INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL HINDU THOUGHT

SAST 283 / RLST 356

Fall 2019

INSTRUCTOR
Aleksandar Uskokov | aleksandar.uskokov@yale.edu | (203) 432-1972 | 221 Luce Hall

CLASS TIMES AND LOCATION: MWF 11:35-12:25, Luce Hall 302

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offers a survey of major topics of doctrine, philosophy and ethics in systematic Hindu
thought, focusing on the period before the 16th century CE and the onset of early modernity, and
drawing from the literary production in the classical languages Sanskrit and Tamil. It engages,
specifically, themes such as scripture, the foundations of ethics, the moral valence of killing and
nonviolence, ritual and renunciation; the Self and the human condition, embodiment, transmigration,
karma, and liberation; the varieties of Yoga or spiritual practice; the nature of Divinity and theological
systems; topics in religious epistemology; and the doctrines of devotion and divine grace.
The class combines lectures with discussion. The readings include accessible secondary
literature and a selection of primary sources.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The successful completion of this course will facilitate acquiring an understanding of themes that
were commonly debated in the long and rich history of Hinduism; learning the skills of close reading
of primary texts and critical reading of secondary literature; and expressing ideas and arguments
coherently and persuasively, in writing and discussion.

OFFICE HOURS & AVAILABILITY

I will hold office hours on Wednesdays 1:30-3:30 PM, in Luce Hall 221. I will have an open-door policy
and you could just walk right in at that time, first come first serve, for which reason you may wish to
schedule your time in advance.
Additionally, outside of class, students are encouraged to communicate through email.

REQUIRED READINGS
▪ Dasti, Matthew and Stephen Phillips. 2017. The Nyaya-sutra. Selections with Early
Commentaries. Indianapolis: Hacket Publishing
▪ Davis, Richard H. 2014. Ritual in an Oscillating Universe: Worshipping Śiva in Medieval India.
Princeton: Princeton University Press (also available online through Yale Library here:
https://muse.jhu.edu/book/34276)
▪ Flood, Gavin, and Charles Martin. 2015. The Bhagavad Gita. New York: Norton
▪ Olivelle, Patrick. 2008. Upaniṣads. Oxford: Oxford University Press (also available online
through Yale Library here: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/yale-
ebooks/detail.action?docID=272892)
All other readings will be provided in pdf files on the course site.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Knowledge of Indian languages is not required, and no prior coursework in South Asian Studies or
Religious Studies is presupposed.
Assignments for this course will include:

▪ Class preparation 25%

▪ Three take-home quizzes 30%
▪ Two short papers 30%
▪ Discussion participation 15%

CLASS PREPARATION. On the Canvas course site, you will submit no fewer than two questions and two
comments on the class readings by 8 AM of the class day: we will draw on these in the lectures and
use them as the basis for discussion in discussion classes. Each submission will contribute a point
towards the final grade.
THREE TAKE-HOME QUIZZES in lieu of a final exam. The quizzes will consist of a number of questions
that require a short paragraph answer, and each quiz will contribute 10 points towards the final grade.
I will provide study guides.
TWO SHORT PAPERS, 4-6 pages (1200-1800 words) each, on prompts given by me, for 15 points each.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND DISCUSSION. Students are expected to attend all classes, except for excused
absences due to medical or similar reasons, about which they must inform the instructor in advance.
Both in the lectures and discussion sessions, students are expected to participate with keen interest.

USE OF TECHNOLOGY POLICY

While the use of computers and tablets is not discouraged, it should be restricted to taking notes.
Students are requested to use their computers and tablets in “airplane mode” and turn off Wi-Fi while
in class. Outside of class, students will use the canvas site to access various learning resources.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
In writing your essays, you must document all of your source material. If you take any text from
somebody else, you must make it clear the text is being quoted and where the text comes from. You
must also cite any sources from which you obtain numbers, ideas, or other material. If you have any
questions about what does or does not constitute plagiarism, ask! Plagiarism is a serious offense and
will not be treated lightly. Fortunately, it is also easy to avoid and if you are the least bit careful about
giving credit where credit is due you should not run into any problems.

