It is said that there are over 330 million gods and goddesses within the Hindu religion and each god/goddess has his or her own story that reveals his or her own religious significance.
It is said that there are over 330 million gods and goddesses within the Hindu religion and each god/goddess has his or her own story that reveals his or her own religious significance. For this discussion, you will be selecting 2 different Hindu gods/goddesses of your choosing that you would be interested in learning more about.
For each selected Hindu deity, you must provide the following:
- Name and Title (Ex: Vishnu, God of Preservation)
- Image of the deity
- Brief explanation of why you chose that specific god/goddess. Below are some examples of this:
- Maybe that Hindu god/goddess reminds you of a Christian saint or biblical character who is the Catholic patron/patroness of a particular human endeavor, career field, or avocation that somehow pertains to you
- Ex: Saint Cecilia Patroness of Musicians and Sarasvati Hindu Goddess of Music
- Maybe you found the specific image of that god/goddess intriguing
- Maybe there is a pop culture reference to the deity
- Ex: TV series, movie, book, video game, etc.
- Maybe that Hindu god/goddess reminds you of a Christian saint or biblical character who is the Catholic patron/patroness of a particular human endeavor, career field, or avocation that somehow pertains to you
- Deity in Scripture
- Summarize a story from the Hindu scriptures in which that the deity plays a major role.
- This can be their origin story or another important story about the deity.
- Summarize a story from the Hindu scriptures in which that the deity plays a major role.
- Relationship to other Hindu Deities
- How is this specific deity related to at least 2 other Hindu deities?
- Ex: Is the selected deity a mother/father to another deity or possibly a husband/wife of another deity?
- How is this specific deity related to at least 2 other Hindu deities?
- Imagery & Symbolism
- Explain the traditional symbolism associated with the selected deity
- Ex: Color of their skin, why they are depicted with specific animals, pose or stance in which they are depicted, any object they may be holding or that are depicted around them
- Explain the traditional symbolism associated with the selected deity
Module 4: Lecture Materials & Resources
Hinduism
Read and watch the lecture resources & materials below early in the week to help you respond to the discussion questions and to complete your assignment(s).
(Note: The citations below are provided for your research convenience. You should always cross-reference the current CMOS guide for correct styling of citations and references in your academic work.)
Read
· Van Voorst, Robert E. World RELG4: Introduction to World Religions (4th ed.). Boston: Cengage MindTap, 2018.
· Chapter 3: Encountering Hinduism: Many Paths to Liberation Chapter 3 Slides Download Chapter 3 Slides
Watch
· Cogito. "What Is Hinduism??" YouTube. July 13, 2019. https://youtu.be/xlBEEuYIWwY. What Is Hinduism?? (17:51) Links to an external site.
· OWN. "Introduction to Hindusim | Belief | Oprah Winfrey Network." YouTube. October 25, 2015. https://youtu.be/9EICcU9oN-s. Introduction to Hindusim | Belief | Oprah Winfrey Network (2:53) Links to an external site.
· National Geographic. "The Many Gods of the Hindu Faith | The Story of God." YouTube. April 14, 2016. https://youtu.be/-ZrZTLo6tGQ. The Many Gods of the Hindu Faith | The Story of God (1:54) Links to an external site.
· CrashCourse. "Indian Pantheons: Crash Course World Mythology #8." YouTube. April 14, 2017. https://youtu.be/V_NJAJGCKD8. Indian Pantheons: Crash Course World Mythology #8 (12:30) Links to an external site.
· Indian Monk. "How The Universe Was Created According To Hinduism?" YouTube. March 7, 2022. https://youtu.be/ILY3Q5AxPbc. How The Universe Was Created According To Hinduism? (12:04) Links to an external site.
· Mrvideogamesfootage. "Hinduism in America- CPD Guide to Cultures in the United States Documentary." YouTube. August 15, 2012. https://youtu.be/DGI_POEipdE. Hinduism in America- CPD Guide to Cultures in the United States Documentary (9:29) Links to an external site.
Supplemental Materials & Resources
· Van Voorst, Robert E. World RELG4: Introduction to World Religions (4th ed.). Boston: Cengage MindTap, 2018.
· Chapter 3 Review Cards Download Chapter 3 Review Cards
· Chapter 3: Further Exploration and Readings Download Chapter 3: Further Exploration and Readings
Module 4 Discussion – Hindu Deities
22 unread replies.22 replies.
