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Home , Annaprashana, Antyesti, Gandharva, Garbhadhana, Kanyadan, Karnavedha

COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS

World Religions: Narrative, Mysticism, Philosophy, , history What is Religion?

• Religion is philosophical action that arises from the dedication and identification of a person or people with a larger tradition or narrative. Through religion, individuals look for transcendence of their particular circumstance in relation to .

• Not all religions are monotheistic, so "" might replace God, above, but religion tends to point toward a singular ultimate reality. • "Ultimate reality" is another common substitute for "God," but this downplays the personal manner by which this reality is known. Major Religions

• has roots in the Vedic tradition extending back to 1500 B.C., but formalized by about 400 A.D. It is ostensibly polytheistic, though many consider themselves monotheists. • had its origin in around 500 B.C., based on the teachings of . While there are many forms of Buddhism, they all focus on the universal need for , or non- existence through detachment. Many Buddhists consider themselves monotheistic or atheistic. • has its origins in Chinese religions going back at least to the 4th century A.D. Taoism emphasizes harmony with nature. Major Religions

• bases its teachings on those of Kong Fu Zi (Confucius- Grand Master Kong), emphasizing the duty humans have to one another, in particular Filial Piety, or the duty one has to one's parents and children. • : has its origins about 2000 B.C. or earlier. Describes the relationship of a singular people and God. The focus of Judaism is the return to a covenantal relationship with God for all humanity. • Islam: has its origins in the teaching of the prophet Muhammed (600 A.D.). Heavily influenced by Judaism and Christianity, and identifies itself as the true heir to the monotheistic religion of Abraham. Hinduism: core concepts

• : literally means "sacred duty" or "that which sustains." The dharma is the principle of order in the universe. Each of us have our own duties, dictated by our circumstances, and fulfilling these duties means keeping the universe in order. Dharma is performed out of devotion to God, not attachment to oneself, others, or material things • Adharma: chaos. The neglect of dharma leads to chaos in the universe and in our own lives. This is also caused by disordered attachment to things or people, causing us to neglect our duty. • is action. Karma binds us to existence if it is possessive. It becomes baggage that we carry around with us. If Karma is disinterested, and arises from dharma alone, then it frees us to attain liberation () from the cycle of . Hinduism: core concepts

• is discipline. karmayoga is disciplined action that we perform without concern for the fruit or consequences, but only because it is our duty. Karmayoga liberates us. • Samsara: the cycle of rebirth. Liberation from samsara is moksha. • Atman: the soul. We all have an eternal soul, which is bound to samsara and rebirth. Through Atman we get in touch with , ultimate reality. For some, Atman is Brahman, realized only at moksha. Hinduism: The Bhagavad-Gita

The Bhagavad-Gita, or song of the Lord, is the central part of a longer work called the Mahabarata, which concerns a war that took place in the Kurukshetra region of the Punjab.

The Mahabarata (the longest poem ever written) concerns a conflict between two sets of cousins: the 5 sons of and the 100 sons of Dhristarashtra. • Pandu was the younger brother of , who was in line for the The Bhagavad-Gita : throne of Kurukshetra. However, Dhritarashtra was born blind, and so his younger brother Pandu assumed the the Brothers throne.

• Pandu, however, could not have children because of a curse that forbids him from having sexual relations with his wives. Pandu reigns for a long time before retiring to the forest. • Before he dies, Pandu is helped by five gods while living in the forest to have five children. These are the Pandava. • The Panadava emerge from the forest, and return to Kurukshetra, where Dhritarashtra is reigning until one of the Panadava are old enough. Bhagavad-Gita

The Five Pandava and the one hundred sons of Dhritarashtra are educated alongside of each other in the court of Kurukshetra.

Arjuna, one of the Pandava, becomes a favored pupil especially of , the master of the bow and the one instructing all the cousins in the art of war.

The eldest Pandava, Yudishthira, has the legitimate right to the throne, but the eldest of Dhritarashtra’s sons, , is jealous and conspire to exile the Pandava for a period of thirteen years. • Duryodhana underhandedly defeats Yudishthira in a game of dice, and the Pandava go into exile for a period of 13 years. Meanwhile, Duryodhana assumes the throne. • The Pandava return, but the sons of Dhritarashtra refuse to step aside. War becomes inevitable. • The 18 day battle concerns most of the text of the Bhagavad-Gita. • The poem is recited by , the bard and charioteer of Dhritarashtra, to whom the gods give knowledge of all things present or future, public or private, as a boon to Dhritarashtra. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT ZFolAfels Yoga: Discipline, necessary to purify action (karma) and Bhagavad eventually reach Moksha. : One who practices Yoga Gita : Yoga Papa: sin; violations of dharma leading to attachment

