INDIAN TRADITIONS IN THE MODERN AGE

ASIAN/RELIGST 306

A historical survey of Hindu scriptures, rituals, philosophies, and ethics from the ancient to the contemporary world. Concepts such as karma, yoga, and reincarnation will be put in the broader contexts of Hindu theism, worship, and law. Not open to students who completed RELIG ST 355 prior to Fall 2019.

ASIAN/RELIGST 473

Examines contemplative practices in the two major Indian religions, Buddhism and Hinduism. Covers practices described in ancient texts but also provides an overview of selected modern practices.

ASIAN/RELIGST 460

Explores the history of Yoga techniques from the ancient to the modern period. Not open to students with credit for RELIG ST 623 prior to Spring 2019.

ASIAN/RELIGST 405

Introduces some of the most important deities of South Asia through visual representation, mythical narratives and rituals of worship. Topics include the development of iconographic forms and concepts, masculine and feminine aspects of the divine, the belief in human embodiments of divinities, the phenomenon of possession, modes of domestic and public worship and the symbolism of the temple structure.

ASIAN/RELIGST 303

Introduction to the Jain tradition. Despite being a small minority religion, core Jain ethical and philosophical concepts of ahimsa (non-violence) and anekantavada (non-absolutism) have influenced all other major traditions in India and secular Indian society. Examines how Jain philosophy, ritual, social relations, and politics are informed by a commitment to ascetic ethics that uphold ahimsa as the greatest virtue for renouncers (monks and nuns) and lay practitioners, tracing the evolution of Jain ethical engagements with modern social and political issues including environmental and animal rights activism, business and finance, and medicine and bioethics. Course covers canonical texts and scholarly literature on Jainism to understand how ahimsa has been historically articulated within Jain philosophy and doctrine, re-articulated in modern social movements, and how it has been constructed in academic studies of Jainism.