RE103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Vedas, Soulmate
Document Summary
Kandarpa/kamadevi: interchangeable names for the love god in hinduism. Collection of traditions and beliefs in practices originating from india. Simply manifestations of one god, but addressed as individual people. Shiva: destroyer (not in the negative sense; think birth, rebirth, destroy in order to come back to life) In hinduism, time is cyclical (creating, sustaining then destroying) Idea that humans are continually reborn (reincarnation: samsara, a sanskrit term) Karma: system of merit points, outlook on the world, not just your actions, what do you need next in the future, not rewards. Moksha: realization that you are not an individual; you are part of the greater wholeness/oneness of all being, enlightenment. Later texts: epics and puranas (more poetry and stories about the gods and their avatars) Avatar: another form you can inhabit that isn"t really you (ex. Excerpt from the shiva purana/story of shiva and parvati.
