Understanding Hinduism

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Understanding Hinduism

• Sanjay Sampath, M.S, M.B.A, B.S. (Chem. Engg)
• Location Woodlands Hindu Temple
• January 24, 2010
• Contact Information krishnasown_at_yahoo.com
• Website www.urbanhindu.com
• This presentation is for free distribution

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Prayer

• o? saha navavatu
• saha nau bhunaktu
• saha virya? karavavahai
• tejasvinavadhitamastu ma vidvi?avahai
• o? santi? santi? santi?
• OM Let both of us protect each other together
• May both of us enjoy together
• May both of us work together
• Let our study become radiant, let there be no
  hatred between us
• OM Peace, Peace, Peace.

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Learning/Discussion Goals

• Who is a Hindu? What are the Vedas?
• When were the Vedas written?
• What is their relevance in todays day and age?
• Why are Vedas are relevant and important?
• How are Hindu scriptures classified?
• Understanding major Sampradayas in Hinduism
• And if time permits which it usually doesnt..
• Importance of Hindu festivals
• Importance of Hinduism and India to the world
• Note A side effect may be additional clarity to
  better understand the Katopanishad

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Vedic thoughts are becoming more popular
worldwide!!

• Yoga and Meditation
• The Biology of Belief - Dr. Bruce Lipton
• Avatar
• Messages from water by Masuru Emoto
• Oprahs series with Eckhard Tolle

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VedaVyasa
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Vedas - Breakdown

• Each of the 4 Vedas is divided into these parts
• Part 1 Samhita
• Collection of mantras or hymns and prayers in
  praise of Deities for attaining prosperity and
  happiness.
• Mainly meant for Brahmacharis, those who are in
  the first stage of their lives.
• Part 2 Brahmana
• Guides people in the performance of Vedic Karmas
  or rituals
• Brahmana is suitable for the householders, those
  belonging to the second stage in life.

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Vedas - Breakdown

• Part 3 Aranyaka
• Methods of meditation based upon symbolical
  interpretations of sacrificial rites
• The Aranyakas are intended for the Vanaprasthas
  or people who prepare themselves for the last
  stage.
• Part 4 Upanishads
• Concluding portions which discuss philosophical
  issues.
• They are the essence of the Vedas containing
  their knowledge aspects.
• Roughly speaking, the Samhitas and Brahmanas
  constitute Karma Kanda, the Aranyakas the Upasana
  Kanda and the Upanishads the Jnana Kanda

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Classification

• Rig Veda - Hymns whose function was to invoke the
  deities.
• Yajur Veda - Defines actions to be performed
  during Yagnas or sacrificial rites.
• Sama Veda - Collection of all the musical chants.
  
• Atharva Veda - Contains mantras to ward off
  evil/hardship.

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Shaka
Shaka is a branch of Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka
and Upanishad
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Some Vedic Terms

• Sookta
• Number of Riks or mantras constitute a Sookta
• Examples Purusha Sooktam, Narayana Sooktam, Sri
  Sooktam etc.
• Sootra
• Sootras are aphorisms or declarations.
• Using minimum words to project a maximum
  dimension of thought.
• Examples Brahma Sootra, Patanjali Yoga Sootra,
  Narada Bhakti Sootra, Ashtadhyayi of Panini etc.
• Bhashyas
• Because of their cryptic nature, Bhashyas or
  commentaries are necessary to understand Sootras.
  SriBhashya by Ramanuja on the Bramhasutras

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Rig Veda Interesting facts

• Rik means hymns in praise
• This Samhita contains masterpieces of poetic
  compositions like the famous Purusha Sooktam and
  the morning prayers to Ushas, the goddess of
  dawn.
• It was said to have 21 Shakhas but now only five
  of them are known to exist
• 10,552 mantras
• ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti meaning Truth
  is one, sages call it by various names

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Yajur Veda Interesting facts

• Yajur Veda Samhita is in two parts viz. Krishna
  Yajurveda and Shukia Yaiurveda.
• Krishna Yajurveda - Vaishampayana.
• Shukla Yajurveda Samhita - Yajnavalkya from
  Vaajasani which means the Sun God.
• Only 2/17 Shakhas of this Samhita exist. ( Kanva
  and Madhyandina Shakhas).
• Sri Rudram is from the Yajur Veda. Also has its
  own version of Purusha Sooktha.

