This document contains guidelines for writing a benchmark paper on Hinduism, including:
1. Describe the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and their roles in the Yuga cycles.
2. Describe the caste system and how it functions in Hindu life.
3. Compare and contrast a Christian community in India with Hindu beliefs and practices.
It also provides a checklist for students to ensure their paper follows academic writing standards.
1. Review
• Quran - Recitation
• Foreclosure - someone else decided their religious identity
• Diffusion - they don’t care about their religious identity
• Moratorium - searching
• Achievement - found their religious identity
2. Hinduism Benchmark Paper
Write an essay of 1,250-1,500 words
1. Describe the three important Hindu deities of the Hindu
Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. What are each one’s role
in the Yuga cycles?
2. Describe the caste system including the Dalit caste. How
does the caste system function in the normal life of a
Hindu.
3. Hinduism Benchmark Paper
3. Pick a Christian community in India: Compare and contrast the beliefs
and practices of the Christian community with the beliefs (the atman,
karma, reincarnation, and dharma) and practices of Hinduism.
4. What barriers for Hindus in understanding the gospel?
5. Compare & contrast Hinduism with Christianity
a. How is God
b. What is the Fall of Adam
c. Who is Jesus & how are sins forgiven, what is salvation?
4. Hinduism Benchmark Paper
6. Sources
a. Must use textbook
b. Three other academic sources
c. Can use an interview
5. Student Check list
___ All pronouns are either first person singular, or third person.
___ All verbs agree (either present or past tense as appropriate)
___ Font is 12 point, Times New Roman, one-inch margin, double-spaced.
___ No gender specific pronouns (used they instead of him or her unless necessary)
___ Ran spell and grammar checker
___ Read it aloud to myself, to a friend, or had a friend read it
___ Used proper APA 7 headings
___ All citations conform to APA 7 format
6. APA Headings
• Heading 1 - Aligned Center, bold
• Heading 2 - Aligned left, bold
• Heading 3 - Aligned left, bold, italicized
• Heading 4 - Indented, bold, followed with a period
10. APA 7
• Support the stuff you say. Any information you give needs
to have a source.
• Every quote needs a page number or location number
• Look up how to cite sources from the GCU writing center
• Or use Owl.purdue.edu
16. Demographics
• Considered oldest religion (Non-Christian historians)
• Worldwide 1.1 billion
• 15% of world’s population
• 94% of Hindus live in India
• Third largest religion in world
(Pew Research, 2015)
17. Demographics
• Worldwide 1.1 billion
• India 1.053 billion
• North America 2.25 million
• Arizona 33,000
(Pew Research, 2017; AZCentral, 2014)
20. Periods of History
• Indus Valley Period ( 2700 to 1500 BC)
• Vedic Period (1500 to 500 BC)
• Classical Period (320 AD to 520 AD)
• Medieval Period (in between)
• Modern Period (1757 to 1949)
• Independent India (1949 to present)
80. Krishna
Primary Avatar
a. when earth was flooded he dragged
earth out from under the sea
b. Born on earth (like Jesus) spent life
fixing things and died
88. Brahma’s Body
• Brahmins - priests, Brahma’s mouth
• Kshatriyas - warriors, Brahma’s arms
• Vaishyas - merchants, Brahma’s legs
• Shudras - laborers, Brahma’s feet
89.
90. Caste System in History
• Originally, Caste based on ability
• Laws of Manu (5th Century BC)
• Rule #1 - Brahmin are Lord of Castes
• Rule #2 - Hindus cannot change caste
• Dalit - Untouchables, out-caste, emerged
91. Caste System in History
• British exploited castes (1757 - 1930s)
• British established laws to protect (1930s - 1947)
• India established laws full rights to all castes (1947)
• Today, castes mostly social/cultural
100. Why are cows sacred
• Because most Hindus are vegetarian and they give milk
• Because they are like a mother who gives life
• Because they are associated with mother goddess
• Because were sacred in the Vedas
129. ISKS
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Vaishnava Branch
Sri Chaitanya of Bengal (1500)
Devotion to Krishna
Bhagavad Gita
ISKS on Hollywood Blvd
131. ISKS
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Public Dance
Promote Vegetarianism
Veneration of Lord Krishna
Chanting “Hare Krishna”
132.
133. Discussion
• What can Christians affirm from Scripture?
• What can we disagree with from Scripture?
• What possible concerns about American innovations?
Fusion of the Aryan and Indus River Valley Civilization
Created the Hindu people.