SCHEDULE OF MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS

October 7 (midnight): First Quiz

October 21 (midnight): First Paper
November 8 (midnight): Second Quiz
December 6 (5:30 PM): Third Quiz
December 13 (midnight): Second Paper

COURSE SCHEDULE AND READINGS

August 28 Course Introduction

August 30 Hindu Scriptures

▪ Killingley, Dermot. 2018. “The older Vedas and the Upaniṣads,” in The Upaniṣads: A Complete
Guide, Signe Cohen (ed.). London and New York: Routledge, pp. 43-57
▪ McCrea, Lawrence. “Hindu Jurisprudence and scriptural hermeneutics.” In Hinduism and Law:
An Introduction. Lubin, Timothy, Donald R. Davis, and Jayanth K. Krishnan (eds.). Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, pp. 123-136
▪ Olivelle, Patrick. 2017. “The School of Vedic Exegesis: Sabara” in A Dharma Reader: Classical
Indian Law. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 89-96

September 4 Dharma and Society

▪ Doniger, Wendy. 1981. “Puruṣa-Sūkta, or the Hymn of Man,” in The Rig Veda: An Anthology.
London: Penguin Books, pp. 29-32.
▪ Halbfass, Wilhelm. 1988. “Dharma in the Self-Understanding of Traditional Hinduism,” in
India and Europe: An Essay in Understanding. Albany: SUNY Press, pp. 310-333

September 6 Screening of Altar of Fire

▪ A documentary by Robert Gardner and Frits Staal (1976)

September 9 Hindu Ritual

▪ Doniger, Wendy. 2014. “Sacrifice and Substitution: Ritual Mystification and Mythical
Demystification in Hinduism,” in On Hinduism. Oxford and New York: Oxford University
Press, pp. 207-232
▪ Staal, Frits. 1979. “The Meaninglessness of Ritual,” Numen, Vol. 26.1, pp. 2-22
▪ Revisit page 90 (under #1) of August 30: Olivelle, Patrick. 2017. “The School of Vedic Exegesis,”
in A Dharma Reader: Classical Indian Law. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 88-104
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

September 11 Ritual Killing and Non-violence

▪ Halbfass, Wilhelm. 1991. “Vedic Apologetics, Ritual Killing, and the Foundations of Ethics,” in
Tradition and Reflection. Albany: SUNY Press, pp. 87-129
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

September 13 Discussion, focus on Staal; Halbfass; Doniger

September 16 Renunciation and the Āśrama System
▪ Gambhirananda, Swami. 1984. Bhagavadgītā. With the Commentary of Śaṅkarācārya.
“Introduction by Śrī Śaṅkarācārya.” Kolkata: Advaita Ashrama, pp. 2-7
▪ Olivelle, Patrick. 1978. “The Integration of Renunciation by Orthodox Hinduism,” in Journal of
the Oriental Institute Baroda, 28:1, 27-36
▪ Olivelle, Patrick. 2004. “Actions Leading to the Supreme Good,” in Manu’s Code of Law. Oxford
and New York: Oxford University Pres, pp. 216-8
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

September 18 Self and Liberation in the Upaniṣads

▪ Chāndogya Upaniṣad, Chapter 8 (Olivelle, pp. 167-176); Bṛhad-Āraṇyaka Upaniṣad, Chapter
4.3-4 (pp. 58- 68); Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad, Chapter 1 (pp. 202-6); Kaṭha Upaniṣad (pp. 231-247);
Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (Olivelle 2008, pp. 266-277)
▪ Uskokov, Aleksandar. 2018. “Liberation,” in Springer Encyclopedia of Indian Religions
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

