Different –isms: (From the Doniger “Are Hindus Monotheists or Polythesists”)
Kathenotheism
Monistic
Vedanta
Puranic
Polytheism
Monism &
Universalism
Neo-Vedanta
-Even Distribution
-Indra, Agni, Varna,
-Max Mueller
-1500BCE
-Similar to catholic Saints.
-Brahman principle
-Atman
-Upanishads
-500 0 BCE
-Salt in water (relationship between individual soul& Brahman)
-Vishnu, Shiva and their many avatars
-Puranas
-The goddess Devi
-“If you don’t come through for me I will worship another god”
-All religions are the same.
-From Mughal period
-Started in America
-Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)
-1893 Rama Krishna
-Best expression of Hinduism
-What Hinduism is today

Deities:
Gods:
Vishnu
Lakshmi is his lady
Main avatars are Rama and Krishna
Rama
Hero of Ramayana
Consort is Sita
Hanuman is devotee
Hanuman is said to be incarnation of shiva?
Krishna
Youthful, god child
Loves butter
Lover is Rada
Mentor to the Pandavas
Destroyer of demon Kamsa
Conch, the discus, the lotus, ohm always on his hand
Always blue
Shiva
Parvati is his lady
Generally depicted as wearing animal pelt around his waist and he is festooned with beads known as the rudraskshas
Trident= creation, maintenance, and destruction.
Auspicious one
Father of Ganesha (also known as Ganapati)

Vedic text:
Relationship of Rudra and Shiva
Rudra is the archetypal ascetic.
Associated with the plant datura
Terrible deity with long braided hair.
On edges of Vedic society.
Peripheral to the Vedic pantheon

Brahma
Divine being?
Agni
God of fire. Divine model for the sacrificial priests.
Messenger who carries the oblation from humans to gods.
When Agni is pleased, the gods become generous..
Three fires
Garhapatya: Household fire.
Dakshina: Ceremonial fire.
Ahavaniya: Sacrificial fire.
Complementary opposite of soma. Fiery Liquid.
Indra
King of the Gods,
Paradigmatic warrior
God of rain
Brings Agni back when the asuras steal him.
Killed dragon Vritra, a Dasa who caused the drought.
Conquers enemies of Vedic people. Gets back the waters and the cows trapped in cave?

Goddess:
Devi
Lakshmi
Also known as Sri
Significant of the consort “goddess of the breast”, benevolent goddess
Portrayed with Vishnu massaging his feet
Subservient role compared to Vishnu
Also portrayed NEXT to Vishnu in form depicted as Laksminarayan
Or on her own either standing or seated in a lotus with elephants showering her with water and gold coins spilling from her hands
Associated with wealth and prosperity
Perceived as mediator par excellence between mundane and sacred.
Parvati
Purpose to lure Shiva away from his extreme asceticism and extends Shiva’s circle of activity into the realm of the householder
Depicted with Shiva and represents the ideal Hindu housewife and mother.
Durga, Kali
Origin of Durga
The demon (asura) Mahisa won like this bet and the gods are all mad and frustrated and from all that anger each god emitted energy which formed Durga.
She receives trident form Shiva and discus from Vishnu and defeats Mahis.
Product of male gods, but independent.
Origin of Kali
Springs from Durga’s anger
Personification of Durga’s wrath.
Presented as dark skinned, emaciated with lolling tongue, armed with sword and noose, with a garland of skulls.
Antithesis of benign consorts like Sita
Closely related to Shiva. She encourages his wild behavior.
Some pictures depict her standing over Shiva.
Represents the animating principle of creation known as Shakti, which means “power, energy”
Devas
Pretty much word for Gods used throughout all of the different periods
Mandir is their dwelling (Gupta period)
Gods pretty much.
Flood (only material covered is on power point slides)
Yogas:

Jacobs:
Why diversity of Hindus exists.
No founding figure
No foundational event
No universally accepted cannon of texts
No creedal statement
No overarching institutional structure.
No single source of authority that universally applies to all Hindus.
Understand why there are no churches.
Because of how there is no overarching source