Hinduism

Hinduism

1. Some similarities to indigenous religions

   • Connected to the land (Ganges River, for example) Multiple gods/spirits, reverence of ancestors, libations ecstatic dance, chant, mystical experience is expected elaborate ritual/ceremonial practices extreme localization of religion nature spirits/gods Could Hinduism be considered an "indigenous religion(s)? Perhaps.

2. A primary orientation & goal of Hindu religion: MOKSHA (mahasamadhi=the greatest release) release from the wheel of SAMSARA, or rebirth

   • Each individual soul, or jiva, gives personality. The divine within each person is atman. Each person's atman is connected to Brahman, the Great Divine principle. Everyday life or the everyday world, is spoken of as maya or illusion. One accumulates karma, which is the divine law of cause and effect, and determines one's rebirth. Hindus believe in reincarnation, so one may be born up or down. This wheel of rebirth is called samsara. Ultimately one aspires to be released from the wheel of samsara. This release is called moksha, meaning liberation. Along the way one "works" toward samadhi, complete inner peace resulting from meditation practice/yoga.
     • Not all Hindus see the "system" in the same way (see pg. 86-87)

3. One absolute: Religion and religious experience is deeply rooted in the everyday world, in people's everyday lives. Hindu religion is therefore necessarily based in the natural world and is almost always highly local in nature and manifestation. One way this is revealed is the use of home altars.

   • Hindu Home altar: can be as simple or as elaborate as one desires. Each family has its own deity or deities it "adopts" as its own patron.
   • Ganges River- regular, dependent, caring like a mother. It is considered a sacred river to Hindu people
     • Goddess Ganga
       • Mother ga

4. Tendency toward singular devotion "Although Hinduism is often described as a religion that promotes a belief in many gods, in reality individuals tend to focus their devotion on only one of the gods. Sometimes that god is considered to be the greatest of all divine manifestations. There are also strong tendencies in Hinduism toward both monotheism and even monism, because all gods--and everything else as well--are considered...expressions of a single divine reality....although the divine is ultimately formless, human beings must worship the divine through its physical manifestations."

   • Hindu gods & goddesses can be recognized by their attributes
     • Gods and goddesses often have many avatars, so this is not so simple.

5. Best Known Goddesses:

   • Durga
     • Kali
       • Saraswati
         • Lakshmi
           • Parvati
             • Ganga
             • one of the many consorts of Shiva. Some see her as primordial, #great goddess, above all others. Being the consort of Shiva, also considered the mother of Ganesha
           • shakti of Vishnu, often dressed as a #Queen and seated on a lotus. #ootd. Her name is lucky #shessolucky so she is invoked for protectionshakti of Vishnu,Her name usually means "luck" so she is invoked for protection. Can be seen w/ #elephants or #swans. Swans= wisdom elephants= the four directions She is omnipotent and protective in these symbols
         • Homegirl is consort of the great god Brahma and far more popularaly worshipped ( OO GURL) than he is #lol, also the patron os music and the arts. Often shown with a musical instrument
       • #FIERCE also #grotesque in appearance #metoogirl. Name means dark, usually has a necklace OF HUMAN SKILLS (DAMN), sharp teeth dripping with blood and many arms filled with weapons. She is dangerous to enemies but protective of her children #stayawayfrommyson
         • skin may be black,blue or neither. Often her tongue is protruding #gwen#gay. She's dancing ferociously on a dead body #beyoncetakenote or looking in all directions, indicating her fierce, motherly protection
   • All goddesses are all manifestations of Devi, the great #mama goddess. Kali is the most #powerful and #protective manifestation of her.

6. Guru: literally one who removes darkness. Can be anyone, usu male.. Sometimes sets up and ashram ( compound/ community). Living saint/ embodiment of divine. Sometimes just looking lovingly at the guru with devotion is enough ( darshan= being in the presence of one who radiates holiness)

   • Their very life is exemplary.

7. Yoga = to yoke or join in the divine

   • jnana yoga=knowledge, study of scripture, intellectual approach, Shankara (8th-9th cent.), advocated monism, potentially atheistic
   • karma yoga=action, detached work
   • bhakti yoga=devotion, personal love and devotion involving chants, songs, offerings, annointing, guru
   • raja yoga=royal, meditation methods or sadhanas
   • hatha yoga=exercise, breathing, stretching, many schools
   • kundalini yoga=chakra, movement of energy or kundalini (snake/coil-like energy) through the chakras, which are energy centers in the body.
   • Meditation Steps:
     • 1. self-control (yama), which is necessary for ahimsa (non-harm), sexual restraint, unselfishness, not stealing, truthfulness
       • observance (niyama) of all of the above
         • posture (asana) specifically lotus position
           • breath control (pranayama)
             • restraint (pratyahara) tuning out distractions
               • . steadying the mind (dharana), focusing, emptying the mind
                 • meditation (dhyana) occurs when the mind is completely focused
                   • samadhi oneness, mental state achieved by deep meditation, individual loses sense of self/being separate from the universe

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