Rel homework discussion

Week1

Introduction

What is Religion?

How would you define religion? You may be surprised at how many different answers there are to this question because there are so many different religions out there.

Some religions believe in one God, some believe in many gods. Some believe in no God. Some believe faith is more important than action while others say action speaks louder than mere belief. Where do we draw the line between a religion and a philosophy? Further, are religion and spirituality the same? Can you be spiritual without religion or religious without spirituality?

Throughout this course, you re going to be studying some of the major eastern religions and while they will share much in common, including story, geography, sacred texts, history, beliefs, rituals, etc. they will also have a lot of differences. After reading your Molloy chapters, you will have a better understanding of the nature of religion, its cultural context and why it is an inherent experience of humanity, expressed in such a variety of ways.

Contemplate for a moment, this fascinating definition of "myth" by Mircea Eliade. What does he mean by this? Can we learn from the myths/stories of all religions regardless of whether or not they actually happened? As you'll see, Hindus and Buddhists think so...

Objectives

After completing the learning activities for this topic, you will be able to:

• Describe the diversity of religion

• Recognize the common elements that all religions share

• Describe for yourself why it is so important that we understand people with different beliefs than ourselves

• Identify common themes of Eastern religions

• Describe the basics of Hinduism, including the historical beginnings and several sacred scriptures

• Describe the difficulty in defining Hinduism as any single school of thought

This list is an overview of the activities you will complete for this topic. Print this page and use it as a checklist.

• Review the Introduction and Objectives page.

• Participate in the Introduce Yourself Discussion Forum

• Complete textbook reading assignment Chapter One and Begin Chapter Three

• Read the Online Lesson: What Is Hinduism?

• Read the Online Lesson: Beginnings/Indus Valley

• Review Guidelines for the Experience Project

• Participate in the Discussion Forum.

• Read about the instructions for the Experience Project

• It's impossible to talk about Hinduism without first discussing India, the birthplace and motherland of this fascinating, colorful and multi-layered religion.

• With more than one billion people, India is a land of contradictions (and tremendous overpopulation), a diversity of people, geography, language, religion and cultural mores. From the poorest poor to the richest few, India baffles the senses, the spirit and rational mind.

  

• India is made up of 28 states, each unique and different. 23 major languages are spoken, with 1600 dialects. There are dozens of religions and thousands of manifestations of those beliefs and practices, along with countless cultures.

• India itself, as a country, is considered a living goddess, with a temple in her honor in the city of Delhi.

• Inside the temple, a giant marble 3-D map is venerated just as statues of Shiva, Vishnu and Lakshmi are, with offerings, prayer and ritual. This is a great example of how, for Hindus, God is not limited, but is within everything, even the land itself.

• You can read more about India through the personal travel experiences in the journal options throughout your lessons.

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• Have you seen this symbol before? It is the sacred Aum.

• It is also sometimes referred to as Om and represents ultimate truth.

• This is the sacred sound that encompasses all sounds in the world. Hindus believe it is the very first primordial vibration of all creation. In fact, the Creator God Brahma began our world through this deep and powerful sound.

• The A represents the waking state, the U is the dreaming state and the M signifies the deep-sleep state.

• Chanting the OM is believed to bring indescribable spiritual bliss to a practitioner.

  

• How about this symbol to the right? Unfortunately, most of us know it only in a very negative context associated with Nazi Germany. However, it is a fact that Hindus have held this as a symbol for peace and prosperity for almost 4500 years! Hindu brides today will decorate their palms with this symbol. You will often see Hindu gods with this symbol painted onto their open palms in temples as well.

• In the Hindu context, this is not seen as a negative symbol at all and has absolutely nothing to do with the Holocaust or with anti-Semitism, but instead is only associated with peace and prosperity. Though I will tell you a funny story about this. My good friend Asha, who is Hindu, received a tote bag from her sister, who lives in Mumbai. The bag displayed a large swastika symbol on the front of it and was sent in good thoughts by her loving sister. Asha immediately called her and said, "Are you crazy? I can't carry this around in Dayton, Ohio!"

• Remember, symbols are exactly that - symbols. They represent whatever meaning people put into them. Keep in mind that the cross was once a Roman symbol associated with capital punishment and death, but now represents resurrection and atonement for many Christians. In the same way, the swastika has always been a positive image for most Hindus.

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• Why should we study Hinduism?

• Well, one of every six people in the world is a Hindu, there are more than 700,000 Hindus in America alone, and Hinduism has long had a great influence on some of our most beloved thinkers. The transcendentalists (including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau) were highly influenced by Hindu philosophy and thought, both having read the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita (sacred Hindu scriptures). Mahatma Gandhi was a devout Hindu who greatly influenced the nonviolent philosophies of Martin Luther King, Jr. The popularity of yoga, meditation practices and Ayruveda (natural healing) are all rooted in Hinduism.

  

• Keep in mind, there are many ways of being Hindu. Hindus value that there is unity in diversity. They do not believe anyone has to agree on, well...just about anything!

• Often, you may ask, What do Hindus believe about… and my answer will often be, it depends. Because it will depend...on the Hindu you ask, on their individual situation, on their perceptions and family and region they are from, if they are Indian or American or Polynesian or French…

• Just as not all Catholics or Muslims agree on doctrine, Hindus will also have a lot of diversity in thought and practice.

• Something that makes Hinduism even less clear cut is the fact that there is no one religious leader, doctrine, ritual or text. Hinduism is more of a giant umbrella (or sponge depending on your analogy) of many different philosophies and practices that coexist. It is the oldest continuous religious tradition and culture! There are older religions, but they have died out for the most part. Hinduism is the oldest one that is still practiced by millions of people! It is 2000 years older than Buddhism, 2500 years OLDER than Christianity, and 3000 years older than Islam!

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• Do you think Hinduism is polytheistic, monotheistic, or monistic? Well, there are 330 million deities in Hinduism, so that's pretty polytheistic. However, as you'll learn, Hindus ultimately believe all of those millions of gods come from one eternal infinite source, whose essence can be found in all finite beings. This one absolute power is known as Brahman. This belief in one Supreme Being could qualify Hinduism as monotheistic. They also believe all is one and connected in the big web of life, which is what monism means (this is also similar to Native American and Pagan/Wiccan beliefs…). It's like the butterfly effect - everything we do affects everything else. God (Brahman) is not only around us in everything, but dwells within us...as us.

• I have also heard Hinduism described as "polymorphous monotheism." This means that ultimately, at heart, it is monotheistic (one ultimate God - Brahman), but that it has many ways of manifesting (polymorphous).

• Do you see why it can be difficult to define what a Hindu believes? When asked, this OR that? in Hinduism, the answer is often both or "all of the above."

• BEGINNINGS: INDUS VALLEY (2500 - 1500 BCE)

• The original Indigenous Peoples of India heavily influenced modern Hindu society and belief. Indus Valley people were also very organized. Archeologists have uncovered two major cities (Mohenjo Daro and Harappa) and found remnants of sewer systems, housing, paved streets and city walls. It was an agricultural society with a highly developed writing system and a centralized political system. It is an impressive civilization comparable to ancient Egypt (Nile) and Sumer (Tigris/Euphrates).

• Their religious beliefs included elaborate burial sites, a great reverence for water and its purifying power, an emphasis on earth/goddess/fertility as well as male creative powers/phallus/fertility (which arguably has influenced modern Hindu lingam worship, which you'll learn about later).

• Within the archeological sites, impressive Stone Seals were found that included images of goddesses, gods, trees, animals and other fertility symbols.

• Several seals have deities that resembles the modern Hindu deity, Shiva, demonstrating that many gods are quite old in worship and practice.

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• ARYAN INVASION THEORY

• Modern scholars hold the theory that invaders of Indo-European descent migrated in about 1500 BCE (around the same time as the Exodus of the Hebrew Bible). These invaders were made up of several tribes headed by chieftans and absorbed the previous Indus culture. The society had three classes: warriors, priests and herders, and many were skilled in metal making and weaponry. This is arguably what influenced the later class/caste system of modern India.

• They did not have a writing system that we know of, but composed hymns and verses called Veda (knowledge) or shruti (heard/revelation) which was passed on orally through families.

• The Vedas are considered timeless, eternal truths heard by rishis or poet priests and they become the foundation of Hinduism and are recited and chanted as part of sacred liturgy.

• The Rig Veda is the oldest and most important collection, including over 1000 hymns just by itself.

• The Aryan invaders also had many gods, including Agni (god of fire), Indra (storm god, lighting and thunder, much like Thor), Varuna (sky god), and Soma (god of intoxication). Sacrifice was a major part of Aryan religious belief. Like in the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament), they believed that petition and praise were paramount in ensuring happiness, health, and procreation. This focus on reciprocity between humankind and the gods will also influence later Hinduism.

