epics
• morals and codes of conduct
• war, leadership, power, dharma (esp ksatriya dharma)
• dharma will lead to liberation and love of God!

• Rama's journey
• around 1st century CE
• attributed to Valmiki
• story of a heroic king who becomes deified
• message geared toward ksatriya class
• guidance to devotees

who the Ramayana is attributed to

• reincarnation (manifestation)
• Rama = reincarnation of Visnu
• avatar = new form given to this conscoiusness

• Great Battle of the Bharatas (Indo-Iranian tribe)
• history of Kuruksetra war between Pandavas and Kauravas
• ksatriya dharma
• relationship between religion and politics (dharma and duty of war with one's own relatives)

• like Mahabharata - means to bear
• association with sacrificial fire - offerings - preservation of hosuehold fire

is the shortened form of the official Sanskrit name of India

• Pandavas: dharma (positive parts of human life) - try to regain control of their kingdom
• kauravas: adharma (non-dharmic behavior that is also a part of human life)

shows that the epic portrays human behavior - way to understand/perform dharma

• develop around 400 BCE, committed to writing around 100 CE
• Krishna Dvaipayana (Vyasa) = arranger - considered author of the Mahabharata

first stage to Vyasa, second to Vaishampayana

yes~ this highlights an important position at this time!

• w/o righteousness or duty
• anything against the law of social order
• not honorable

• the first syllable of the High Chant - at the top of the hierarchy
• said to be Brahman as sound - voicing or hearing OM would reveal the nature of Brahman
• OM begins and ends all speech