Hindu Deity Discussion
After studying Module 4: Lecture Materials & Resources , discuss the following:
It is said that there are over 330 million gods and goddesses within the Hindu religion and each god/goddess has his or her own story that reveals his or her own religious significance. For this discussion, you will be selecting 2 different Hindu gods/goddesses of your choosing that you would be interested in learning more about.
For each selected Hindu deity, you must provide the following:
1. Name and Title (Ex: Vishnu, God of Preservation)
2. Image of the deity
3. Brief explanation of why you chose that specific god/goddess. Below are some examples of this:
· Maybe that Hindu god/goddess reminds you of a Christian saint or biblical character who is the Catholic patron/patroness of a particular human endeavor, career field, or avocation that somehow pertains to you
· Ex: Saint Cecilia Patroness of Musicians and Sarasvati Hindu Goddess of Music
· Maybe you found the specific image of that god/goddess intriguing
· Maybe there is a pop culture reference to the deity
· Ex: TV series, movie, book, video game, etc.
4. Deity in Scripture
· Summarize a story from the Hindu scriptures in which that the deity plays a major role.
· This can be their origin story or another important story about the deity.
5. Relationship to other Hindu Deities
· How is this specific deity related to at least 2 other Hindu deities?
· Ex: Is the selected deity a mother/father to another deity or possibly a husband/wife of another deity?
6. Imagery & Symbolism
· Explain the traditional symbolism associated with the selected deity
· Ex: Color of their skin, why they are depicted with specific animals, pose or stance in which they are depicted, any object they may be holding or that are depicted around them
Refer to the following websites for assistance in selecting specific Hindu gods/goddesses:
· BBC: God or Gods?Links to an external site.
· Hindu Gallery Links to an external site.
· Hindu Gods and Goddesses Links to an external site.
· Information on Hinduism Links to an external site.
· Ten of the Most Important Hindu Gods Links to an external site.
Please Note: You are not limited to using these websites as additional websites and/or the Van Voorst text may be beneficial for you to consider consulting.
Submission Instructions:
· Your post should be at least 150 words. Incorporating sources is not required for this discussion, however, you must include all of the required elements within your post.
Grading Rubric
Your assignment will be graded according to the following grading rubric: Rubric – Hinduism Deity Discussion.pdf
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Hinduism Deity Discussion Rubric First Selected Hindu Deity – 50 points
– Excellent: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained all 6 of the required elements – 50
– Above Average: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained 5 of the 6 required elements – 43
– Sufficient: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained 3 or 4 of the 6 required elements – 38
– Poor: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained 1 or 2 of the 6 required elements – 33
– Insufficient/Missing – 0 Second Selected Hindu Deity – 50 points
– Excellent: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained all 6 of the required elements – 50
– Above Average: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained 5 of the 6 required elements – 43
– Sufficient: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained 3 or 4 of the 6 required elements – 38
– Poor: Correctly identified and comprehensively explained 1 or 2 of the 6 required elements – 33
– Insufficient/Missing – 0
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Explain what Hinduism means and its strengths and weaknesses as a name. Hindu first appeared around 500 B.C.E. as a name for the Indus River and its valley. Muslim rulers of India used Hindu for all non-Muslim Indians. Beginning in the 1500s, European colonizers first used it in its current sense to mean the members of the supposedly single religion to which
all Indians other than Muslims, Christians, and Zoroastrians belonged. From about 1800 on, Hinduism gradually became accepted by most Hindus in India as a valid name. Hinduism is a vague umbrella term, but it is fitting for a religious tradition that has so much internal diversity.
