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Hinduism Study Guide: Origins, Texts, Beliefs and Practices

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HINDUISM STUDY GUIDE (Condensed Version)

Definition and Limitations

Hinduism is a recent term (200-300 years old), imposed by outsiders (British) that groups old Indian traditions together, and it consists of plural traditions.

Origins

Indus Valley Civilization (2750-1750 BCE) – great bath (ritual purification), fire altars, images of deities (proto-Shiva). Indo-European migration (2000 BCE) – Hinduism emerges as a fusion of cultures.

Vedas (1500-600 BCE)

The oldest Hindu texts, orally transmitted. Rishis (seers) received Shruti (“that which is heard”). Four sections:

  1. Hymns
  2. Ritual treatises (hymn to the Supreme Person, caste system)
  3. Aranyakas (forest texts)
  4. Upanishads (philosophical teachings on Moksha)

Core Concepts

Karma (cause and effect), Samsara (cycle of rebirth), Moksha (liberation from rebirth), Atman (soul), Brahman (supreme reality).

Smriti (“that which is remembered”) – Popular Texts

  • Ramayana – Ram (ideal king), Sita (kidnapped by Ravana), Hanuman (monkey god). Dharma (relationship-based moral duty).
  • Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita – Krishna teaches Arjuna about dharma.
    • Three Paths (Yoga): (1) Karma Yoga (selfless action without attachment), (2) Jnana Yoga (knowledge burns karma), (3) Bhakti Yoga (devotion cleanses karma).

Trimurti (Hindu Trinity)

Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), Shiva (Destroyer).

Other Deities

Vishnu’s avatars (Rama, Krishna), Parvati and Devi (Kali, Durga, etc.).

Caste System and Laws of Manu

Four Varnas:

  1. Brahmin (priests)
  2. Kshatriya (warriors)
  3. Vaishya (merchants)
  4. Shudra (servants)

Jati = subcastes.

Four Stages of Hindu Life

  1. Student (Upanayana) – Vedic study
  2. Householder – marriage and work
  3. Forest dweller – partial renunciation
  4. Renunciant (Sannyasi) – seeks Moksha

Four Aims of Hinduism

Dharma (duty), Kama (desires), Artha (wealth), Moksha (liberation).

Vedanta Philosophy

Shankara (Advaita Vedanta; Maya = illusion), Ramanuja (theistic Vedanta; Brahman as personal deity).

Yoga and Tantra

Tantra and Kundalini Yoga – awakens energy (chakras).

Bhakti Movement (6th Century CE, Southern India)

Alvars (Vishnu devotees who composed vernacular hymns). Kabir, Caitanya, Hare Krishna (ISKCON).

Modern Hindu Reform

British colonial period (18th-20th century) – reforms sought to modernize Hinduism.

  • Brahmo Samaj (Upanishads, no idol worship), Arya Samaj (return to early Vedas), Ramakrishna and Vivekananda (spiritual unity, reform), Gandhi (ahimsa and satyagraha).

Key Practices and Symbols

Om (sacred sound), temple worship (puja), tilak marks, festivals (Navaratri, Deepavali), Hindu weddings.

Figures: Sai Baba, Gandhi (ahimsa and satyagraha).

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