miraculous religious experiences
contrary to everyday experience; can neither be proved or disproved
Krishna
God that intervened at the battle of Kurukshetra
Siddhartha Gautama
The Buddha
Bodh Gaya
Buddha founded the 4 noble truths and the eightfold path under the tree here in northern india
historians
can't study miracles
sanctification of time
calendars and holidays specific to a religion
sanctification of space
sacred geography where miraculous things happen
sanctification of language and literature
religious texts and languages
sanctification of artistic and cultural creativity
creative religious efforts and art to express and enhance the message
sanctification of family and ancestors
respect and admiration or worship of ancestors
began before recorded time
Hinduism
emerged through the weaving together of many diverse, ancient religious traditions of India
Hinduism
evolved from the experience of indian people
Hinduism
based in Sanskrit
Indus Valley Civilization
may have contributed many of Hinduism'a principal gods and goddesses
Tribals
people living in India before the arrival of the Aryans; 10% of the indian population
Pilgrim Traffic
modern transportation has increased this throughout India
important Hindu shrines
at far corners of India; Somnath, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Puri, Kanya Kumari
Bharat Darshan
travel to all of the important shrines would provide a pilgrim with this; view of the entire geography of india
pilgrim routes
helped to unify both Hinduism and India
Hindu
living, changing of beliefs and practices; great flexibility and variety of beliefs exist
Rigveda
collection of 1028 verses of Sanskrit poetry composed by Brahmin priests of the Aryan people
Agni
god of various kinds of fire
Indra
phallic god of rain and fertility
Varuna
sovereign of the world who assures that the cosmic law is maintained
Vedic Worship
takes the form of animal sacrifice offered on sacred alters
Rigveda
speculates on the creation of the world, but doesn't pretend to know the true answers
how the caste system started
primeval sacrifice of a mythical creature, Purusha
Brahmin priest
Purusha's mouth became known as this caste
Rajanya or Warrior
Purushna's two arms became known as
Vaishyas or business people and farmers or landlords
Purushna's two thighs became known as
Shudra or person of the lower working class
Purushna's two feet became known as
Caste
believed to be hereditary
Caste System
means of ordering the multitude of the various immigrants; result of a frozen ecosystem; assurance that you won't fall lower
Jati
tens of thousands of localized castes
Caste
arranged locally; no national force to make rules for them
Outcastes or Untouchables
people outside of the caste system because of the polluting work they perform such as handling dead things
Brahmanas
set rules for Brahmins such as sacrifice and worship and include discussions of origins of rituals and myths of the immortal gods
Upanishads
devoted primarily to mystical speculation and proclaim the oneness of the individual and the universe
Atman
spirit of the individual
Brahman and Atman
ultimately the same substance
Samsara
each Atman will eventually be joined with Brahman through the process of this
Dharma
set of religious and ethical duties each creature must follow; differ according to ritual staus
Karma
set of activities of each creature and the effects these activities have on its Atman
Moksha
release from the travails of life on earth and ultimate union with Brahmin
Brahmacharya
first stage of life; youthful time of studies and celibacy
Gruhasta
second stage of life; householder stage for raising a family
vanaprastha
third stage of life; forest wandering literally, reflection outside of the demands of everyday life
sannyasin
last stage of life; for meditating and preparing for death and moksha
Law of Manu
codification of the norms for each caste; attempted to institutionalize priests and elaborate core Hindu beliefs; spelled out appropriate relationships between castes, men, and women
Ramayana
central story revolves around a civil between two branches of the same family, the Bharatas
Mahabarata
presents moral conflicts, the dilemma of taking sides, and the necessity of acting decisively
Bhagavad-Gita
song of god; philosophical discourse on the duties and the meaning of life and death
Kurukshetra
has to decide if he will fight and kill his cousins or not fight and die
Lord Krishna
chariot driver that gives Kurukshetra advice; blue- black skin
Bhakti
mystical devotion to god
Sita in Ramayana
surpasses her husband, Rama's, powers and defends his honor when he fails to defend hers
Draupadi
the wife of 5 noble brothers whom she protects, defends, and inspires in their struggles
Puranas
collection of ancient stories the gods appear in; in these goddesses are often the consorts of gods
Ellora
caves here in western India were fashioned into great temples
Kanchi and Mahabalipuram
bas reliefs and artwork in temples here dazzle viewers even to today
sexual passion and the union of male and female
represents passion for and union with god; entered into forms of worship
wealthy landowners and rulers
sought validation of their power and rule through the prestige of brahmin priests and often patronized temples
interplay between the great national tradition and the little local tradition
when new conquered areas would be persuaded into practicing Hinduism by having their local gods continue to be worshipped and the addition of the already existing Hindu gods
trade routes
Hinduism spread throughout Southeast Asia through these
Funan
had accepted many elements of indian culture, religion, and political practice