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Agnihotra [ahg-nee-HOH-trah] Ancient Hindu prayer to the sun (p. 65)
Aryans [AIR-ee-unzs] “Noble ones,” Indo- European peoples who migrated into India (p. 63)
atman [AHT-muhn] Person’s innermost self or soul (p. 67)
Bhagavad Gita [BAH-guh-vahd GEE-tuh] “Song of the Lord”; a poem on duty in the Mahabharata (p. 68)
bhakti [BAHK-tee] Devotion, particularly in a devotional movement or group (p. 69)
Brahman [BRAH-muhn] “World soul,” the foundation of all physical matter, energy, time, space, and being itself (p. 66)
Dravidians [druh-VIH-dee-uhnz] Dark- skinned peoples who now live mostly in south India, perhaps descended from the Indus Valley Civilization (p. 63)
Hindutva [hihn-DOO-tvuh] “Hindu-ness” of India as promoted by the BJP (p. 71)
Indus Valley civilization Culture of northwest India before the coming of the Aryans (p. 63)
Laws of Manu [MAH-new] Main Hindu law code (p. 68)
mantra [MAHN-truh] Short sacred formula used in prayer or meditation (p. 69)
reincarnation Cycle of rebirth of one’s atman after death (p. 67)
rishi [REE-shee] “Seer” of the divine and writer of the Vedas (p. 65)
sadhus [SAH-doos] Renunciants, also known as “holy men” (p. 68)
Tantras [TAHN-truhs] Writings in the Tantric movement of Hinduism (p. 69)
Upanishads [oo-PAHN-ih-shahds] Philosophical scriptures at the end of the Vedic period (p. 66)
Vedas [VAY-duhs] Hindu “books of knowledge” consisting of Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva Vedas (p. 64)
yoga [YOH-guh] Ancient practice that yokes the body and mind for religious deliverance (p. 67)
dharma [DAHR-muh] Righteousness, law, duty, moral teaching, order in the universe (p. 74)
jiva [JEE-vuh] Individual, personal soul that collects karma and is subject to reincarnation (p. 74)
karma [KAHR-muh] Deeds or acts that influence reincarnation (p. 74)
lingam [LING-gahm] Symbol in Shiva’s shrines, probably of erect phallus (p. 72)
moksha [MOHK-shuh] Liberation from rebirth and samsara (p. 75)
samsara [sahm-SAH-ruh] Cycle of reincarnation (p. 74)
yoni [YOH-nee] Symbol probably of the human female genitalia representing the feminine power of the cosmos (p. 73)
Encountering Hinduism: Many Paths to Liberation
Explain how the main periods of Hinduism’s history have shaped its present, especially its unity and diversity. In Hinduism, new developments update past practices rather than end them, increasing Hindu diversity. The main periods are the foundational Vedic age (1500–600 B.C.E.), the Upanishadic
age in which yoga and asceticism arose (600–400 B.C.E.), the Classical period in which caste and other religious laws were added (400 B.C.E.–600 C.E.), and the Devotional period of worshipful attachment to the main deities (600 C.E.–present).
Outline the essentials of Hindu teachings in your own words. Each of the three devotional movements in Hinduism has its special deity: Shiva, Vishnu, and the goddess Shakti. In turn, each of these has incarnations by which the deity’s presence and power are known to humans. Dharma represents the overall teaching or
law of Hinduism, samsara is the cycle of reincarnation that people are caught in, karma is the process of impersonal reward and punishment for human acts that directs reincarnation, and moksha is liberation or release from reincarnation.
Om [OHM] Spoken syllable symbolizing the fundamental hidden reality of the universe (p. 64)
swastika [SWAHS-tee-kuh] Indian symbol of good luck (p. 64)
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Encountering Hinduism: Many Paths to Liberation
Outline the ways Hindus worship, at home and in temples. Worship and meditation in Hinduism are diverse. Worship is a daily event for observant Hindus, whether performed at home, at a temple, at an outdoor shrine, or on a pilgrimage. Worship is called puja, a word suggesting honor and veneration.
Ritual is important and much of it is ancient, although with regional and devotional-group variations. Individuals go to the temple on their own, usually for private worship and devotion; Hindu homes and businesses typically have a shrine to their favorite Hindu gods.
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3-6 State the main aspects of Hindu life around the world today, especially in North America. Hindus migrated to many parts of the world during the 1800s, particularly in the British Empire. Hindu movements arrived in North America in the 1800s when a few progressive gurus came here to make converts. A
recent guru who has gained wide popularity in North America is the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of TM. Hindu migration to the United States increased significantly in the 1960s, and Hindus in the U.S. built temples and cultural centers to accommodate different Hindu devotional movements.