Four Types of Yoga 1. : the yoga of action. Since we are temporal beings, we cannot avoid action. Action which is in accord with dharma is purified. 2. : royal yoga is meditation; the practice of and perfect self-awareness detaches the yogi from the (illusion) of the world. 3. yoga: the yoga of knowledge comes from insight and study of those things which are real. This is the yoga of self- consciousness of the soul in relationship to and of understanding particular things. 4. yoga: the yoga of devotion to a personal god; derives from the insight into the self from the relationship to a god. : Samsara The Four Stages of Life: Ashramas 1. The first : Brahmacharya: the celibate student. The student leves home and studies with a to attain spiritual and practical knowledge. 2. The second Ashrama: ; the . Beginning with marriage, the grihastha begins pursuit of wealth () and sexual pleasure (). This stage should end when the hair grays and the skin wrinkles. 3. The Third Ashrama: Vanasprastha, or hermit. Having become a grandfather, the lives in a hut in the forest with his wife, and maintains little contact with the family. He renounces all material and sexual pleasure. 4. The Fourth Ashrama: Sunnyasa: the Wandering Ascetic. Having attended his own , the Sunnyasa devotes himself completely to God, and maintains no possessions and home. He merges with God and wanders homeless until and moksha. Samsara • Some dualistic Hindu traditions maintain that ultimately the god and the soul are not the same, but only by grace can moksha be attained: • 6th teaching, stanza 39 • Other monistic traditions maintain that it is only illusion that separates the Atman and Brahman. • The cycle of Samsara traps the soul and in some sense is created by the soul. • After death, if the yogi has failed, he lives in a palace for endless years created by his own virtue. • While there, he meditates and learns from his past life and is born with wisdom in his next life. • The yogi finds his way through many rebirths. This is superior to men of penance, action, and knowledge (6: 45, 46) • The Caste system became solidified Caste System: around the time of the Bhagavad the 4 Varnas Gita (1st c. A.D.). • The Moghul (Islamic) rulers of India : discouraged the castes starting Priests and teachers. around the 12th c. A.D. • The upper Castes and centers of : Warriors power, esp. cities, followed the lead and rulers of the Moghuls. The Brahmins began : to accept jobs to support themselves famers, and their temples. merchants • Rural resistance to the Moghuls, esp. : among the lower castes, solidified the laborers castes. : Outcastes: • The British exploited the caste system, Street sweepers, allied themselves with the Brahmins, latrine cleaners and restored their privileges. • Metaphysics: the three Gunas • All reality s composed of three Gunas, or elements: 1. : ignorance and inertia, dark, dull, and passive 2. : passion, greed, addiction, lust, manic, obsessive 3. : lucidity, balance, harmony • The yogi is able to see these elements in all things and balance them in himself, thus reaching moksha at death. If one of the gunas predominates a person at death, then he will be reborn in an appropriate caste: • Sattva- Brahmin • Tamas- Hindu Creation

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ6hVl84sjg • In the beginning, The god Vishnu floated asleep on a bed of snakes. The waters were the source of all causes, and the snakes represented time as it extends and contracts. • The sacred syllable broke the silence and awakened Vishnu. • Om consists of three sounds, that represent the powers of the three main gods: 1. : creative power 2. Vishnu Shakti: sustaining power 3. Shakti: destructive/transformative power Hindu Creation • Brahma emerged and created the world by dividing the lotus flower into three parts. • The division also happens when the sound Om divides the unity of the waters (causes). • This separation formed: 1. Purusha: divine consciousness 2. Prakriti: primordial matter Hindu Creation Prakriti in turn formed the three gunas and the five : 1. Earth 2. Fire 3. Wind 4. Air 5. Space

• The gunas and tattvas coalesced in different combinations to form created things. They coalesced most powerfully in the human, whose seven are points of energy in the human body. • The purpose of some forms of yoga is to center on these sources of energy and thus access greater consciousness and energy. Stories of Vishnu: 10 At different times, Vishnu takes the form of different beings in order to restore balance to the universe. Some of the most notable: • The Buddha • As he took the form of a fish, and advised King Manu to construct a ship for himself, the seven sages, and the , and guided the ship to safety. • Parashuman took form to avenge the arrogance of the (Warriors). • As , Vishnu took the form of a turtle and Shiva gave him an axe and tuaght the supported Mt. Mandara (human consciousness) martial arts. from sinking into the ocean of Universal • was a devout king who Consciousness. This churning created the Milky renounced his kingdom and fought Way and the Ganges, and is the source of life. the demon , who his bride. Other Hindu Stories

