Hinduism Studies

Part I - Introduction
What is Hinduism?
Meaning of ‘Hindu’
Meaning of ‘Sanatana Dharma’
Brahman & Rita
Postulates & Objectives
The Three Gunas
The Four Varnas
The Four Purusharthas
The Four Ashramas
The Web of Hindu Life
Hindu World-view

Part II - Hindu Scriptures

Vedas (Types & Parts)
Upa-Vedas
Vedangas
Upanishads
Smritis
Puranas

Part III- The Epics

Ramayana
Mahabharata

Part IV - Philosophies & Related Texts

The Six Philosophies
⇒ Nyaya
⇒ Vaiseshika
⇒ Sankhya
⇒ Yoga
⇒ Purva Mimamsa
⇒ Uttara Mimamsa
Prasthanatraya (Brahmasutra, Gita & the 10 classical Upanishads)
The Interpretations of Mimamsa
⇒ Advaita & Mayavada
⇒ Dvaita-Advaita

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 ⇒ Vishishtha-Advaita
⇒ Shuddha-Advaita
⇒ Dvaita
⇒ Achintya-chinta Bhedaabheda
Tantra and the Agamas (Kashmir Shaivism, Shaiva-Siddhanta,
Shakta-Advaita, etc.)
Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo

Part V - Hindu Doctrines

Doctrine of Karma
Doctrine of Re-incarnation
Avatara-vada

Part VI - Hindu Esotericism

Brahma-tattva & Atma-tattva
Cosmic Evolution (25 and 36 tattvas of Samkhya and Tantra respec-
tively)
Vak and the Shabdatmak creation (Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama
and Vaikhari)
Naada-Bindu-Kala
Matrikas (including a discussion of the Beeja mantras)
Hamsa Tattva
Pranava tattva
Kundalini
Chakras
Nadis
Pranas
Gayatri Mantra
Mantras of the Deities
Yogic Methods of Sadhana (Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Hatha Yoga,
etc.)
Guru Tattva & Deeksha
Approaches towards Sadhana (the steps and bhavas of Jnana,
Bhakti, Karma and Yoga)

Part VII - The Deities

Vedic Gods & Goddesses
The Triads
The Forms of Shakti
Ganesha
Avatars of Vishnu

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 Other Deities

Part VIII - Rituals and Their Meanings

The concept of Yajna or Sacrifice
The Vedic Yajna
The Puja
General features (Asana shuddhi, Bhoota shuddhi, Dhyana Mantras,
Avahana, Upacharas, Viniyoga, Visarjana, etc.)
The Ten Samskaras
The Pancha Yajnas
The Festivals and their significances

Part IX - Hindu Psychology (Much more needs to added to this section)

Pancha Koshas
Antahkarana
The 3 states of the Mind (Jagrata, Svanpna & Sushupti)
Trigunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas)
The 5 Kleshas of Patanjali
The 6 Ripus (kama, krodha, etc.)
Personality types - the 4 temperaments (Jnana, Bhakti, Karma,
Yoga)
Hindu influence on Western Psychology
⇒ Jnana-Iccha-Kriya Cognition-Affection-Conation
⇒ Chakra Hierarchy Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory

Part X - Hindu Sects

Major sects & their sub-sects
⇒ Shaiva
⇒ Shakta
⇒ Vaishnava
⇒ Smarta
‘Non-Vedic’ sects & their sub-sects (Buddhist & Jaina)
Sikh
Arya Samaj
Others (Udaasi, Natha, Bairagi, Baul, etc.)
Dashanami Sampradayas of Sannyasins

Part XI - Hinduism vis-à-vis Christianity & Islam

Theologies and historical developments of Christianity and Islam
A Comparative Study of the theologies and practices

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