HINDUISM

The word Hindu is formed in the Persian monument Darius II Hystapar near Pars polis 486 BC. Denoting
the people living across the banks of Indus River. The word is used in a geographical connotation rather
than any other meaning.
Kamala Patti Tripati – Veteran Congress leader made –Nigantu – in which the word Hindu means a thief /
dacoit.
Sharma – Hinduism is a league of religions.
Dr.Radhakrishnan – It is a university of religion.
Gandhiji – It is a garden of religion.
Nirad C.Choudhary – It is a convenient name given to all religious practices and believes in the Indian sub-
continent.
Ramila Tappa (historian) –Hindu means the inhabitants in the Indian sub-continent.
Sister Nivedita – Hinduism is a travel of men and women on the way of realization and reaching
perfection.
Ram swami Iyenagar – It is a golden umbrella, which shelters many forms of thoughts and approaches to
the divine.
Aurobindo – It is a continuous enlarging tradition of God ward endeavor of the human spirit.
Hinduism is a nameless religion. According to Fr.R. Antonnie it is a blend of aboriginal Dravidians and
Aryan elements
Religion can be classified into two: - natural and Prophetical. Hinduism is a natural religion.

John Marshall came to India in 1920.He was the master of unveiling the Indus valley civilization. His work
was published in the year of 1922-23.Seals were found in Larkhana and Mt.Gomer district. (Harappa and
Mohenjadoro).
The first seal was encarved in stone. A yogi was sitting in a post for meditation with his hair tied up in a
padmasana position. Having a pectoral on the neck. He has bangles, sitting on an elevated post, around him
there were pashus (animals) buffalo, elephant tiger, dear and rhinoceros.
No horse was seen it shows that it is not the Aryan religion. As the pashus are around him we call
pashupathi.
Second seal is made by Terracotta and baked. A lady with a dancing posture with garland of skull and also
girdle of cheekbones untied hair with a brandished sword on one side and protecting shield on the other
hand. With a lulling tongue and protruding eyes with a large breast. It is also a fertility cult.
Third-Terracotta. Same mother Goddess in front of her a fellow dragging the animal (pig) it indicates that a
sacrifice of animal.
IV An animal with human face and pig tail being drawn in front of the Mother Goddess. There is some one
who is kicking; it shows the forceful human sacrifice.
V In front of the same deity but the one who is standing in front of her is shivering out of fear of death
(positioned a hands lifted up in a position of surrendering. The legs drawn in curved shape.
VI T.cotta. Same deity over the arms branches coming over. Phycus religousa Pupal tree. She is called as
Shakambari Devi.
VII T.cotta the same Shakambari Devi the vegetation is coming from the genital.
VIII Recently found in1998 a lady with a pot (means water from Ganga) of 5000yrs ago brought by the
help of Herman Goetz and published by Pupal Jaykar.
IX Under the title of dancing girl made up of bronze excavated from Mohenjadoro.
X Same woman but with greater lips. One hand with bangles and leaning on the back. Other hand stretched
and holding a cup.
XI Similar one is published the difference is only a necklace with stone on the neck.
XII A woman’s head with cobra, Indicating decorating the head which indicate the Naga cult.
XIII There is thousands of seals available in the form of swastic clockwise if it is clockwise it is
male .If it is anti clockwise it is female.
XIV It is phallic symbol Siva linga this is also indicates fertility cult.
XV There is numbers of seals available in the Mohenjadoro Harappa Civilization. Two cobras twisting
together indicate the fertility cult.