artha [AHR-thuh] Material prosperity, the second goal of life in Hinduism (p. 80)
bindi [BIHN-dee] Forehead mark of a married Hindu woman (p. 81)
Brahmin [BRAH-minz] The top priestly class in the varna system (p. 77)
caste [kast] System of social organization (p. 76)
Dalits [DAHL-its] “Oppressed ones,” the outcastes below the four Hindu castes (p. 77)
forest-dweller stage Third period of life, in which a Hindu man retires (p. 79)
householder stage Second period of life, in which a Hindu man marries and raises a family (p. 79)
jati [JAH-tee] Caste into which one is born (p. 78)
kama [KAH-muh] Spiritual, mental, and physical pleasure, the third goal of Hindu life (p. 80)
Kshatriyas [kshuh-TREE-yuhz] The warrior and princely varna class (p. 77)
Outcastes Members of the lowest social class, outside the caste system; also called “Dalits” (p. 77)
sannyasin stage [sahn-YAH-sin] stage Fourth period of life, in which a Hindu man becomes a renunciant (p. 79)
Shudras [SHOO-druhs] Fourth varna class, “servants” (p. 77)
student stage First period of life, in which a Hindu male gains knowledge for caste duties (p. 79)
suttee [suh-TEE] Burning of a widow on the funeral pyre of her husband (p. 82)
Vaishyas [VIGH-shuhs] Third varna class, “common people” (p. 77)
varna [VAHR-nuh] “Color,” a system of classification of people into four main classes (p. 76)
Kumbha Mela [KOOM-buh-MEHL-uh] Festival held every twelve years in Allahabad, India (p. 84)
murti [MUHR-tee] Image of a deity (p. 83) puja [POO-juh] Devotional actions of wor- shiping a god or venerating a human (p. 82)
diaspora [dee-ASS-pohr-uh] “Spreading,” in this case of Hinduism outside of India (p. 89)
Transcendental Meditation (TM) Meditational system, popularized by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, emphasizing knowing one’s divine identity (p. 89)
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Relate Hindu ethics to essential Hindu teachings. The caste system is the foundation of ethics. The four stages of a man’s life—student, householder, retiree, and renouncer—are designed to support caste values and prepare one for a better reincarnation.
The four goals of life are dharma (following the teaching), artha (material prosperity), kama (approved pleasures), and moksha (liberation from reincarnation). Religion plays a leading role in everyday life—class, family, and career.
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Explain what Hinduism means and its strengths and weaknesses as a name. Hindu first appeared around 500 B.C.E. as a name for the Indus River and its valley. Muslim rulers of India used Hindu for all non-Muslim Indians. Beginning in the 1500s, European colonizers first used it in its current sense to mean the members of the supposedly single religion to which
all Indians other than Muslims, Christians, and Zoroastrians belonged. From about 1800 on, Hinduism gradually became accepted by most Hindus in India as a valid name. Hinduism is a vague umbrella term, but it is fitting for a religious tradition that has so much internal diversity.
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Agnihotra [ahg-nee-HOH-trah] Ancient Hindu prayer to the sun (p. 65)
Aryans [AIR-ee-unzs] “Noble ones,” Indo- European peoples who migrated into India (p. 63)
atman [AHT-muhn] Person’s innermost self or soul (p. 67)
Bhagavad Gita [BAH-guh-vahd GEE-tuh] “Song of the Lord”; a poem on duty in the Mahabharata (p. 68)
bhakti [BAHK-tee] Devotion, particularly in a devotional movement or group (p. 69)
Brahman [BRAH-muhn] “World soul,” the foundation of all physical matter, energy, time, space, and being itself (p. 66)
Dravidians [druh-VIH-dee-uhnz] Dark- skinned peoples who now live mostly in south India, perhaps descended from the Indus Valley Civilization (p. 63)
Hindutva [hihn-DOO-tvuh] “Hindu-ness” of India as promoted by the BJP (p. 71)
Indus Valley civilization Culture of northwest India before the coming of the Aryans (p. 63)
Laws of Manu [MAH-new] Main Hindu law code (p. 68)
mantra [MAHN-truh] Short sacred formula used in prayer or meditation (p. 69)
reincarnation Cycle of rebirth of one’s atman after death (p. 67)
rishi [REE-shee] “Seer” of the divine and writer of the Vedas (p. 65)
sadhus [SAH-doos] Renunciants, also known as “holy men” (p. 68)
Tantras [TAHN-truhs] Writings in the Tantric movement of Hinduism (p. 69)
Upanishads [oo-PAHN-ih-shahds] Philosophical scriptures at the end of the Vedic period (p. 66)
