HINDUISM

HINDUISM

1. 7 CORE BELIEFS

   • Immortal individual (soul= Atman)
     • Transmigration: when you die, your Brahman goes to new body
   • Karma (action)
     • Your actions affect your future Your past actions affect your present
   • Moksha
     • If you get back to Brahman you are freeed form lifa-death cycle
   • The 4 Vedas
     • Basis of Hindu faith Sacred books of knowledge
   • Cyclical time
     • No beginnings or endings
     • Each cycle: 4 ages/yugas (together abt. 4.32 m years)
       • Krita
       • Treta
       • Dwapara
       • Kali
         • At the end Shiva will perform dance
         • The yuga we're in
       • End of each cycle: total destruction reality
   • Dharma (proper behaviour, destiny)
     • Must follow to mantain balance in Universe
     • Moksha
   • 1 universal soul (Brahman)
     • Brahman is the universe

2. 4 GOALS IN LIFE

   • Kama (pleasure body & soul)
   • Artha (pursuit prosperity & good reputation)

3. 6 THINGS TO AVOID

   • Kama (lust & materialism)
   • Krodha (anger)
   • Lobha (greed)
   • Moha (unrealistic attachment to things, people, power)
   • Mada (pride)
   • Matsarya (jealousy)

4. BRANCHES

   • VAISHNAVAS
     • Worship Vishnu
   • SHAIVAS
     • Worship Shiva (& sons)
   • SMARTAS
     • Worship Ganesha, Durga, Surya, Shiva, preferred AVATAR Vishnu
       • AVATAR
         • God that intervenes to fix Dharma
         • Literal meaning: descent
     • Follow sacred texts, not Vedas
       • SACRED TEXTS (less divine)
         • Ramayana
           • Story Prince Rama
         • Bhagavad Gita
           • About Dharma & how to live best life
           • Must solve difficult choices on Dharma
         • Puranas (18 well-known)
           • Encyclopedias Hindu beliefs
           • Cover yoga, army org., taxation, castes, hell, gods,...
         • Mahabharata
           • Longest poem world
             • Theme: must follow Dharma for society to function
           • Murder, betrayal, love, giant battles,...
   • SHAKTAS
     • Worship Devi (see her as ultimate & eternal reality)

5. MAIN GODS

   • Brahma (creator)
     • isn't
   • Vishnu (preserver)
   • Shiva (destroyer)
     • Hindu Trinity
   • Saraswati (learning)
   • Lakshmi (good fortune & wealth)
   • Bhu Devi (Earth)
   • Ganesha (remover obstacles)
   • Murugan (war)

6. THE 4 VEDAS

   • RIG VEDA
     • Truth, reality universe,... War, weddings, rituals,...
   • YAJUN VEDA
     • Sacrificial rites & rituals
   • SAMA VEDA
     • Songs to praise gods
     • Means "sweet song that destroys sorrow"
   • ATHARVA VEDA
     • Charms & curses
   • Some Hindus start to question them
     • Create Upanishads ("sequel")
       • Philosophy
       • Written circa 800-500 BC
       • Humans are their Atman

7. SOCIETY: CASTE SYSTEM

   • Brahmin (priests)
     • People supposedly classified on abilities (not birth)
       • Then come "laws of Manu" (Manusmrti, s.V BC)
         • Rule #1: Brahmin, lords of all castes
         • Rule #2: no moving among castes
           • Hindus begin thinking of upper and lowers castes
             • "Untouchables" (impure, no cast)
   • Kshatriyas (warriors)
   • Vaishyas (traders)
   • Shudras (laborers)

8. GENERAL FACTS

   • Over 1 billion followers
   • Oldest active religion
   • Some say lifestyle, not religon
   • Hindus call it "Sanatana Dharma" (eternal tradition)
   • No prohpet, thousands of gods
   • Dates are controversial
   • Sanskrit (ancient language)
     • Hindu & India come from word "Sindhu"
   • Result of merging
     • Indian valley civilisation
     • Nomads (arrived circa 1500 BC)