Central Beliefs of Hindusm

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Central Beliefs of Hindusm

• Hinduism 3

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Hindu Scriptures

• Hinduism likely the oldest world religion
• Early teachings / stories not written, but
  memorized passed on by word of mouth
• Later gathered in written collections
• Revealed Scriptures, from the deities via holy
  people,
• Traditional scriptures, popular stories about
  the deities

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Revealed Scriptures

• Oldest scriptures, Vedas, from the Sanskrit word
  for knowledge
• Vedas, written by and for Brahmans
• Divisions within the Vedas from various Brahman
  families who became specialists in different
  areas of ritual

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Vedas came to include

• Verses, liturgical formulas
• Explanations meaning of the liturgies
• Meant for only the most learned practitioners
• Upanishads
• Literally meaning, sit down near, i.e., as
  beside a wise teacher
• Oral tradition 1000 years
• Upanishads seen as the heart of the Vedas
• Therefore, the strongest influence on Hinduism

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Traditional Scriptures

• remembered poems, popular stories
• Most Hindus are not concerned with the historical
  accuracy of the stories
• The characters are role models of dharma living
• Best-known examples
• Ramayana (Ramas Way) Prince Rama his wife Sita
• Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Adorable One) dialogue
  between a great prince Arjuna Krishna (his
  charioteer)

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Deities, Avatars, Epics

• For Hindus, there is only one God or Supreme
  Being
• This Being is manifested in many different forms,
  called deities
• Each deity is one of many different expressions
  of the divine, i.e., Brahman, the eternal soul
• Many Hindus are devoted to primarily one deity,
  e.g., Vishnu or Shiva, as the highest most
  perfect form of Brahman
• Almost all worship honour other deities too

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The Hindu Triad

• Brahman manifested in form of many deities
• Some Hindu traditions suggest that three deities,
  Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, symbolize the cycle of
  existence

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Brahma The Creator of the Universe

• Often shown with four faces looking in four
  directions
• Usually wearing white, riding on a swan or
  peacock or seated on a lotus
• Considered above worship,
• Therefore few temples to Brahma

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Vishnu the Preserver

• Often dressed in yellow with blue skin
• Pictured with his partner, Lakshmi, riding on the
  back of a huge half-bird, half-man
• Sometimes Vishnu descends to the world in human
  form to maintain order save the world from
  danger
• Incarnations called avatars

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Avatars of Vishnu

• Vishnu has appeared in 9 different avatars
• 7th Rama
• 8th Krishna
• 9th, Gautama
• Aka, The Buddha, founder of Buddhism
• Hindus wait for the 10th avatar, warrior Kalkin
  who will rid the world of oppression

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Shiva The Destroyer/Redeemer

• The deity of the cosmic dance
• Dangerous destructive, yet joyful and creative
• Destroys the sins of believers to lead them to
  redemption
• Often shown wearing tiger-skin loincloth, snake
  collar, necklace of skulls
• when he brings down is foot the universe will
  end
• To be recreated, the universe must be destroyed
• Truth experienced through Shiva, one needs to
  look at evil and good, pain/suffering and growth

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Other Important Deities (chart p. 247)

• Krishna
• Ganesha
• Parvati
• Durga
• Kali
• Lakshmi
• Saraswati