Week2

Introduction

As you learned in the first topic, there are many ways of being Hindu. There is no one religious leader, doctrine, ritual or text. Hinduism is a kind of giant sponge, absorbing a variety of different schools of thought and belief.

That is why it can be difficult to define what exactly a Hindu may believe. Often the answer is, "it depends." For Hindus, this is not cause for concern. Instead, there is unity in diversity.

Beliefs can be influenced by their perceptions, family, background, geographic region, individual situation and personal experience.

Beliefs are also greatly affected by a Hindu's dharma (path). You'll learn more about dharma in the next lessons. Hindu beliefs are influenced by the three aspects of dharma - your caste, your gender, and your stage of life.

Objectives

After completing the learning activities for this topic, you will be able to:

• Explain several Hindu Scriptures and themes

• Describe basic Hindu concepts, such as Brahman, Atman, Samsara, Karma and Moksha

• Discuss Dharma and the different influences, including the caste system, four stages of life, and gender

This list is an overview of the activities you will complete for this topic. Print this page and use it as a checklist.

• Review the Introduction and Objectives page.

• Continue textbook Chapter 3

• Read the Online Lesson: Sacred Texts and Star Wars

• Read the Online Lesson: Hindu Beliefs

• Read the Online Lesson: Dharma and Caste System

• Read the Online Lesson: Four Stages of Life and Gender

• Answer in detail the post in the Discussion Forum

• Begin planning your Experience Project

There are many sacred texts in Hinduism. In addition to the Aryan Vedas ("knowledge" texts), there are several more scriptures that influence the beliefs, rituals and philosophies of Hindus. For Hindus, these scriptures are sacred guidelines that tell our history and instruct us in the truth of reality, the devotion to the gods, and the nature of good and evil. However, most Hindus do not look to these scriptures for every aspect of spirituality, nor do they tend to take the stories literally. Much of these texts is based upon rich and poetic symbolism.

UPANISHADS 
(600 BCE)

The Upanishads consist of over 200 texts, poetry and prose, written over hundreds of years. The name literally means Wisdom learned at the foot of the guru or To sit down near the guru. A guru is a teacher, someone who is literally, a dispeller of darkness or a sort of spiritual flashlight to help guide you along your way. Like a midwife, they cannot do the work for you, but they are there to help you and guide you through your path.

Often, the Upanishads are referred to as Vedanta, or the Veda's end. Unlike the Vedic teachings (from the Vedas), which focused on rigorous ritual sacrifice and ritual, the Upanishads emphasize monism (everything is interconnected) and internal/symbolic sacrifice (such as surrendering attachment/desire/ego).

If one compares the Vedas to the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) in its emphasis on outward ritual, sacrifice and law, then the Upanishads can be easily compared to the New Testament, with its focus on mysticism and inward practice. Upanishadic philosophy teaches that knowledge of your inner self is more important than the outward ritual and sacrifice. Modern Hinduism is highly influenced by Upanishadic philosophy.

GREAT EPICS - Mahabharta and Ramayana
(400 BCE - 400 CE)

Mahabharta

The great epics are made of myths and legends of Heroes and Gods who serve as models of ethics and devotion. One of the most famous is the Mahabharta. The Mahabartha is a very long, complicated poem (over 100,000 verses long!) and centers on conflicts between warring clans in Northern India. It emphasizes the importance of the duty (dharma) of warriors, the goal of liberation (moksha), and our personal devotion to the gods (bhakti).

One of the most popular sections of the Mahabarta is the Bhagavad Gita (also known as the "Song of the Lord"). It is often referred to as the bible of Popular Hinduism. (Think of the Gita to the Mahabharta like the Gospels to the New Testament - a popular part of a whole).

In this scripture, jealousy and envy leads to trickery and a fixed dice game results in Arjuna and many cousins being exiled and losing their kingdom. They send god Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) to offer a peace treaty, but the evil king replies that he would never give Arjuna back the land, not even enough to cover the tip of a needle!

Conches sound and they enter the battlefield. This was a time where Kings and leaders fought along side their warriors, so it wasn't a decision made lightly. They also had very specific rules in battle to keep things fair (only those riding on elephants could attack others riding on elephants, chariots could only attack chariots, etc.).

But, halfway across the battlefield, Arjuna stops. He is hesitant to fight because the enemies, even though evil, are family, and he is overcome with grief and anxiety. Krishna appears to him in a very dramatic, poetic and descriptive manner, instructing Arjuna that it is his duty to fight and that he must make his choices when he is in a state of centeredness and clarity, not in anxiety and confusion.

What follows is a full philosophical discourse and instruction, with Krishna explaining the laws of karma, the importance of following our dharma, how we are not really our bodies, but our atman, and how ultimately we are divine. Krishna also emphasizes the path of Yoga and Meditation as an ideal path to liberation, but acknowledges that it's not everyone's cup of tea and that Bhakti (devotion) is the best way to liberation because everyone can practice it no matter what. Krishna also gives Arjuna a "divine eye" to see his full and glorious nature - all of the universe, all divinity, all the worlds, all cycles of life. It is beautiful, awesome, terrifying, and astounding to Arjuna to see all the world's truth in Krishna.

Arjuna, humbled, falls to his knees in devotion and is filled with strength. He continues into battle and of course, wins.

As Gandhi's favorite text, keep in mind the stories of the Gita are to be taken symbolically, not literally. Hindus are not encouraging war or killing. Instead, the story symbolizes our daily battles in life and that we must not be afraid, but fulfill our dharma with clarity, dignity and faith. We must put our trust in the divine and fulfill our destiny without hestiation.

The basic teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are that the soul (atman) is the real self (not the physical body), that we should always be aware of our dharma (path) and fulfill it to the best of our abilities so we can attain liberation (moksha), that we should have a strong personal relationship with the Lord (bhakti), and that we should act without attachment to the fruits of our actions.

The following is an excerpt from the Gita that describes Krishnas majestic appearance:

I see you blazing through fiery rays of your crown, mace and discus

hard to behold in the burning light of fire and sun that surrounds your measureless presence. 

the great lord of discipline, revealed to Arjuna the true majesty of his form. 

It was a multi form, wondrous vision, with countless mouths and eyes and celestial ornaments brandishing many divine weapons. 

Everywhere was boundless divinity containing all astonishing things, wearing divine garlands and garments, annointed with divine perfume.

If the light of a thousand suns were to rise in the sky at once, it would be like the light of that great spirit. 

Arjuna saw all the universe in its many ways and parts standing as one in the body of the god of the gods. 

Then filled with amazement, his hair bristling on his flesh, Arjuna bowed his head to the god, joined his hands in homage, and spoke. 

Ramayana

Another of the Great Epics is the Ramayana. Like the Gita, trickery and jealousy lead to exile of the would-be King Rama. Rama (who, like Krishna, is ALSO an avatar of Vishnu), his brother Laxmana, and his wife, Sita exile into the woods for over a decade. There, they meet wise forest rishis (yogis), tribes of talking bears and monkeys and many other colorful characters.

One day, a she-demon spots Rama and tries to seduce him. When he rejects her (he is happily married to Sita), she gets very angry and tries to kill Sita. Laxmana sees this and immediately lobs off her nose and ears with his bow. The she-demon runs back to her brother, Ravana, who just happens to be the evil ten-headed King of Lanka. Revenge is nigh!

Ravana takes on the disguise of a friendly deer to get close enough to kill Laxmana and Rama, but when he sees Sita, he is smitted and steals her for himself. Here, the story becomes a great adventure of Laxmana and Rama fighting to get Sita back (with the help loyal friend, Monkey-God, and sidekick, Hanuman.

Think of Hanuman as the Robin to Rama's Batman, the Samwise Gamgee to Rama's Frodo. He is the most loyal and dedicated friend and his physical strength enables him to leap across India in one bound to help save Sita. He also is able to carry an entire mountain to bring back medicine for Rama's wounded brother. He's the guy you want on your side. He also is said to be more powerful than most gods because he balances his masculine and feminine energies perfectly and harmoniously.

They build a bridge across the ocean to Lanka, with the help of all the tribes, monkeys, bears, and even a tiny little ant army. (At first, when Hanuman sees these tiny ants carrying one grain of sand at a time, he laughs and scoffs at them. After all, he is throwing boulders over his head with his mighty strength. But, Rama shakes his head and tells Hanuman that the ants are contributing just as much, to the very best of their ability).

Once the bridge is built, they make it to Lanka and a cosmic battle ensues in which Laxmana almost dies (but is saved by Hanuman) and in which the evil King Ravana clones himself into hundreds on the field (like storm troopers!). And then on top of that, every time Rama lops off one of Ravana's heads, it grows back immediately, symbolic of our own egos. Finally, Rama figures out to send an arrow straight into Ravana's navel, the source. This does it.

Good triumphs over evil and Rama is considered a divine hero. He becomes the example of a righteous King who brings balance back to chaos.

