Vedic Religion, Mythology, and Society free essay sample

The early civilizations of India have proven to be a highly intellectual, god fearing, and advanced collaboration of people. From approximately 2700 B. C. E to around 500 B. C. E two societies flourished in the northern region of India known as the Indus Valley. The Indus Valley Civilization and later, the Aryans believed by some to have migrated to India from Europe and the middle East paved the foundation of Hinduism through the influences of their cultures, early religions and social structures. Unfortunately, there is little to be said of the earliest inhabitants, the people of the Indus Valley Civilization because there still does not exist a decipherment of the Indus Valley Script. Based on loose interpretations of artifacts found in ancient Indus Valley cities, we have been able to depict that the people of the Indus Valley were originally a nomadic tribe, but later had a high degree of uniformity amongst city development, a language written on a variety of small 1 inch seals, and may have worshiped Goddesses or a pre-Siva God, often seen on these seals with three faces, bullhead, sitting in a yogic position. We will write a custom essay sample on Vedic Religion, Mythology, and Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page According to A. L Bashman’s book The Origins and Development of Classical Hinduism, over time the Indus Valley Civilazation began to dwindle because they were driven from their lands by natural disasters, such as the sudden rise in the level of the sea bed south of the delta of the Indus River (Bashman, 1989, pg. 2). Although we have been able to extract minuscule clues from the Indus Valley Civilization, most of Hinduisms pre-history stems from an religious Aryan ancient text called The Veda, consisting of four traditions, the Rg-, Yajur-, Sama-, and Atharva-. It is important to mention that the Veda’s are thought of as eternal, or not written by human beings, and the Aryan people passed down knowledge of the Veda’s from generation to generation through word of mouth. People saw the Veda’s as extremely sacred texts or scriptures and they were verbally relayed for nearly 3000 years with little to almost no change to them. By some the translation of the Veda’s into written word was viewed as against the religion because traditionally not everyone was actually allowed or able to learn the Veda’s in early times, and also it was as if physical written words tainted the sacredness of the scripture. The priestly class of the Vedic Aryans, known as the Brahmans, were viewed as the preservers of vedic tradition. They were allowed to attend the various theological schools which would specialize in the memorization of specific texts within the Veda’s. The Veda’s were composed chronologically with the Rg-Veda as the first text â€Å"written†. The Rg-Veda consists of 10 books of 1028 hymns praising various deities, guessed to be composed in early Sanskrit as early as 1200 BCE over a period of a few hundred years. The Sama-Veda is a book of songs, all based on the hymns of the Rg-Veda. The Yajur-Veda consists of 4 books: one book is the white Yajur-Veda, and the other three are the black Yajur Veda. Within these books lies vital information regarding procedures for rituals and sacrifices. Lastly, the Atharva-Veda is a collection of hymns and â€Å"magical† material (spells, charms, imprecations, and incantations), and this Veda is essentially overlapping magic and religion. Each of the four Veda’s have a vast number of gods, or devas, being acknowledged and praised. However, within the Veda’s, stories or myths of the gods are scarcely present; that information was assumed to be common knowledge. All the pantheon of Vedic religion are divided into two classes: the gods (devas) which follow rta, the cosmic order, the set course of nature, and the demons (asura), follow anrta, or anti-rta, in an attempt to overturn the natural course of things. The gods uphold rta, which is essentially moral and physical universal law. Many other gods or devas are deities associated with nature, the heavens and space. The main Devas include Indra, Varuna, Mitra, Nastya, and the minor devas include Yama, Vishnu, and Rudra. The nature divinities include Surya (sun), Agni (fire), Soma (ritual plant), Pajanya (rain), Ushas (dawn), Earth, Moon and Night. The gods are viewed as powerful and willing beings whose pleasure or dissatisfaction determines the course of events in humans day to day lives. If they are pleased they can bless the people with rain for their crops, fertility in woman, good health, etc. and if they are displeased they first punish wrong-doers with disease, and after they are banished to â€Å"The House of Clay† a gloomy hell-like place, similar to where Hades of the Greeks resides. Of all the gods mentioned in the vedas, most notably in the Rg-Veda, the god Indra, god of war and weather, has a staggering 250 hymns in his honor. Indra is believed to be the creator of the cosmos, for when the demons, led by the serpent Vrtra, came to attack the gods, Indra, strengthed by Soma drink, faced them alone and came out victorious and from Vrtra’s dead body he created our world. Because of this, Indra is mainly viewed as a war leader (Bashman, 1989, pg. 12). The Veda’s main function were its involvement in public worship, and it were an essential part in rituals. The vedic Aryans main religious practice was promised religious sacrifice on a cyclical basis with the purpose of pleasing the