Beliefs About Deity and Humanity
- Created by: LaniDriver
- Created on: 27-04-14 09:57
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- Hinduism - The Concept of God
- Bhakti - God is love, and love is God.
- Apara-Bhakti - for beginners in yoga. in this form of Bhakti the worshipper sees god trhough the images they use in worship.
- Nishkamya Bhakti - the worshipper seeks to become one with god and receive spiritual blessings such as wisdom and power
- Sakamya Bhakti - devotion with desire for material gain such as wealth and health
- Para-Bhakti - the highest form of bhakti. the worshipper sees and feels god everywhere around them
- Brahman And Atman
- The Relationship Between Brahman and Atman
- To monists, they are the same. However to some Hindus they are dual - atman is a part of Brahman. Comparisons for this are space outside and inside a jar and the story of Svetaketu and Uddalaka.
- The Concept of Atman
- Atman is the Hindu concept of the soul. Sometimes called 'the divine spark', it is present within all living beings.
- Paramatman - The Supreme Self or God. This ties into the belief that the atman is a part of Brahman.
- Jiva-atman - the individual self or soul.
- The Concept of Brahman
- Nirguna Brahman - God without attributes. all descriptions are limited and incomplete as Brahman is something beyond words and thoughts.
- Saguna Brahman - God with attributes. God is given a title and a description that saves human limitedness, thus giving Hindus something tangible to worship. Ties into Bhakti - loving devotion.
- Sat, Cit and Anada - Pure being, pure consciousness and pure bliss
- Shankara's Two Levels - Shankara believed that Brahman could be understood on two spiritual levels. The higher spiritual level is Nirguna Brahman and the lower spiritual level is Saguna Brahaman.
- The Relationship Between Brahman and Atman
- The Cycle of Samsara
- Karma
- the principle of cause and effect, operating on a moral basis
- Reincarnation
- the process of the soul transmigrating into a new body.
- Karma
- Vaishnavism and Shaivism
- Shaivism
- Shaivas place great emphasis on The Vedas such as Rudram and Chamakam
- Sacred ash is an important part of worship as it shows reverence and respect
- Worship can take place in temples or at home
- priests are called Shivacharyas
- Shaivas worship Shiva's consort Parvarti and their two sons
- Nataraja temple is the holiest Shaiva temple
- Shiva is worshipped in two forms - linga and human
- Shaivas believe Shiva to be the Supreme God
- Vaishnavism
- Bhakti - God is love, and love is God.
- Apara-Bhakti - for beginners in yoga. in this form of Bhakti the worshipper sees god trhough the images they use in worship.
- Nishkamya Bhakti - the worshipper seeks to become one with god and receive spiritual blessings such as wisdom and power
- Sakamya Bhakti - devotion with desire for material gain such as wealth and health
- Para-Bhakti - the highest form of bhakti. the worshipper sees and feels god everywhere around them
- Also worship Vishnu's avatars as Hindus believe there is no difference
- Festivals and worship are elaborately observed
- Is full of dancing and chanting of holy names
- Important scriptures are The Vedas and the Puranas
- believe god and the soul are distinct from each other
- Their main aim is moksha. they believe Vishnu is the soul of the universe
- Vaishnavism is very devotional and stresses the personal aspects of God
- Bhakti - God is love, and love is God.
- Shaivism
- The Trimurti
- Vishnu - The Preserver
- Woship
- Supreme God of Vaishnavism not just one aspect of him
- Often his avatars such as Krishna are worshipped like gods.
- Consort(s)
- Lakshmi - Goddess of wealth
- Symbolism
- holds a discus with six spokes - symbolizes the s six seasons, is also a fearful weapon used to behead evil demons
- holds a conch shell - represents the five elements, symbolizes creativity. when blown makes the 'aum' sound.
- lotus represents the power from which the universe emerges
- Four arms - symbolize his all-powerful nature
- blue skin symbolizes his all-pervasive nature like the sky and sea
- mace represents the force from which all power derives
- Avatars
- 5. Vamana (dwarf)
- 4. Narasimha (half man, half lion)
- 6. Parashurama
- 3. Varaha (boar)
- 7. Rama
- 2. Kurma (tortoise)
- 8. Krishna
- 1. Matsya (fish)
- 10. Kalki (yet to appear)
- 9. Buddha
- Woship
- Brahma - The Creator
- Consort(s)
- Saraswati - Goddess of learning
- Symbolism
- Four heads, faces and arms - story of Shatarupa
- Holds a scepter shaped like a spoon - represents the pouring of holy ghee into sacrificial pyre as Brahma is the lord of sacrifices
- Holds pot of water or coconut shell to symbolize the beginning of creation
- Rosary beads to keep track of the Universe's time
- Swan represents justice
- Worship
- Although Brahma is prayed to in all religious sites, he is the most ignored of the trimurti and has only two temples in India.
- Jaipur - religious festival where pilgrims bathe in the holy lake in Brahma's honour
- Consort(s)
- Shiva - The Destroyer
- Symbolism
- trident - represents the trimurti and past, present and future
- drum - makes the 'aum' sound
- third eye - represents his wisdom and omniscient nature
- Vibhuti - sacred ash
- Crescent - shows power of offering sacrifices and control over time
- Long matted hair - represents him as lord of the wind
- Cobra Necklace - symbolizing Shiva being beyond death
- Worship
- Shiva is worshipped directly by his followers unlike Vishnu who is worshipped through his avatars
- Shiva-Ratri (Shiva's Night) is a festival held in his honour
- Consorts
- Devi, mother goddess
- Kali
- Pavarti
- Devi, mother goddess
- Titles
- God of storms
- lord of ascetics
- lord of the dance
- God of opposites
- God of reproduction and sexuality - linga
- Symbolism
- Vishnu - The Preserver
- Bhakti - God is love, and love is God.
- Vaishnavism
- Also worship Vishnu's avatars as Hindus believe there is no difference
- Festivals and worship are elaborately observed
- Is full of dancing and chanting of holy names
- Important scriptures are The Vedas and the Puranas
- believe god and the soul are distinct from each other
- Their main aim is moksha. they believe Vishnu is the soul of the universe
- Vaishnavism is very devotional and stresses the personal aspects of God
- Shiva - The Destroyer
- Symbolism
- trident - represents the trimurti and past, present and future
- drum - makes the 'aum' sound
- third eye - represents his wisdom and omniscient nature
- Vibhuti - sacred ash
- Crescent - shows power of offering sacrifices and control over time
- Long matted hair - represents him as lord of the wind
- Cobra Necklace - symbolizing Shiva being beyond death
- Worship
- Shiva is worshipped directly by his followers unlike Vishnu who is worshipped through his avatars
- Shiva-Ratri (Shiva's Night) is a festival held in his honour
- Consorts
- Devi, mother goddess
- Kali
- Pavarti
- Devi, mother goddess
- Titles
- God of storms
- lord of ascetics
- lord of the dance
- God of opposites
- God of reproduction and sexuality - linga
- Symbolism
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