MAJOR FEATURES OR CHARACTERISTICS

1. Hinduism is not having any rigid rule. (Pattern of worship)

2. It is an inclusive religion.
3. It is Sanadhana Dharma.
4. It is a natural religion.
5. It has no founder.
6. It is not a prophetic religion.
7. It is not a historic religion.
8. It is the oldest religion.
9. Its message is Vedanta. Vedanta combination of two words Vid + Anata. Vid means to know or
knowing is experiencing Anata means unlimited time. There is no end for knowing.
10. Every Hindu believes Karma samsara (transmigration of the soul)
11. No central ecclesiology / no ecclesiastical authority.
12. No unified doctrines and dogmas.
13. Hinduism believes in Prasthana thraya: three scriptures- Veda, Gita and Brahma sutra.
14. It believes in Adrusta (luck), Dharma (justice), Nishkamakarma (doing things without desire)
Mt 5:46, Luke 6:27-38
15. It believes in Kulavivaksha (discrimination of caste).
16. It does things manassa, Vacha, Karmena (mind, words and doings).
17. It believes in Panchamahayajnas. (Five great sacrifice)
-Brahma Yajna (God)
-Daiva Yajna (teachers)
-Pitru Yajna (father)
-Bhuta Yajna (mother)
-Manushya Yajna (Man)
18. It believes in eight kinds of marriage.
(Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapathya,Asura, Gandharva, Rakshasa,Paisasika)
19.It believes gnana as the essential way of getting salvation. Two e.g.: - Parable of Talents & Lostcoin
20.It also believes Varnashrama Dharma and Purushardhas.

HOW IT IS CLASSIFIED

Popular Hinduism and Classical Hinduism.

The first one is pseudo Hinduism and the second one depends on the scriptures Sruti and Smriti
Sruti – to hear when the sages were in deep meditation of thought they heard in their heart.

SAMHITAS
Samhitas are having a kind of religion in it. Religion in the primordial stage.
It is a collection of good words. It is hymns of praise.
Religion of samhitas: -
Polytheism, Organized polytheism, anthropomorphism, Pantheism, monotheism, monism, pacimism and
elements of atheism.

BRAHAMANAS

Three kinds of Brahmanas: - Anu, Karma and Kalpa (Supplementary, which prescribes doings and which
deals with principles). Brah means to grow. The essence, which helps us to grow, is called brahamanas.
According to Sankara Brahmanas are Avasdayati, which takes a person from this world to that world.
These Brahmanas prescribe divergent duties to the priest differently in different Vedas. These Brahmanas
are the prose text. They describe –Artha vivarna (describing the meaning of each action)-Viniyoga
(Usefulness) – Praayojana (practically how to use) –Prathistana (talks about the Christ of the brahmanas)
Vidhi (fate). Brahamanas contains ‘Hefu’ which means reasoning. It also describes nirvachana, which
means defining and Arthavada that if; it describes the meaning of the texts.
Totally there are 18 Brahmanas. In Rig Veda there are two Brahmanas. One is Aitareya Brahmana, which
talks about a sacrifice, which can be performed by a godly man who is half man and half divine. In
Aitareya Bra: there is a character named Prajapathi (Lord of His people). He is the creator, sinless, there
was no sin in Him, was a perfect one. It talks about a Prajapathi who gave himself as a sacrifice and
became ransom for many.

Religion of Brahamanas

It is found in Genesis too. The religion of Sacrifice. Even in the Bible Sacrifice is the basic entity of
worship. In Veda – Sacrifice is the basic entity of worship.
The first chapter in the Aitareya Brahamana describes how to make fire altar to offer God. Fire is
considered as Rtvic (priest) and he is one who will be mediating the sacrifice, which offer to God. Small
priest is the man who is helping to throw the animal into the fire. Various sacrifices are there but it
describes human sacrifice as the highest sacrifice. There are fundamental rules that one has to observe for
all the sacrifices. While sacrificing he will identify himself with the animal.

 The animal, which is to be offered, should have worldly and divine qualities.
 The animal should be half mortal and half immortal and should possess
 The animal should be spotless in character. (Not blind, lame etc…)
 The animal itself to be ready to offer itself in the sacrifice.

QUALITIES OF A PRIEST

 The priest must be proficient in doing the sacrifice.

 The priest should be half mortal and half immortal.
 He should be in the maturity of age.
 Before offering the sacrifice the priest has to proclaim at least 3 times about the sacrifice. (Mt 8:11)
 Before offering the sacrifice the priest has to eat with his disciple.
 The priest with his disciples move towards east. (Olive)
 The priest as well as the animal will take preparation for the sacrifice.
 After preparation the whole party has to move to the northern side.
 Finally after the sacrifice the priest has to give pranaprathista on the third day.
Leviticus chapter 21 talks about the qualities of a priest and chapter 22 talks about the
qualities of the animal.

PROCEDURE OF SACRIFICE

 The animal has to be nailed to the ‘Yupasthamba’. (Wooden log).