gods and their ancestors. Both demanded praise and acknowledgement so anything from milk, clarified butter or ghee, curds, grain (rice/barely), soma plant, and even domestic animals were all used as offerings to the gods during sacrificial ceremonies (Bashman, 1989, ). There were two types of sacrificial ceremonies: domestic (life-cycle rites, requiring one fire) and solemn (public rites, requiring three fires). The vedic Aryan people used regular sacrificial ritual to maintain functionality of their tribe or cities. The gods were believed to have control over things such as rain, disease, sun, fertility, etc. o the people would sacrifice various goods/animals in their name in order to please them or strengthen them to help them. in order to maintain the functionality of the tribe. Each ritual was an extremely delicate experience. If one word, or one procedure was out of place the ritual was deemed void, and could even sometimes cause harm to the tribe for displeasing the gods. This is where the use of Brahma n’s were vital, the rituals did not require massive buildings or elaborate icons, but only a qualified Brahman who knew all the required procedures learned from the Yajur-Veda. Often they had several Brahman’s present in order to ensure the correct sequence of events occurred. Rituals were centered around the idea of fire. In rituals the fire god Agni would, via a specific number of domestic fires, receive sacrifices/praises from the people and pass them onto the other gods. This gives Agni the reputation of a rather important god, with 200 hymns dedicated to him in the Rg-Veda. Fire was viewed as a link between the worldly and divine realms (Flood, 2004, 41). Also, rituals consisted one other important act preformed by the Brahmans the eating of the Soma plant. According to Gavin Flood in An Introduction to Hinduism, Soma is believed to be some variation of a hallucinogenic mushroom, and was used to bring the priests to a mystical state where they could see the gods and recite veda hymns to them. Soma was not only a plant used in rituals, but was also a deity (god) and was praised for creating the link between gods and humans. To the drinker, Soma brought superhuman strength, a sense of growing to a gigantic size, and gave visions of the gods coming down to join the worshipers (Bashman, 1989, 14). Soma was also given to the gods during rituals as a strength inducer so they would be able to fight off the demons causing a tribe grief. As stated in An Introduction to Hinduism, rituals were preformed on a daily basis by every Aryan at around dusk or dawn, and also more complicated rituals were preformed at the beginning of the two lunar fortnights of the months (the days of full and new moons). One expensive and important ritual preformed during this period was the rajasuya sacrifice. It was a royal sacrifice used by kings to ensure them a place in heaven during afterlife and also to prove their worth as a king. This complicated sacrifice was put on by the king and was centered around a great stallion (or horse) that would be followed by groups of men for about a year as it roamed the plains going city to city demanding praise before coming back to the main city to be sacrificed to the gods. The significance of the rajasuya sacrificial ceremony was its link to political power (Bashman, 1989, 33). These sacrifices were used to maintain the functionality of a tribe/city and give kings the opportunity to prove their worth to the people, so kings would pay all the extensive expenses in order to put forth these ceremonies. However, the only people that were able to preform these specific ceremonies with perfect precision was the priest class (Brahmans). This gave them a considerable amount of power, and one could argue that it created a power struggle between the ruling class and the priestly class. Nevertheless, all the sacrificial offering ceremonies were a time for rejoicing, not only for the kings who put them on, but also for the entire population because everyone was benefiting. Later in vedic history, after all the Veda’s had been written, people began to grow antsy with their religion. They started to seek more answers and try to create connections between the meaning of life, birth/rebirth, karma, the gods, and the purpose of ritual (Reat, 1977, 1). This is the period when the Upanishads were written. The Upanishads were a â€Å"secret conversation† that was only meant to be heard by a select few people, and was the beginning of the emergence of Enlightenment and created the basis of classical Hinduism. Vedic religion is not the same as the Hinduism religion, it is however a precursor to it. From the vedic religion we can see the pre-stages of important Hinduism concepts, such as the connection between religious sacrifice and karma. To this day some people in traditional Hindu and Nepal societies practice early vedic traditions. The vedic religion is overall a polytheistic religion, however it seen being practiced as monotheistic and henotheistic, and in my opinion this excerpt coming from the Yajur-Veda sums up the Vedic Religion: â€Å"O Supreme Force governing the world! You function as per unchangeable laws which remain the same throughout without slightest of deviations. May I also seek inspiration from. You to be unflinchingly principled in my life. Thus I resolve to seek truth constantly by eliminating the false from my life every moment to the best of my abilities, intentions and efforts. May I be successful in this noble decision of mine.

