Clough, Bradley S.

English

University of Montana

University of MontanaScholarWorks at University of MontanaSyllabi Course Syllabi9-2012SSEA 234X.01B: HinduismBradley S. CloughUniversity of Montana - Missoula, bradley.clough@umontana.eduLet us know how access to this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabiThis Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Course Syllabi at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted forinclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contactscholarworks@mso.umt.edu.Recommended CitationClough, Bradley S., "SSEA 234X.01B: Hinduism" (2012). Syllabi. 922.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/922RLST 234-01A/SSEA 234 01B HinduismTuesdays and Thursdays 11:10 AM-12:30 PM Liberal Arts 335Bradley Clough Office Phone: (406)-243-2827Office: LA 158 bradley.clough@mso.umt.eduOffice Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-6:00The purpose of this course is to provide an historical overview of the many different indigenous religious movements in India that we now call “Hinduism.” Through the reading of mythological, philosophical, ethical, meditative, and devotional primary texts, as well as historical and anthropological studies, we will show how Hindu traditions were constructed through a set of ongoing tensions: Between ascetic/contemplative and sacrificer/priest, villager and city-dweller, low caste and high caste, poet and philosopher, colonized and colonizer, and “secular” citizen and “religious” citizen. In tracing these tensions and the developments they brought about throughout Indian history, we will: 1) examine the roots of Indian tradition; 2) master the basic vocabulary of Indian thought; 3) use that terminology to study developments in Hindu doctrine and popular practice; and 4) examine the religio-political significance of contemporary beliefs and rituals.Required Readings (all are available for purchase at the campus bookstore):Eck, Diana. Darscm: Seeing the Divine Image in IndiaEmbree, Ainslie, editor. The Hindu Tradition: Readings in Oriental ThoughtKlostermaier, Klaus. A Survey o f Hinduism (3td Edition)Levi, Louise Landes, translator. Sweet on My Lips: The Love Poems ofMirabai Miller, Barbara Stoler, translator. The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna’s Counsel in Time o f War Miller, Barbara Stoler, translator. Yoga, Discipline o f Freedom: The Yoga Sutra Attributed to PatanjaliNarayan, R.K. The Ram ay ana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version o f the Indian EpicGrading1. Class Preparation and Participation: completion of and reflection upon the reading assignment for the day, as well as consistent attendance and oral participation in regular discussions. No more than two absences will be accepted without written authorization from the Health Service or an advisor, counselor, or administrator Any unexcused absences beyond two will begin to negatively affect one’s grade. Conversely, consistent preparation, attendance, and participation will positively affect one’s grade (20% of the final grade).2. One 10-12 page research paper. I will be handing out a list of suggested topics, but ultimately the choice of topic is yours (20% of the final grade).3. Mid-Term and Final Exams (each is worth 30% of the final grade, making the two equal 60% total).Class Meetings and AssignmentsI. Roots of Hindu Tradition: Indus Valley Civilization & Vedic Religious Traditions(“Brahmanism”)Tues. 8/28 Introduction to the CourseDocumentary: “Hinduism: 330 Million Gods”Thurs. 8/30 The Indus Valley Civilization Klostermaier: pp. 17-29Tues. 9/4 The Worldview and Ritual of the VedasKlostermaier: pp. 45-50; 56-58; 86-90; 101-108; and 122-133.Embree: pp. 3-47Thurs. 9/6 Vedic Innovation: The Upanishads Klostermaier: pp. 156-180 Embree: pp. 48-65II. Challenges to Brahmanism: The Shramanic TraditionsTues. 9/11 The Rise of Buddhism and JainismHandout: Thomas Hopkins: “Challenges and Changes” (from Hindu Religious Traditions)Handout: Selections from Buddhist and Jain Scriptures (from Sources o f Indian Tradition, Volume I)III. Smriti Literature: Formative Hindu Responses to Shramanic TraditionsThurs. 