Watch this scene from the Ramayana where brave Rama kills the demon Ravana (and watch how his heads keep popping back up!). You can get a good look at Hanuman here too. If you can't link it directly, just right click on your mouse and "open in new tab."

What is evil?

But, keep in mind that evil is not perceived in the same way in Hinduism as it is in Western religions. For Hindus, evil is simply ignorance, greed, ego, illusion, etc. Evil is the obstacles that get in the way of our understanding and liberation. Anyone can become susceptible to evil no matter who you are. The demons usually end up overcoming their evil (ignorant) tendencies and becoming enlightened, as in the case of Ravana.

You can see this Hindu philosophy in the original Star Wars series. In this trilogy, Luke Skywalker is the "good" or "righteous" one and Darth Vader is the "bad" or "evil" one.

Hindus believe that even the most righteous person has a little bit of darkness or evil in them just as someone who we might dismiss as pure evil somewhere deep inside, has a little bit of goodness (or potential of goodness) within them as well.

During The Empire Strikes Back, Luke has to confront his own dark side (with Yoda's training) and at the same time, he always wants to find the good in my father. And (spoiler alert!) Luke was right! In the end of the trilogy, Darth Vader is redeemed, standing next to Yoda and Obi Wan Kanobi.

As in Hinduism, Darth's evil nature was his power/greed/ego/fear, the obstacles in his way of understanding. His love and protection for his son, Luke, is what helps him to overcome the darkness. So, if you understand Star Wars, you have a pretty good understanding of Hindu philosophy...

Now, if you're a Lord of the Rings fan, look no further, because you can also find the same Hindu philosophy on evil here as well. Frodo is a good, little hobbit who is on a quest, but like Luke, is forced to confront his own selfish nature, greed and weakness during his journey.

Gollum wasn't always this way - he used to be a hobbit just like Frodo until he submitted to the darkness of selfish greed and power caused by the ring. You can compare Gollum's story to Darth Vader once being Anakin Skywalker.

According to Hindus, every one of us is susceptible to "evil." It is our job to stay strong and recognize our own ignorance, greed and ego and not get swallowed up by them.

The scriptures you've read about here are just a few of many sacred texts that are important for Hindus. Other scriptures include the Puranas (ancient narratives written as dialogue between teachers and students), the Yoga Sutras (scriptures about the practice of Yoga), the Dharma Sutras, and many more…

Brahman

"Brahman is the one life of all the gods, the one soul of the universe, the one source of all. - The Upanishads

While Hindus believe in many gods, they strongly believe that all things come from one ultimate source, Brahman. Originally from the word for prayer, Brahman is the Absolute, the One, the unified Reality underlying all change and appearances. It is everything and the essence at the root of all existence. It is the sacred center of it all from which all derives. Brahman is without distinctions. It is neither good, nor evil. It is not personal. It is not anthropomorphic (human-like). It just is. Think again of "The Force" in Star Wars.

Brahman is also within each of us and can be described in many different ways. But Hindus will agree that ultimately, Brahman cannot be described. It is ineffable and beyond our concepts and rational logic. The only way it can be known is directly through spiritual experience.

Atman

"Neither is this born nor does it die at any time, Nor having been, will it again come not to be, birthless, eternal, perpetual, primaeval, it is not slain when the body is slain." - Bhagavad Gita

Inside each of us, Brahman resides as what Hindus call the Atman. Atman is the true inner self and soul, which is identical to Brahman. The Atman is our eternal spirit that outlives our physical incarnations. It is not born and does not die. Atman is often referred to the spark of flame from the fire of Brahman. Another metaphor is the drop of water (Atman) from the vast ocean (Brahman). Imagine a container scooping up some water from the ocean. It is the same water as the ocean water, but it is now contained. Now, imagine the same thing with us. Our containers are our bodies, temporary, but holding that essence that is Brahman. Contained, it's called Atman. Therefore, our real self is not our body or mind, but an eternal, formless atman. Your textbook describes this concept in more detail as well.

We can discover this ultimate truth introspectively. Hindus believe that we carry inside of us the essence of divinity (Atman). In other words, God dwells within everything, within us...as us. This is where the namaste greeting (bowing with hands together) comes in. Namaste means literally, the divine in me bows to the divine in you. Literally, my atman recognizes your atman and that we re all Brahman. We are one and the same. Just as rivers flow separately but then merge into a great ocean, someday our atmans will reunite with Brahman. Your book gives the example of Atman as salt dissolved into water (Brahman). You can't the salt separately, but it's still there.

Samsara

Samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. It's another name for Reincarnation - the never ending wheel of existence. According to Hindus, we keep going round and round because of our ignorance, desire and need to grow and learn.

Hindus see the world in cyclical time; as an eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction over and over again. It is not linear with a beginning, middle and end. Instead, it is continuous, with destruction leading to creation and vice versa. It's neither good, nor bad. It just is.

Imagine Samsara like a big, chaotic ferris wheel. The ride just keeps going around and it's fun for awhile, but eventually you want to get off the ride.

Hindus say we're in this cycle for a purpose, but ultimately, we want to be released from it.

Karma

What propels samsara is karma, which literally means action. It more broadly refers to our actions and consequences. In other words, we reap what we sow. Our atman is in the present state it's in because of our actions in previous lifetimes, and the actions we take now influence our next life and on and on. So, we all have a bit of karmic residue, so to speak.

According to Hindus, we determine our own destiny by our actions, thoughts and deeds. We can be reborn at countless levels - animal, plant, human, god, etc. All life forms are important, but only as a human being can we attain moksha (liberation). Karma is one of many forces at work in the universe. This is one we are solely responsible for. In other words, we can create our own destiny.

Moksha

Moksha literally means liberation and is the reuniting of Atman with Brahman. This is that symbolic contained water (Atman) being put back in the ocean (Brahman). This is the ultimate goal of Hindus. It is not an annihilation or the end of Atman. Instead it is described as an expansion, a oneness with everything - oneness with Brahman. Like a Christian attempting to describe heaven, Hindus believe moksha, like Brahman, is indescribable. But many will try! Some descriptions include pure bliss, peace, freedom and joy that is endless and unlimited. Once again you can picture rivers reuniting with the sea or your text's example of salt dissolving into water.

Think of the word atonement in Christianity. Break this down: at/one/ment. It is the same idea in Hinduism. Our ultimate goal is to be at one with God.

What gets in the way of our moksha? Plenty of things… According to Hindus, our problem is that we fail to know our place within the order of things and we don't realize our eternal source (Brahman). In addition, we don't understand Atman and who we are, therefore we must stay in samsara until we break the chain of ignorance. We mistakenly think we are our body, emotions, feelings, but really, we are the Atman, eternal and formless. We selfishly live for our selves in ignorance and desire and those selfish actions bring karma and suffering for our next life. In other words, we don't see things clearly.

We can attain liberation by meditating and cultivating our inner knowledge to understand the nature of Atman. Our goal is to realize fully that Atman is Brahman. Hindus believe this is the birthright of all beings and knowing our Atman will result in ultimate spiritual bliss.

The Upanishads teach us Tat Tvan Asi or "Thou art That." We are each other, interconnected and one. Another saying is Aham Brahmashmi or I am the Absolute. Ultimately, we are the divine and there are no distinctions. Life is just a great pilgrimage towards a reunion with our true Self.

Afterlife

Hindus believe that all souls, no matter who you are, will eventually find liberation and release (moksha). Every single one. There is no notion of a permanent hell or punishment. For most Hindus, there is no universal belief in a physical Heaven or Hell, though some will believe in a temporary version of these. If there is a belief in heaven or hell, they are seen as impermanent, temporary transitory states that you work through on your way to moksha. Many Hindus believe that you make your heaven or hell here on this earth by your karma.

Hindus also are not evangelical. There are very few converts to Hinduism. You will not have a Hindu knocking on your door offering you the Bhagavad Gita! Most Hindus believe that you can achieve moksha on any religious path. They believe all paths eventually will lead to liberation.

Holy Cow!

Many of you may associate Hindus with the holy cow. There is a reason for this. Traditionally, Hindus highly respect and venerate the cow for several reasons.

For one, the cow has life giving qualities and supplies the milk and ghee (butter) for the sacred offerings to the gods. Another reason is that sacred scripture tell us that when the main gods came to India, they chose the cow to ride upon. You will see cows wandering free in the streets and in the marketplace all over India.

Notice that I did not say Hindus worship cows, but that they venerate them. There is a big difference. Catholics do not worship Mary, but they venerate her. She is not God, but highly respected and revered. For Hindus, cows are not gods, but are highly venerated.

So, if you travel in India, I don't recommend ordering the Big Mac. :)

Dharma

According to the Dharma Texts (200 BCE - 200 CE) and the Law Code of Manu, there are certain duties associated with each station in life. Our dharma is defined as our duty, or the Cosmic order of things, our path or destiny. Dharma literally translates as "that which sustains and supports." It is based on the concept that all things have their proper place in the cosmos.