What Are Some Good Adjectives For Resume

What Are Some Good Adjectives For Resume The right adjectives are a vital part of a great resume. While its important to be able to express the roles and responsibilities youve held, the adjectives you use to describe these experiences are what brings them to life. Resume experts know that its difficult to write a resume that engages the interest of employers. If you need someone to edit your CV, just apply for help with your resume. On average, employers spend about 11 seconds scanning a resume. That means you want to make sure you capture their interest by choosing the right adjectives. You can take a boring resume and turn it into something that sells your skills and lands you an interview with descriptions that pack a punch. Before decorating you resume with powerful words, you need to complete the template with core information. Use our guide on writing a resume. A word of caution: though you want to use adjectives, you dont want to overdo them. Think powerful yet tasteful. Dont knock them over the head with your dynamic, enthusiastic, incredible, resourceful self. Instead, consider the areas you want to highlight and choose exciting adjectives to bring out your best qualities. Learn how to choose wisely with the following tips: Use Active Adjectives A lot has been written about using action verbs in the resume. What about active adjectives? Using strong adjectives can have just as big an impact as action verbs. Try including words like â€Å"persistent† â€Å"passionate†, â€Å"enterprising†, â€Å"vigorous† and â€Å"determined†. Be Positive Employers love to know that a candidate has a positive outlook on things. Someone who has a positive attitude can help elevate a companys morale, inspire other team members and allow others to indulge their creativity and innovation. Words such as â€Å"exceptional†, â€Å"optimistic†, â€Å"positive†, â€Å"extroverted†, â€Å"personable† and â€Å"sincere† can make a great impact on an employer. Show Them Youre Flexible Things dont always go as planned and an employee that can handle a curve ball or two is a valued asset to any company. Someone who can think on their feet, withstand pressure and turn a misfortune into an opportunity is worth their weight in gold. Adjectives such as â€Å"dynamic†, â€Å"resourceful†, â€Å"adaptable†, â€Å"broad-minded†, â€Å"versatile† and â€Å"foresight† can sell your skills as an expert troubleshooter. Demonstrate Leadership If the position youre applying for calls for leadership skills, make sure you highlight yours with the right adjectives. Try â€Å"leading†, â€Å"diplomatic†, â€Å"facilitating†, â€Å"team-building† and â€Å"guiding† to let them know that you can lead a project to success. Display Your Dedication An employee who shows loyalty to a company is a valuable assent. Make sure you let a potential employer know that youre â€Å"dedicated†, â€Å"loyal†, â€Å"dependable†, and â€Å"reliable† . Standing by the company in trying times can earn you extra points to future employers. Highlight Your Creativity Someone who can think outside the box can bring a lot to any business. In fact, these are some of the most valued qualities at top companies such as Google and Apple. Tell them how â€Å"innovative†, â€Å"creative†, â€Å"unique†, â€Å"original†, â€Å"inventive† and â€Å"imaginative† you are. While the above can help you impress employers with adjectives, you should also bear the following in mind: Use the Job Description The adjectives used in the job description itself can provide you with the guidance you need. You could go through the effort to find appropriate synonyms, but really, the best way to go is to use the words in the job description. Employers will likely be sifting through a lot of resumes, so its no use being subtle. If theyre looking for a self-starter whos innovative and reliable, then give it to them. Use PAR: Project, Action, Result Sometimes people can go overboard on their adjectives in a resume and employers can get lost in a sea of descriptions. Rather than litter your resume with superfluous adjectives, make sure you apply them effectively by using this method. Use adjectives to describe a project you completed or a skill you possess, an action you executed and the result it produced. Though the job market is highly competitive these days, you can make your resume stand out. Make sure you describe you followed basic resume rules and used the right adjectives.