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hoFN0L2IZ8 • The Creation of : formed Ganesha from the dirt and oil of her body to protect her. • Nataraja Shiva: The Dancing Shiva beings enlightenment to the world and maintains Truth over ignorance. The world will end when his left leg comes down. • The Creation of the Ganges: King Bhagirath prayed 1000 years for the descent of the Milky Way to wash the graves of his ancestors. Shiva protected the earth, which would have been washed away, and the river descended through the locks of his hair. Shiva: Creator and Destroyer, meditator

• Brahma and Vishnu were arguing about which of them was the most powerful. A pillar appeared between them and grew to an infinite size. Vishnu turned into a boar to find its base. Brahma turned into a swan to see its top. Both gods returned unsuccessful, and found Shiva, who announced he was the progenitor of both of them, and he should be worshipped in the form of a . • A hunter once heard a tiger growl in a forest, and escaped up a tree. The tiger remained beneath. The hunter remained alert by picking the leaves of the bila tree, and dropping them on the ground. A Shiva linga was under the tree, and so Shiva was pleased by the practice. The hunter was granted moksha. Bila leaves are now used to cool the anger of Shiva and erase karmic debt.

• The Indo- migration began in what is known as the “Urheimat”, or original homeland, in modern-day . • From there, migrations spread into central , , and Greece. • This migration accounts for some genetic, linguistic, and mythological similarities in these areas. • Nazi ideology hijacked this theory, The original Aryan high god, “Dyeus depicting the as establishing Phater,” became all the major civilizations. In Nazi thought, • and Tyr in , the other races were incapable of • the word for god (deus) in Rome, creating civilization. • and Uranus in Greece, and • Max Mueller, author of the theory, • and Pita (Father in rejected Nazi interpretation. Heaven) in the Vedic religion. The Vedas • The Vedas are the oldest form of Hindu literature, formed when the entered India. • The gods Vishnu and Shiva are present in the , but as minor deities. • The Vedas tend to emphasize the importance of priests and nobles, which were dominated by the Aryans. • Vedic religion formed by interaction with the indigenous populations, and held sway 1900 B.C. to 1400 B.C. • The Vedic Religion involves sacrifice by priests. The gods represented forces of nature. Classic Hinduism 2. Yoga: dualist metaphysics that attempts to establish balance prakrti • In the Period of 800-200 B.C., Hinduism and purusa. reached its classical form. 3. : develops logic. Teaches that • The rise of Buddhism and lent the suffering is caused by activity under doctrine of Moksha and to false knowledge. Anything that exists is Hinduism. knowable. • India was unified by the Gupta Empire 4. : Postulates that all matter is which led to the Golden Age of Hinduism reducible to atoms, and our experience (320-650 A.D.). is simply based on this. • This period saw the establishment of Six 5. Mimamsa: closely related to Vedic schools of Hinduism: religions, emphasizes dharma and ritual. Holds that the gods only exist in name. Did not emphasize self-knowledge. 1. : a rationalist school with a strict epistemology; dualist metaphysics 6. : Includes both Advaita and divided between Prakrti (matter) and Dvaita, Non-dualist and Dualist purusa (consciousness). subschools. Monotheism, Henotheism, and the

• The were poet-saints who traveled India in the 12th-18th centuries, composing songs in praise of Vishnu: thus they became Vaishnavists. This in turn developed into a type of Henotheism and Monotheism. • , or the worship of Shiva, may have had very ancient origins, perhaps going back to the pre-Aryan civilization as early as 2600 B.C. Shiva, or , may have been the subject of a monotheistic cult, then was assimilated into Vedic religion as a minor god, and emerging as a main god once again in classic Hinduism. Around 200 B.C. to 100 A.D., Shaivism reached its current form, but remains very diverse. • is the worship of goddesses as the worship of the supreme Goddess, or , having different forms. Among these are /Parvati, a destroyer of evil forces, and , a consort of Vishnu. This also may have had a pre-Aryan monotheistic origin. • Smartisim: a form of , worshipping 6 gods as aspects of the one: Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Devi/Shakti, (the ) and a nameless impersonal god. Bhakti Bhakti is devotional Hinduism, centered on the worship of one god. • Perhaps developed in response to the arrival of Islam in the seventh century. • Includes a central element of , or welcoming of a god into a home or temple. Puja has become a pervasive element in ritual, but was originally in the Vedas a way of welcoming a priest into one’s home.

