RLG100Y1 Lecture Notes - Aranyaka, Upanishads, Reverberation
Document Summary
No church that sets parameters of values and beliefs. No central text that all hindus follow across the board. There are historical and ideological reasons for this. Many hindus are quite against the idea of themselves being labelled as polytheists. Some believe that the idea of god is completely irrelevant to the pursuit of enlightenment. Most ancient form of religion that we are aware of in the indian sub-continent. Preserving the harmony of the universe through ritual labour (sacrifice) Sacrifice is an acknowledgment of this circle and is a way to recognize the harmony of the circle as well as to keep it in place. Rituals became so advanced the specialists were needed" to perform them properly. Emerged as the priestly class due to their importance in performing these rituals. Anything that happens anywhere on the circle has an impact and reverberation throughout the entire circle. Understood human body to be like a map of the larger universe.
