ASIA 308 Study Guide - Final Guide: Parvati, Kaustubha, Nakula
Document Summary
The worldly hindu tradition (pravritti): vedic ritual & brahmanical varna-asrama system carries on (since 1500 bce) The renunciant hindu tradition (nivritti): many upanishadic philosophical schools flourish e. g. samkhya and yoga (since 500 bce) Heterodox traditions (shramana also thrive: buddhism & jainism take on a householder (lay) dimension of temple/ shrine worship, donations, art/architecture (alongside the monastic core) A theistic, accessible embodiment of the formless, inaccessible brahman. Preserver: intervenes in the world to restore dharma and defeat the forces of chaos. Absorbs his devotees to help them escape the cycle of karma and rebirth. Brahma [creator/grandfather] identified as the old vedic creator deity prajapti. Shiva [destroyer] identified as rudra, the fearsome, healing but destructive vedic deity who is denied a share in the sacrifice, given leftovers as appeasement. Vishnu [sustainer] also marginal in the vedic pantheon as the younger brother of. Indra, whose three steps cover (and sustain) the cosmos. Many other gods and goddesses were also worshipped (elephant shaped ganesha,
