Int 244 Lecture 7 Hinduism Part 1

Editor's Notes

• #11: https://www.pewforum.org/2017/04/05/the-changing-global-religious-landscape/
• #16: Fusion of the Aryan and Indus River Valley Civilization Created the Hindu people.
• #38: The Satya Yuga (सत्य युग), alternatively called the Sat Yuga and Krita Yuga, is not only the first but also the foremost of the Hindu divisions of time, not unlike the Golden Age in Greek mythology. The Dharma bull stands steadily on all four legs during this period. The Satya Yuga is the consummate "Yuga of Truth," wherein humankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work performed by human beings resembles the purest ideal of the divine. This epoch is characterized by a harmonious, pious society, and no evil or hatred is said to exist whatsoever. There are no class divisions between rich and poor, nor is their any need for labor or a system of commerce since all is available in abundance by the power of the will. People are not stricken with disease in this period, nor do they age. All the pillars of religion such as knowledge and penance are present in totality in this age, though meditation (dyana) is the virtue accorded highest value. Ashrams, meanwhile, are devoid of any wickedness and deceit. As such, the great majority of the people alive in this age are able to experience spirituality by direct intuitive realization of truth, and the cleavage between the material and the transcendent realms is essentially transparent. Writing is unnecessary because people communicate directly by way of their thoughts; as are temples, since people continually feel the omnipresence of God. Matsya (the fish), Kurma (the turtle), Varaha (the boar) and Narasimha (the man-lion), the first four incarnations of Vishnu, appear in this epoch.
• #39: While the Treta Yuga (त्रेता युग) saw a slight decline in the overall quality of life, it was still a glorious age in itself. The Dharma bull stood on three legs during this period. Treta Yuga was most prominently the mental age, in which psychic power was harnessed. Many inventions resulted from this power, which were used to dissolve the illusion of time. As in the Satya Yuga, religion still flourished, and fittingly the virtue accorded highest value in this epoch is yajna (sacrifice). This Yuga saw the incarnation of the first human avatars of Vishnu: Vamana, Parashurama, and Rama, respectively. Although this age was not usually marked by warfare, it was during this time period when the war that is recounted in the Ramayana allegedly occurred, wherein Rama conquered the evil King Ravana.
• #40: The Dvapara Yuga (द्वापर युग) is described as seeing the first drastic decline in righteousness of humanity. The dharma bull now only stands only on two legs, so the overall moral standard of the people in the Dvapara Yuga drops immensely. In this age, adherence to the Vedas becomes less acute and the Vedas are divided into the four parts that we know today as the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas. More seriously, the Caste system of the varnas is neglected during this time, along with the Yajnas (sacrifices).
• #41: The Dvapara Yuga (द्वापर युग) is described as seeing the first drastic decline in righteousness of humanity. The dharma bull now only stands only on two legs, so the overall moral standard of the people in the Dvapara Yuga drops immensely. In this age, adherence to the Vedas becomes less acute and the Vedas are divided into the four parts that we know today as the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas. More seriously, the Caste system of the varnas is neglected during this time, along with the Yajnas (sacrifices).
• #45: Material advantages, acquiring things
• #46: Material advantages, acquiring things
• #65: Brahma is the creator. He is separate from Brahman, the creation the universal soul His four heads face Rides a giant swan
• #66: Brahma is the creator. He is separate from Brahman, the creation the universal soul His four heads face
• #72: Known for many arms At the end of time will dance to destroy the earth Has a third eye. If he opens it, and you’re in front of him You will be destroyed.
• #74: Ganesha elephant Removes obstacles
• #76: Vaishnavas worship Vishnu Shaivas worship Shiva Smartas follow specific sacred texts like the Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana instead of he vedas, And they worship Ganesha Durga, Surya, Shiva, and an avatar of Vishnu