September 20 Discussion, focus on Olivelle; Manu; Śaṅkara; Upaniṣads

September 23 Self and Liberation in Sāṅkhya

▪ Larson, Gerald James. 1979. “The Sāṁkhyakārikā of Īśvarakṛṣṇa (translation),” in Classical
Sāṁkhya: An Interpretation of its History and Meaning,” pp. 255-277
▪ Burley, Mikel. 2018. “Sāṁkhya,” in History of Indian Philosophy (ed. Purushottama Bilimoria).
London and New York: Routledge, pp. 131-140
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

September 25 Self and Liberation in Yoga

▪ Bryant, Edwin F. 2009. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. New York: North Point Press, pp. xlv-lviii;
3-31
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

September 27 Discussion, focus on Sāṅkhya-kārikā, Yoga-sūtra

September 30 Self and Liberation in Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika and Mīmāṁsā

▪ Dasti and Phillips: Chapters 4 and 8 (pp. 74-94; 156-74)
▪ Ram-Prasad, Cakravarthi. 2007. “Liberation without Annihilation: Pārthasārathi Miśra on
Jñānaśakti,” in Indian Philosophy and the Consequences of Knowledge: Themes in Ethics,
Metaphysics, and Soteriology. Aldershot: Ashgate, pp. 133-46
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

October 2 Bhagavad-gītā
▪ Flood, Gavin, and Charles Martin. 2015. The Bhagavad Gita. New York: Norton
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM
October 4 Discussion, focus on Bhagavad-gītā

October 7 Concepts of Divinity: Brahman, Īśvara

▪ Chāndogya Upaniṣad, Chapter 6 (Olivelle, pp. 148-156); Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Chapter 2 (pp. 184-
189); Bṛhad-Āraṇyaka Upaniṣad, Chapter 3.4-9 (pp. 39-52), Chapter 4.5 (pp. 69-71)
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM
Assignment: First Quiz due by midnight, inclusive of material up to September 30!

October 9 Concepts of Divinity: Bhagavān, Avatāra and Temple Hinduism

▪ Couture, André. 2018. “Avatāra,” in: Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online, Knut A. Jacobsen,
Helene Basu, Angelika Malinar, Vasudha Narayanan (eds.)
▪ Davis: pp. 3-9
▪ Narayanan, Vasudha. 1985. “Arcāvatāra: On Earth as He is in Heaven,” in Gods of Flesh, Gods of
Stone, J.P. Waghorne & N. Cutler (eds.), New York: Columbia University Press: pp. 53–66
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

October 11 Discussion, focus on Upaniṣads; Gonda; Narayanan

October 14 Advaita Vedānta

▪ Gambhirananda, Swami. 1965. Brahma Sūtra Bhāṣya of Śaṅkarācārya (translation). Kolkata:
Advaita Ashrama, pp. 1-6
▪ Suthren Hirst, J. G. 2005. “The Context of Teaching,” in Śaṁkara’s Advaita Vedānta: A way of
teaching. London and New York: Routledge, pp. 89-115
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

Recess: October recess begins on Tuesday, October 15, 11 pm

October 21 Śaiva Siddhānta

▪ Davis: Chapters 1 and 2
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM
Assignment: First Paper due by midnight!

October 23 Non-dual Kashmir Shaivism

▪ Dyczkowski, Mark S. G. 1987. The Doctrine of Vibration: An Analysis of the Doctrines and
Practices of Kashmir Shaivism. Albany: SUNY Press, pp. 33-75
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

October 25 Discussion, focus on Davis; Dyczkowski

October 28 Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta

 ▪ Adidevananda, Swami. 2009. Śrī Rāmānuja Gītā Bhāṣya (translation). Chennai: Sri
Ramakrishna Math, pp. 41-4
▪ Carman, John. 1974. The Theology of Rāmānuja: An Essay in Interreligious Understanding. New
Haven and London: Yale University Press, pp. 65-113
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

