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Vedic Religion or Vedism

Collection of scared text known as "Vedas" = knowledge

Oldest texts in Hinduism

Derived from Indo-Ayran culture

Purpose: to make known what is unknown

Bring stability and wellness to natural & human worlds

Karma Yoga = "discipline of action"

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The Upanishads

Vedanta (the end of the Vedas)

Wisdom, understanding moral action and consequences

Derived from wandering sages

Introduces Samsara and Moksha

Samsara- the problem

Reincarnation keeps bringing us back

We are trapped in a cycle of life, suffering, and death

Moksha- the solution

Release from the cycle of Samsara

Achieved through discovering the oneness of the world

Jnana Yoga = "discipline of wisdom" (liberation through insight)

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The Epics

Collections of 1000s of characters and stories, which diverge from the seriousness of Philosophical Hinduism

Moksha is easier to obtain.

Moksha can be gained through the mercy of God and prayer

Bhakti yoga is also the "discipline of devotion"

Puja

The ritual worship of a god/goddess

Offerings made to the gods will reduce bad karma according to Krishna

Trumurti (Trinity) - 3 part cycle

Vishnu - sustainer of the world (10 Avatars)

Krishna is one of Vishnu's Avatars

Shiva - destroyer of the world (not inherently evil)

Brahma - creator of the world

Bhagavad Gita - sacred song

Mentions 3 paths to moksha: karma yoga, jnana yoga, and bhakti yoga

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Combination of all former forms of Hinduism

Influenced by Western traditions, especially Britain

Focus more on Upanishads and ethics (because of Gandhi)

Viewed in a more monotheistic way

The Western world has become interested in some Hindu traditions

Most important is yoga

Western yoga sometimes only focuses on the asana or poses for a physical workout and forgets the spiritual aspect

Other times the purpose of yoga practice for some people even within India is now to "commune with God"

Modern activism within Hinduism

Environmental protection

Women's rights

Hindutva - a sense of "Hindu-ness" or Hindu nationalism has begun to evolve

Has contributed to some violence against Pakistani Muslims and other religious traditions