Part II

Karma-Yoga:

• Must have an understanding that selfish action binds the soul
• Specifically means actions performed for various deities
• Backing concept is that all action must be performed for the greater good, serve God, and be right.
• Goal of practice is the heavenly planets

Jnana-Yoga:

• Knowledge through seclusion, study, and sense abnegation
• Aim at liberation
• Opposite of Karma for these yogis minimize activity and the necessities of life.

Ashtanga/Raja Yoga:

• Physical Yoga divided into eight parts
• Started by the sage Patanjali
• There are eight possible mystic powers achievable from this practice, but these are not the focus, Patanjali encourages the practitioner to remain focused on the god within, and leaving the material realm.

Bhakti-Yoga:

• Most popular yoga today
• When perfected, it combines all types of yoga
• External and symbolic worship, pilgrimages, and sophisticated processes of inner development.

The Trimurti:

• Based on three representations of God: Creator, Sustainer, and Destroyer (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
• Each is in charge of a specific Guna (Raja, Sattva, Tama respectively)
• Vishnu (or one of his manifestations) is most commonly associated with the impersonal "Supreme Person".
• Brahma is rarely given direct praise. There is only one temple dedicated to him and the most common worshipping practice associated with him is the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra.
• Shiva represents the male principle in the world and his female counterpart is Shakti (Mother Nature), or Material Energy.

3 Main Focuses of Worship:

• Three main sects: Vaishnavas (worshippers of Vishnu), Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva), and Shaktas (worshippers of Shakti)
• Shaktas use the term Devi or Mataji (goddess or respected mother) to describe their deity. Thus other goddesses (Lakshmi or Sarasvati) may also be included in the focus of Shaktas.
• Every deity falls within four main categories: A form of Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti (a Goddess), or a very powerful soul with an extremely elevated body (such as that of Brahma).
• Each of the Trimurti have a respective partner. Vishnu and Lakshmi, Shiva and Shakti, and Brahma and Sarasvati. Most representations of these deities in stories are forms of these deities (i.e. Rama and Sita = Vishnu and Lakshmi).
• Each deity also has a mount: Vishnu rides a giant eagle (Garuda), Shiva rides Nandi the bull, Shakti has a lion or tiger, and Brahma mounts the swan.

The Murti:

• Worship of the Sacred Image (shrines, statues, paintings, etc...)
• This is central to the way Hindus develop and express their relationship with God.
• Images must be made and worshipped with scriptural guidance. Not just any image is considered sacred.
• Murti is God's way of helping the ignorant begin to differentiate between spirit and matter by endowing a physical depiction with the spirit of God (not metaphorically either. Murti has a spirit)

Holi Festival:

• Takes place in March. Also known as the festival of colors or spring festival and is associated with the deity Vishnu.
• Popular dishes are Gujiya, Mathri, and Papri
• Celebration is primarily focused on the triumph of good over evil, devotion to God, and love.
• Popular legend behind the festival is that king Hiryanyakashyap wanted his kingdom to worship him only, but his son stayed a devout Vaishnavite. The king tried to have his son killed by having his wife (who was immune to fire) carry him into a bon fire. God subsequently saved the boy and killed the wife.
• Practices: Evening Bonfires (in light of the legend), Smearing of vibrantly colored pastes (celebrating spring colors and the harvest), kids play pranks (in light of another less important legend), Consumption of Bhang (highly intoxicating drink), exchange of sweets and small gifts.

Ganesh Chaturthi:

• Celebration of the birth of Ganesh (more specifically how he received his head). Takes place in late August or early September (the 4th day of Bhadrapada).
• Festival lasts 10 days
• Begins when devotees bring home a Ganesh murti and begin the offering of daily prayers.
• Matric and prayer devotion ends on Ananta Chaturdashi (10th day).
• Day 11 is the "Ganesh Visarjan", worshippers march with their idols, singing and dancing before immersing them in water. This symbolizes the removal of obstacles and misfortune (one of the functions of Ganesh as a deity).

