Ganesh Puja with
Shri Rama Sharma
from Siddhi Vinaya Cultural Center

LOCATE details re: assigned TERMS & EXCERPTS in primary sources:

• "The Priest as Artist" (RDR, 1-22)
• "Purusha Narayana in the Shatapatha Brahmana" (RDR, 23-25)
• selections from the Bhagavad Gita in the Mahabharata (RDR, 26-30)
• selections from the Law Code of Vishnu (RDR, 31-57)
• "Purification of the Body" (RDR, 58-64)

LOCATE additional info re: assigned TERMS in:

• "Dimensions & Layers" & "Detecting Clues about Practice"
  (on the "Essential Elements of Religious Life" page of this syllabus)
• EGHT, 1-27, 38-42, 44-47, 49, 62, 64-68
  

VIEW/BROWSE images related to terms & sources:

"Full Moon Offering" (video)
[if unable to view video, download & install free RealOne Media Player]
"Chola Bronze from South India" (web site)

PREPARE & BRING 100-150 word RESPONSE:

“Which period of Hindu history (see EGHT, 67) is most essential for understanding Vaishnavite worship as it survives today (e.g., Pandit Shri Ram & EGHT, 17-27), & why?”

A. Early & Late Vedic Periods (p.38-40)

B. the teaching of Vasudeva Krishna(p.41-42)

C. transmission of Krishna's teaching in the Mahabharata (p.11-12, 44-45)

D. composition of the Puranas & philosophical discussions (p.47 & 49)

IMPORTANT: Include at least one sentences comparing your choice to each of the others (three sentences total).

Thu, February 9

orientation to readings
& unit 1 reading guide
(print & annotate for extra credit)

OPTIONAL (for extra credit):
trial Source Analysis DUE
(PDF | MS Word)
@ beginning of class

TRA #1

team analysis of written responses -->
(="mini application exercise 1")

application exercise 1a

(*NOTES REQUIRED* - use optional application worksheet if helpful)
(PDF | MS Word)

**deadline to sign up for
site observation** in SacCT

REVIEW IN DEPTH:

• "The Priest as Artist" (RDR, 1-22)
• "Purusha Narayana in the Shatapatha Brahmana" (RDR, 23-25)

PREPARE NOTES addressing the following focus:

As outlined in the study guide, the Vedic hymns & Brahmanas cited in readings for this exercise, framed by Mahony's & my comments, provide evidence of the way Vedic fire-offering practice suggested the presence of one or more divine beings &/or cosmic forces:

• yajña practice (p.109-10, 119-23, 130) suggested the presence of Vedic deties (p.1-4, 104-7) and the brahman-power of yajña (p.107-10, 114-19);
• seasonal yajña practice (p.130) suggested the presence of a seasonal battle between the forces of light/life and darkness/death (p.125-31);
• yajña practice, especially the construction of the five-tiered eastern fire altar (p.134-39), suggested the presence of Prajapati (p.131-33, 140-41); and
• the year-long Sattra and the Person Offering suggested the presence of the Cosmic Person called Narayana (RDR, 23-25).

For each of these four options, identify the way that a set of related objects, actions, recited words and types of priests, arranged in a particular space at particulat times, suggested the presence of one of unseen beings or forces described above.

Shiva Ratri

consult Local Sites for locations & schedules

application exercise 1b

(*NOTES REQUIRED* - use optional application worksheet if helpful)
(PDF | MS Word)

REVIEW IN DEPTH:

• selections from the Bhagavad Gita in the Mahabharata (RDR, 26-30)
• selections from the Law Code of Vishnu (RDR, 31-57)
  

PREPARE NOTES addressing the following focus:

As outlined in the study guide, the assigned selections from the Mahabharata & Law Codes of Vishnu, provide evidence of the way image worship influenced the reflection of medieval Brahmins, including:

• Mahabharata storytellers describing Krishna's cosmic form as they believed it appeared to Arjuna (RDR, 26-30);
• the author of the Law Codes framing his presentation of rules as a conversation between Vishnu and Earth (RDR, 37-45, 55-57);
• the ideal Vaishnavite householder offers worship to a statue of (Krishna) Vasudeva (RDR, 45-52); and
• the ideal Vaishnavite ascetic meditates on (Narayana) Purusha or (Krishna) Vasudeva (RDR, 53-54).

For each of these four options, identify the way that ritual actions directed at statues of Vishnu &/or Krishna, the "Eternal Person" (="Vasudeva," "Narayana"), seem to have influenced the reflection of these different types of people in particular spaces/locales at particular times.

application exercise 1c

(*NOTES REQUIRED* - use optional worksheet if helpful)
(PDF | MS Word)

SUBMIT WORKSHEET
(in Assignments tab of SacCT)
for **Unit 1 Source Analysis**
(PDF | MS Word)
OR **Observation Report**
(PDF/MS Word)
by **SUNDAY 2/26, midnight**

REVIEW IN DEPTH:

• "Purification of the Body" (RDR, 58-64)

PREPARE NOTES addressing the following focus:

As outlined in the study guide, the assigned chapter of the Jayakha Samhita provides evidence of the way the ideal Pañcaratra worshiper uses breath, mantra and the body to imagine:

• invoking Vishnu & purifying the place of worship (#1-14)
• absorption and expulsion of each of five elements from the body (#15-57);
• extracting the "self" from the body and "burning" the body (#58-77); and
• constructing a new "radiant body," identified with Vishnu Narayana (#78-103).

For each of these four steps, identify the way that breathing, mantra repetition and awareness of specific body parts support and reinforce the visualization described.