9/13 Class/Caste Duty and Life’s Stages: The Treatises on Dharma, Part I Klostermaier: pp. 30-36; 50-52; Chapter 20; 298-302; 308-310 Embree: 69-96Tues. 9/18 The Role of Caste in Hindu SocietyHandouts: Donald Johnson, “What is Caste?” and “Ler Every Caste Be Touchable”; Arvind Sharma, “Seven Prevalent Misconceptions About India’s Caste System”; and “Jati and Village,” from Alan Beals, Gopalpur: A South Indian VillageThurs. 9/20 The Aims of Life and Householder’s Dharma: The Treatises on Dharma, Part IIHandout: pp. 203-212; 254-264; 234-244; and 213-231 from Sources o f Indian Tradition, Vol. IHandout: pp. 226-229 from Sources o f Indian Tradition, Vol. I  Handout: Susan S. Wadley, “One Straw from a Broom Cannot Sweep: The Ideology & Practice of the Joint Family in Rural North India”Handout: John Lancaster, “Women on the Rise in India Feel the Riptide of Tradition”Klostermaier: 320-324Tues. 9/25 The Three “Yogas” and the Rise of Devotionalism: The Bhagavad-Gita Klostermaier: Chapter 5 Bhagavad-Gita: Chapters 1-11Thurs. 9/27 The Bhagavad-Gita (continued) Bhagavad-Gita: Chapters 12-18.IV. “Classical” Hinduism: Epic (Itihasa), Myth (Parana), Philosophy (Darshana), Meditation (Yoga) & Esoteric Practice (Tantra)Tues. 10/2 The EpicsKlostermaier: pp. 59-60; 66-70 Embree: 136-138Ramayana: Both Introductions, Prologue, and Chapters 1-5Thurs. 10/4 Epic (continued)Ramayana: Chapters 6-14 and EpilogueTues. 10/9 **Mid-Term Exam**Thurs 10/11 Major Trends in Indian Philosophy: Overview and the Nyaya & Vaisheskika Schools Klostermaier: Chapters 23 and 24 Embree: 180-186Tues. 10/16 Major Trends in Hindu Philosophy: The Mimamsa and Vedanta Schools Klostermaier: Chapter 26 Embree: 186-189; and 197-207Thurs. 10/18 Hindu Philosophy Applied to Hindu Meditation: The Samkhya and Yoga SchoolsKlostermaier, Chapter 24 Embree: 189-194Yoga Sutra: Introduction and Part I**Research Paper Proposal and Bibliography Due**Tues. 10/23 Hindu Meditation (continued)Yoga Sutra: Parts II & IIIThurs. 10/25 Hindu TantraHandout: Georg Feuerstein, “The Esotericism of Medieval Tantra-Yoga” Handout: selections from Tantric literature: pp. 131-138 from Textual Sources for the Study o f Hinduismpp. 204-207 from Indian Religions: A Historical Reader o f Spiritual Expression & ExperienceV. Popular Hinduism: Devotional Theism (Bhakti)Tues. 10/30 The Rise of Devotional Theism (Bhakti): The Myths of the Puranas and the “The One Lord and the Many Gods”Embree 153-156; and 227-231 Klostermaier: 70-73; and Chapter 14Thurs. 11/1 Tues. 11/6Popular Hinduism: Devotional Theism {Bhakti)'. Ways of Worship (puja)Klostermaier: pp. 108-117Eck: Preface to the Second Edition, and pp. 3-44.No Classes: Election DayThurs. 11/8 Ways of Devotional Worship {puja) (continued) Eck: pp. 44-75Tues. 11/13 Major Gods I: Vishnu and His Incarnations (avataras)Klostermaier: Chapter 15Handout: selection of Puranic myths on VishnuEmbree: 246-260Thurs. 11/15 Devotion to Vishnu as Krishna: The Life and Songs of Mirabai, Female Poet-SaintKlostermaier: 317-319 Handout on the life of Mirabai Levi: pp. 7-11; 18-41Tues. 11/20 No class: Instructor away at a conference.Thurs. 11/22 No class: Thanksgiving Holiday.Tues. 11/27 Major Gods II: ShivaKlostermaier: Chapter 16Handout: selections of Puranic myths on ShivaEmbree: 232-245Thurs. 11/29 Major Gods III: The Goddess {Devi or Shakti)Klostermaier: Chapter 17; pp. 314-317; and 319-320Handout: selections of Puranic myths on and devotional poems to theGoddess**Monday 12/3: Research Papers Due**Tues. 12/4 Documentary Presentations on bhaktiVI. Major Movements and Figures in Modern HinduismTues. 5/3 Hindu Revival & Reform in the 19th and 20th Centuries Klostermaier: Chapters 30-32 Embree: 299-322; and 325-348**Final Exam: TEA**

SSEA 234X.01B: Hinduism

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SSEA 234X.01B: Hinduism

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