Indian Philosophy Pointers

Hindu - Sanskrit Sindhu meaning “the Indus River valley”
Dharma or Hindu dharma
• instead of Hinduism
• henotheism – superior to lesser divine
• polytheistic – belief on many gods
rta – a cosmic principle of harmony, regularity and right order
sacred texts:
• shruti (VEDAS)- “heard” from the gods
• smriti - “remembered” by ancient human sages
Vedas - collections of devotional hymns, ceremonial guidelines
and philosophical reflections
Four Sections of Vedas (MBAU):
1. Mantras – religious poetry address to the gods
2. Brahmanas – ceremonial guidelines
3. Aranyakas – material for ascetic
4. Upanishads – philosophical commentaries
Trimurti (BVS) – primary natures of Brahman (Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva)
• Brahma – uncreated creator
• Vishnu – preserver of universe (10x reincarnated)
- Rama - 7th Vishnu (Ramayana)
• Shiva – destroyer and dancer (8x reincarnated)
Avatar or avatara - take a flesh on knowable form (incarnation)
Atman – soul
Hanuman – monkey-faced god in Ramayana
aum/om – essence of Brahman (creation, preservation,
destruction)
Basic Tenets/Doctrines:
1. Samsara – reincarnation of soul (cycle of rebirth)
2. Moksha – liberation from samsara
3. Karma – every thought or deed, it has a consequence
Four Yogas (KJRB):

Four Vedas (RYSA): 1. Karma – path of work and service

2. Jnana – path of knowledge “not seeing”
1. Rig Veda – devotional hymns 3. Raja – path of meditation; Samadhi - intense mental
2. Yajur Veda – ritual hymns concentration
3. Sama Veda – chant hymns 4. Bhakti – path of love and devotion to God
4. Atharva Veda – magical hymns
Vedic gods:
Smritis (LRBM):
• Indra – thunder, rain, and war,
1. Laws of Manu – code of ideal behavior
• Agni – fire
2. Ramayana – journey of Rama
• Varuna – cosmic order and righteousness
3. Bhagavad-Gita – essence of the Vedas
• Surya – sun
4. Mahabharata - contains the Bhagavad Gita
• Vayu – wind
Four Periods (VESS): • Ushas – dawn
• Saraswati – knowledge, speech, and music
1. Vedic (1500 to 600 BC) – writing of sacred Vedic Texts
2. Epic (500 to 200 BC) – writing of Epic literatures 6 Orthodox (Astika)
3. Sutra (200 BCE to 5 AD) – systematic philosophical
1. Nyaya
discourse
2. Vaisesika
4. Scholastic (16 CE onwards) – elaborate commentaries
3. Samkhya
and debates
4. Yoga
Caste system (BKVS): 5. Purva Mimamsa
6. Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta
1. Brahmins/Brahmanas– priests
2. Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors 3 Heterodox (Nastika)
3. Vaishyas – commoners
1. Buddhism
4. Shudras – servants/slaves
2. Jainism
Brahman – ultimate reality 3. Charvaka

Namaste

- Literally means “I bow to you”

- Greeting the god within you