Following our dharma means to live in accordance with reality and even the gods have their own dharma to fulfill! Because our dharma often deals with the here and now, it may appear on the surface that there is a contradiction or tension between dharma and moksha (ultimate liberation). But Hindus will ultimately say that even though we must fulfill our dharma and help the world here and now to keep going, we also must keep in mind the ultimate goal of moksha, doing what we can to achieve release/liberation. The dharma we fulfill now can help us to create karma to bring about a higher birth and therefore, lead us closer to moskha.

Our dharma is affected by three major elements:

1. Class/Caste

2. Stage of Life

3. Gender

In Hindu philosophy, one's birth is not accidental, but determined by karma. Therefore we must do our duty according to our caste, the stage of life we re in, and boundaries given by class and gender.

Caste System

The caste system is arguably rooted in the Aryan class system that was established in the Indus valley. It was a legal institution for thousands of yeras until 1947, when it was abolished. Although it is officially outlawed now, it is very much still a part of the Indian landscape, just as segregation and racism lingered (and still lingers) in this country long after slavery and the subsequent Jim Crow laws were abolished.

Ancient scriptures have been cited for justification of the caste system. There are over 2,000 castes, but four main divisions. Ideally, the caste system was seen to give order to society - that everyone would have their place to keep things running in balance. It might have seemed like a good idea in theory, but as we ve seen throughout history, caste systems in practical application usually result in oppression, racism, revolts and violence.

The caste system consisted of the following:

1. Brahmans (Priests) 
   The Brahmans are highest caste, responsible for the study of the Vedas and performing religious rituals. The name gives significance to how venerated and respected this caste is. Even today, you will find Hindus who are eager to tell you they are from the Brahman class.

2. Kshatriyas (Warriors)
   The Warrior class is for protection of the people. They are there to guard and protect and give security to the people.

3. Vaishya (Merchants) 
   The Merchants are the producers. They provide the economic needs - clothing, food, shelter, business. As a society based on consumerism, we would most likely hold the vaishyas as the highest class.

4. Shudras (Workers) 
   The workers are referred to as the menials or servants. They do the work that is forbidden to the other classes. They usually work for and take care of the other classes.

Then, there is a caste that is considered so low, it isn't even classified as a caste. These are the Untouchables. They are a people who are literally cast aside. They usually live outside the cities and have no choice but to work in extremely unpleasant jobs that the other classes (not even shudras) will do, such as cleaning latrines, handling meat and leather, trash collecting/burning, etc.

When the caste system was a legal institution, one would usually only have contact within one's own caste. The first three (Brahman, Kshatriya and Vaishya) were considered twice born classes and received the benefits of being such. Usually, individuals would marry only within their own caste - and this still occurs today sometimes! On several Hindu dating websites, one of the first things listed under the woman's descriptions is her caste/class. Often, the castes would not eat or have contact with each other unless necessary.

Again, even though it's illegal now, the affects of this segregation are still very real and present.

FOUR STAGES OF LIFE

Besides caste, where you are in your life can affect your dharma. Depending on if you're a child or a person in their old age can influence what your duty in life is. The following is an ideal of what every "twice born" (from the first three castes) Hindu male should go through, but keep in mind, not all will experience every stage and most do not experience the fourth stage.

1. Student (Brahmacharya)

This is the stage of learning and celibacy. A boy, around the age of 12-13 will take a vow of spiritual devotion through his adolescence. During this time, he will study the vedas and other religious scriptures and will spend most of his time with his guru (teacher).

There is usually an initiation ceremony (Upanayana) and he is given his own special mantra. His mother will often cook an elaborate meal, his last as a child before he dedicates himself to this stage. Most Hindus who experience this stage will go on to marry and have kids. Few, however, will maintain this lifestyle forever.

2. Householder

This is the stage of marriage. At this time, a Hindu will marry, have a family, have a career, and be involved with politics and the world. It is seen as an essential stage of development, necessary and beneficial, and a happy, productive way to live. Procreation and sexual expression (called kama) is highly encouraged during this stage. You may recognize the term kama from the famous Kama Sutra.

3. Retiree

This is a stage of spiritual discipline and study. After retirement and the children leaving the home, many couples will focus on self discipline, study and meditation. They no longer have the same responsibilities as they did before and ideally, they will no longer engage in physical/sexual relations. (Though this is the ideal, it is not always practiced).

4. Renouncer

This is the last and final stage. Most Hindus, as I mentioned before, do not go through this final stage. Because it is more rare, it is a highly respected stage of life. Those who participate are called sannyasin (or sadhu or renouncers or simply, holy men). They will either renounce material wealth after their wife dies, or sometimes they may just leave their wives to focus on spiritual liberation.

Sadhus renounce all material attachments and wander the world with minimal concerns. They will sometimes have a symbolic funeral ritual and will give away their possessions. At this point, they are considered beyond caste and beyond this physical world. You can read more about these sadhus in the India journals located in your Activities page.

Sadhus wander all over India. They wear minimal clothing, sometimes robes, sometimes loincloths, and sometimes nothing at all. Vaishnavites will wear the mark of Vishnu on their foreheads (horseshoe shape or foot print) while Shaivites will paint the mark of Shiva on theirs (three horizontal lines) and often cover their bodies in ash. (Notice the Upanayana boy's Shaivite marks in the picture at the top of the lesson...) Most sadhus seem as if they are merely transitory ghosts, halfway in this world and halfway out of it.

GENDER

Gender, of course, is another major influence on your dharma. People often ask if Hinduism is misogynist or sexist. What do you think? It is a hard question to answer, as in any religion.  After reading this lesson, it may inform your decision one way or the other.

There are arguably, some very misogynist applications of Hinduism. But, you can find patriarchal interpretations and applications of religious doctrine in every religion. Does that mean the religion itself is sexist? Or is it just the way it's applied by some?

Let's first address the scriptures of Hinduism.  Some say Hinduism is sexist because certain scriptures say women are to serve the man and their identity is only formed through their husbands. There is a law that states women should serve men their meals first and then wait until he's finished to eat.

Further, there are many Hindu prayers specifically for sons and not daughters. In the scriptures, women's bodily functions (menstruation, birth, etc.) are often described as impure and polluting.

There was a long held tradition of Suttee in which widowed women would throw themselves on their dead husband's funeral pyre because they knew they had nothing to live for without him. This actually comes from the story of the goddess Sati (who will reincarnate as Parvati), who is mortified when her husband, Shiva, is insulted publicly. She is so distraught she jumps in the fire for his honor. Shiva goes crazy at her death and flings her body parts everywhere in rage and grief. In each place she lands, a temple to the Mother Goddess springs up.

Despite this story, women have traditionally not been allowed on cremation grounds and it has always been the eldest son, not daughter, who has the honor of collecting the bones and controlling other funeral related issues of deceased family.

I recently attended a conference on Immigration and Human Trafficking and one of the sessions I attended was specifically focused on Indian Women. During this session, I learned the following:

Looking to modern statistics of domestic abuse and violence against women, it appears grim on the surface.  In India, there is a significantly higher abuse rate than in many western countries (sometimes twice as high) and studies find that Indian women tend to stay longer in abusive relationships because of feelings of shame, the cultural stigma of divorce and wanting to protect their family reputations. And often it is not just the husband who is involved with (or the inflictor of) the abuse, but it can also be the father or mother-in-law, brother, etc.

There is a definite taboo/embarassment felt by Indian women in talking about any abuse or violence because it can give the family a "bad name" and not even just her spouse.  The extended family's reputation is very important and so it becomes quite complex. Further, often Indian women believe it's their "karma" or cross to bear if they find themselves in these situations.    You find a lot of self blame among women who experienced domestic violence, an unfortunate "it's my destiny, I deserved it" mentality. 

Culturally, there is also a high value of submissiveness encouraged among women.  Along the same lines, men are often encouraged to have a false notion that forced sexuality/abuse and control of women is part of what it means to "be a man" or to have masculine identity.  Studies show high rates of pornography addiction among Indian men and therefore more violent/unrealistic sexual ideas and images towards women and sexuality. 

You may assume that most of these women are uneducated and poor.  In fact, the study that this information was taken from was from a group of upper, middle class, very educated Indian women who ALL had at least their Bachelor's degrees.

Lastly, for centuries (and arguably still in many parts of India today), women feel much pressure to bear sons and not daughters.    Their recognition and value is often dependent on having sons.  Because of this, there is a very high rate of abortion among girl babies.  (In India, abortion is legal and more common).*

Well, this is all very depressing, isn't it?  If this is the only information you had to go on, it would be easy to argue that culturally, India (and/or Hinduism) is highly sexist against women.

