February 8, 2006 Bethlehem Lutheran Church 1 Dr. Sneh Kalia Professor of Physics Professor of Physics Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud State University

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  Hindu Dharma or Sanatan Dharma is world’s oldest living dharma (philosophy and way of life)  Hindu dharma has no founder, the word Sanatan implies that it always existed  It is third largest religion in the world  98% of Hindus live in Indian subcontinent  Nepal is the only nation in the world with Hinduism as its state religion

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  There is One God (Supreme Reality) perceived  Hindi Deities represent various perceptions of One God

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Hinduism is flexible and provide many ways to develop one’s spiritual ideas in order to suit individual needs “Unity in the diverse plan of Nature” is recognized. Hinduism is flexible and provide many ways to develop one’s spiritual ideas in order to suit individual needs “Unity in the diverse plan of Nature” is recognized. All gods and goddesses represent humans, animals or natural forces such as wind, water, fire and moon, each has different powers to bless the world All gods and goddesses represent humans, animals or natural forces such as wind, water, fire and moon, each has different powers to bless the world

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Hindu Trinity represents three manifestation of the Supreme Reality Hindu Trinity represents three manifestation of the Supreme Reality

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lord Brahma Creation

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lord Brahma and Saraswati

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Goddess Saraswati  Is the consort or wife of Lord Brahma and possesses the powers of speech, wisdom and learning  She has four hands representing four aspects of learning.  Mind, Intellect, Alertness, Ego

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lord Vishnu Preservation

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Goddess Lakshmi  Goddess Lakshmi is the consort or wife of Lord Vishnu and is the goddess of prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity. Lord Vishnu Lord Vishnu

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lord Shiva Destruction

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lord Shiva and Parvati

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Goddess Parvati  Goddess Parvati is the wife (consort) of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine (both friendly and fearful) forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms are Durga (goddess beyond reach) and Kali (goddess of destruction).

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Three cosmic Functions of Supreme Lord Generator+Operator+Destroyer=God

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church India is the original home of the Mother Goddess The complementary nature of male and female energies is valued in Hindu society and deemed essential to achieve balance within the gods and within mortals. The complementary nature of male and female energies is valued in Hindu society and deemed essential to achieve balance within the gods and within mortals.

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Mother Nature: Prakriti Ma Mother Earth: Prithvi Ma Mother Land: Bharat Mata

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  Devi Annapuurnaa –is presiding deity of Foodgrains  Ganga Devi, Yamuna Devi, and so on have been manifested as rivers to feed mankind.  Forests that provide us with so many resources are said to be presided over by Vandevi.

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sacred Texts  The primary sacred texts are the Vedas: Rig Veda Rig Veda Sama Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Atharva Veda  Ramayana: a story with moral and spiritual theme  Mahabharata: Bhagavad-Gita is one of the book of Mahabharata

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Four basic Attainments of Life:

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Dharma  Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices  Includes all duties – individual, social and religious

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Artha (Wealth)  One must earn enough wealth in order to raise a family and maintain a household  Wealth must not be for holding but for sharing with those who are poor or less fortunate  Dharma and Artha must be coordinated in order to earn decent living while recognizing that Artha is not an ultimate goal

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Kama  Satisfaction of genuine human desires such as art, music, love, affection, clothes and jewelry etc. are not suppressed  Through controlled satisfaction of these desires an individual becomes free from Kama

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Moksha  To make an individual a better person so that he/she can live harmoniously in this world and seek union with God  Freedom from desires and passion is necessary for attaining Moksha and is made possible by the proper coordination of dharma, artha and kama

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Follow Ten Great Observances : 1. Patience, firmness and stability (Dhruti) 2. Forgiveness (Kshama) 3. Self-control and contentment (Dama) 4. Not be selfish (Astaya) 5. Purity and honesty

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church 6. Control over senses (Indriya Nigraha) 7. Right knowledge of scriptures (Dhee) 8. Knowledge and study (Vidya) 9. Truth (Satya) 10. Absence of anger (Akrodha)

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Four Stages of Hindu Life Four Stages of Hindu Life

