1. Section 2 - Ramayana Worlds1

2. Hinduism
An umbrella religion of various spiritual beliefs and practices that developed over millennia:
The Vedic Religion (Brahmanism) - “big tradition” - sacred texts, priests, caste system
Texts and literary works expound upon and incorporate other gods (Mahabharata, Ramayana, and myriad legends of gods)
Local traditions of gods and spirits incorporated into the corpus - “little tradition” 2

3. Vedic Gods
From oldest collection of texts, the Vedas 1,500 – 1,000 BCE
Indra, primary warrior god
Agni, fire, key to
rituals
Surya, the Sun, one of several “elemental” gods 3

4. Indra – hymn from the Rg Veda
COME HERE and sit down: sing your song to Indra, 1
Companions, bringing hymns of praise.
To him the richest of the rich, the Lord of treasures excellent,
Indra, with soma juice outpoured.
May he stand by us in our need and in abundance for our wealth: 5
May he come near to us with his strength.
Whose pair of tawny horses yoked in battles foemen do not challenge:
To Indra sing your song.
Come near to the soma-drinker, for his enjoyment, these pure drops,
The soma mingled with the curd. 10
You, grown at once to perfect strength, were born to drink the soma juice,
Strong Indra, for pre-eminence.
Indra, lover of the song, may these quick somas enter you:
May they bring bliss to you, the sage.
Our chants of praise have strengthened you, Satakratu, and our lauds. 15
Rg Veda – oldest collection of hymns
of ritual praise 4

5. Brahmins and Ritual
The Sanskrit Vedas emphasized ritual, songs of praise, importance of the ritual specialists – Brahmins.
The tradition was oral, not recorded: chanted, memorized, and passed down over centuries as ritual (yajnya).
Brahminism helped develop and strengthen the caste system, dividing the society by function:
Brahmin priests
Ksatriya warriors, rulers
Vaisya merchants, craftsmen
Sudra servants
Youtube video of Vedic Chant, hymn in praise of Agni 5

6. A Key Concept: Macrocosmos and Microcosmos
Brahma and Atman God and Self
Each is a reflection of the other.
Tat Twam Asi: “that thou art.” 6

7. Mandala: Physical depictions of the cosmos
Borobudur, Java
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Rulers had the ability to control the balance of the universe.
Hindu and Buddhist Mandala paintings
Angkor Wat layout 7

8. Mandala: visualization of the cosmos
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Hindu and Buddhist Mandala paintings
Borobudur monument, Java 8

9. The Younger Gods The “Hindu Triology” Brahma: Creator
Vishnu: Maintainer
Shiva: Destroyer 9

10. 9 or 10 manifestations (incarnations) of the god
Vishnu and the Avatars
9 or 10 manifestations (incarnations) of the god 10

11. Vishnu and the Avatars
In Bhagavad-Gita, the philosophic core of Mahabharata, Krishna (Vishnu) explains his character:
I am the birthless, the deathless, Lord of all that breathes....When goodness grows weak, when evil increases, I make myself a body. In every age I come back to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, to establish righteousness. 11

12. Paravati, the shakti aspect
Shiva’s family
Ganesha, son
Paravati, the shakti aspect
or wife-consort 12

13. Refractions of Gods: Shiva
Ardhanarishwar: The Adrogyne
Shiva Nataraj: Cosmic Dancer 13

14. The Goddess: Devi, Shakti
Kali
Paravati 14

15. Rama, the 7th Avatar of Vishnu
Sita
Rama
Hanuman 15

16. Thursday: Ramayana Discussion
TAKE NOTES and bring them in!
1. List themes you see developing.
2. What are points for teaching/instruction/ ethics?
(e.g. Is it right for a Kysatria warrior to kill a woman? “A Woman of demoniac tendencies loses all consideration to be treated as a woman….You must rid the world of her. It is your duty.” – pg. 13)
3. Who are the key (or compelling) characters and their attributes? 16