However, India is not the only country/culture that you find this kind of statistic on abuse and is certainly not the only place you will find similar thoughts and justifications.  In fact, in just about every religion, one could try justify these kinds of abusive acts. If you have any doubts, open up the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) to Leviticus, Deuteronomy or Judges or parts of Paul's letters in the New Testament (specifically 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians), and you'll see some scripture that is often used to justify the oppression of women as well.

The fact is that we can also find much to support a positive view of women in these traditions as well.

Let's look at some other facts. In Hinduism, unlike most religions, the feminine is uplifted as deity. We not only have god, but we have GODDESS. The Hindu goddesses are ones of power, creation and prosperity.

According to same scriptures mentioned earlier in the lesson, females are to be honored and protected because they are reflections of the divine. There are both rituals and laws that require the adornment, protection and worship of women in each family.

In Indian politics, women have long had powerful leadership roles, moreso than many other western countries.

If someone wants to argue that Hindu women are portrayed as subordinate and submissive, giving them one look at the fierce goddess Kali will certainly show them otherwise!

*Information from "Copying Strategies of South Asian Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse" conducted by Dr. Bandhari, Wright State University; Diversity in the Multicultural Millennium Conference: E Pluribus Unum? Immigration and Migration in the U.S, January 2015.

Week3

Introduction

There is a bhakti (devotional) tendency in reaction to life events. Multiple gods have always been worshiped in India, both old and new. There are gods for just about everything - gods for life and death, gods for disease and health, gods for sex and pleasure, gods for prosperity and wealth, and gods for strength and courage.
Keep in mind that although there are over 330 million gods in the pantheon, Hindus believe they all stem from one supreme being (Brahman). Hindus recognize there are many paths to Brahman for many different people. All the gods represent different responsibilities and characteristics and are simply just different manifestations of the one supreme being!

God/Goddess worship in India has inspired thousands of years of religious poetry, music, literature, etc. With 330 million gods (which is Hinduism's way of saying that manifestations of Brahman are infinite), devotees tend to focus on one as the source of ultimate sacred power.

Objectives

After completing the learning activities for this topic, you will be able to:

• Distinguish between and explain the polytheistic, monotheistic and monistic nature of Hindu concept of deity

• Describe several different gods and goddesses, including their imagery, characteristics, myths and associations

This list is an overview of the activities you will complete for this topic. Print this page and use it as a checklist.

• Review the Introduction and Objectives page.

• Continue textbook reading assignment Chapter 3

• Read the Online Lesson: Vishnu

• Read the Online Lesson: Shiva

• Read the Online Lesson: Shakti

• Participate in the Discussion Forum

• Continue working on your Experience Project

• Depending on family tradition, followers will often associate with one particular God. But spiritual paths are not exclusive and some may follow more than one at same time. These gods are powerful and blessed, but they are not beyond samsara! They are in the same cycle as we are. While Brahman is a great, absolute, nonpersonal force, the gods are very personal, present and called upon for their specific associations (like Catholic saints in a way).

• Some Hindus say Brahman takes on so many deities/manifestations to show that infinite possibilities and paths of worship exist. It reflects our own diversity and infinite possibility.

• These deities can transform and liberate us from our bondage through our love and devotion. Hindus believe that by putting our focus on the gods and not ourselves, we can find inner joy and rise above our karma and samsara. It's a way of expressing and connecting to the ultimate absolute (Brahman) in a personal and devotional way.

• You might ask, "Well, why does such a great and powerful, Almighty Brahman need to manifest in all these forms?" Much like in Christianity, God takes human/physical form in order to do certain work that cannot be done without being embodied. Hindus believe that Brahman as pure God energy needs certain forms in order to do certain work (that's why the deities exist). So for Brahman to experience life on earth, it becomes embodied and that is us, as well as the gods.

• Think of it like the force of energy/electricity that exists in general in the world and then how it's tapped into, contained and channeled into our wires/outlets so we can turn on a lamp or the computer. It is a more practical, tangible and earthy use of the broader, greater energy.

  

• In your book, you will see the three main gods outlined: Vishnu (sustainer), Shiva (destroyer), and Brahma (creator).

• Don't confuse Brahman with Brahma… Brahman is the absolute. Brahma on the other hand, is just one deity. (Further, be careful not to confuse either of these with Brahmins - the priests of the caste system we discussed in the last topic...)

• Brahma is a deity (with four faces), responsible for creation. With the primal sound of OM, Brahma created our world. While creation is certainly important in Hinduism, it does not necessarily make Brahma a popular god. In fact, he is probably one of the least worshiped ones in practical Hinduism. The idea is that he created, and then he withdrew, his job pretty much done. Hindus are grateful for his contribution, but the focus in the lives of everyday Hindus are usually centered around Vishnu (the one who keeps things going/balanced), Shiva (the one who causes destruction and rebirth) and Shakti (the Goddess/Mother Divine).

• So, while Brahma is seen as one of the big three in mythology, for practical purposes, more Hindus emphasize Shakti. Therefore, our discussion and lessons will focus on the big three gods of practice: Vishnu (sustainer), Shiva (destroyer) and Shakti (supreme goddess).

• Hindu artwork depecting the gods had an influence on many artists and musicians, including one well known musician, Jimi Hendrix (above). So much so, that he designed his album cover in an almost identical fashion to the image you viewed above.

• Vishnu is the Protector god. He is a sustainer and preserver. He is often blue, reclining on a cosmic serpent, and depicted with a conch shell, lotus flower, and peaceful look on his face. He is considered royalty, wearing lots of "bling" as you can see - jewels, gold and heavy necklaces. Those who follow Vishnu are called Vaishnavites.

• Notice the horseshoe shaped symbol in his forehead. You'll see this on Vishnu, Vishnu's avatars, any god associated with Vishnu, as well as Vaishnavites themselves. This is the symbol of Vishnu's footprint on the world.

• Whenever there is imbalance in the world, Vishnu comes to earth in different forms, called Avatars. This is why Vishnu is often given the nickname of Cosmic Cop because he usually comes to earth to save the day - kind of like a Hindu version of Superman/Clark Kent (or Batman/Bruce Wayne with an additional supernatural aspect). Vishnu's adventures usually involve mythic battles between his avatars and ignorant demons and he usually ends up liberating them of their ego/ignorance. (Remember from your previous lessons that demons are symbols of our own greed/ego/illusion).

• Vishnu traditionally has 10 avatars, which include humans and animals. Some Hindus will add the Buddha to Vishnu's avatar list (though most Buddhists will not recognize this.) Interestingly enough, when Catholic missionaries went to India to convert Hindus and taught them about Jesus being God in the flesh here on earth, the Hindus had no problem accepting this dogma. They accepted it right into their own, responding, "Oh! Jesus is Vishnu! Another avatar!" And so, they added Jesus to the list. It made perfect sense to them. The Catholics were not so satisfied and left without success in their conversion. Though they did bring back the mala (prayer) beads with them, which later became the rosary.

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• Vishnu Chant - Listen to this Mix.

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• Vishnu's Avatars

• You already know two of Vishnu's avatars from studying your lesson on Hindu scriptures: Rama and Krishna. Rama was the virtuous husband/king who rescued his wife Sita and conquered evil with his sidekick (and monkeygod) Hanuman in the great epic, the Ramayana.

• You read about Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. He appeared to the warrior Arjuna to give him a pep talk before going into battle. Krishna gave Arjuna the divine eye to see him in all his splended glory.

• Like Jesus, Krishna is depicted both as a baby and as an adolescent aged young man. He is usually blue skinned, but not always. One of the most popular myths tells of his mother, Yashodhara, finding him eating dirt (as most infants do…) As she opened his mouth to dig the dirt out, she saw the entire cosmos in the back of his throat. This was a good indication to her that he was a special kid!

• As an adolescent, Krishna was a playful god, teasing and playing tricks on people. The tricks are innocent enough, but always get him in a bit of trouble (like stealing fresh pies from open windows). He is often depicted playing a flute and flirting with the Gopi Girls. The Gopi girls are cowherders who always compete for Krishna's attention. One story tells of the gopi girls bathing in the river after a long day and Krishna stealing their saris (dresses) and hanging them in the trees.

  

• Another story describes a dance festival where each of the Gopi girls wants him all to herself. Because he's a god, he simply multiplies himself so that each girl has a dance partner. This is known as the Rass-Lila (dance/festival of love). This story is often seen as a symbolic truth that each of us can have a personal relationship with God. In other words, there is enough God to go around - we don't need to be jealous.

• If you think this story is strange because it's sexual in nature, open up your Hebrew Bible (what Christians refer to as the Old Testament) and read Song of Songs (sometimes called Song of Solomon). It is an erotic love poem that most modern Christians and Muslims interpret as a symbolic representation of our emotional relationship with God, much like this story of Krishna and ourselves.

• Even though Krishna spends a lot of his time flirting with the Gopi girls, he only has one woman in his heart and that is Radha. Radha's name literally means favorite or beloved. They have a very passionate and stormy love affair, consistently fighting (often over her jealousy of the gopi girls) and making up (after Krishna tells her she's the only one for him).