 It has to be crowned with ‘Balusu’ (herb).
 The animal has to be given ‘Surapana’ (arrack).
 The side of the animal should be pierced.
 The whole tunica (skin) has to be removed without making it into pieces.
 None of the bones of the animal to be broken.

Who will do this sacrifice?

Aranyakas who teach the sacrifice the only difference between them and the brahmanas is only one i.e.,
Aran This word indicates that he is not married one.
The one who did the sacrifice is prajapathi. Prajapathi is mythical figure.
A STORY OF SUNEHSEPA (MAN WITH DOG’S TAIL)

King Harish Chandra had leprosy and it was told that if he offers a sacrifice (human) he would be purified
from the leprosy. His father sold Sunehsepa. The day for the sacrifice came the boy started crying. The
passerby sage Vishwamitra heard the boy crying. He asked the reason and the boy narrated what happened.
Vishwamitra questioned the king. But the king was adamant. Sage sends him to heaven but was not
allowed to enter there by the Devas and was thrown down to the earth. Sage prepared neither heaven nor
earth Trisanku and sends the boy there.

SATAPATA BRAHAMANA

It consists of 100 chapters. It is a composition of Yajur Veda, having 2400 poems. The first description is
the story of Shakuntala.
Vishwamitra was RajRshi. He wanted to see Brahma. Devas informed this to Indra. And they were scared
that if he please Brahma and ask for Indrapadhavi. Indra sent his wife Menaka and she danced in front of
the sage and later she gave birth to a child named Shakunthala. The moment the mother left the child and
went back to heaven the shakuntala birds started feeding the baby. And rishi Kanva saw this and kept the
child in the Ashram as Ashram child. Because the those birds were feeding the baby the child was named
as Shakuntala.
When she was grown up King Dushyanta met her and managed to marry her. When she was pregnant he
also left and went back to his kingdom. It was a Gandharva Vivaha (love marriage). Before he left he gave
a ring to show him to prove. But she lost the ring on the way. She was sent back from the palace because
the king did not recognize her. And she gave birth to Bharatha.

The story of Manu is also there. Manu is also called Satyavratha (one who follows strictly the truth). God
is the only truth. Manu after his morning devotion took bath in a river and later he took little water in his
kamadalam from the river. And in the water he found a little fish, which he tried to throw back. Fish
pleaded for its life and to save it he took it and it grew fast and couldn’t survive in the pot. Taken to a
different place and later to the sea. It promised Manu that when the time comes it would help. Flood came
and fish took Manu, his wife, three sons and wives totally 8 people were saved.
(Manuh – Nuh – Noah)

Story of Uddalaka

Uddalaka sent his son Svetakethu at the age of 8 for studies. He was there for 20yrs. After the studies the
son was not looking down even he thought that his father doesn’t know everything. Father asked him
continuously did you study that. Son answered if you say specifically what is that I will teach you. Finally
he accepted that teachers might not know so that they did not teach. And now he humbly came to father for
learning. And was asked to bring salt and water. He put salt in the water. Salt dissolved in it Later he took
a fruit of fig and asked to open it .Son did it and was asked to open the little granule in it to break. And was
asked to say what is in it. The son couldn’t see anything .The thing which cannot see is that.

VISHNUSARMA

Nickname Chanakya. 1st king in India. Trained Maurya Gupta.

While he went out a thorn pricked on his leg, out of anger he pulled it out and burned and ashes put it in
water and drank. He wrote Panchatantra. He brought down the glory of the women.

5th chapter talks about the sacrifice of Sarvamedha

6th chapter- Dwa Dasa Vrathas is described
7th chapter Upanayana (re-birth)
8th chapter Agnirahasya. Agni is the mediator between God and man.

Taiteraya Brahmana

In the Taiteraya Brahmana the first way is described as two birds sitting on a branch of tree. One is eating
and other is not. One, which is not eating, is looking upward. Another one is eating for a while and when it
bites a bitter fruit it stops. It represents two kinds of man. One who looks at God always and other who
leads a worldly life and when it faces something looks up.

Swaramadhuri is described in it. The story of Savitri is also said in it. Satyavrta is the hero. Savitri is his
wife. The parents were there in the forest. They were chased out from the kingdom. While they were in the
forest Yama (king of hell) comes to take Satyavrata’s life. Savitri observes him and understood that Yama
is to take her husband’s life. She follows him till the gate of hell. She was about to enter and he did not
wants that to happen so he gave her the 1 st boon all riches ,2nd long life .She said no use of having long life
without children. He gave. But she said without a husband how can I have children was the question asked
by her. He leaves Satyavratha and goes.

