Category: Hinduism

Yamas, Niyamas

Patanjali, an Indian sage who contributed to the development of Hinduism, lived around 200 B.C.E. Recognizing the need for a solid ethical foundation, Patanjali compiled an ethical code.

The code consists of five things people should do – the niyamas

Code also consists of five ways in which people should exercise restraint – the yamas.

Niyamas
Be pure in body, mind, and speech
Seek contentment
Cultivate devotion
Educate yourself
Be steadfast in hardship

Yamas
Practice nonviolence
Discipline sexual desire
Do not steal
Do not lie
Do not be greedy

Patanjali compiled these precepts more than 2,000 years ago. Do you think they are relevant today?

Rig-Veda

The Rig-Veda (“Praising Knowledge”), composed around 1500 B.C.E., is the oldest of the Hindu scriptures. It is also the oldest book in any Indo-European language. It marks an early stage in the development of Hinduism.

A central story in the Rig-Veda tells of the god Indra and the dragon Vritra. Vritra had stolen all the water of the world for himself. Indra fights the dragon in order to take back the life-giving waters. After a monumental struggle, Indra defeats the dragon, and the waters are freed, bringing life to the land.

Explanations of this story often show Indra as a symbol for wind, Vritra as standing for clouds, and the waters as meaning the monsoon rains. Given what you know about India, why would the monsoon rains be a matter of life or death? Why might early Indians have seen the monsoon-bringing winds as a source of life?

The Ramayana

The Ramayana is one of India’s national epics. It tells the story of Rama and his wife, Sita.

Rama was the eldest son of the king of Ayodha. One of the king’s wives wanted her son, Bharata, to be king. The king owed her two favors. She asked him to make Bharata his heir and to banish Rama for 14 years.

Rama agreed to go, saying, “I gladly obey my father’s command.” Rama’s wife, Sita, insisted she join her husband in exile. She said, “Is it not the wife’s duty to be at her husband’s side?”

Bharata tried to persuade Rama to return. Rama insisted on doing his duty, even after his father died. Bharata said he would rule in Rama’s name; when the 14 years were up, Rama should become king.

During their exile, Sita was kidnapped, and then rescued by Rama. After that, Rama and Sita returned to Ayodha, and Rama became king.

Rama, Sita, and Bharata are often held up as models of Hindu behavior. What did they do in this story that make them good role models? What does this tell you about Hindu ideals and behavior?

The Bhagavad Gita and Mohandas Gandhi

The Bhagavad Gita, or “Song of God,” is one of the most influential Hindu religious texts. It is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, which tells of a war between two sets of relatives. The Bhagavad Gita opens with Arjuna, the leader of one side, despairing at the thought of killing his kinsmen. His charioteer, Krishna – who later reveals himself as a god – urges him to do his duty as a noble by leading his men into battle. Krishna reassures Arjuna that our souls are immortal, so he cannot truly kill anyone. He then goes on to tell Arjuna of three ways that the soul can be freed from the cycle of death and rebirth. The soul can be freed through karma yoga, doing one’s duty without self-interest in the consequences of one’s actions; through jnana yoga, or withdrawal and concentration that lead to knowledge; and through bhakti yoga, or devotion to God.

Mohandas Gandhi led India’s independence movement in the early twentieth century. He credited the Bhagavad Gita with helping him to cope with life’s tragedies. Based on what you know of Mohandas Gandhi, write about the influence of the Bhagavad gita on his life and work.

The Bhagavad Gita: The Eternal “This”

This is a quote from the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most influential Hindu religious texts.

Know that to be imperishable whereby all this is pervaded. No one can destroy that immutable being…. This is never born nor ever dies, nor having been will ever not be any more; unborn, eternal, everlasting, ancient, this is not slain when the body is slain…. As a man casts off worn-out garments and takes others that are new, even so the embodied one casts off worn-out bodies and passes on to others new. This no weapons wound, this no fire burns, this no waters wet, this no wind doth dry. Beyond all cutting, burning, wetting and drying is this – eternal, all-pervading, stable, immovable, everlasting. Perceivable neither by the senses nor by the mind, this is called unchangeable; therefore knowing this as such thou shouldst not grieve.