• Krishna is a VERY popular god, one of the most worshiped in modern Hinduism.

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• Krishna Chant - Listen to this devotional.

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• In a few lessons from now, we ll look more closely at the Hare Krishnas, who focus their devotion entirely on Krishna through kirtan worship, which is singing, chanting and dancing publicly.

Those who follow Shiva are called Shaivites and see him as the great lord of all. It is said that he arose out of great pillar of flame, jumping high over both Vishnu and Brahma, proving his superiority. Within the flame, the sound of OM came forth.

He rides the Nandi (Bull) and is often depicted with a trident, cobra, leopard skin, dreadlocks and a topknot. While Shiva does not have avatars/incarnations, he does have many different roles and characteristics.

Shiva's Variety of Roles

The Destroyer

Shiva has a short temper - definite anger management issues. You would have to be this way to some extent to be the god of death and destruction, don't you think? Unlike Vishnu, he doesn't really care much about social convention or appearance. In fact, he scoffs at it.

Because of his temper, he is often nicknamed the Madman. You'll read about an example of this destructive aspect below when you learn about his son, Ganesh.

Because of his association with death, he is said to haunt cremation grounds to contemplate death and impermanence. Because of this, many Shaivites will cover themselves in ash (from incense or offerings, not the dead!) and wander the land as renouncers to emulate their god.

Divine Yogi

On the other end of the spectrum, Shiva is a meditator, a divine yogi.

He is an ascetic, a sadhu, a holy man, someone who renounces material things and focuses on spiritual liberation.

Often, yoga practitioners will have a special affinity for Shiva because of his devotion to the spiritual practice of yoga ("union").

My Yoga teacher, Sri Swami Satchidananda, made a pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash. This is considered a holy place where Lord Shiva resides. It is an arduous journey for Hindus and Yogis, but like so many pilgrimages, brings great spiritual reward.  You can see images of Mt. Kailash in the video below.

Do you know why Shiva is often depicted as dark blue? It's because of a story involving the ocean. Shiva drank poison out of the ocean to keep it from harming others. He took in the poison, but then turned it into nectar. It is symbolic of how we can transform our inner struggle into something good, our poison into nectar.

Mt. Kailash - Watch this video footage of and listen to the accompanying Shiva chant.

Nataraj

Shiva is also the Lord of the Dance (not of the Michael Flatley Riverdance variety :), but the dance of destruction and creation, life and death, represented by the flame and drum.

This is the dance of primordial creation, creative power, divine energy, and sacred power. It symbolizes the dance of continuous creating and destroying.

Often, the ritual of dance is offered to this aspect of divinity - the aspect of creation and destruction. Ritual or free form dance is a liberating, spiritual path of bhakti (devotion) for many Hindus, especially Shaivites.

Yoga Trance Dance - Watch this short clip of modern Yoga Trance Dance, a free form tribal based dance, led by one of my Yoga teachers, the amazing Shiva Rea, (yes, that's her real, given name) in honor of Lord Shiva's dance of creation.

Linga

This is the non-Anthropomorphic (non human/personal) form of Shiva. It is a fertility (phallic) symbol representing masculinity. Shiva also represents male/female union and the Linga is often accompanied by the Yoni (female aspect). You can walk into a Shaivite temple in India that is only focused on this particular aspect of Shiva.

Shiva Puja - Watch this backyard Shiva Puja with offerings and chanting.

Union of Opposites

Shiva ultimately combines all dualities - life and death, passion and asceticism, love and anger, male and female, creator and destroyer, lingam and yoni, good and evil.

An example of this is his role as the family man. Earlier, you saw him as a divine ascetic yogi. But, he is also equally a devoted family man…

Family Man

Shiva's wife is goddess Parvati (Uma) and they have a family together. Their son has a very interesting story about where he came from.

Because Shiva is often practicing asceticism on meditative weekends away from the family home, Parvati gets bored one afternoon and decides she doesn't want to wait for Shiva to have a child. Since she's a goddess, simply makes a son from the dirt from her body and her own power. This son is called Ganesh.

Ganesh is a dutiful son and guards the doorway of her bathtub each day. One day Shiva finally returns after a meditative retreat. He sees this little boy standing in front of the doorway and becomes enraged and jealous, assuming Parvati has cheated on him while he was away. In his fit of rage, he slices off Ganesh's head (remember his anger issues?).

Parvati gets very upset of course and tells Shiva in so many words that he's a nutcase and that he had better replace that boy's head with something and soon if he knew what was good for him. Well, it's India. What do you think is the first thing to walk by? An elephant…

This is how Ganesh becomes the Elephant headed God and the Lord of Beginnings. He is considered a guardian, a divine scribe, and a Remover of Obstacles. These are not just outside, physical obstacles, but also the obstacles of our mind (our skewed perceptions) that can get in our own way.

He brings good fortune and is often put in doorways or entryways. Like Krishna, Ganesh is hands down, one of the most popular gods in Hinduism, probably because of his good nature despite of the childhood trauma (not to mention father issues!) he has experienced.

He is the epitome of someone who has made the best of the cards dealt to him in life. He is the "glass half-full" embodied. There is much symbolism in images of Ganesh. His large head represents thinking "big," his big ears note that he listens well, his small mouth shows that we should talk less and listen more (you never seen Ganesh with his mouth open). Often, Ganesh only has one tusk in the pictures and this symbolizes retaining the good that happens in life and letting go of the bad.

Puja for Ganesh - Watch this real street Puja for Ganesh, filmed in India.

SHAKTI

In Hinduism, God manifests in both male and female form. As you have seen by now, Brahman can take on any form it wants to - human, animal, etc. To suggest that God can only manifest in certain limited ways is a foreign concept to Hindus. They feel that trying to limit God is not only inaccurate, but arrogant of us. Who are we to limit how God can manifest?

One of the most powerful ways Brahman manifests is as Shakti, the Supreme Goddess/Mother. She is the cosmic sacred feminine principle that is active and creative.

Shaktas (followers of Shakti) feel she is more approachable than the male gods and more connected with our landscape/earth. For example, the Ganges River is believed to be a living goddess (Ganga) and India itself is considered by some Hindus to be an earth goddess.

Shakti is also called Mahadevi or Devi and can manifest in hundreds of different, separate goddesses. She is the Divine Mother and is in charge of guarding and nurturing her children (us). But she also has a destructive side, a natural order that's positive and necessary. Just like anybody, she has many faces - grace, creation, cruelty and destruction. Like any human mother who can be extremely nurturing and motherly, when angered or when her children are in danger, she can become a fierce, raging protector!

There are several hundred different goddesses, but today we will look at four. On the spectrum, two are on the more destructive end while the other two are on the more nurturing end. But, all are equally Shakti, and in turn, equally Brahman.  You will have several audio/video clips in this lesson.  Listen/watch them all - they will give you a real sense of the essence and devotion towards the many different aspects of the Goddess.

Goddess Worship- Watch this Goddess worship in a Hindu temple in England. It will make you feel like you're right there.

Durga

Durga is a demon slayer goddess. You will notice in her many hands she holds both weapons of destruction (swords) and symbols of goodness (lotus flowers). This is to show that even though she is more of a destructive force, her intentions are for the betterment of humankind.

Like Vishnu, she is here to rid us of our ignorance (symbolized by demons) and liberate the world from ego and illusion. Notice the serene smile on her face. She knows her job is dirty, but she does it for the good of everyone.

The following is a Durga Puja (worship) given by a Shakta:

By this universe you were born, by you this world has been created. By you it is protected and you, O Devi, shall consume it at the end. You are the Great Knowledge and the Great Illusion, you are Great Power, and Great Memory, Great Delusion, the Great Devi and the Great Asuri. You are Primordial Matter, you are the ground of the three qualities, you are the Great Night of the end of the world. You are more terrible and also more pleasing than everything else and exceedingly beautiful. You are the shakti, the power of all things, sentient and others, you are the soul of everything. Who is capable of praising you, who has given form to all of us, to Vishnu, Shiva, and myself?

Notice the language in this puja. This is praise given by a Shakta, a goddess worshiper. Therefore, they see all the other gods as simply handmaidens to the Supreme Goddess. They believe Durga and any form of Shakti is ultimately more powerful and great than any of the other male gods.

Durga chant - Listen to the following audio Durga chant.

Durga Kirtan - Watch this Durga Kirtan (worship through singing/dancing).

Kali

One day when battling demons, Durga becomes absolutely furious, fed up with dealing with such ignorance and greed all the time. In a fit of rage, her face turns black and Kali, the dark goddess, spurts forth between her eyebrows (third eye chakra) in a flood of black ink.