Important qualities / characters of Brahman

Brahman is Sarvam Kaluyedam Brahman.

It is also saying about Tatvam Asi (I am that)
Brahman is Sat yam Jnanam Anantam (never ending truth, experiencing knowledge, unending).
He is Satyasya Sat yam (essence of truth)
He is an inclusive reality.
He is all that grows, breathes and vanishes.
He is intelligent, rules and protects.
He is the subject and object
He is consciousness of the world.
He is the soul of the man. (Neti, Neti –not that not that and it is beyond).
He is Thajjalan.
He is the innermost unseen self. E.g.: - Onion – to find the innermost if we peel it one after
another layer the result is nothing.
He is distinct from the body and senses.
He is beyond the ken of the eye.
He is Sarvanthatyami (every where) In the 1st lines of Isa Upa: opens like Isa Vasam Idamsarvam
(God is pervading the whole universe)
He is also Jeevantaryamin (one who dwells in the creatures.)
He is the infinite essence if all life.
He is the reality of both inside and outside.
He cannot be understood by logic.
He is having two entities in him. Para and Apara/ not known & known
He is a reality within or without.
He is parinama
He is Vivartavata
He is Sat Chit Ananda (being for ever)

FORMATION OF RIG VEDA

Hindus believe the present generation in India is born out of Manu. Formation of Rig Veda talks about
2-7 books are original. But totally it consists 10 books. The last book consists casteism. It talks about 3
castes – Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra.
The Vedic hymns of Rig Veda are arranged in 10 ‘mandalas’ (books). There is another classification,
which says 8 Ashtakas (books). The numbers of hymns in each book are the same. Rig Veda is called
as the Veda Rajam (king of the Veda). In the other Vedas ¾ th of the poems are coming from Rig
Veda. There is no Veda without Rig Veda.

1st stage of the formation of the Rig Veda

2-7 mandalas contain the original corpus. The original poems are also called as Vamsha mandalas.
They are identical in style. 2-7 books are homogenous in structure. It is the work of different seers. The
work of their descendants in the ancient Indian tradition. This are doubtlessly handed down separately
in the family, which they belong. According to Mac Donald this are the original of the Rig Veda.
2nd stage – They also found some other poems in the later years depicted in different style. So they
brought those collections together and added in the first part ( 1+2-7).These are 9 short collections
added as the prefix to the original corpus. And then they started collecting poems and compiled it
together and completed the books.

3rd stage – In this with fewer hymns of strophic meter formulated as one more books & added at the
end of the original corpus. (1+2-7+8) They found a close relation with the 1 st book. There are frequent
repetitions. And there is a close connection with philology is used.
If the 8th book shows a closer relation with the 1 st book why the scholars separated these 2 books
keeping one at the end & other at the beginning of the original corpus. The p phrases used are very
similar. These are not the composition of the family members. 1-50 poems have closer affinity with the
8th book. Here & there in the 8 th book we will find Kanva family is mentioned therefore, we can
identify these poems of the 8th book as the contribution of that family.

4th stage – After finishing the 8th book similar collections of vamsha mandalas (1+2-7+8+9) the 9 th
book has close relation between the originals. In this the author opens the poem with a word Agni ile
that is similar of the 1st mandala. There by we can understand the book 1,8&9 were together circulated
among the families of the Rig Vedic times.
5th stage – The last book was added after a very long time. The language of the 10th mandala & the style
is completely different with the other Vedic poems but it shows a close affinity with the poems of the
Atharva Veda in style and diction.

RAMAYANA

The story of Rama probably came into the written form in 300 BC. In the story of Rama we will find
the influences of Buddhism, Dharma, Sangha (society). It is an Indo –Iranian story. While Aryans
came to India they brought Ramayana in their oral tradition. While Aryans came from central Asia they
digged out a nam Aba-ra-ma. The Valmiki Ramayana ends with when the Rama enters into the exile.
The story Ramayana is a ballot usually delineating sentimental story accompanied by a string
instrument with a rhythm of timbrals.and also it will be accompanied by a rythematic dance.