Four major forms: 1. Atma-Bhakti: devotion to the one's atma (Supreme Self) 2. -Bhakti: devotion to a formless being (God, Cosmic Lord) 3. Ishta -Bhakti: devotion to a personal god or goddess 4. Guru-Bhakti: devotion to Guru 16 Rites of Passage: Sanskara

Sanskara (or Samskara): I. Pre-Natal III. Educational Refer to the 16 for 1. 10. Vidyarambha the rites of passage 2. 11. marking major events in a 12.Vedarambha 3. person’s life. 13.Kesanta More generally, the term II. Childhood 14.Samavartana means “impression”, or the 4. Jatakarman ideal imprints on one’s 5. IV. Marriage mind by karma. In this 6. Niskramana 15. Vivaha way, it can also refer to 7. Annaparasana the behavioral tendencies V. Funeral 8. Cudakaraka of an individual that habit 16. and circumstances form. 9. Karnavehha 16 Sanskara –Rites of Passage

Pre-natal 1. Garbhadhana: Husband recites from the Vedas, couple announces intention to have a child. 2. Pumsavana: in the third or fourth month, Vedic verses are chanted to encourage a son and for the prevention of miscarriage. Many versions exist, but they all involve chanting the Vedas and the father serving food to the mother. 3. Simantonnayana: parting of the hair. The husband parts the hair of the wife three times, chanting to ensure safety for mother and child. When observed, it is done usually in the eighth month in order to encourage the mother. Often compared to a baby shower. After this point, the mother is not supposed to do any work, and the husband should always be near. 16 Sanskara –Rites of Passage (childhood: 4- 10) 4. Jatakarman celebrates the baby's birth, as well as the bonding of the father with the baby. The father welcomes the baby by touching the baby's lips with honey and ghee. Vedic hymns are recited to initiate the baby's mind and intellect in the world. The second part of the hymns wish the baby a long life. 5. Namakarana: “naming.” Normally done of the tenth or twelfth day. The infant is bathed, dressed in new garments, and the name is announced. 6. (literally, first outing). A square area in the courtyard is plastered with cow dung and clay with a inscribed on it. The ceremony ends when the father makes the child look at the sun with the sound of the conch-shell and the chanting of Vedic hymns. 16 Sanskara –Rites of Passage (Childhood: 4-10)

7. : First Feeding. At 6-8 months, the child is given his or her first grains of rice. 8. Mundana or Chudukarana: The arranging of the hair. All hair is shaved off the child except for a tuft at the top of the head. Hair symbolizes karma from past lives. 9. : piercing of the ear, preparing the child to receives sacred sounds that cleanse the mind and nourish the soul. 16 Sanskara: (11-14: educational)

10. Vidyarambham: “Salutations to (Lord Vishnu), Lakshmi (the Goddess of prosperity), and Ganesh” • At the temple or house a child first writes this on rice or sand. Then the priest write this in gold on the child’s tongue. This takes place on the 10th and final day of the Navrati festival in honor of the goddess. 11. Upanyana: The acceptance of a student by a guru. The student receives the sacred thread from the guru which he then wears permanently across his chest. 12. Vedarambha: The beginning of learning the Upanishads. 13. : the first shave of the student. Student offers a cow to the guru. 14. Samavartanam: Graduation; student is ready to become a householder. 16 Sanskara:

• Vivaha or Vivaah: marriage. The Vedas describe eight different types of marriage, 6 of which are lawful and two unlawful (if the bride is unwilling or intoxicated, or abducted by force). An ideal marriage is between a husband who has just graduated from studies, and a girl who is old enough to marry and consummate. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqidvgTzZgA • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OqJjoYtp0s • Most marriages are arranged. Parents consult astrological charts and Brahmins. • Love marriages exist, most prominently in the marriage, which could be without the knowledge or sanction of the parents. and Arjuna both were married in this way. Less wealthy followers of Vishnu (vaishnav) participate in a marriage in which the bride and groom simply exchange a bead garland on their own before a statue of Vishnu. 16 Sanskara: Wedding