The Satya Yuga (सत्य युग), alternatively called the Sat Yuga and Krita Yuga, is not only the first but also the foremost of the Hindu divisions of time, not unlike the Golden Age in Greek mythology. The Dharma bull stands steadily on all four legs during this period. The Satya Yuga is the consummate "Yuga of Truth," wherein humankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work performed by human beings resembles the purest ideal of the divine. This epoch is characterized by a harmonious, pious society, and no evil or hatred is said to exist whatsoever. There are no class divisions between rich and poor, nor is their any need for labor or a system of commerce since all is available in abundance by the power of the will. People are not stricken with disease in this period, nor do they age. All the pillars of religion such as knowledge and penance are present in totality in this age, though meditation (dyana) is the virtue accorded highest value. Ashrams, meanwhile, are devoid of any wickedness and deceit. As such, the great majority of the people alive in this age are able to experience spirituality by direct intuitive realization of truth, and the cleavage between the material and the transcendent realms is essentially transparent. Writing is unnecessary because people communicate directly by way of their thoughts; as are temples, since people continually feel the omnipresence of God. Matsya (the fish), Kurma (the turtle), Varaha (the boar) and Narasimha (the man-lion), the first four incarnations of Vishnu, appear in this epoch.
While the Treta Yuga (त्रेता युग) saw a slight decline in the overall quality of life, it was still a glorious age in itself. The Dharma bull stood on three legs during this period. Treta Yuga was most prominently the mental age, in which psychic power was harnessed. Many inventions resulted from this power, which were used to dissolve the illusion of time. As in the Satya Yuga, religion still flourished, and fittingly the virtue accorded highest value in this epoch is yajna (sacrifice). This Yuga saw the incarnation of the first human avatars of Vishnu: Vamana, Parashurama, and Rama, respectively. Although this age was not usually marked by warfare, it was during this time period when the war that is recounted in the Ramayana allegedly occurred, wherein Rama conquered the evil King Ravana.
The Dvapara Yuga (द्वापर युग) is described as seeing the first drastic decline in righteousness of humanity. The dharma bull now only stands only on two legs, so the overall moral standard of the people in the Dvapara Yuga drops immensely. In this age, adherence to the Vedas becomes less acute and the Vedas are divided into the four parts that we know today as the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas. More seriously, the Caste system of the varnas is neglected during this time, along with the Yajnas (sacrifices).
The Dvapara Yuga (द्वापर युग) is described as seeing the first drastic decline in righteousness of humanity. The dharma bull now only stands only on two legs, so the overall moral standard of the people in the Dvapara Yuga drops immensely. In this age, adherence to the Vedas becomes less acute and the Vedas are divided into the four parts that we know today as the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas. More seriously, the Caste system of the varnas is neglected during this time, along with the Yajnas (sacrifices).
Material advantages, acquiring things
Material advantages, acquiring things
Brahma is the creator. He is separate from Brahman, the creation the universal soul
His four heads face
Rides a giant swan
Brahma is the creator. He is separate from Brahman, the creation the universal soul
His four heads face
Known for many arms
At the end of time will dance to destroy the earth
Has a third eye. If he opens it, and you’re in front of him
You will be destroyed.
Ganesha elephant
Removes obstacles
Vaishnavas worship Vishnu
Shaivas worship Shiva
Smartas follow specific sacred texts like the Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana instead of he vedas,
And they worship Ganesha Durga, Surya, Shiva, and an avatar of Vishnu
Hinduism does not explicitly prohibit eating meat, but it does strongly recommend ahimsa – the concept of non-violence against all life forms including animals.[1][2] As a consequence, many Hindus prefer a vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian lifestyle, and methods of food production that are in harmony with nature, compassionate, and respectful of other life forms as well as nature.[1]
Vegetarian diet
See also: History of Brahmin diet
Vegetarianism in ancient India
India is a strange country. People do not kill
any living creatures, do not keep pigs and fowl,
and do not sell live cattle.
—Faxian, 4th/5th century CE
Chinese pilgrim to India[46]
Hinduism does not require a vegetarian diet,[47] but some Hindus avoid eating meat because it minimizes hurting other life forms.[48] Vegetarianism is considered satvic, that is purifying the body and mind lifestyle in some Hindu texts.[49][50]
Holi
Holi is a festival of colour and a harbinger of spring in India. The onset of Holi is marked by the burning of an effigy of Holika – an evil entity from Hindu mythology – to signify the triumph of good over evil. The night of revelry around the bonfire goes on until the embers die. The following morning kicks off with people smearing coloured powder on each other, more carousal and occasionally the consumption of bhang, an intoxicating edible cannabis preparation.
