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Home , Dashavatara, Kaumodaki, Kaustubha, Parashu, Prahlada, Shesha

भारत गणराज्

The Arts of India are the illustration of the religious life of the . Like their faith, the arts have been preserved for the past 3,000 years, from change and decay, from foreign invasions, and from the fury of the nature. Officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia.

7th LARGEST country by geographical area.

GEOGRAPHY of INDIA

Bounded by the:

• Indian Ocean on the south • Arabian Sea on the south-west • Bay of Bengal on the south-east • it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west • China, Nepal, & Bhutan north-east • Burma & Bangladesh to the east. 2nd most populous country with over 1.2 billion people.

ETYMOLOGY

The name India is derived from INDUS: which is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, from Sindhu (�सन्ध).

The ancient Greeks referred to the Indians as Indoi (Ινδοί), the people of the Indus.

• Bhagwa or the saffron color denotes renunciation or disinterestedness.

• The white in the centre is light, the path of truth to guide their conduct.

The INDIAN FLAG

•The green shows their relation to (the) soil, the relation to the plant life here, on which all other life depends.

The INDIAN FLAG

The "Ashoka Chakra" in the centre of the white is the wheel of the law of .

The INDIAN FLAG

Indian subcontinent is the home to the world’s oldest civilizations and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires.

Four of the world's major religion originated in India — , Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. whereas Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. भारत गणराज् HINDUISM

A predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. HINDUISM

Known to its followers as Sanātana Dharma a Sanskrit phrase meaning “the eternal law“.

(the eternal law that sustains / upholds / surely preserves) HINDUISM

Hinduism is formed of diverse traditions and has no single founder.

Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion" or the oldest living major religion" in the world.

HINDUISM : 3 FORMS TRIMURTI: THREE FORMS

A concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance and destruction are personified by the forms. TRIMURTI: THREE FORMS

Brahmā the creator, the preserver, and Śhiva the destroyer or transformer.

TRIMURTI: THREE FORMS

These three deities have been called “the Hindu triad” or the "Great Trinity", often addressed as:

"-Vishnu-Maheshwara"

TRIMURTI: THREE FORMS "Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara"

One kind of representation for the Trimurti or Trinity shows three heads on one neck and often even three faces on one head that each one looking in a dissimilar direction. BRAHMA THE CREATOR

BRAHMA: THE CREATOR

“BRAHMA CREATED THE FOUR TYPES: GODS, , ANCESTORS, AND MEN.”

BRAHMA: THE CREATOR

--- According to the , Brahma – the creator is the father of Mānu.

--- from Mānu all human beings are descended.

--- In the and the Mahābhārata, he is often referred to as the progenitor or great grandsire of all human beings. BRAHMA: Symbols

Back right hand Back left hand represents mind represents intellect

Front right hand is ego Front left hand is self- The Four confidence Arms & Hands: represent the four directions BRAHMA: Symbols

The Book The Lotus symbolizes knowledge symbolizes nature and the living essence of all things and beings in the Universe.

The Gold symbolizes activity; thus the golden face of Brahma indicates that He The Prayer beads is actively involved in the Symbolize the process of creating the substances used in Universe. the process of creation. BRAHMA: Symbols

The Crown - Lord Brahma's crown indicates His supreme authority.

The Beard - Brahma's black or white beard denotes wisdom and the eternal process of creation.

The Swan - is the symbol of grace and discernment. Brahma uses the swan as his vāhana, or his carrier or vehicle. BRAHMA: Symbols

The Four Faces – represents the four or the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism.

BRAHMA: Symbols

• Rik / - contains several mythological and poetical accounts of the origin of the world, hymns praising the gods, and ancient prayers for life, prosperity, etc.

• - It consists of a collection () of hymns, portions of hymns, and detached verses BRAHMA: Symbols

• - contains the liturgy (mantras) needed to perform the sacrifices.

• - a collection of spells and incantations, apostrophic charms and speculative hymns. BRAHMA: The Creator

At the beginning of time lay on a banyan leaf floating on the ancient waters. After many ages, Narayana began to create the universe. BRAHMA: The Creator

Banyan leaf. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his mouth, Narayana created speech. Speech brought communication to the world. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his mind, Narayana created the Vedas. The Vedas brought history and guidance to the world. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his tongue, Narayana created , the ocean of milk. Amrita was the 'water of life'. Without amrita, the existence of the universe was in danger. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his nose, Narayana created the stars and the sky. The stars guided travellers on their way and the sky formed a canopy over the earth. BRAHMA: The Creator

From the pupils of his eyes, Narayana created the and the sun. The sun brought light and heat to the earth. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his ears, Narayana created places of worship. Places of worship gave the people a way to honour and pay respects to their gods. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his hair, Narayana created the clouds and rain. Clouds and rain brought water to the earth, making the land fertile. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his beard, Narayana created lightning – it signals the power of the Gods. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his nails, Narayana created rocks. Rocks brought stability to the earth. BRAHMA: The Creator

From his bones, Narayana created mountains. Montains formed the landscape of the earth. BRAHMA: The Creator

And thus, the UNIVERSE was created. VISHNU THE PRESERVER

Vishnu governs the aspect of preservation and sustenance of the universe, so he is called “Preserver of the universe”. In almost all , Vishnu is either worshipped directly or in the form of his ten avatara, most famous of whom are and . VISHNU: Symbols

Panchajanya The Four Arms & ( / conch shell) Hands: represents his power to holding a lotus, mace, create and maintain the conch and a wheel universe.

