Major Hindu Gods
Indra: god of storm - warrior deity
Agni: god of fire - successful ritual
Varuna: enforcer of moral order
Hindu Texts
Sruti: "that which is heard"
supreme authority, Vedas
Smriti: "that which is remembered
Vedas
knowledge, revealed to rishis, passed down orally
Rig Veda
hymn knowledge
over 1000 hymns to gods
basic mythology
Yajur Veda
ceremonial knowledge
recitation during ceremonies
Sama Veda
chant knowledge
Vedic chants
Atharva Veda
knowledge given by the teacher
Brahmanas
explanations of sacrifice
commentaries to instruct priests in rites
Aranyakas
forest treatises
interpreting Veda rituals for ascetics in forest
Upanishads
sitting near teacher
end of Vedas
Dharmashastras
Treatises on Dharma
The Law Code of Manu
The Epics of Mahabharata
Which contains the Bhagavad Gita - narrative of Arjuna and Krishna
Ramayana
Narrative of Rama and Sita the ideal man and ideal woman
Brahman
ultimate and basic essence of the cosmos
Atman
ultimate as it is experienced within ourself
Tat Tvam Asi
that art thou
oneness of all things
Maya
illusion, seeing world as individuals
Karma
cosmic law of cause and effect
Samsara
wheel of rebirth
Moksha
liberation
Dharma
righteous law associated with social order
Rita
natural human order that the gods enforced
Yoga Sutras
moving from one pointed meditation to samadhi
Jnana yoga
knowledge path
karma yoga
action yoga
bhakti yoga
devotion yoga
raja yoga
royal yoga
law code of manu
ethical and social standards
stages of life
goals of life
brahmin
priest
master the vedic ritual practice
kshatriya
warriors, noble
to rule justly and protect society
vaishya
merchants
specialize in artisanship and trade
shudra
peasants
perform laborious and menial tasks
dalit
untouchables
children of god
Bramacharin
student, spends time laying religious foundation for life (8-20 yrs old)
Grihastha
householder, person fulfills demands of society by raising children (20 yrs old)
Vanaprastha
retiree, individual may retire somewhat to spend time on religious matters (when grandchildren arrive)
Sannyasin
renunciate, only after retirement, it is optional, a man may choose to leave his family (as long as wife is cared for) and live as an ascetic, begging for food pilgrimage to sacred sites or join an ashram (religious community)
goals of life
Artha - economic security
Kama - pleasure
Dharma - social and religious duty (most important)
Moksha - release from cycle of death and rebirth
Mahabharata
Narrative of King Pandu's five sons
Includes the Bhagavad Gita
Story of Arjuna and Krishna
One must follow their dharma
trimurti
triple form
creation, preservation, destruction
brahma
creative force that made the universe
sarasvati
Chief wife of Brahma
Goddess of knowledge, speech, poetry, music and the arts
Vishnu
Preserver
God of love, benevolence, forgiveness, love of play and tricks
Ten avatars (incarnations) including Krishna and Rama
Lakshmi
Chief wife of Vishnu
Goddess of fertility, wealth and victory
Shiva
Destroyer
Destruction associated with re-creation and thereby Shiva is also associated with life
Will eventually shatter the cosmos to its primal elements allowing a renewal
Shakti
Consort of Shiva
Sheer life force, splendor and power
The Great Mother
Manifests as Parvati, Kali
Parvati
Consort of Shiva
Nature at its gentlest and loveliest
Kali
Most fearsome
She is the world of appearances, time, change
She kills out of mercy
Ganesh
The overcomer of obstacles
Symbol of strength and abundance
Hindu Women's Roles
Purdah
Dowry
Not permitted to divorce
Suttee