Getting Organized with Hinduism (B) “Denominations,” Writing Methods, and History

Working with history Situating religions in context The advantage of narrative The problem of periodization Using the Parampara document Problem of dating in ancient India Vyasa dictating Mahabharata to Ganesha

Hinduism: A Brief Religious History: the Indus Civilization 2600-1800 BCE (give or take) Great River Civilization with planned cities, centralized government, extensive trade network in ancient world Why Hindus don’t claim it in their religious history Why we must claim it The “Great Bath” of Mohenjo-Daro, an antecedent of the temple “tank” or pool found at every Hindu temple in later times

Hinduism: A Brief Religious History: Brahminism 1700-300 BCE (give or take) Includes both Vedic Age of Ritual (1700 – 900 BCE) and the Age of Speculation and Renunciation (900 – 300 BCE) The role of the Brahmins

Hinduism: A Brief Religious History: The Age of Ritual (Vedas) 1700 - 900 BCE (primarily, but continues to about 500) Indo-Europeans and the migratory Aryans The Vedic sacrifice Aniconic The Vedic hymns that “fueled” the rituals Brahmins as priest-poets A theater of the cosmos in microcosm 20th century recreation of a Vedic fire ritual from the film “Altar of Fire”

Hinduism: A Brief Religious History: The Age of Speculation and Renunciation (the Upanishads) 900 – 300 BCE (give or take) The counterculture of renunciation The setting: forest Ashramas, gurus New ideas: life as samsara, the doctrine of karma, spiritual liberation (moksha) New ideas: the self (atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) Non-orthodox renunciant cultures (Buddhism, Jainism Karma and vegetarianism

Hinduism: A Brief Religious History: The Hindu Synthesis (500 BCE – 500 CE) Vantage point of texts (epics & puranas): YOGA (Upanishads, Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita) DHARMA (origin of shruti vs. smriti?) BHAKTI, devotion, Rama and Krishna in epics, and the other GREAT GODS Vantage point of architecture & worship (Temple theism): Rise of the GREAT GODS TEMPLES built with royal patronage PUJA rituals of iconic gods PILGRIMAGE -ROLE OF PURANA TEXTS in synthesizing -WORK OF BRAHMINS as synthesizers

Hinduism: A Brief Religious History: The Great Theologians (800 – 1350 CE) Shankara, 788 – 820 CE (Non – dualism) Ramanuja, 1017 – 1137 CE (Qualified non-dualism) Madhva, 1238 - 1317 (Dualism) After the synthesis and the theologians—what? -Hinduism’s interactions with Islam -Effects of Colonial Rule on Hinduism -Modernity, Reform and Nationalism -Independence -Globalization