orientation to readings
& unit 3 reading guide

BRING PRINTED COPY of WORKSHEET FOR
Unit 2 **Source Analysis**
(PDF | MS Word)
OR **Observation Report**
(PDF/MS Word)
@ beginning of class
on **Tuesday**

SUBMIT FINAL PRODUCT
(in Assignments tab of SacCT)
by **SUNDAY 4/1, midnight**)

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

• "The Coming of the Lord," from the Mahabharata (RDR, 128-33)
• "Puranas" (introductions), "The Conception...[&] Birth of Krisha" &
  "Putana,the Child Killer," from the Vishnu Purana (RDR, 83-84, 135-36, 138-40)
• "The Raslila," from the Bhagavata Purana (RDR, 136-37, 141-51)
• selected students' Observation Reports: Holi & chanting Krshna's names
  (for ApEx 2c, in the Learning Modules tab of SacCT)

LOCATE additional details re: assigned TERMS in EGHT:

• "Belief & Reflection" & "Dimensions & Layers"
  (on the "Essential Elements of Religious Life" page of this syllabus)
• EGHT, 1, 6-7, 9-12, 14-16, 27-29, 41-47, 51-53, 63-65, 67-68

VIEW/BROWSE images related to terms & sources:

PREPARE & BRING 100-150 word RESPONSE:

“Which period of Hindu history (see EGHT, 67) is most essential for understanding the celebrations of Holi & Krishna's Birthday as they survive today (see EGHT, 27-29 & ask students who went), & WHY?”

A. the lifetime of Vasudeva Krishna(p.41-42)

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

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

D. period of British colonization and syncretic "Hinduism" (p.52-54)

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

TRA #3

discussion of mini
application exercise 3

BRING PRINTED COPY of
Unit 2 *Source Analysis* OR
*Observation Report*
@ beginning of class

application exercise 3a

REVIEW IN DEPTH:

• "The Coming of the Lord," from the Mahabharata (RDR, 128-33)
• "Puranas" (introductions), "The Conception...[&] Birth of Krisha" &
  "Putana,the Child Killer," from the Vishnu Purana (RDR, 83-84, 135-36, 138-40)

PREPARE NOTES addressing the following focus:

As outlined in the study guide, the two selections assigned for this exercise provide evidence of the way medieval storytellers envisioned the manifestation of Krshna's divine powers, most likely to heighten engagement in some kind of practice:

• Krshna showing his divine form in the Kaurava assembly hall when Duryodhana attempts to hold him captive (RDR, 131-33);
• Vishnu placing various embryos in Devaki's womb (p.106-9) and Krshna showing his four armed, radiant form at birth (p.109-10);
• the goddess Sleep appearing to Kamsa when he dashes the seventh child to the ground (p.110) and Krshna killing the child-killer Putana (p.111).

For each of these THREE options, identify a set of related characters, events, objects, words, time(s), &/or particular locale(s) that suggests the way(s) each story might heighten the engagement of those celebrating Krshna's birth, as per the rituals described in EGHT, 28.

application exercise 3b

REVIEW IN DEPTH:

• "The Raslila," from the Bhagavata Purana (RDR, 136-37, 141-51)

PREPARE NOTES addressing the following focus:

As outlined in the study guide, the Bhagavata Purana provides evidence of the way medieval storytellers envisioned--most likely to heighten engagement in some kind of practice--the adolescent Krshna interacting with the Gopis of Vraja:

• Krshna meets the Gopis in the forest and agrees to participate in "love sports" (#29.1-46);
• at a certain point he disappears and the Gopis look for him, calling out for him to appear (#29.47-31.19);
• he then reappears, explains his disappearance & initiates the Rasa dance (#32.1-33.40).

For each of these THREE parts of the story, identify a set of related events, objects, words, time(s), &/or locale(s) that suggests the way(s) the story might heighten the engagement of those celebrating Holi, as per the rituals described in EGHT, 28-29.

application exercise 3c

SUBMIT WORKSHEET
(in Assignments tab of SacCT)
for Unit 3 **Source Analysis**
(PDF | MS Word)
OR **Observation Report**
(PDF/MS Word)
by **SUNDAY 4/15, midnight**

REVIEW IN DEPTH:

• selected students' Observation Reports: Holi & chanting Krshna's names
  (download from the Learning Modules tab of SacCT)
  

PREPARE NOTES addressing the following focus:

This exercise asks you to consider three student accounts of programs held weekly at the Lotus Garden Meditation Center in Carmichael, which provide eyewitness evidence of the way participants' thoughts & feelings about Krishna intensify their practices of meditation & worshipful singing.

• Amanda gives a pictorial overview of the grounds and the events that take place every Sunday;
• Stephanie focuses in on the experience of chanting and several symbolic objects in the space where chants are held; and
• Claire describes mantra meditation and notes similarities to practices done in Krishna's hometown of Mathura (appended to Stephanie's report).

Identify thoughts & feelings of each participant as described in their own words (including observers, people interviewed and participants observed) that appear to intensify their engagement in practice. (Make sure to specify objects, actions, recited words & details of the space in describing the practice.)