It is an Adi kavya with human sentiments. Poet Valmiki spontaneously with a flowery diction made the
story. The embodiment of the story is karuna & dharma. The antiquity of the story goes back to 2000
BC –700BC. In the first publication of it there are 3 recensions. (1) South Indian published in 1805 at
Bombay (2) Eastern recension published in 1843 at Paris (3) North – West recension was published in
1923 at Lahore. Only 1/3rd of the story tallies. The vulgate Ramayana is the oldest one. 18 kinds of
Ramayana’s are there.

GODS OF VEDAS

VARUNA

He is related to Ouranous the Greek god of cloud and rain. He has many qualities in common with the
Iranian god Ahuramazda. He is the god of the shining sky- the supreme .The natural basis of Varuna is
not mentioned in the Rig Veda. Sun is mentioned as the eye of Varuna. He is the one who destines
journey with Mitra. He is mentioned as one who binds with rope. The ideology of Yama is coming
from Varuna. He pervades at the earth and all the heavens. He is the highest of gods derived from
‘Dyaus’ who is the father of gods corresponds to Jupiter and Zeus. He is the celestial god and he is the
supreme lord, the creator of all beings and all existing things with certain provinces of Universe in
particular. His creation is not from nothing ex-nihilo but one of something. By means of ‘Rta’ he
ordered the things. He creates heaven and earth but cannot encompass him or contain him. He is wise
god. He is the Lord of all, king of heaven and earth. He is the one who can observe the whole universe.
He can easily separate us from, the sin like a calf is separated from the rope.

His face, eyes, hands and feet are mentioned. He walks drives, moves, and sits, eats and drinks. His
eyes observe the mankind under the sun. He is 1000 times far sighted. He is called Swaraj (king)
Samraj (monarch) Kshatra (sovereign lord) As Ahuramazda Varuna had his attributes and functioned
like him. He is blend of sovereign power and majesty of all gods ethical in activity compelling to
understand monotheism expressed in ancient literature. Like Ahuramazda Varuna is the creator of all
best things. He is the greatest lord of the law of nature. He is the one who separated the heaven and
earth. The term Asura is predominantly applicable to him.

INDRA

An atmospherical god. Towards the end of the Rig vela he turned out as the greatest of all Vedic gods.
He enacted as a Jupiter in the early Greek mythology. He was described as a good cow, gives
assistance to the devotees day after day. He is a close associate of the earthly soma often his belly is
depicted as a storehouse of soma. After drinking he raise a war often after consuming soma he will be
ready to battle with some one. Soma is alcohol. His weapon for the battle is described as thunder and
bolt. There is enmity between Varuna and Indra. In the later text Indra dominated Varuna. Varuna is
like Brahman and Brahmin.
There are 250 hymns 1/4th of Rig Veda is ascribed to him. He was the subject of many poets and myths.
He wears a golden mantle. He is an Indo-vedic, Indo cosmic liberator of waters. Agni is termed as the
twin brother of Indra. Maruth s and Maruthvants is the companion of Indra for war. He was constantly
invoked to destroy demons. The word Indra is derived from the word Bindhu / Indu. He is the natural
deity of Aryans.

AGNI

Agni is second in importance to Indra. Above 200 hymns are attributed to him. There is an
anthropomorphic appearance of Agni is depicted in the Vedas. He is described as butter-baked flamy
haired, thorny beard with sharp jaws of golden teeth. He is divine in birth. He is said to be the eagle of
the sky. He is like a goose dwells in the water. He is winged. He takes the position of the wood as a
bird perches on the tree. Wood and ghee are favorite food items for him. Somapana three times a day.
She is the mother of all gods. As she comes to every sacrifice his brightness is much dwelt upon and he
shines in the day and also in the night. It is the dispeller of darkness. He shines like Sun. His path is in
black. His banner is smoke. He invades the earth and the forest and defeats them like a barber shaves
beard, the defeat will be complete. He is closely associated with Indra. He is Athidhi of every
householder. He is a messenger of god. He is the mediator of God and man, central figure of the
priesthood, Grihapathi and Jatavedhi

His wisdom is often dwelt upon as knowing all the details of sacrifice. He is Indo-European also.
Originally was meant as ‘Agile’. This symbolizes he is unborn.