PHIL 202-3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Indus River, Rigveda, Nyaya
PHIL 202
Ch. 6 Hindu Traditions (pt. 1)
“Hinduism”
• Hindu tradition encompasses many traditions
o Hundreds of communities and sectarian movements
• Each has its own canon, sacred places and concept of the supreme deity
• “Hinduism”
o Shorthand for diverse philosophies, arts, branches of knowledge, and practices
associated with people and communities that have some connection with the
Indian sub-continent and do not explicitly self-identify with another religious
tradition
“Hinduism” cont’d
• Hinduism comes from “Sind,” the name of the region of the river Sindhu (Indus)
o Term used by British colonizers
o Adherents usually do not name themselves “Hindu”
• Usually refer to caste or community
• In Indian law, “Hindu” refers to anyone who does not specify one of the particular
religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
o Therefore, “Hinduism” is a limited term
• The term “dharma” is close to the Western term “religion”
o Refers to righteousness, justice, faith, duty
Origins
The Harappa Culture
• Indus River, Pakistan
• System of culture that extends beyond the Indus basin
o Some features of Hinduism may have originated here, before 1750 BCE
• Rooms with fire altars
• Carvings of what looks like a mother goddess
o Correspondence between sites that were inhabited and sites that still have
significance
The Indo-Europeans
• Sanskrit is a language belonging to the Indo-European family
• Possible that the Indo-Europeans (Aryans) came from either Central Asia or modern
Turkey
o Language cognates
• Also possible that the Indo-Europeans came from the Indian subcontinent
o Geological evidence in the Rig Veda
• Theories of origins are often motivated by political, racial, religion and nationalist
agendas
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The Vedas
• Vedas: Knowledge (Sanskrit)
• Shruti: “that which was heard”
• Rishis: those who saw the mantras and then transmitted them
• Composed c. 1500–600 BCE
• Four Collections: Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva
o Each contains hymns (Samhitas), directions for rituals (Brahmanas),
compositions for the forest (Aranyakas), philosophical works (Upanishads)
The Status of the Vedas
• Sacred texts
• Not kept in homes, but some hymns are recited regularly
o Not all are allowed to study the Vedas
• Significant to brahmins
• Nyaya (logic)
o School of philosophy that thought that the Vedas were composed by God
• Mimamsa and Vedanta
o Vedas were eternal, coeval with God
The Vedic Hymns
• Most popular deities today are not mentioned in the Vedas, but other deities are
o Indra: warrior god
o Agni: god of fire
o Soma: moon, and elixir
o Sarasvati: noble thoughts, speech incarnate, mother of the Vedas
• Offer praise to the gods
• Petitions
• Ritual sacrifice
o Connection between rituals and maintenance of the cosmos, truth and justice (rta)
The Vedic Hymns, cont’d
• Creation stories
o “The Creation Hymn” (Rig Veda 10.129)
• The universe comes from nothing
o “Hymn to the Supreme Person”
• Universe was created through the cosmic sacrifice of the primeval man
(Purusha)
o Elements of the body become elements of the universe
• Mind = moon; Eye = sun
• Head = sky; Feet = earth
• Four classes (varnas)
The Upanishads
• Placating the gods not through sacrifice, but through philosophical inquiry
o Reformulation of rituals instead of rejection
• Allegorical interpretation
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Document Summary
Indian sub-continent and do not explicitly self-identify with another religious tradition. Hinduism cont"d: hinduism comes from sind, the name of the region of the river sindhu (indus, term used by british colonizers, adherents usually do not name themselves hindu , usually refer to caste or community. The indo-europeans: sanskrit is a language belonging to the indo-european family, possible that the indo-europeans (aryans) came from either central asia or modern. Turkey: language cognates, also possible that the indo-europeans came from the indian subcontinent, geological evidence in the rig veda, theories of origins are often motivated by political, racial, religion and nationalist agendas. The upanishads: placating the gods not through sacrifice, but through philosophical inquiry, reformulation of rituals instead of rejection, allegorical interpretation, symbolic structures, usually in the form of conversations, example from teacher to student, speak the truth. Do not neglect truth, virtue, studying or teaching . give with faith . this is the secret of the veda (taittiriya upanishad 1. 11. 1 6)