Diwali
The festival of lights – Diwali or Deepavali – is the most popular festival on the Indian subcontinent. The underlying essence of Diwali revolves around light superseding darkness, or the triumph of goodness over evil. Glimmering diyas (lamps) adorn every nook and cranny of every residence in the evening, and there are also fireworks and a delicious traditional banquet.
Maha Shivaratri
Shiva is the foremost deity in the Hindu pantheon and regarded as the destroyer. Maha Shivaratri, or ‘the great night of Shiva’, commemorates the supremacy of Shiva. People refrain from sleeping and instead pray to the great lord. Most dedicated disciples of Lord Shiva celebrate Maha Shivaratri by fasting and chanting the hymns to Tandava, a dance performed by Lord Shiva.
Brothers honor sisters.
Ancient
Tie a string around their writes
Krishna Janmashtami
Lord Krishna has a prominent place in Hindu folklore. Krishna Janmashtami is the joyous festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, with a lot of merriment, dancing and singing. The gaiety of Krishna Janmashtami is often accompanied by competitions, notably breaking a pot filled with yoghurt that is suspended high in the air. Competitors form human pyramids in an attempt to break the pot and spill the contents, which is then formally offered as prasada (ritual offering).
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi’s status as one of the most popular festivals in the country is partly due to its eccentricity, something the festival shares with its corresponding deity, Lord Ganesh. Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Yet Ganesh is at odds with his father in his convictions and appearance. His face resembles that of an elephant, while his witty and playful temperament inspires devotion from people of all age groups. Ganesh Chaturthi commemorates the birth of Ganesh with the formal offering of prayers to a clay idol of the deity. The idol is later immersed in a body of water amid further festivities.
Navratri – Dussehra – Durga Puja
Akin to the recurring theme in Hindu mythology of the victory of good over evil, the legend behind the Navratri festival has to do with Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana, a demonic entity. An alternative legend revolves around the victories of the goddess Durga against the diabolical forces that once walked the face of the Earth. Navratri, meaning nine nights, is a time to honour the deities and plead for their blessings and goodwill.
The invigorating festival centres around the goddess Durga in East India, and goes by the name of Durga Puja. The world-famous Dussehra of Mysore also falls on the final day of Navratri, and the festival as a whole essentially serves as the precursor to the coming Diwali.
Rama Navami
The epic poem of the Ramayana has vast religious significance in Hinduism. Its protagonist, Lord Rama, with his divine prowess and benevolence, slays immoral beings, conquers the realm and establishes order. The day marking the birth of Lord Rama is celebrated as Rama Navami, and the observances include charity, recitals and prayers.
Ugadi
Conforming to the Hindu calendar, Ugadi is New Year’s Day for Hindus. The festival of Ugadi is celebrated predominantly in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Premises are decorated with mango leaves, flowers and other embellishments; floral patterns are drawn on the floor, and savoury snacks are prepared in a bid to welcome the new year on a high note. Additionally, the consumption of bevu bella – a blend of neem (bevu) and jaggery (bella) – is obligatory. Neem is bitter in taste and jaggery is sweet; together, they signify the acceptance of life’s bitterness and happiness in equal parts.
Nicolas Notovich (1887), a Russian Journalist claims read it in a Hindu Manuscript. He was exposed as fabrication
Abhedananda (1922), founder of the Vedanta Society in New York claims went to Tibet and found it out
Levi Dowlinmg (1908) The Acquarian Gospel of Jesus, it was channeled to him
Nicholas Roerich (1925) Russian mystic who traveled and wrote.
Described in the Bhagavad Gita
Taught by a Yogi
Each student chooses a personal god
Vaishnava branch
Physical, and mental focus on a Hindu deity
Being in harmony with the
Chicago 1893 Parliament of Religions
Krishnamacharya lectured on yoga
In the 1920s it caught on
Chicago 1893 Parliament of Religions
Krishnamacharya lectured on yoga
In the 1920s it caught on
Silent mantra meditation
Created a for-profit school involving teachers, classes, books, manuals.
A Huge commercial endeavor.
Health products
It is FOR-PROFIT
And he targeted celebrities
His teaching about the Bhagavad Gita
HQ in Los Angeles
Also called the “Father of Yoga in the West”Began in India in 1917, than came to Los Angeles
Hand out the Bhagavad Gita on the street
Have vegetarian food and invite people to come eat
Venerate Krishna through public parades
Chant Hare Krishna
Male devotees shave their head
Renounce alcohol and drugs
Small tuft of hair called a sikha—surrender to their guru
Mark on their forehead sign of devotion to Krishna
55 centers in the US
Numbers widely