Use your knowledge of Hinduism to explain what the text is saying.

Upanishads: The Chariot

The Upanishads are part of the Hindu scriptures. They include many metaphors and analogies. In one, a rider sits in a chariot, driven by a charioteer. The chariot represents the human body. The road the chariot travels on represents things that we perceive with our senses. The horses that pull the chariot represent the senses. The reins represent the mind, which controls the senses. The chariot driver represents the human mind or intuition. The owner of the chariot has full authority over the chariot, but does not need to do anything to direct it.

In this analogy, what do you think is represented by the owner of the chariot?

The Yogi and the Scorpion

Many religions use teaching stories. This story is sometimes used to teach about Hinduism.

A yogi was sitting by a river when he saw a scorpion fall into the water. The yogi scooped the scorpion up in his hand. The scorpion promptly stung him.

A minute later, the scorpion fell into the river again. Again, the yogi rescued it. And again, the scorpion stung the yogi.

For a third time, the scorpion fell into the river. And for a third time the yogi moved to rescue it. But another man had watched the whole thing, and stopped him. “Why do you keep rescuing the scorpion?” he asked. “The ungrateful creature keeps stinging you. Why don’t you just let it drown?”

The yogi answered, “It is the nature of a scorpion to sting. It is the nature of a yogi to show compassion.” And he scooped the scorpion out of the water again.

What idea do you think the story is trying to present?

The Sage and the Snake

Many religions use stories in order to convey a particular moral belief. The following story is sometimes used to teach about Hinduism.

A wandering sage arrived in a village. As he entered, he saw a huge, menacing snake. The villagers told the sage that the snake terrorized them and made their life difficult. The sage spoke to the snake and taught him about nonviolence, or ahimsa. The snake heard the sage’s words and took them to heart.

The next year, the sage again came to the village. The once-magnificent snake was now thin and bruised. The sage said, “My friend, what has happened to you?” The snake replied, “Your words showed me the error of my ways, so I not longer acted with violence toward the village. Now they mock me. The children throw stones at me when I try to get food.”

The sage looked at the snake, shaking his head. “My foolish friend,” he said, “I told you not to bite the people. I never told you not to hiss.”

Explain what you think is the message of the story.

The Caste System

Indian society has traditionally been organized into groups called castes. People are born into the caste of their family. The caste system includes a strict hierarchy and rules for social interaction. Each caste also had certain rights and responsibilities.

Advocates of the caste system say that is it not discriminatory but makes life easier for members of all castes. According to the, them, the caste system just acknowledges that people are different. Some are natural administrators; some are better at working with their hands. Under the caste system, those who are good at routine work do not compete for jobs with strategic thinkers; they compete with their equals.

Opponents of the system say that this theory is fine, but in actuality, skills like leadership or manual dexterity are not hereditary traits. A person born in a low caste might be a gifted leader but would not be allowed to develop those gifts.

Based on your knowledge of people, do you think a system like the caste system would tend to level the playing field for all? Would it tend to give certain people more privileges than others?

A Multiplicity of Forms

We speak of Hinduism, as one religion, which suggests that Hinduism is the same everywhere. This is not the case. India is a land of great variety. Even today, there are sixteen official languages in India and about 1,600 dialects. Geographically, rivers and mountains break the country into a number of distinct regions. The religion we call Hinduism developed over thousands of years, among hundreds of different groups of people. The religious traditions of all these different groups are included in Hinduism. Even today, Hinduism is changing. It is not one firm, fixed belief system, but a fluid system that includes many different beliefs.

How does an inclusive, ever-changing belief system compare to other major world belief systems? Choose another major world religion and compare it to Hinduism.