Sudarshana Chakra Padma (Lotus) symbolizes the purified represents spiritualized mind. • spiritual liberation • Divine perfection • purity and the ( / mace) • unfolding of Spiritual symbolizes his divine consciousness within power is the source of all the individual. spiritual, mental and physical strength. VISHNU: Symbols

The two earrings The crown represent inherent symbolizes his opposites in creation: supreme authority. • knowledge and sometimes depicted ignorance having a peacock • happiness and feather unhappiness • pleasure and pain

Around his neck, he wears the auspicious "Kaustubha" jewel, The color of his skin is and a “vanamaalaa” (garland of flowers) new-cloud-like-blue VISHNU: Symbols

Vishnu rests on : the immortal and infinite . VISHNU: The

An , meaning “descent” or “incarnation”, is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being.

VISHNU: The AVATARS

The concept of avatar within Hinduism is most often associated with Vishnu. Vishnu's avatars typically descend for a very specific purpose. VISHNU: The AVATARS

An oft-quoted passage from the describes the typical role of an avatar of Vishnu—to bring dharma, or righteousness, back to the social and cosmic order: VISHNU: The AVATARS

“Whenever righteousness wanes and unrighteousness increases I send myself forth. For the protection of the good and for the destruction of evil, and for the establishment of righteousness, I come into being age after age.”

(Gita:4.7–8)

VISHNU: The

The ten best known avatars of Vishnu are collectively known as the “Dashavatara”.

Avatar literally means "descent, alight, to make one's appearance", and refers to the embodiment of the essence of a superhuman being or a deity in another form. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

Yuga in Hinduism is an epoch or era within a four age cycle. A complete starts with the Yuga, via and into a Yuga.

Satya yuga Treta yuga Dwapara yuga .

The first of the four , the "Yuga (Age or Era) of Truth", when humanity is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and humanity will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme.

Satya Yuga lasted 1,728,000 years. Treta Yuga - Ages of

mankind Treta Yuga is the second out of the four yugas, or ages of mankind, in the religion of Hinduism. (Treta means 'a collection of three things )

5TH - 6TH - 7TH Rama

Treta Yuga lasted 1,296,000 years. Dvapara Yuga / Dwapara Yuga – Ages of and truthfulness.

The third out of four Yugas, or ages, described in the scriptures of Hinduism. There are only two pillars of religion during the Dvapara Yuga: compassion and truthfulness.

Dvapara Yuga lasts 864,000 years. Kali Yuga - Age of [the ] Kali", or "age of vice")

The last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Sanskrit scriptures.

Kali Yuga is associated with the demon Kali.

The start of Kali Yuga, which is dated to 17/18 February 3102 BCE. (Before Common Era ) VISHNU: The Dashavatara

1.

MATSYA the fish-avatar who saved – the progenitor of mankind from the great flood and rescued the Vedic scriptures by killing a demon. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

Manu said prostrating before the fish."Manu, the Yuga is about to end in seven days. There will be a great flood and all living things on the earth would perish. I want you to build a big ship. Take the seeds of all plants, the male and female of every animal, and the seven sages along with their families.

Take them all on the ship"Manu nodded. The fish continued. "Don't forget to bring , the snake God also." Manu nodded again as he watched the fish tear through the ocean to the other side. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

2.

KURMA the tortoise-avatar, who helped in the – the churning of the ocean. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

In Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a tortoise. It is an interesting story involving both the gods (Devtas) and (demons). In the ongoing saga of battle between the gods and asuras, on one occasion the gods suddenly lost all their strength due to a curse by the short- tempered sage Durvasa. The sage had once presented a garland of flowers to ,king of gods, who carelessly gave it away to his elephant which trampled it. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

3.

VARAHA the boar-avatar, who rescued the earth from the ocean, by killing her kidnapper- demon VISHNU: The Dashavatara

One day Lord Vishnu was resting in his palace, when Lord Brahma’s four sons came to meet him. They were stopped at the entrance by two guards, Jaya and Vijaya. They did not allow them to enter as their master was resting, Brahma’s sons were very angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as humans on earth and to leave their godly status.

Lord Vishnu arrived at the spot and apologized for Jaya and Vijaya’s behavior as they were merely doing their duty. So as a compensation Brahma’s son said that curse would be lifted when Jaya and Vijaya in human forms would meet their death at Lord Vishnu’s hands. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

4.

NARASIMHA the half man- half lion avatar, who killed the tyrant demon- king , to rescue the demon's son , who was a Vishnu-devotee. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

5.

VAMANA, the dwarf- avatar, who subdued the king Maha Bali VISHNU: The Dashavatara

6.

PARASHURAMA - The Warrior Incarnation sage with the axe who killed the thousand- armed king Kartavirya .