Imagine a time when you were in a state of complete rage and anger and then imagine if you would have created a being out of that. That's Kali - a child of rage. She emerges with a sword and a noose, causing the world to tremble. She wears a necklace of severed heads and a skirt of limbs. Unlike Durga, there are no lotus flowers or serene smiles here - she is a bloodthirsty, ferocious, and terrifying goddesses. But she is a realistic aspect of all of us that Hindus believe we must acknowledge and honor.

Some Christians will say that God's wrath matches His mercy. Well, that is how Hindus see Kali. Remember, she is wrathful for OUR benefit, slaying our demons of ego, ignorance and greed. She gets angry at how selfish and forgetful of the Divine we can be. When you read the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament), God gets angry and frustrated at humans for this same exact reason, over and over again. He banishes Adam and Eve, sends the flood, destroys Sodom, etc. So, while Kali is overtly scary, Hindus say it's only because of our human nature to constantly forget God and rely on our own egos and false sense of self.

Also, speaking of Christian thought, have you heard of the saying, "Let go and let God"? Hindus believe that if you have something bothering you or worrisome in your life, give it over to Kali and she'll destroy it happily.

Kali Chant. - View this chant that is accompanied by a series of Kali images.

"Metal version Kali Chant" - For another, very entertaining example of Indian media, watch this more "metal" version of a Kali chant.

But the goddess is not all severed hands and swords. There is a very serene and nurturing aspect of Shakti, manifested in many tranquil and peaceful individual goddesses.

Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. She is honored at the festival, Diwali, which we will look at in more detail later.

She is associated with beauty, luck and is also the wife of Vishnu.

Notice that every aspect in her imagery is positive and serene - the royal elephants, the coins of prosperity, the lotus flowers, her beautiful face and serene smile.

There are no swords or severed heads, just positive qualities of love, wealth and royalty.

Lakshmi Chant - Listen to this.

Saraswati

Saraswati is another example of a peaceful goddess. She is the goddess of Learning, Academia and Music.

In her pictures, you will see her sitting serenely by a river, usually playing her Citar or reading scripture.

My friend Asha, who teaches elementary school, has a picture of Saraswati on her classroom door, to encourage learning and music.

I also have an image of Saraswati in my own office at Sinclair, one given to me by Asha.

Saraswati Chant - Listen to the this.

Though all uniquely their own, Saraswati, Laskhmi, Kali and Durga ultimately are all manifestations/faces of the supreme Goddess energy of Shakti (Devi).

Week 4

Introduction

In this topic, we will discuss puja (worship), sacred space/pilgrimage and sacred rituals in Hinduism. As you've learned, Hindu ritual is extremely diverse and varies by region, family, and experience.

Objectives

After completing the learning activities for this topic, you will be able to:

• Describe several elements of puja, including darshan, kirtan, prasad, arati, etc

• Discuss the Hindu view of sacred space and pilgrimage

• Describe some Hindu rituals (including marriage and death) and holidays

This list is an overview of the activities you will complete for this topic. Print this page and use it as a checklist.

• Review the Introduction and Objectives page.

• Complete textbook reading assignment Chapter 3

• Read the Online Lessons: Puja

• Read the Online Lessons: Pilgrimage and Sacred Space

• Read the Online Lessons: Sacred Time (Ritual)

• Review Online Learning Resources: Arranged Marriage

• Participate in the Discussion Forum

• Continue working on your Experience Project

• Hindu Worship (Puja)

• Puja is worship. It can be done at home, in the temple, at local outdoor shrines, in the car, or at places of Pilgrimage. Basically, for Hindus, worship can happen anywhere and is not confined to just within walls of a temple.

• Puja is extremely multi-sensory and based on reciprocity between the worshiper and the divine. All of the senses - visual, auditory, taste, touch, and smell - are an integral part of worship because Hindus believe we perceive the sacred through sensory ways.

• Incense, food, water, dance, chanting, prayer, music, drums, scripture reading - these are just some of the many vibrant elements of puja.

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• Shiva Puja - View this You Tube video on if you haven't watched it already in the deities section.

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• Icons

• Images or Statues are often used to represent the gods. They are considered receptacles of Divine Energy.

• Worshipers know that the image is not the whole manifestation of God because God pervades everything, but the image simply is a center or focal point for our prayer. In other words, Hindus do not see this as idol worship, but as a focus or representation of the god, which is ultimately Brahman.

• Just as my southern Baptist grandmother did not believe the image of Jesus hanging in her hallway was actually Jesus, but a reminder/representation of Christianity, Hindus do not believe an icon of Shiva or Durga is actually the deity itself.

• Any image or icon is just a representation because we humans tend to like something tangible to look at and focus on during devotion.

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• Elements of Puja

• There are many aspects of Puja, including the following:

• Darshan is the ritual Seeing of the Divine, which often entails intense feelings and emotions. Pentecostal Christians may call this getting "filled with the spirit."

• By seeing and being seen by the god/goddess the worshiper feels united with that power. Deities are often adorned and then revealed from behind a curtain during puja.

• As you'll see, Darshan is a major part of both Hindu and Hare Krishna worship.

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• Attending to the Deity is a common aspect of puja as well. The statues or icons are welcomed, bathed, cleansed, clothed, adorned, decorated and cared for by the priests on a daily basis.

• They are carefully and lovingly attended to and are also taken out of the temple and paraded through the streets or to the river for special festivals or processions. 
  Offerings of flowers, food, water, milk, ghee (butter), incense, songs, chants, sandalwood, etc. are given to the deity.

• The icon is often greeted with the Namaste and the worshiper usually walks around it clockwise with his or her right side facing the statue. Shoes are almost always taken off before encountering the statue as well.

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  Arati is the waving of a light or lamp during puja. This can be as simple as a single candle flame or a very elaborate tiered lamp that is full of light.

• Arati symbolizes the light of Atman within us all. It also calls us back to one of the most ancient gods, Agni, the god of fire that even the early Aryans worshipped.

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  Kirtan is devotional worship through singing, music, dancing, chanting, etc. Kirtan is a blessing experienced through sound and body and can be a very vibrant and stimulating kind of worship.

• Kirtan takes on many forms, but usually includes gongs, drums, chants, the harmonium (a small organ type instrument played on the floor), and the sitar.  You've heard the harmonium in several of the audio clips so far.

• Think of Christian churches worshipping through a full gospel choir or dancing in the aisles - this is kirtan. Hare Krishnas in particular love to worship through Kirtan.

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• Durga Kirtan - If you didn't already view this in your deities section, watch this video.

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  Prasad is a bit like a Hindu communion. It is food offered to the deity during the service. Afterwards, the blessed food is distributed to the worshipers to eat as a tangible form of divine grace. 
  

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• Temples

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  Hindu temples are considered a Seat of the God. They are sacred architecture and traditionally are dedicated to one central deity. So, in one village, you may have a Shaivite temple, a Vaishnavite temple, a temple to Kali, one to Krishna and perhaps one just to the specific lingam characteristic of Shiva.

• In America, since there is a smaller Hindu population, you usually will have one temple that houses many different deities. Likewise, with less than a 1% Christian population in India, you will find one church that accommodates all Christian faiths. In India, you will not find a street full of Catholics, Lutherans, Nazarenes, Baptists, Methodists, etc. Instead, you will find a single Christian church.
  Temples are where the divine meets the physical and where humans are said to receive special divine assistance. Both public and private devotion happens here. Temple priests may lead chants or services or individuals can come worship pray on their own.

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  At Hindu temples, you will usually be asked to remove your shoes because it is sacred space. You should always sit lower than the deities and take any offerings the priest may give you with your right hand.

• If you sit on the floor, make sure you do not sit with the soles of your feet pointing outward towards the statues or priest because this is very offensive.

• If you plan on going to the Hindu temple for your religious service report, make sure to go to their website (daytontemple.org) and read your RSR Etiquette guide to learn about cultural differences and what different things happen during the service.

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• Home Altars

• Home Altars play a vital role in the everyday life of a Hindu. Home Puja occurs at small shrines in the home. Sometimes, they are shrines on top of bookshelves or tables. Other times, a Hindu family may have a whole room dedicated to deity (often an older child's room who has moved out).

• There, they will make offerings of flowers, prayers and food. If you visit a Hindu home, you will most likely remove your shoes at the door, just like at the temple.

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• Street Altars

• Puja can also be done in the streets of India. In the nooks and crannies of architecture, alleyways and rivers, you will find makeshift altars and offerings to statues. As you've learned throughout this lesson, religion is everywhere in India, both overtly and hidden.

• Here is a street altar you may find interesting! Look closely - it is a giant facebook page draped onto a wall! It's a devotional page to Saraswati and the Goddess. So, as you can see, an altar can be made out of just about anything!

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• Festivals/Holidays

• Besides individual puja, community puja is also very important. There are hundreds of different holidays (holy days) that vary according to region, season, caste and geography in which Hindus will celebrate together. We are going to look at two major holidays in this lesson.