Vedas [VAY-duhs] Hindu “books of knowledge” consisting of Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva Vedas (p. 64)
yoga [YOH-guh] Ancient practice that yokes the body and mind for religious deliverance (p. 67)
dharma [DAHR-muh] Righteousness, law, duty, moral teaching, order in the universe (p. 74)
jiva [JEE-vuh] Individual, personal soul that collects karma and is subject to reincarnation (p. 74)
karma [KAHR-muh] Deeds or acts that influence reincarnation (p. 74)
lingam [LING-gahm] Symbol in Shiva’s shrines, probably of erect phallus (p. 72)
moksha [MOHK-shuh] Liberation from rebirth and samsara (p. 75)
samsara [sahm-SAH-ruh] Cycle of reincarnation (p. 74)
yoni [YOH-nee] Symbol probably of the human female genitalia representing the feminine power of the cosmos (p. 73)
Encountering Hinduism: Many Paths to Liberation
Explain how the main periods of Hinduism’s history have shaped its present, especially its unity and diversity. In Hinduism, new developments update past practices rather than end them, increasing Hindu diversity. The main periods are the foundational Vedic age (1500–600 B.C.E.), the Upanishadic
age in which yoga and asceticism arose (600–400 B.C.E.), the Classical period in which caste and other religious laws were added (400 B.C.E.–600 C.E.), and the Devotional period of worshipful attachment to the main deities (600 C.E.–present).
Outline the essentials of Hindu teachings in your own words. Each of the three devotional movements in Hinduism has its special deity: Shiva, Vishnu, and the goddess Shakti. In turn, each of these has incarnations by which the deity’s presence and power are known to humans. Dharma represents the overall teaching or
law of Hinduism, samsara is the cycle of reincarnation that people are caught in, karma is the process of impersonal reward and punishment for human acts that directs reincarnation, and moksha is liberation or release from reincarnation.
Om [OHM] Spoken syllable symbolizing the fundamental hidden reality of the universe (p. 64)
swastika [SWAHS-tee-kuh] Indian symbol of good luck (p. 64)
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Encountering Hinduism: Many Paths to Liberation
Outline the ways Hindus worship, at home and in temples. Worship and meditation in Hinduism are diverse. Worship is a daily event for observant Hindus, whether performed at home, at a temple, at an outdoor shrine, or on a pilgrimage. Worship is called puja, a word suggesting honor and veneration.
Ritual is important and much of it is ancient, although with regional and devotional-group variations. Individuals go to the temple on their own, usually for private worship and devotion; Hindu homes and businesses typically have a shrine to their favorite Hindu gods.
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3-6 State the main aspects of Hindu life around the world today, especially in North America. Hindus migrated to many parts of the world during the 1800s, particularly in the British Empire. Hindu movements arrived in North America in the 1800s when a few progressive gurus came here to make converts. A
recent guru who has gained wide popularity in North America is the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of TM. Hindu migration to the United States increased significantly in the 1960s, and Hindus in the U.S. built temples and cultural centers to accommodate different Hindu devotional movements.
artha [AHR-thuh] Material prosperity, the second goal of life in Hinduism (p. 80)
bindi [BIHN-dee] Forehead mark of a married Hindu woman (p. 81)
Brahmin [BRAH-minz] The top priestly class in the varna system (p. 77)
caste [kast] System of social organization (p. 76)
Dalits [DAHL-its] “Oppressed ones,” the outcastes below the four Hindu castes (p. 77)
forest-dweller stage Third period of life, in which a Hindu man retires (p. 79)
householder stage Second period of life, in which a Hindu man marries and raises a family (p. 79)
jati [JAH-tee] Caste into which one is born (p. 78)
kama [KAH-muh] Spiritual, mental, and physical pleasure, the third goal of Hindu life (p. 80)
Kshatriyas [kshuh-TREE-yuhz] The warrior and princely varna class (p. 77)
Outcastes Members of the lowest social class, outside the caste system; also called “Dalits” (p. 77)
sannyasin stage [sahn-YAH-sin] stage Fourth period of life, in which a Hindu man becomes a renunciant (p. 79)
Shudras [SHOO-druhs] Fourth varna clas
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