TRETA YUGA - the second out of the four yugas, or ages of mankind

SAGE SAGE JAMADAGNI RENUKA DEVI

Pot made of mad POOJA /

A prayer ritual performed by Hindus to host, honour and Messanger of Lord Indra worship one or more deities, or to spiritually celebrate an event.

RAMA Gandharvas Messanger of Lord Indra

Distinct heavenly beings in Hinduism and Buddhism; it is also a term for skilled singers in Indian classical music. Mental adultery

SAGE JAMADAGNI RENUKA DEVI

RAMA SAGE JAMADAGNI RENUKA DEVI

“Kill your mother, Rama” shouted Jamadagni to his last son Parashurama.

RAMA

Rama’s two wishes Lesson: Mercy above Justice SAGE JAMADAGNI KING KARTAVIRYA

Sage has a sacred cow – also known as Surabhi (the fragrant one)

Described in Hinduism as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires. SAGE JAMADAGNI and Surabhi (the fragrant one) Parashurama ("Rama with an axe") Parashurama Killing Kartaveerya Parasurama conquered different countries and killed all the”. ‘ KINGS” He decided to captured King Dasaratha.

After how many years… Rama The seventh avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu. Rama - the Perfect Man or Lord of Self-Control or Lord of Virtue.

VISHNU: The Dashavatara

7.

RAMA the king of and the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

8.

KRISHNA the king of Dwarka, a central character in the Purana and the and reciter of Bhagavad Gita. VISHNU: The Dashavatara

9.

BUDDHA in Hinduism is viewed as an Avatar of Vishnu.

Similarly, a number of Hindu traditions portray Buddha as the most recent (ninth) of ten principal avatars, known as the Daśāvatāra (Ten Incarnations of God). VISHNU: The Dashavatara

10.

KALKI ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), is the tenth and final Maha Avatar (great incarnation) of Vishnu who will come to end the precent age of darkness and destruction known as Kali Yuga. IMPORTANT POINTS

Matsya was never actually worshipped, but the "" is prevalent in all ancient cultures of the world (think Noah's Ark) and thus might be an old story that was incorporated naturally into the legend.

Kurma is probably a piece of ancient folklore that was accommodated into the legend very late, but again, never really worshipped.

Varaha is supposed to have come to the pantheon through a primitive non-Aryan cult that worshipped an anthropomorphic pig-like god. Boar- worshipping cults were also popular at various times in the Gupta period.

Narasimha was worshipped by a small sect as ishtadevta and is shown multiple times in sculpture.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Vamana took three steps that covered the entire existing cosmos, something that is mentioned a long time ago in the Rig Veda and took on popular folk elements of story to form the story we know today.

Parashuram was a warrior not frequently worshipped but oft-mentioned in scripture at various times.

Rama was probably a chieftain in the 8th or 7th century B.C. In the first variants of his story, he has no divine powers, buthis cult developed later, becoming important at the point in history when Muslim invasions began, although he is said to be an earlier incarnation than Krishna.

IMPORTANT POINTS Krishna has the most popular and long legend. The imagery of a slain god, hit by an arrow at one vulnerable spot, and the great city submerged by the sea, are not Indian in character, and speak of European literary influence. The first pastoral form of Krishna might have come from early Tamil poetry where he played the flute and flirted with milkmaids. Basham says he might have been an early fertility god in the south, his legend and cult spread by the pastoral peoples and nomads coming northward.

Buddha is said in 's , one of the earliest lists of the incarnations to have been a form of Vishnu who wanted to put an end to animal sacrifice and suffering. Basham says Buddha was included "to assimilate heterodox elements into the Vaishnavite fold".

Kalki is the future incarnation that is less important in literature and iconography. His legend might have come from various sources. Buddha taught of the coming of the Maitreya Buddha very early on, before the Kalki myth was formed.

A.L. Basham, in his book The Wonder That Was India IMPORTANT POINTS

The first 6 Incarnations of Vishnu / Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

Matsya/ Macha (Fish) -Life starts in water (600 million- 400 million years ago)

Kurma (Turtle) - The first amphibians emerge (100 million years ago)

Varaha (Boar) - The first mammals evolve (60 million years ago)

Source: Ved Purohit, A Seeker, Exploring Hinduism IMPORTANT POINTS

The first 6 Incarnations of Vishnu / Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

Narasimha (half man-half lion) - Half man-half animal appear (30 million years ago)

Vamana (short man) - Homo Erectus, Upright, yet short and weaponless (5 million – 2 million years ago) ( and Vamana)

Parashurama (parashu=axe, Rama=name of God) - Bronze age; the coming of Ramapithecus; development of first weapons such as axe. Homo Sapiens (350,000- 100,000 years ago)

SHIVA: The Destroyer : The Destroyer

Śiva meaning "auspicious one" is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti. SHIVA: The Destroyer

God Shiva is a who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a sage at Mount Kailash. SHIVA: The Destroyer

A yogi (sometimes spelled jogi) is a practitioner of . In Vedic Sanskrit, yoga (from the root yuj) means "to add", "to join", "to unite", or "to attach" in its most common literal sense.

Yogi is technically male, and yoginī is the term used for female practitioners.