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• Divali

• Divali (sometimes pronounced Diwali or Divwali) is the Fall Festival of Lights. During this holiday, candles are lit all around the home and business. "Christmas" lights are also utilized to decorate the house.

• Lamps symbolize prosperity and many will light fireworks, just like Fourth of July. Houses are cleaned, much like a spring cleaning (but in autumn) which symbolizes a renewal of life.

• This is an especially important holiday for merchants because it bids good fortune to the beginning of a new business year. It also celebrates the triumph of good over evil and truth over ignorance.

• Gifts and sweets are exchanged and families celebrate together at the temple. Lakshmi is the goddess associated with this holiday because she is the goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Often, Hindus will say part of the reason for cleaning your house is to get it ready to welcome the goddess, Laskhmi, inside!

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• Diwali Video  Watch this short video to see the celebration in action!  It will really give you a sense of the joy of this holiday!

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• Holi

• Holi is the Spring Festival of Colors. It is a very joyful and festive holiday. It is one of the most popular festivals in northern India and usually occurs at the full moon at the beginning of spring.

• The god associated with this holiday is, guess who…Krishna! Since it is a holiday of play and festivities, it would only make sense!

• The holiday also stems from a mythical story of a wicked aunt, Holika, who tries to burn her nephew in a great fire. Vishnu (as the avatar Rama) intervenes to save him.

• Because of this story, people often spend days before gathering wood and other objects to put into the Holi fire.

• Traditionally, everyone must contribute something. The fire is often rather large - a true bonfire and during the festival, Hindus will throw things into the fire and shout obscenities towards Holika. This symbolizes overcoming ignorance and greed.

• During Holi, it's considered a liminal time. There is a bit of reversal of order, frenzy and cathartic release. Think of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and you ll get a good idea of Holi.

• One example of this is women beating men with holi sticks. The sticks are made of bamboo and the men will wear shields or helmets and incite the women with insults or jokes. The women go to town on them, whacking them with their holi sticks, getting out the past year's frustrations.

• It is all in good fun and the men usually emerge with nothing more than a few scratches and bruises. Some women will actually train for weeks beforehand, eating extra ghee (butter) and building up their strength for the occasion. (Think Rocky Balboa - Hindu style!)

• Color is also a major element in Holi celebrations. During Holi Play, which contributes to an almost carnival like atmosphere, colored water, mud and powder are thrown everywhere and on everyone (even statues of Krishna!). No one is safe from being doused with color!

• SACRED GEOGRAPHY AND PILGRIMAGE

• In all religions, pilgrimage is a sacred ritual. It is often believed that certain geographical places hold a special, sacred power, usually because something miraculous happened there (a vision, a healing, a sacred event, etc.) Going on a pilgrimage involves leaving our ordinary world of daily life to venture into the world of the sacred. Many will go through weeks of preparations beforehand, including putting on special clothes and fasting.

• It is believed that we can gain spiritual merit and good karma from these journeys. Our minds will be enriched and we will be better people because of them. The pilgrimage happens both externally and internally. Think in your own life of a trip you ve taken that affected your life and perception of things. There are thousands of places in India that Hindu pilgrims will journey to for spiritual growth.

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• Varanasi

• One example of a very popular pilgrimage place is Banares. Also called Varanasi (or Kashi), it is the City of Light. It is considered the Holy City of Shiva and is an ancient, winding, heavy city full of darkness and light, death and life.

• Along the banks flows the sacred Ganges River (considered a living goddess). One of the Hindu myths tells us that the goddess Ganga was so powerful, her force would have shattered the world and caused ultimate destruction. Because of this, Shiva catches and strains the goddess river through his dreadlocks so that she won't be so fierce.

• There is a sacred Golden Temple, dedicated to Shiva that Shaivites flock to visit from all over India. You are not even allowed to step inside the temple if you are a tourist!

• Many Hindus will descend down the ghats (steps along the riverbank) to bathe, swim, pray and do salutations in the river. Others will wash clothes, do laundry and other mundane tasks. In India, the sacred and profane are constantly interwoven. Along the ghats, you will find yogis, sadhus, men in business suits taking a lunch break, pilgrims alongside the burning cremation ghats. It is believed that if you die in Benares, you will reach moskha, just by being in such a sacred city.

• "There are few things on which India, diverse as it is, agrees. But of the Ganges, India speaks with one voice." - Diana Eck

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• Watch this brief clip of A morning boat ride in Varanasi.  This is something I did while I was in Varanasi.   It is an excellent view into what it's like to experience a morning ritual puja on the Ganges. It's really like you're right there (but without having to smell the stench or take malaria medication!)

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• Vrindavan

• Mathura is another sacred pilgrimage site. Also called Vrindavan, it is the birthplace of Krishna. This is where the adventures of Krishna, Radha and the Gopi girls are believed to have taken place.

• It is a small, dusty, agricultural town and one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

• A huge, sacred temple covers the place where it is believed Krishna was born and this town is also the main headquarters for the Hare Krishnas (ISKCON). You'll learn more about Hare Krishnas in our next unit coming up.

There are an infinite number of elaborate, sacred rituals in Hinduism. For the sake of time, we will discuss three of them.

The Sacred Threat Ceremony (Upanayana) is an initiation ceremony for males of upper twice born classes. It is performed for sons, usually between the ages of 9 and 15, but some initiations can happen as late as 24. This initiation is the mark of the beginning of the Brahmacharya stage (Student) that we studied earlier in the course.

The boy has a symbolic last meal of his childhood, prepared with love by his mother. He is introduced to his Vedic teacher (Guru) who drapes the sacred thread over the boy's left shoulder and under his right arm as a mark of his status of spiritual adulthood. He is then taught a special mantra (Gayatri) to be recited. He is no longer a child and it is celebrated as a joyous occasion. Though traditionally, the Upanayana rite is for boys, many Hindus will also have puberty initiation rites for girls which will vary in celebration depending on the region.

Can you tell which God this boy and his family follow by the marks on his body?

Though now, more girls are getting their own version of the puberty ceremony, marriage traditionally was a woman's equivalent to the sacred thread ritual. Traditionally, serving their husband was considered a similar equivalent to disciplined Vedic study. Doing housework was considered the equivalent of ritual sacrifices, etc.

Marriage is seen as a woman's arrival at adulthood and is hands down, one of the most important events in Hindu family. If you ever get the opportunity to go to a Hindu wedding, do it without hesitation! It is a very colorful, rich tradition and is celebrated for days and days. There are weeks of preparations beforehand. A family astrologer will determine the compatibility of the couple and the date of the wedding.

A bride's hands and feet are decorated elaborately in henna (mendhi) which is a temporary pattern. The detail can be extremely intricate and since it takes hours and hours to dry, the bride must be waited on, literally, hand and foot. One tradition is that the groom's initials will be hidden somewhere within the henna on her body. On the wedding night, the groom does his best to search out these hidden initials. If he finds them successfully, then it's believed he will be the more dominant one in the couple. If he is unable to find them, then it is said the bride herself will "wear the pants" in the family. As you can imagine, the bridesmaids work very hard to keep these initials mysteriously hidden!

The bride, along with other family members, are adorned and dressed very colorfully. While the men sometimes wear white, the bride almost always traditionally dons a colorful, vibrant sari, usually red, with gold accessories and jewelery.

In India, arranged marriage is common. It's not always the case, but it does occur fairly often. Keep in mind that usually the individuals involved do have the choice to say no to their parents' arrangements. Many Hindus believe that first you get married and then you fall in love. It is believed that real love develops after marriage, so there is usually no period of courtship or dating. Any dates are almost always chaperoned and the intention is a marriage in the very near future.

Modern Arranged Marriage - Read this article.

Watch some home movies of Hindu weddings to get a feel for what they entail.

• Hindu Wedding 1

• Hindu Wedding 2

Most Hindus are cremated at death. This is referred to as the last sacrifice. The dead are washed and anointed with sandalwood paste and dressed in white cloth and marigolds. Their bodies are carried in procession to the cremation grounds and burned with prayer.

Cremation usually occurs within 24 hours of death. Sacred verses from the scriptures are recited. Most Hindus will wear white to a funeral, never black.

Again, in Hinduism, it is only the body that dies. It is believed that the atman lives on to return in another body. After death, some families will consider themselves in a ritually impure state - they will take ritual baths and refrain from cooking or shaving until the mourning time is over. Others will shave their heads as a sign of mourning.

In some traditional Hindu families, a bone gathering ritual takes place three days after the cremation. In this ceremony, the eldest son will gather any bones or hair or pieces left in the pile of ash and take them to the river or other water and give a final offering with more sacred verses. He takes bones to Ganges or other water, then gives a final offering of rice and cakes and more sacred verses.

Only infants, sadhus and sacred cows are not cremated. Infants are considered too young to have accumulated karma in this lifetime. Sadhus are considered to be holy and to most likely reach moksha so their bodies do not need to be burned. And cows, well...you know the story about them!