Chapter 4 Hinduism

• Native to India
• Has no specific origin or founder
• Tradition understands itself to be timeless, having always existed
• Sanatana Dharma


  Collection of sacred texts known as the eternal teaching
• Hinduism


  • A complex tradition that surrounds numerous interrelated religions, doctrines and practices that have common characteristics
  • Lacks any unified system of beliefs and practices
  • A lot of major sects and countless subsects with local or regional variations
• Possible to see these sects as distinct religious traditions, with often very specific theologies and ritual traditions
• Worldview

  Grounded in the doctrines of Samsara (the cycle of rebirth) and Karma (the universal law of cause and effect)
• Believed that the universe is full of deities and spiritual beings or devas, who influence the world and interact with humans
• Sacred Days of Hinduism


  • Holi
  • Diwali
  • Maha Shivaratri
• Holi


  Also called as Holaka or Phagwa<|>Celebrated on the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna<|>Celebrates spring<|>Least religious
• Diwali


  Meaning “row of lights”<|>Lasts for five days<|>New Year’s Eve<|>Held on the final day of Vikram calendar
• Maha Shivaratri


  The Great Festival of Shiva<|>Held on the 14th day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna<|>Important to Saivites
• Mark of Dharma

  Good conduct
• Good conduct


  Enhances life<|>Attains prosperity and fame, here and hereafter, through Dharma<|>Is the highest Dharma
• There are conflicts of desires
• Obtaining victory


  Termed ‘will’
• Inner character makes the will possible
• Ethics


  The science of conduct<|>Study of what is right or good<|>Shows how human beings should behave<|>Contains systemised principles on which a man should act
• Ethics, Spirituality and Religion


  • Cornerstone of Vedanta (God realisation)
  • Strong pillar on which the edifice of Bhakti Yoga rests
  • Yogic students must be strictly ethical
  • Must be truthful and pure in thought, word and deed
• Ethical Codes in Hinduism

  • 10 Yamas
  • 10 Niyamas
• 10 Yamas


  • Non-injury
  • Truthfulness
  • Non-stealing
  • Sexual Purity
  • Patience
  • Steadfastness
  • Compassion
  • Honesty
  • Moderate Diet
  • Purity
• 10 Niyamas

  • Modesty
  • Contentment
  • Charity
  • Faith
  • Worship the Lord
  • Scriptual Listening
  • Cognition
  • Sacred Vows
  • Incantation
  • Austerity
• The basis of Hindu ethics is: “There is one all-pervading Atman. It is the innermost soul of all beings. This is common, pure consciousness, because the world is nothing but your own self.”
• Indicators of Right and Wrong

  Wise sages declare that people should resort to Sastras, learned Pundits and realised persons, for consultation
• Right


  Giving elevations, joy and peace to the mind<|>Helps you with your spiritual evolution<|>Leads to unity of self
• Wrong


  Brings depression, pain and restlessness to the mind<|>Obstructs and hinders your spiritual evolution
• Branches of Hinduism

  • Shaiva
  • Vaishnava
  • Shakta
  • Smarta
• Shaiva

  The God Shiva
• Vaishnava


  The God Vishnu
• Shakta


  Goddess
• Smarta


  Understand the ultimate form of the divine to be abstract and all encompassing, Brahman