journal 4

As you read through chapter 4, provide a 1-3 sentence explanation or definition for each of the following terms (this will effectively provide you with a study guide for the quiz and exam; the more information the textbook has, the more information you need to write down): Aryan religion, each of the four varnas , Agni, Vedas, Upanishads, maya , brahman , atman, karma, samsara, moksha , Law of Manu , dharma , sannyasi / sadhu (and each of the four stages of life), ahimsa , Mahabharata, Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita , bhakti , puranas , Devi, Brahma, Shiva, lingam and yoni, Vishnu, Ganesha , Kali, puja, yoga, Vedanta (especially, explain the differences between the views of Shankara and Madhva ), Mohandas Gandhi, Holi , Divali , and Dasehra . A high score requires a great effort on each part of the journal. Keep in mind that these journals are your study guide for both the weekly quizzes and the major exams. So organize them in a way that allows you to easily study the terms contained in them. Aryan religions – The history of Hinduism began with the migratory waves of Aryan people into India. The religion the Aryans brought with them mingled with the religion of the native people of the Indian subcontinent, and the culture that developed between them became classical Hinduism. the four varnas – Early Indian society began to develop into three basic classes called varnas. 1) The highly regarded priests who served the cults of the various Indus valley cities were called Brahmans 2) The chieftains and their warriors, also considered to be near the apex of society, were called Kshatriyas 3) The commoners and merchants, regarded as being subservient to the two upper classes, were called Vaishyas. 4) Shudras were not considered full members of the society and generally held the position of slaves or servants to the upper social divisions. Agni – The god of fire, was the channel through whom offerings were presented to other gods. He brings offerings to the other gods. He is mentioned in over 200 hymns. He is basically regarded as the god of the priests and the priests of the gods. He leads the gods in proper sacrifice, and he brings the burnt sacrifices to the other gods. Vedas – The oldest sacred books of Hinduism. A collection of hymns, many of which were recited during sacrifices to the many gods. The Vedas are the basic source of the Hindu understanding of the universe. Composition of the Vedas probably began between 2000 and 1500 B.C.E. Upanishads – The fourth section of each of the Vedas. The fundamental assumption of the Upanishads is that there is but one true reality in the universe- Brahman. Philosophical materials that reflect on earlier Vedic material. The Upanishads represent a systematization of the Vedas that reformed early sacrificial practices. It is suggested that Upanishads occurred roughly during the same time period as the reforms to early Hinduism represented by Jainism and Buddhism. The Upanishads operate from a monistic presupposition. The Upanishads also seem to have been written as a reaction to the priestly form of worship prescribed by the other Vedic books. The Upanishads emphasize meditation as a means of worship. It is believed that the Upanishads may have had a different origin and became Vedic literature at a later time. The Upanishads introduce the concept of karma. Maya – False knowledge; illusion. Humans have a false knowledge when they believe that this life and our separation from the Brahman are real. All phenomenal existence is illusion arising from ignorance of the true nature of reality. The world as we perceive it is based on false knowledge, which conceals the reliably of Brahman. Brahman – The impersonal god-being called Brahman. All other beings are but an expression of Brahman. All that is not Brahman is not real. Brahman is eternal, infinite, unknowable, sexless, without a past, present, or future, and totally impersonal. The living things that inhabit our world are really only expressions of Brahman. They are souls that are a part of the great ocean of souls that make up the Brahman. When true knowledge of the illusion of life is realized, one can be freed from the bondage of life and achieve unity with the Brahman.

Atman – The self, or soul, that, due to karma, is reborn in the cycle of rebirth. Souls that are a part of the great ocean of souls that make up the Brahman. Karma – “To do or act.” Karma binds one to the endless cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Ancient Indian thinkers preferred to attribute virtue or evil to choices made by the individual. They introduced the concept of karma into religious language. Samsara – “To wander across.” The endless cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth experienced by all humans. Indian religions believe that the life force of an individual does not die with the death of the body, but instead “wanders across.” In Indian thought, samsara may be thought of as a curse. The goal of most Indian religions is to break the cycle of karma and samsara and be free from the burden of life. Moksha – Release from the cycle of death and and rebirth; the goal of most Indian religions is to break the cycle of karma and samsara and be free from the burden of life. Law of Manu – The law, which was probably written at some point between 300 B.C.E and 300 C.E., is of value not only because of its religious teachings but also because of what it reveals about Indian life during the period. The ethical and social standards that were held as ideals during the classical era of Indian history and the effects that the religious and philosophical teachings of the Vedas had on Indian society. It is the roots of many of the social and religious traditions that characterize modern Hinduism. Dharma – Specific duties. Members of each group have specific duties and opportunities and must obey them only. *Sannyasi/Sadhu (the four stages of life) – In the first stage of life, the typical upper-caste Indian male is supposed to be a student, studying the Vedas and giving careful attention to a teacher. In the second stage, he is to become a householder and marry within his caste. The role of householder and provider is one of the most important. When his duties as a householder are finished (typically when grandchildren are grown), a Hindu man may retreat to the forest and live there for some years as a hermit, meditating and offering sacrifices. Finally, when the hermit life is completed, Hindus may become wandering beggars (sannyasi). Ahimsa – Non-injury of living beings. Mahabharata – The story of the struggles between the two leading families from the beginning of Indian history. Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita – The Bhagavad is the great epic poem of Indian culture and religion. The Bhagavad Gita is found within the text of a longer epic called the Mahabharata. Krishna is worshipped by Hindus as the eighth avatar incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Bhakti – Loving devotion for the gods. Puranas – Writings comprised of devotional verses about the exploits and attributes of popular Hindu deities. Devi – The great goddess that represents the feminine principle in Hindu thought. She is the creative power worshiped in female form and is believed to be the all-pervasive energy of the gods as well as the slayer of demons. Brahma – One of the three leading deities of the Trimurti. Brahma is widely respected and recognized as being the creator of the world. Brahma does not appear in Vedic literature. Shiva – “The destroyer.” She is among the most popular gods in post classical Hinduism. He does not appear in Vedic literature, but he is believed to have been developed from the Vedic god Rudra. He the god of death, disease, and destruction, he is also the god of dance. lingam and yoni – A lingam is a cylindrical pillar, sometimes considered to have phallic imagery. Lingam is one of the most common symbols of Shiva. A yoni is a stylized dish or round receptacle that symbolizes the feminine shanti. Together, these Shaivite symbols represent the balance of male and female forces and indicate life and rebirth. They also represent energy and regeneration. Vishnu – God who part of the postclassical Hindu triad, the preserver. Vishnu is known as a god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness. One of his chief characteristics is his love of play. He plays and joins