Unit 1, Lecture 4: The Four Aims of Life in Hinduism

The Four Aims of Life (Purushartha human goals): hierarchy, can achieve all if under dharma, idealized (not all think should do too much artha and kama, only moksha) - Dharama: duty, virtue, righteousness, ethics (highest, must do/get first before any) o Contextual (not the same as others), must understand own context for right, different duties based on caste and stage of life o Caste: determined by birth, fixed (idealized from brahmins, not reality) § Varna/Caste: don’t identify with this system (pride in higher identity as brahmins), but does to jati (thousands, traditional (fisher, barber -> used in Muslims and Christians § Dalit: outcasts, outside of 4 varnas, broken, oppressed § Brahmins (priests, teachers) § Kshatriyas (Warriors, rulers) § Vaishyas (merchants, traders) § Shudras (servants, menial laborers) o Stage of Life § Student (25) § Householder (50) - Artha and Kama § Forest-dweller (gradual detached from things of world) § Renunciate (75) (“monk”, gives up all worldly desires and fixed dwelling (temple), no possessions besides simple, begging, traveling) - Artha: wealth, possessions, prosperity - Kama: pleasure, fun Moksha: liberation (highest) - not worldly, seeking higher goal beyond this world, already experienced the top 3 with dhrma God, Gods, Goddesses Bhajan: devotional song to gods/goddesses Image Analysis from Foreign to Familiar: Ganesha (beauty, power, relatable) 1. Understanding by looking at details unbiased by insider Broken tusk (battling Buddhism), lotus (beauty, purity), colors, 4 arms (symbolism axe, lotus, (US. Stop gesture) blessing/protection of not being afraid, swastika symbol (let it be well), tray of sweets, jewelry (wealth), crown (ruler), mouse (animal associated with, mount), fruit platter (offered to at temple), particular offering (sweets), henna, paper (scribe of epic), sun (radiating light), temple columns, golden pot with coconut (prosperity), sacred thread, garland (temple worship), 3 white lines (son of Shiva, a follower of Shiva), forehead dot (third eye), trunk holding orb (power), elephant head (dad cut off his head cuz didn’t recognize) Hindu Theology “How many Gods are there?” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad) asks how many gods there are went from 3006 to 1 -> embraces all gods/goddesses but accepts 1 divine reality at end “Truth is one; the wise call it by many names” many but different names for 1 reality, gods are not ultimately independent of each other, all are forms from 1 supreme reality - Atheism: (a = without) a god - Agnosticism: without knowledge (don’t know) - Monotheism: 1 Theo's / devs (deity) / deva - Polytheism: many gods - Henotheism: can worship 1 “chosen deity” exclusively but still believe in others ​ o Hinduism: belief in 1 supreme reality, but it manifests itself in many forms that all can be worshipped