Face-to-Face vs. Online Library Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Face-to-Face vs. Online Library Research - Essay Example From this activity, I learned that face-to-face library experience can provide more relevant information about local events than online library search, while traditional research also increases my knowledge about library use in general and my research topics; although it takes longer than online research and online research can access more resources sometimes faster and easier. Face-to-face library experience can give more relevant information about local events than online library search. Librarians and their assistants already know the â€Å"Get a Clue† program of UVU Library. Interviewing them offers comprehensive and updated information. They can tell me the history and purpose of â€Å"Get a Clue,† as well as outcomes and future plans. Online library sources, on the contrary, do not have access to the local knowledge and information that the librarians and assistants can offer me. Online research cannot offer opinions or perspectives also on â€Å"Get a Clue† as an important program for helping students become oriented on various library services and become comfortable in using them. As â€Å"Get a Clue† research shows, traditional library experience enables me to maximise the use of library services and resources more than online research. Online research is about sitting in front of a computer and mostly accessing materials from there, or finding reference numbers for finding non-online resources. I do not interact with library staff or learn more about old and new library services. On the opposite, face-to-face library search helps me know what other materials are present that I cannot access online, such as videos and other media resources. This research approach also allows me to know library services that can further advance my research. Thus, traditional research provides extra materials and knowledge that are not always accessible through online research. Face-to-face library research, however, has

Philosophy of Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Philosophy of Nursing - Essay Example The life philosophy may vary based on individual differences, cultural differences and the religious differences. Philosophy is a kind of beliefs, values and goals a person sets in his life. Philosophy in short is the personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation. On academic terms, philosophy is the origin of every sort of knowledge. In olden times, when science was not developed much, the philosophers were the persons who interpreted the problems and they were able to provide answers to the doubts of the common people. Philosophy was the first sort of knowledge originated in human history. All the other subjects like, science, mathematics, literature etc gradually separated from philosophy when the knowledge became gradually increased. Since the origin of every sort of knowledge is attributed to philosophy, the highest degree awarded in all the subjects is labelled as Doctor of Philosophy or PhD in academics. Two persons working in an organization, in the same department and same position may approach their work differently because of their difference in attitudes and philosophy about work. For example, consider two accountants working in the same company. One may finish his works daily and may not keep anything for the next day. The other may not finish his works in time and he may keep something for the next day. This is because of their difference in attitude or philosophy in approaching the profession. Nursing profession is considered as a noble profession because of their contributions in saving the life of sick people. For me nurses are not getting the respect they deserve from the society considering the nature of their services. I have selected nursing as my profession because of its relevance and value in the society. For me human life is the most important thing in the world and I am happy, if I am

Brand Impact and Popular Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Brand Impact and Popular Culture - Essay Example In doing so, the marketers select a prominent celebrity with a wider following (Bagozzi, 1975). This way the business benefits from his or her popularity possibly fusing the celebrity’s admiration for the product or the service. In the modern society, celebrities determine culture thereby setting trends. Following this understanding, businesses use the celebrities’ popularity to revamp the sale of their products as the discussion below reveals. Samsung is arguably the leading manufacturer of home appliances among other telecommunication equipment. The company enjoys autonomy in a number of international markets and competes successfully with other leading western brands such as Blackberry in the manufacture of mobile phones among other hand held devices and many other companies across the continents that manufacture such products as televisions, home entertainment systems, fridges among many other technological appliances. The company takes pride in an effective marketi ng strategy that has resulted in its substantial hold on the market (Powell, 1990). The South Korean company is currently among the fastest growing technology influences and manufacturers in the world. The company attributes most of its success to effective marketing strategies beginning with a conclusive market research to determine the needs of their customers. They therefore tailor make their products in accordance with the dictates of the market segment. Additionally, the company has one of the biggest advertisement budgets, second only to Coca Cola, which is the leading global advertiser. Through extensive advertisement, the company increases its brand awareness and visibility thereby promoting the unique specific features of the product more likely to increase the sales of their products. Among the commonly preferred advertisement methods that the company employs is celebrity endorsements. Lately the company sought the endorsement of the top Chelsea football club players. Chel sea is among the top four clubs in the United Kingdom enjoying a global fan base of more than five hundred million. The choice to sponsor the club is therefore strategic