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Brahamacharya Ashrama  Begins when a child enters school at an early age and continues until he or she has finished all schooling  The goal is to acquire knowledge build character band learn to shoulder responsibilities

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Grahastha Ashrama  This stage begins at marriage  In this stage an individual pays debt by serving God and Ancestors  Enjoys good and noble things in life in accordance with Artha-Kama- Moksha

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Vanaprastha Ashrama  When one’s children have reached adulthood one enters this stage  In this stage one gradually withdraws from active life and begins devoting more time to study of scriptures and meditation

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sanyasna Ashrama This is the final stage of life in which an individual mentally renounces all worldly ties, spends time in meditating and ponders over mysteries of life This is the final stage of life in which an individual mentally renounces all worldly ties, spends time in meditating and ponders over mysteries of life

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Three Debts during Life

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  Debt to God can be repaid by 1. Service to all mankind 2. Reverence to elders and teacher 3. Practice nonviolence, truthfulness, respectfulness 4. Protection of Earth 5. Vegetarianism 6. Universality 7. Peace

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  Second debt to Saints can be paid by 1. Service to Saints 2. Serving society and poor without expecting returns

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  Third debt is to ancestors Which can be paid by raising one’s family in accordance with the morals and ethical principles Which can be paid by raising one’s family in accordance with the morals and ethical principles

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchAUM  The most sacred symbol is the sound of the infinite  By sound and form AUM symbolizes the ultimate reality and the entire universe  The character is a composite of three different letters of the Sanskrit alphabets and represents the Trinity  This sacred symbol is spoken before any chants to remember God

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church SWASTIKA  Is regarded as a divine sign by Hindus  The word means auspicious in the Sanskrit language and hence is used to symbolize the welcoming of auspiciousness and driving away evils  The symbol represents the changing of the universe around the unchanging nature of God

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Welcome Namaskar

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church The daily ritual of Puja is performed in a Home Shrine or Puja Room The daily ritual of Puja is performed in a Home Shrine or Puja Room

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Prayers  Hindu prayer always end with three chants of invocation- “Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Aum”  The three repetition are addressed to three groups into which all obstacles can be classified 1. Cosmic – earth quakes, lightning (Aadhidaivika) 2. Phenomenal – robbers, wild beast (Aadhibhautika) 3. Subjective – body ailments, agitation of mind, negative thought (Aadhyaatmika)

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchKarma The central doctrine of Hinduism is karma. Karma (or destiny) means the quality of somebody's current and future lives as determined by that person's behavior in this and in previous lives As you sow, so shall you reap. Blissfulness in life is in direct proportion to good thoughts and actions. Misery in life is a direct result of evil thoughts and actions.

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Kindness to all beings has to be understood Everything in Hinduism is essentially the law of the nature in its pure form. Natural laws admit no exception. When the sun rises, it rises for everybody. There is a bond of unity between man and nature, body and spirit, for all of them are manifestations of the same divine energy.

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  The holy dot or bindi is an auspicious makeup worn by Hindu women on their forehead.  The holy dot or bindi is an auspicious makeup worn by Hindu women on their forehead.  It is usually a red dot made with vermilion (finely powdered bright red mercuric sulphide).

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church  Traditionally a symbol of marriage it has now become a decorative item and is worn today by unmarried girls and women of other religions as well.  No longer restricted in color or shape, bindis today are seen in many colors and designs and are manufactured with self- adhesives and felt.

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Hindu Wedding  Jaimala (Exchange of Garlands)  Kanyadan (Giving away of the Bride)  Havan – the God of Fire – witness their commitment to each other  Gath Bandhan (Tying of the Nuptial Knot)  Saptapadi ( seven Steps together)  Sindhoor ( Red Powder)  Aashirwad ( Parental Blessings)

February 8, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Death  Hindus believe in reincarnation and view death as the soul moving from one body to the next on its path to reach Nirvana  Hindus cremate their dead, believing that the burning of a body signifies the release of the spirit and that the flames represent Brahma, the creator  13 days mourning period  Shradh – annual event – giving food to the poor in memory of the deceased