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Sama Veda Interesting facts

• The word Saama also means that which brings peace
  to the mind.
• Of 1000 shakas, only 3 are available now.
• The mantras of Samaveda are known as Saman. Have
  seven svaras or musical scales. Basis of
  the seven svaras
• Sri Krishna says in the Gita (Ch.10 Verse
  22) vedaanaam saamavedosmi meaning among the
  Vedas I am the Sama Veda
• Lalita Sahasranama, one of the epithets used to
  describe the Divine Mother is Saama Gaana
  Priye meaning one who is pleased with the
  recital of Saman.

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Atharva Veda Interesting facts

• It deals more with things here and now. This
  Veda contains many types of mantras designed to
  ward off evils and hardship as also to destroy
  enemies.
• Also deals with diseases and their cure, rites
  for prolonging life, for fulfilling ones
  desires, construction activities, trade and
  commerce, statecraft, defense systems of the
  country etc.
• Only 2 of the 9 Shakhas are available now. They
  are Pippalada and Saunaka. Only one Brahmana
  called Gopatha Brahmana has been discovered.
• The three well known Upanishads viz. Prasna,
  Mundaka and Mandukya as also the Kaivalya
  Upanishad belong to this Veda.

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Auxiliaries to Vedas
VEDANGA Limbs of Vedas VEDANGA Limbs of Vedas
 Title  Subject Dealt With
 1. Siksha  Science of phonetics or pronunciation and intonation.
 2. Vyakarana  Science of the grammar of language
 3. Nirukta  Etymology or the science of origin, meaning and explanation of the Vedic words.
 4. Chandas  Prosody or science of composition of the hymns like meter, rhyme, paada etc. of the mantras
 5. Jyotisha  Astronomy and astrology mainly directed towards fixing up of auspicious moments for the performance of the Vedic sacrifices 
 6. Kalpa  Science or manual of sacrificial rituals, both Vedic and domestic.
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Auxiliaries to Vedas
Veda Upaanga Veda Upaanga Veda Upaanga
Remaining Vidyas  Meemaamsa  Deeper Analysis of Vedas
Remaining Vidyas Nyaya Science of logic and expediency
Remaining Vidyas Puranas Vedas magnifying glasses
Remaining Vidyas Dharma Shastras Road to realize Puranic goal
Remaining Vidyas Saankya Description of 24 Tattwas
Remaining Vidyas Yoga Yoga for union with ishwara
Not considered Upaanga in Some Classifications
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Auxiliaries to Vedas
 UPA VEDA Or Subsidiary Vedas  UPA VEDA Or Subsidiary Vedas  UPA VEDA Or Subsidiary Vedas
 Title  Subject Dealt with  Veda to which attached
 Ayurveda  Science of life, of sound health including the art of preventing and curing diseases  Rig Veda
 Gandharva Veda  Science of fine arts like music and dance  Sama Veda.
 Artha Veda  Known as Artha-sastra science of economics, politics and statecraft  Atharva Veda
 Dhanurveda  Science of archery and warfare  Yajurveda.
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Major Hindu Sampradayas

• Very simplistically put
• Advaita Atma and Paramatma become one and the
  same
• Vishistadvaita Surrender to Lord Narayana (Many
  Sesis (Atmas) who carry out service of the Sesa
  (Paramatma))
• Dvaita Ultimate realization is Atma and
  Paramatma are different.

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Adi Sankara (788 AD - 820 AD)

• Adi Sankara was one of the foremost Acharyas of
  the Hinduism.  
• He is considered by devotees to be an avatar of
  Lord Shiva.  
• He only lived to be 32 years but till date his
  influence in Hinduism is unmistakable.
• Belonged to the Advaita tradition

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Sri Ramanujacharya (1017 AD - 1137 AD)

• Ramanuja was a devotee of Vishnu par excellence.
   
• Granting entry into temples for the Harijans
  (Dalits) a thousand years back when caste still
  ruled the roost in India.  
• He initiated the distribution of holy food
  (Prasadam) to all devotees without
  discrimination.  
• He introduced worship in local languages at the
  temples (Previously done only in Sanskrit).  
• He advocated total surrender (Prapatti) as the
  easiest way to god.  

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Madhvacharya (1238 AD - 1317 AD)

• The most well known guru in the Dvaita tradition.
   
• The main icon (vigraha) in Udupi of Lord
  Krishna was established by Madhvacharya.
• The 8 monasteries (ashta mathas) of Udupi have
  been following his philosophy since then.
• Sunil is the most well known follower of this
  tradition in our group.

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Guru