Holy Site: Varnasi:

• This is one of the oldest cities in the world.
• It is the location of the Golden Temple.
• It is situated on the banks of the Ganges, one of India's most sacred rivers.
• It is considered to be the foremost city of Shiva (one of the most important deities) based on the Epics and Puranas (important scriptures).
• People perform pilgrimages in many fashions to this city. Many retire to Varnasi in hopes of achieving liberation. Many also transport corpses of loved ones in order to cremate them in the famous Ghats and spread their ashes in the sacred Ganges.

Holy Site: Kanyakumari:

• Important Shakta site.
• The main temple is dedicated to Parvati (form of Shakti), Shiva's partner.
• This is the marital site of Shiva and Parvati.
• Pilgrims travel to bathe at the Bay of Bengal where the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meet.

Jatakarma (Birth Rites):

• Father places ghee and honey on baby's tongue and whispers God's name in its ear.
• Namakarana (naming ceremony) takes place 11 days later. Baby is given new clothing and its horoscope is read by the family astrologer. The name is traditionally chosen based on the position of the moon at the time of the baby's birth.
• There is an obligatory feast and sometimes a fire ritual and songs.
• Other various rituals include First Outing (Baby sees sun, moon, and temple deity for the first time), First Grains (during teething period), First Haircut (1-3 years old), and Ear Piercing (3-5 years).

Antyeshti (Death Rites):

• Must be performed by dawn or dusk, whichever comes first relative to death.
• Cremation is customary. This helps the soul release any attachment to the body (because it no longer exists).
• Before cremation, a few drops of ganges water is placed on the tongue of the deceased.
• Ashes are spread in holy rivers (usually ganges)
• Children and saints are considered pure, so they are buried.
• 13 day mourning in which the family is considered impure. This is to release all emotions as to not have any unexpressed emotions when one dies.
• These rites server to assist the soul in a smooth passage from this life to the next (hopefully better) one.
• Shraddha is most important ceremony. Performed on the one year anniversary of death.
• Prasad is offered to God and by transitive property of souls in Hinduism, also to the deceased.
• Death Day: Body is washed and bedecked with flowers. Ganges water is applied. Body carried to cremation site whilst in the midst of Kirtan (sacred chants). Eldest son lights funeral pyre and appropriate scriptural passages are read by a priest.

Dharma:

• "Religious Duty"
• Sanatana-dharma: Souls never ending propensity to serve God. This is innate in all and is the underlying concept for religious acceptance of all kinds and issues related to equality.
• Varnashrama-dharma: Relates more to societal duties. This dharma divides labor and duties based on the four Varnas and Ashrams.
• Sadharana-dharma: General morality based on forbidden and recommended practices.
• Originally, dharma referred to leading a righteous life in accordance with natural laws and scriptural suggestions. Now it is different due to the large scale of hindus across the globe. It is hard to discern what behavior is both practical and righteous.
• Emphasizes personal responsibility which contradicts individual rights. Fulfilling ones duty subsequently fulfills others rights due to hinduism's world view of interdependence.

Varnas:

• Shudras (artisans and specialists)
• Purpose: To serve others, be loyal and proud of their work, to marry, to follow moral obligations such as not stealing.
• Vaishyas (farmers, merchants, business men)
• Purpose: Productive class, protect animals and land, create wealth and prosperity, take care of workers, trade ethically and pay taxes to Kshatriyas.
• Kshatriyas (warriors, police, administrators)
• Purpose: many, can not refuse a challenge, protect citizens from harm, first into battle, never flee battle, etc...
• Brhamanas (priests, teachers, intellectuals)
• Purpose: Study and teach Vedas, perform sacrifices and religious ceremonies, never accept paid employment, know brhama, etc...
• Overall Purpose of Varnas: To keep a functional society by fostering an environment of personal responsibility.

Ashrams:

• "A spiritual shelter"
• Four stages of life for specific types of spiritual growth.
• Brahmacari: Student life
• Purpose: be celibate, live simply, not have material or sensory pleasures, serve gurus, study Vedas, etc...
• Grihasta: Household life
• Purpose: make money, enjoy sense pleasure (within ethical guidelines), be married, raise family, etc...
• Vanaprashta: Retired life
• Purpose: Pilgrimage, austerity and penance, focus on religious matters
• Sannyasa: Renounced life
• Purpose: Control mind and senses, complete renunciation of the material world for full dependance on God, preach the importance of self realization and the truths of God.