October 30 Dvaita Vedānta

▪ Sharma, B.N.K. 1997. Madhva’s Teachings in His Own Words. Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
pp. 1-30; 113-137
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

November 1 Discussion, focus on Adidevananda; Carman; Sharma

November 4 Proving the Existence of God

▪ Matthew R. Dasti. 2011. “Indian Rational Theology: Proof, Justification, and Epistemic
Liberality in Nyāya's Argument for God,” in Asian Philosophy, 21:1, 1-21
▪ Dasti and Phillips: Chapter 6 (pp. 116-137)
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

November 6 Theodicy
▪ Herman, A.L. 1971. “Indian theodicy: Śaṁkara and Rāmānuja on Brahma Sūtra II.2.32-36,” in
Philosophy East and West 21: 265-81
▪ Gambhirananda, Swami. 1965. Brahma Sūtra Bhāṣya of Śaṅkarācārya (translation). Kolkata:
Advaita Ashrama, pp. 360-365
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

November 8 Discussion, focus on Dasti; Dasti & Phillips; Herman; Gambhirananda

Assignment: Second Quiz due by midnight, inclusive of material from October 2 to November 6!

November 11 Bhakti as the Highest Good

▪ Narayanan, Vasudha. 2018. “Bhakti,” in: Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online, Knut A.
Jacobsen, Helene Basu, Angelika Malinar, Vasudha Narayanan (eds.)
▪ Gupta, Ravi M., and Kenneth R. Valpey. 2017. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa: Selected Readings. New
York: Columbia University Press, pp. 27-33; 103-110
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

November 13 The Āḷvars and Southern Shaiva Bhakti

▪ Viswanathan Peterson, Indira. 1989. Poems to Śiva: The Hymns of the Tamil Saints. Princeton:
Princeton University Press, pp. 8-50; 205-216; 224-50; 255-67
▪ Carman, John, and Vasudha Narayanan. The Tamil Veda: Piḷḷāṉ’s Interpretation of Tiruvāymoḻi.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp. 3-33
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM
November 15 Discussion, focus on Narayanan; Gupta and Valpey; Viswanathan Peterson; Carman
and Narayanan

November 18 The Notion of Surender and Divine Grace

▪ Rajagopala Ayyangar, M.A. 1946. Srimad Rahasyatrayasara of Sri Vedantadesika.
Kumbhakonam: Agnihothram Ramanuja Thathachariar, pp. 94-114
▪ Mumme, Patricia. 1992. “Haunted by Śaṅkara’s Ghost: The Śrīvaiṣṇava Interpretation of
Bhagavad Gītā 18:66,” in Texts in Context: Traditional Hermeneutics in South Asia, Jeffrey R.
Timm (ed.), 69–84. Albany: SUNY Press.
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

November 20 The Bhāgavata Purāṇa

▪ Gupta, Ravi M., and Kenneth R. Valpey. 2017. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa: Selected Readings. New
York: Columbia University Press, pp. 1-23; 27-33; 103-110; 160-181
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

November 22 Discussion, focus on Rajagopala Ayyangar; Mumme; Gupta and Valpey

Recess: November recess begins on Friday, November 22

December 2 The Aesthetics of Religious Experience

▪ Haberman, David. 1988. Acting as a Way of Salvation. Oxford and New York: Oxford University
Press, pp. 3-39
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

December 4 Bengali Vaishnavism—Synthesis of Vedānta and bhakti

▪ Gupta, Ravi. 2007. The Caitanya Vaiṣṇava Vedānta of Jīva Gosvāmī: When knowledge meets
devotion. London and New York: Routledge, pp. 13-61.
Assignment: post no fewer than two questions and two comments on the reading on Canvas by 8 AM

December 6 Discussion, focus on Haberman; Gupta

Assignment: Third Quiz due by 5:30 pm, inclusive of material from November 11 to December 4!

December 13
Assignment: Second Paper due by midnight!