Introduction to Hindu Sacred Literature

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Introduction to Hindu Sacred Literature
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• Hindu gt Sanskrit /sindhu/
• to flow river
• Indus River in NW India
• Sanatana Dharma
• eternal way

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Hindus define themselves as

• A community who believe in the Vedas
• follow the Dharma (way)
• Righteous social behavior, practices, beliefs
  that lead to moksha (liberation) from samsara
  (reincarnation)
• of the four Varnas (classes/caste system)
• Brahmin (priests), Ksatriya (warriors), Vaisya
  (farmers/merchants), Sudra (servants)
• at each Ashrama (stage in life)
• Student, married, retired, ascetic

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Background for beliefs practices

• Indus Valley 2500-1800BC
• no texts emphasis on nature
• Vedic Civilization 1500-900BC
• Indo-Aryan invaders indigenous culture
• Time of the Vedas
• Polytheism? Henotheism?
• 900-200BC Movement to Ganges Valley
• Time of Upanishads
• Monism
• (Buddhism Jainism emerge)
• Classical Hindu Civilization 200BC-AD500
• Epic literature
• Puranas literature
• Codification of sacred laws

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Nature of the Absolute

• Henotheism one superior god in the presence of
  lesser gods
• Indigenous gods
• Indra (storm), Agni (fire), Soma (sacred plant)
• Brahman ground of all the gods
• Trimurti (of Brahman)
• Brahma (creator), Shiva (destroyer), Vishnu
  (preserver)
• Personal gods e.g. Kali or Krishna

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Hindu Sacred Literature

• Shruti what is heard
• From the gods
• No syllable changed
• Smriti what is remembered
• Oral tradition
• Can improvise

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Shruti Literature

• Four Vedas
• Rig Veda 1028 hymns
• codified, c. 1000BC, in Sanskrit
• Hymns in praise of gods
• Sama Veda
• Hymns to be chanted at sacrifices with soma
• C. 900-800BC (from those in Rig Veda)
• Yajur Veda
• Hymns, prayers for priestly use
• C. 700-600BC
• Atharva Veda
• Domestic hymns, 600BC

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Shruti (cont.)

• Upanishads
• sitting under/beneath the feet of the master
• Divinely inspired philosophical writings
• Closing of Vedic literature
• Emphasize
• Brahman Atman (divine Self in every being)
• Monism belief in absolute essence not deity
• Samsara (rebirth) depends on karma (ones
  actions)
• Moksha (liberation) by detachment from world
• Dhyana (meditation) is a way to moksha

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Smriti Literature

• Epic literature
• Mahabharata Story of the bharata (first
  Indians)
• 200,000 lines
• Dispute over the kingdom of Kuruksetra
• Book Six Bhagavad Gita
• Conversation between Krishna (avatar of Vishnu)
  Arjuna teaching on yoga (union, yoking)
• Karma yoga selfless action
• Jnana yoga highest wisdom
• Bhakti yoga yoga of devotion/love
• Ramayana
• Journey of Rama to recover wife stolen by demon
  Ravana
• 50,000 lines
• c. 550BC-AD350

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Smriti Literature (cont.)

• Puranas Stories of Old
• Legends, myths creation, history, destruction of
  the world
• Emphasis on tri-murti
• Stories of edification for lower castes and women
• Laws of Manu
• Primordial father of the human race
• First ruler of earth who instituted religious
  ceremonies
• Noah of India
• Codified 200BC-AD200

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Readings

• Rig Veda
• Creation Hymn
• Purusha, the Cosmic Person
• Hymns to Agni, to Indra
• Upanishads
• Skim until you connect with one teaching
• Bhagavad Gita
• Read in entirety

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Chandogya UpanishadThe Banyan Tree
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