• The primary witness of a the God , or the ritual fire. Agni is the messenger of the gods and serves to connect human life with divine life. Hindu weddings are essentially a fire sacrifice. What do we sacrifice in return to participate in the life of the gods? Ganesha is also very important. • Hindu marriages vary greatly. Typically, there are three key elements: 1. : the giving away of the bride by the father. The bride is the most precious gift of Vishnu for the groom, and the groom is the incarnation of Vishnu for the bride. 2. Panigrahana: Voluntary holding of hands by the fire. 3. : seven steps before the fire, each of which includes an exchange of promises. Either party can divorce, in the event of abandonment, conversion to a religion outside of Hinduism, or contraction of a venereal disease or leprosy. • Seven Vows In • 1) The first vow says the bride and the groom would provide prosperity as a • household to the family and would stand against those who try to hinder. • 2) The second vow says the bride and the groom would lead a healthy • life by developing themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. • 3) The third vow says the couple would earn a living legally, so that their materialistic wealth increases manifold. • 4) The fourth vow says the married couple would respect, love & understand each other and would acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony. • 5) The fifth vow says the couple would expand their family by having healthy, brave and honest children, for whom they will be responsible. • 6) The sixth vow says the bride and the groom should have self-control of the mind, body and soul and should have long marital relationship. • 7) The seventh and the last vow says they promise that they would be true and loyal to each other and would remain companions and best of friends for the lifetime (or perhaps seven lifetimes). 16 Sanskara: Funeral • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueIbAYJWNr8 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_4jB47ZurY • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEOBW1PvMqo • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ1Gt4Z5bCo • The body is considered a temporary vehicle for the Atman/Brahman, as is the universe itself. • The eldest son leads the ceremony, placing sesame seeds in the deceased’s mouth, sprinkling the body with butter, circumambulating the body several times, and giving a eulogy. • The body is burned. The lead cremator, or eldest son, pierces the skull to release the spirit. • The practice of , or self-immolation of a widow, was outlawed in 1829 and is now obsolete. • The ashes are placed in the nearest body of water, preferably the Ganges. 16 Sanskara: • Burn him not up, nor quite consume him, Agni: let not his body or his skin be scattered, Funeral O all possessing Fire, when thou hast matured him, then send him on his way unto the Fathers. When thou hast made him ready, all possessing Fire, then do thou give him over to the Fathers, When he attains unto the life that waits him, he shall become subject to the will of gods. The Sun receive thine eye, the Wind thy Prana (life-principle, breathe); go, as thy is, to earth or heaven. Go, if it be thy lot, unto the waters; go, make thine home in plants with all thy members. • — 10.16 know the mythological background, the seasonal significance, any geographical significances, rituals, Festivals : pilgrimages, or other ways this festival is significant for Hindus.

• • • Navarati and Dussehra • Rakasha bandhan • • Makar Sankaranti/ • • Maha Shivratri • Sri Pilgrimage: The Char Dhams

• The Char Dham or the “Four Houses” represent the four cardinal points of India. • East: Puri. Krishna is worshipped in his Lord Jagannatha along with his brother Lord Balabhtra and sister Subhadra. The special festival connected with this site is the Ratha : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d20NhSifd7A.

• South: . This is where Lord Ram, brother Laxman and the monkey King built a bridge to to rescue the wife of Ram who had been abducted by Ravanna, the ruler of Sri Lanka. There is also a major Shiva Lingam here, which is connected to pilgrimage to .

• West: Dwarka. This was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna.

• North: Badrinath. This is the place where the Ganges descended and Shiva sheltered the earth. Also, Vishnu sat meditating here, and Lakshmi turned into a berry tree to protect him. Char Dhams: North: Badrinath West: Dwarka South: Rameswaram East: Puri/ Jagganath

Kumbh Mela: • Prayag/ (confluence of Ganges and Yamuna) • Hardiwar (Ganges) Nashik (Godavari) • Ujjain (Shipra) Hindu Pilgrimages:

• A pilgrimage that is held once every 3 years in 4 cities on a rotating basis; thus, each city hosts the pilgrimage every 12 years. These cities are: • Prayag/Allahabad (confluence of Ganges and Yamuna) • Hardiwar (Ganges) • Nashik (Godavari) • Ujjain (Shipra) • Bathing in the rivers at these festivals cleanses one of all sin. According to legend, Vishnu dropped off four of Amrita at these places. Amrita is the drink of immortality. • This is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world: 120 million people visited Allahabad in 2013, including more than 30 million on Feb. 10. Pilgrimages: Holy Temples and Cities

• Varanasi: the city of death/ Moksha • Allahabad/ Prayaga • Hardiwar • Kurukshetra (Bhagavad Gita) • Katra • Katas Raj, Pakistan, where Shiva mourned the death of his wife. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywC-AIz8q_0