Unit 1, Lecture 5: Major Hindu Sects and Paths to Liberation

The “Trinity” (3 forms): Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva: Brahma less important present day The 3 Major Sects of Hinduism (better way to categorize) often showed in statue - Shaivism: by Shaivas or followers of Shiva god, “Lord of the Dance” Nataraja o Simple animal-skin clothes (renunciate), water-pot, rosary bead jewelry, forehead crescent moon, dreadlock hair, Ganji's river water symbol on head, mountains (his home), rock/ice formation inside a cave to mediate, half-opened eyes, henna (auspicious, beauty, Shiva-Linga stone (pillar of light, blesses Vishnu, curses Rama for lying at finding end), drum (music, dance), Trident weapon, serpent snake (guardian treasure), Lundi bull companion o Spouse: Parvati: paradox of marriage/children (Ganesha) but is a renunciate - Vaishnavism: practiced by Vaishnavas or followers of Vishnu god o 2,4, or 8 arms, conch shell as battle or worship, mace club, discus weapon, lotus flower, hand palm up (giving) crown (king/lord of universe), radiating halo, jewelry, flower garland, blueish skin tone (heavenly different being), forehead mark of a footprint as a follower of Vishnu (looks like V) when bow o Spouse: Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) Shaktism: practiced by Shaktas or followers of Devi goddess, AKA Shakti (source of energy, power of life and all gods), demon slayer, “The Great Goddess” NOT avatar o Saravati: (wife of Brahman (4-faces)) goddess of learning o Durga: form, Buffalo demon undefeated by gods came together to bless her with all their fearful weapons, but also beauty and blessing hand symbol § Kali: fearful part of Durga: head garland, arm skirt, noose, tongue stuck out, weapons, blood bowl, severed head, battlefield stepping on Shiva (superiority to husband Shiva, without her he is a corpse) · Mercy and Wrath found in Islamic, Christianity too Avatar (incarnation): decent to Earth as human or animal, deity comes to Earth as physical form (NOT Shiva, Vishnu gods -> manifestations of ultimate reality) - Vishnu: Upholder of dharma came down 10x to restore balance to the universe o Fish, tortoise, boar (killed demon and lifted earth from water, half animal/human (man-lion) evil granted a boon for power, cosmic form § Rama: like Vishnu, depicted as a king, committed to dharma so never lies so goes into exile § Khrisna: young man playing a flute “lover”, known to lie and deceive · 2 heroes of epics, some worship them as highest Paths to Liberation: (moksha -> last of the 4 aims of life) diff paths to liberation Samara: The cycle of Rebirth - Liberation from rebirth (trapped – Katha Upanishad) unless escaped (bad) - Based on deeds (merit or demerit) and karma that determines next rebirth o Good -> heavenly realms - ​ Bad -> hell realms (not eternal) Moksha - liberation from this cycle to not be born again (karma doesn’t work) Bhagavad Gita: teaching Yoga: a spiritual discipline or method for teaching liberation - Karma-Yoga: action o don’t perform any actions for merit/demerit (Bhagavad Gita) but impossible not to act (breathe) so stop desires/seeds to do good/bad to motivate or have attachment to actions/fruits, so can still act by duty - Bhakti-Yoga: devotion o Most popular path, devote to a deity as has power to remove rebirth, taking same human natural love to loving a deity as mother, love, servant Ishna-Devita (chosen deity) - Jnana-Yoga: knowledge o Upanishads, already liberated as we are Brahman (Bhagavad Gita -> self that you already are Brahman, eternal self, never bound so gets liberated) - Dhyana-Yoga: mediation o Practice of concentration mind on deity or self (overlap with bhakti or jnana) close to modern yoga practice