India and its Culture

Indus Valley Civilization Urban; highly sophisticated System of writing Excellent engineers Ended in 1500 B.C. Shortly after Aryans from north and west migrated into India

The Vedas – Rig Veda The earliest of the sacred texts of Hinduism Compiled around 1400 B.C. Include ancient hymns Invokes nature gods to find favor with gods and ward off natural disasters

Upanishads  Final book in the Vedas; philosophical and mystical  Dated between 1000 – 600 B.C.  Focus on Brahman, single principle underlying all existence  Identification of atman (soul) with Brahman

The Bhagavad-Gita – Sanskrit Classic Part of India’s greatest epic, The Mahabharata Epic poem relating the dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna on the eve of a great battle. Krishna imparts spiritual wisdom to Arjuna that teaches union with God through love, selflessness, and total devotion.

Hinduism 1.5 practicing Hindus in the world today Emphasizes freedom from material existence and one’s personal identity Forms of worship are to help practitioner experience oneness with Brahman

Hindu Beliefs - Terms Karma – impartial principle of cause and effect under which actions of a past life may influence one’s present situation as well as later incarnations. Reincarnation – repeated rebirth of one’s soul into the world. Dharma – one’s duty in life (that it is essential to fulfill); also a fundamental moral code Atman – the individual soul that is a part of Brahman Moksha – liberation; release from reincarnation

Key Hindu Dieties Brahma – The Creator Vishnu – The Preserver Shiva – The Destroyer

Do Hindus actually worship many gods?

Religious concerns pervade all aspect of Hindu thought. No word in Indian language for English word “religion” Dharma reflects universal concern with religious values Language – the sounds of words – was sacred Repetition of “OM” during meditation aligns inner self with the universe. “… If you are a teacher it is your duty to teach. If you are a police officer, it is your duty to see that law and order are maintained. If you are a parent, it is your sacred duty to regard your children as divine an raise them with discipline and love. So whatever field you are in, your duty lies in that field. There are many different dharmas and forms of duty. But the most important dharma…is to become one with the Self, with the Being from whom we have all emerged…” Swami Muktananda