1.
Could you give the major features of two traditional religious practices in India,
in particular, Buddhism and Brahmanism (Hinduism).
• Buddhism
- Origin:
+ Founder: Siddhartha Gautam
+ Emerged in India around the 6th century of BCE
+ Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath à this is event known as
Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana.
- Tenets:
+ Avoid the two extremes of indulgence in worldly pleasure, the practice of strict
abstinence and asceticism.
+ Everyone was responsible for their own happiness in life => the
individualistic component of Buddhism.
+ The main teachings: four noble truths (ariya-sachchani) and eightfold path
(astangika marg).
+ The essence: the attainment of enlightenment.
+ There is no supreme god or deity in Buddhism.
+ The ultimate goal: the attainment of nibbana which was not a place but an
experience, and could be attained in this life.
+ Buddha also established code of conduct both for the monastic order and
the laymen to follow: Five Precepts (Pancasil).
- Major Buddhist texts:
+The Buddha's teaching was oral.
+ The teachings were rehearsed and authenticated at the First Council,
divided into Three Pitakas in 483 BC, and recorded in Pali around 25 B.C.E.
+ Three Pitakas: Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidamma Pitaka.
- Buddhist councils:
+Resulted in sectarian clashes and the eventual Great Schism that resulted in
the two major schools, Theravada and Mahayana.
+4 major Buddhist councils, including:
First Council: the teachings of Buddha were divided into Three Pitakas.
Second Council.
Third Council
Forth Council: Buddhism was divided into two sects namely Mahayan and
Hinayan.
- DiNerent schools of Buddhism:
+Mahayana
One of the two main schools of Buddhism Believes in the heavenliness of
Buddha and Idol worship of Buddha and Bodhisattvas
+ Hinayana
Believes in the original teaching of Buddha or Doctrine of elders
Does not believe in Idol worship and tries to attain individual salvation
through self discipline and meditation
+Theravada
The most ancient branch of extant Buddhism today
Remains closest to the original teachings of the original teachings of the
Buddha
+ Vajrayana (tantric Buddhism)
Developed in India around 900 CF
Grounded on esoteric elements and very complex set of rituals
+ Zen
Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty
Meditation is the most distinctive feature
• Brahmanhism
- Origins
+ Has no founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs
+ Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300 B.C. and
1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley
- Beliefs, Symbols
+Embraces many religious ideas
+ Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, known as "Brahman"
+ Believe in the doctrines of samsara and karma
+ The key thoughts. "atman," or the belief in soul. The goal is to achieve
"moksha," or salvation
+ Hindus strive to achieve dharma
+ Consider the cow a sacred animal
+ There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the om and the
swastika
- Holy Books
+ Value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book
+ The primary sacred texts: the Vedas
+ The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, 18 Puranas, Ramayana and
Mahabharata are also considered important texts in Hinduism.
- Gods
+ Some of the most prominent deities include:
Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
Saraswati: the goddess of learning
- Places of Worship:
+ Hindu worship, which is known as “puja”, typically takes places in the
Mandir (temple)
+ The giving of offerings is an important part if Hindu worship
+ Many Hindus take pilgrimages to temple and other sacred sites in India
- Sects
+ Four major denominations
Shaivism: worship Shiva, the Vedas and the Upanishads to be sacred texts
Vaishnavism: recognizes many deities, the religious practices of Vaishnavism
vary from region to region across the Indian subcontinent
Shaktism: worship the goddess Shakti (Devi), sometimes practiced as a
monotheistic religion
The Smarta (Smartism): worship five deities: Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesh
and Surya
+ Some Hindus elevate the Hindu trinity, which consists of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva.
- Caste System
+ The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:
Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
Vaisyas: the skillful producers
Shudras: the unskilled laborers
2. Could you gather some interesting information about Taj Mahal
- It was commissioned in 1632 by emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife
Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to his 14th son. It was built around her
grave.
- Taj Mahal Arabic means "Place or Position of the Crown".
- It was built with white marble by architect Ustad Ahmad Lahouri and
approximately 20,000 artisans.
- The construction of the building took about 20 years.
- The central dome is 73 meters tall and the decoration is impressive with fine
details of gardens and designs with stones like crystal, amethyst, lapis lazuli
and turquoise.