Lesson 8 - Indian Psyche and Literature

Indian Literature
An Introduction to Hinduism
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This movie is an embodiment of
the different sides of Indian
culture.
Characteristics of their Way of Living
1. Balance
2. Connectivity
3. Weight
Characteristics of their Literature

(duality)
-the difference between joy (innate) & happiness (gained)
-it is not logical
-you can’t compare something you haven’t experienced yet
Characteristics of their Way of Living
1. Balance structured girl
accepted boy
Indian Caste
duality social system
2. Connectivity
philosophical
heavy
3. Weight Hinduism
light Buddhism
Indus River
They believed that being a
Hindu is a sign of being
glorious.
Indus River
The Indus River, also called the
Sindhū River or Abāsīn, is a major
south-flowing river in South Asia.
The total length of the river is 3,180
km which makes it one of longest
rivers in Asia.
3 Ways to Achieve God:
1. Jnana (knowledge) - what you know
2. Bakhti (devotion) - how you act
3. Karma (direct action)
Salvation is not achieved by action but by knowledge or

realization.
Knowing and believing are different from each other.

There’s no devil in Indian Literature.
God makes something bad to you to
teach you a lesson.
Life > impermanent Anybody who
(world) > illusory does not agree is
in the state of
Maya/Illusion.
Social Stratification
4 Caste System
1. Brahmins (priest, scholars, rulers…) Purusha - “man”
2. Kshatriyas (businessmen)
3. Vaisya (soldiers) 300 identities of
the god
4. Sudra (slaves)
Atman (soul)
Moksha -
Nirvana - highest
cessation of
state of goodness Reincarnation reincarnation
karma
good bad
Faster in reaching longer in reaching

Nirvana
Moksha
4 Goals of Hindu Life:
1. Dharma - righteousness
2. Artha - materialistic pleasure/wealth
3. Kama - physical pleasure
4. Moksha - liberation
4 Vedas:
1. Rig Veda - hymns and prayers
2. Sama Veda - songs and praise
3. Atharva Veda - book of spells
4. Yajur Veda - rituals of sacrifice
Rakshasa
is a demonic being from Hindu
mythology. As mythology made its
way into other religions, the rakshasa
was later incorporated into Buddhism.
Rakshasas are also called maneaters
(Nri-chakshas, Kravyads). A female
rakshasa is known as a Rakshasi. A
female Rakshasa in human form is a
Manushya-Rakshasi. The terms
Asura and Rakshasa are sometimes
used interchangeably.
Ramayana and Mahabarata: Epic of a Long Discovery
Ramayana by Maharishi Valmiki (The first Indian Poet)
● Original Version: 5th to 4th century BCE

● Genre: Itihaasa (Epic)
● 50,000 lines in seven books
● tells the story of Rama (an incarnation or avatar of the Hindu
preserver-god Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the demonking
of Lanka, Ravana.
● Dharma (righteousness) - means duties and obligations in each caste
Ramayana and Mahabarata: Identity of Indian Culture
● Relationship between Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha
● The importance of one being wed to only one wife
● Adherance to Truth and the need to honor one’s word
● Respecting father’s word of honor
● The futility of listening to viscious counseling
● Not accepting anybody coming in unjust way
● The futility of getting swayed by dubious distractions
Ramayana: Indian vs Filipino Psyche
● Filipino - love and
family first
● Rama - being king
comes first before
being a husband.
This is his dharma.

Rasa: Emotions
● It makes you do something,
because you felt something.
Kisa Gotami
● Life is something you accept. It is something you should
know.
Kisa Gotami
Virtue is in the form of pain. People see you incompassive person
because of struggling, but you are struggling because you need to
learn.
● Death - is universal; if you’re experiencing pain, everybody

does.
Panchatantra
● This is a collection of fables given to kings or princes.
● The purpose is to teach them values, leadership and governance.
kunkuni
Red mark on the forehead;
Sign of god
Shivast
Another name for Shiva, who is
also the goddess of Indian
dance
Fin

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Indian Literature

Characteristics of their Literature

Salvation is not achieved by action but by knowledge or

Knowing and believing are different from each other.

Faster in reaching longer in reaching

● Original Version: 5th to 4th century BCE

This is his dharma.

● Death - is universal; if you’re experiencing pain, everybody

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