Combined polytheistic gods of nature of Brahmins and made them represent concepts Everything part of divine essence Brahman Reality” – – “Ultimate “One” Brahma enters gods or different of one god Deities Vishnu preserver, Shiva - destroyer – – Meaningful life has found union with divine soul Every living creature has atman individual soul – is an illusion maya – causes suffering Prevents union with Brahman achieved through reincarnation after death new soul/animal – Cycle of life, death, rebirth samsara – Spiritual perfection < incarnation and reincarnation Karma person’s good or evil deeds of deeds” – – “law Evil actions, spiritual laxity > karmic debt trapped in – samsara Good actions, spiritual discipline > greater understanding of moral duty dharma – Need to eliminate karmic debt gains release - Moksha – Change castes or go to an animal Methods of achieving moksha Veda obedience to gods, ritual practices – Requires reliance on Brahmin Upanishads, later scriptures proper conduct/spiritual exercises prayer, meditation, ritual, worship, good actions Eventually reaches moksha – United with the soul of Brahma No longer experiences worldly sufferings Does not have single founder Developed gradually Embraced variety of forms of worship Deities Brahman, but recognizes hundreds of gods/goddesses including Vedic deities All gods avatars incarnations of the Brahman – – 200 BCE three gods largest following – Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Vishnu the Preserver as minor Vedic sun god Became Savior figure, friend to humanity In incarnations, appears as a hero 7th - Rama In Ramayana – 8th teaches Arjuna – –
Combined polytheistic gods of nature of Brahmins and made them represent concepts Everything part of divine essence – Brahman – “Ultimate Reality” “One” Brahma enters gods or different of one god Deities – Vishnu – preserver, Shiva - destroyer Meaningful life has found union with divine soul Every living creature has atman – individual soul is an illusion – maya causes suffering Prevents union with Brahman achieved through reincarnation – after death new soul/animal Cycle of life, death, rebirth – samsara Spiritual perfection < incarnation and reincarnation Karma – person’s good or evil deeds – “law of deeds” Evil actions, spiritual laxity > karmic debt – trapped in samsara Good actions, spiritual discipline > greater understanding of moral duty – dharma Need to eliminate karmic debt – gains release - Moksha Change castes or go to an animal Methods of achieving moksha Veda – obedience to gods, ritual practices Requires reliance on Brahmin Upanishads, later scriptures proper conduct/spiritual exercises prayer, meditation, ritual, worship, good actions Eventually reaches – moksha United with the soul of Brahma No longer experiences worldly sufferings Does not have single founder Developed gradually Embraced variety of forms of worship Deities Brahman, but recognizes hundreds of gods/goddesses including Vedic deities All gods – avatars – incarnations of the Brahman 200 BCE – three gods largest following Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Vishnu the Preserver as minor Vedic sun god Became Savior figure, friend to humanity In incarnations, appears as a hero 7th - Rama – In Ramayana 8th – – teaches Arjuna
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