Instructor: Joel Brereton office: WCH office hours: T 2-4, Th 2-3 and by appointment

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1 ANS (#31665), ANT 324L-23 (#31270), HIS 364G-1 (#39700), RS 321 (#43855), CTI 375 (#34145) HISTORY OF HINDU RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Spring 2013 TTh 12:30-2pm, 420 WAG Instructor: Joel Brereton office: WCH office hours: T 2-4, Th 2-3 and by appointment This course examines the principal themes of traditional Hinduism, the dominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. It gives special attention to the historical development of the tradition and its relation to social and cultural life in India. To the extent possible, the course will examine different forms of religious expression created within India. These include written texts that have been significant in the Hindu tradition, but they also comprise rituals that have been central to religious life, patterns of social action that embody Hindu values, and images and architecture that display the form and powers of the world. Written Requirements: (1) This course requires that each student write at least nine microthemes (of the eleven assigned). These microthemes are short, interpretive essays on assigned topics regarding the required reading or films. To be included among those nine, an essay must be submitted by the date it is due. (2) There will be three quizzes that will cover the basic names, terms, and concepts of the Hindu tradition. (3) The final exam is on Saturday, May 11, 7:00-10:00 pm. Grading: Microthemes... 45% Three quizzes... 30% Final essays... 20% Attendance. 5% This class uses plus/minus grading on a scale of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, etc. In determining the final mark, we will take into account other factors not quantified on the above list, such as class participation, attendance, and progress in the course. In particular, more than three unexcused absences will have increasingly deleterious effects on final grades. Posted Materials: Assignments, handouts, and some additional materials will be posted on Blackboard. You can access the Blackboard site for this course from courses.utexas.edu/.

2 2 Special Needs: At the beginning of the semester, students with disabilities who need special accommodations should notify the instructors by presenting a letter prepared by the Service for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office. Students should contact the SSD Office at or TTY, Academic Honesty: Be careful not to copy the work of peers or to use material without proper attribution. Nothing can be more disastrous for your grade or for your college record than to be found to have violated the University rules on academic honesty. Students who violate these rules are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course or dismissal from the University or both. If you have any questions about properly utilizing sources, check with the TA or instructor. Global Cultures Flag: This course carries the Global Cultures flag. Global Cultures courses are designed to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. All the assignments in this course will concern the practices, beliefs, and histories of Asian cultural groups, both past and present. Required Texts: Anantha Murthy, U.R., Samskara. tr. by A. K. Ramanujan. Dimmitt, C. and J.A.B. van Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Purāṇas. [CHM] Flood, Gavin, ed. The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism. PCL Library e-bpplk Hawley, John Stratton and Vasudha Narayanan, The Life of Hinduism. [LH] PCL Library e-book. Miller, Barbara Stoler, tr., The Bhagavad-Gita. Narayan, R.K., tr., The Mahābhārata Optional Text: Flood, Gavin, An Introduction to Hinduism We reserve the right to modify the following syllabus according to the dictates of circumstance, fate, or necessity.

3 3 DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT January 15 The Hindu Religious World Mārkaṇḍeya ORIGINS 17(a) Indus Valley Civilization 17(b) The Early Veda J.M. Kenoyer, Ancient Indus Civilization (I- III, Culture, Geography, Sites), Essay, and Slideshow in indus/indus0.html Reading: M. Witzel, Vedas and Upaniṣads in Flood, Blackwell Companion, Part II Text and Tradition, pp * gveda 1.1, 1.115, 5.80, 5.83, The Early Veda Reading: M. Witzel, Vedas and Upaniṣads, pp * gveda 1.32, 2.11, 3.59, 7.86, Vedic Ritual Video: Altar of Fire 29 Vedic Tradition Reading: * V 10.72, 90, 121, 129 Microtheme #1 31 Upaniṣads Reading: *Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6; *B hadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad , 3-4 February 5 Upaniṣads *Īśā Upaniṣad Microtheme #2 THE WAY OF INSIGHT 7 Jainism & Renunciation Reading: * The Basic Doctrines of Jainism Microtheme #3 12 Sāṃkhya & Yoga 14 Advaita Vedānta Reading: *Selections from the Yogavāsiṣṭha. Microtheme #4 19 Dreams & Realities

4 4 THE FORMATION OF THE CLASSICAL TRADITION 21 The Deities Reading: CHM, 30-31, 35-36, 59-99, Quiz #1 26 The Great Epic Reading: Mahābhārata. 28 The Great Epic Reading: Mahābhārata. Microtheme #5 March 5 Dharma & Devotion Reading: Bhagavadgītā. 7 Dharma & Devotion Reading: Bhagavadgītā. Microtheme #6 19 Epic of Rāma CHM, 85-88, L. Hess, An Open-Air Ramayana: Ramlila, the Audience Experience in LH, ch. 8, pp THE WAY OF DEVOTION 21 Deity and Image Reading: S. Huyler, The Experience: Approaching God ; D. Eck, The Deity: The Image of God in LH, ch. 1 and 2, pp K ṣṇa Reading: CHM, , *Poetry of K ṣṇa and Rādhā Microtheme #7 28 Śiva Reading: CHM, Microtheme #8 April 2 Śiva and his family 4 Devī Reading: CHM, Quiz 2

5 5 THE WAY OF ACTION 9 Village Life and Religion Reading: Samskara 11 Village Life and Religion Reading: Samskara. Video: Wages of Action Microtheme #9. 16 Village Life and Religion 18 Women's Roles Reading: *Manu s Law Code ch ; D. Jacobson, Marriage: Women in India in LH, ch. 4, pp Microtheme #10 23 Regional Hinduism Reading: *G.-D. Sontheimer, The Religion of the Dhangar Nomads Video: King Khandoba 25 Regional Hinduism Reading: *I. Karve, On the Road Video: Vari Microtheme #11 HINDUISM IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY 30 Communalism Video: Father, Son and Holy War, Part 1: Trial by Fire Reading: *J.S. Hawley, Militant Hinduism: Ayodhya and the Momentum of Hindu Nationalism in LH, ch. 17, pp May 2 Communities Reading: *V. Narayanan, Tolerant Hinduism: Shared Ritual Spaces Hindus and Muslims at the Shrine of Shahul Hamid in LH, ch. 18, pp Quiz #3