in the company that seeks the approval of the Western market. By sponsoring such a team, the company earns this besides the local market in South Korea and significant part of the global market. The company understands the club’s fan base. By supporting the club, the company possibly restricts its customer target to the fan base of the club. However, the company determines that there is none of its competitors supporting any football team in the world especially the leading teams in Europe enjoying a global fan base. This possibly earns the company the admiration of all football lovers, which is more than two billion people globally. Advertisement just as explained earlier is a means of improving the brand visibility, thereby increasing the market awareness (Hochschild, 1983). Football is the most watched spo rt in the world. By supporting such a famous team Samsung earns free global market access when the players adorn the football regalia branded with the Samsung logos. Chelsea fans globally further put on similar clothing during the football matches thereby increasing the global visibility of the brand. The choice to support Chelsea has therefore succeeded in creating the global awareness of the products manufactured by Samsung. Additionally, the sponsorship earns the company absolute privilege to use the club’

Indoor Flower Arrangements Tips

Indoor Flower Arrangements Tips Arranging flowers can give peace of mind and can also lead to the attainment of patience and strength in adversity. If only the first of these claims is correct how worthwhile it is to spend precious time in selecting flowers and putting them into a vase for the pleasure and delight of those who will enjoy them. The pleasure and satisfaction that can be obtained from arranging a bowl of flowers would be difficult to express. Here are a few room-by-room ideas for everyday decorating. Step inside The atmosphere of a house is not only determined by its living quarters: the reception area at the front door can also play a role. Vestibule, hall and stairway are the ‘introducer of every home. Here, visitors receive their first impression of you. So make these areas more welcoming and attractive. An arrangement of vibrant blooms, such as Sada Bahar or Bougainvillea a floral swag at the front door makes a memorable first impression. Flowers for the kitchen The kitchen is, of course, also an ideal place for flowers. Wild flowers (Gull Benaphsha) and Sunflower in a jug on the counter top can make a great impact. Moreover an arrangement of colored flowers, such as Zinnia presents an ideal environment to a kitchen. Dining among flowers Numerous families also enjoy the presence of flowers at mealtimes, even if this consists of nothing more than a ‘simple flower on the table. An elegant centerpiece of Daisy and Lily creates an intimate dining environment. You can use fresh flowers for creating centerpiece flowers arrangements in which you can place different fresh flowers around two candles in a beautiful manner. The windowsills and cupboard tops are usually festooned with Cactus flowers in small bowls in dining room with less space. Bedroomflower arrangement Bedrooms are now often graced with a profusion of vigorous flowering that really enjoy the somewhat cooler environment. A small arrangement of Roses promotes an atmosphere of rest and romance. A much more attractive arrangement in a long, fairly narrow room is to display flowers like Cosmos in two or three groups. Two or three good places are far more effective than small spots of flowers dotted all over the room. Living room dà ©cor Every interior can be enhanced with flowers. Try floating three or four flowers such as Motia, or brightly colored Tulip petals in a crystal bowl on central table in your living room. Group arrangement is also true for living room dà ©cor Tube Rose and Canna is a best selection for this. Brightly colored flowers such as Pansy or Daffodil flowers are the perfect addition to a windowsill. Bathroom flowers Add a touch of class with an arrangement of miniature Carnations-long-lasting blooms that act as natural air fresheners. Wall flowers When home is small, anything which can be hung on a wall is an advantage. It is possible to create something pleasing to suit the room exactly. The flowers used can be sweet and traditional; with masses of character in a different kind of room can seem strong, up-to-date and vital. Certainly the size can be made to fit exactly the space available and containers to hang on a wall, both modern and antique, are a pleasure to seek out. Particularly in a small room it is good to be able to have a selection of containers which can be changed now and then. A number of a wall vase and containers can be used singly or in a group to show off a single full petalled rose, a gathering of mixed garden flowers, or a few attractive woodland leaf rosettes. Selection of vases and other containers When you make your collection of vases and other flower containers for arrangements, there are some essential points to take into account. Choose a vase that complements your desired arrangements. You dont want to arrange white and pink flowers in a red vase. When you choose your vase, try to imagine what your flower arrangements will look like in it when its completed. You can use different types of vessels for this purpose like soup bowls, coffee cups or sherbet glasses. Short steamed flowers look beautiful in these containers. The most popular shape of vases is Urn, generally all sorts of flowers set best in these vases. But Lilies and other flowers with large and showy heads look excellent. For many arrangements using only a few flowers, it as very useful to have in store a collection of two kinds of vase: glass bottles with narrow necks and steamed cups or goblets. The narrow bottles can take tall-stemmed specimens, whereas the goblets and so on can be used for extremely variegated displays, by embedding short steamed flowers and other plants in a bed of suitably pliable material. Color of flowers Choose colors which complement the decorating scheme of the room. However, dont be locked into the idea that the colors of flowers must match those of the upholstery or draperies, especially if they are colors which do not normally occur in nature. Permanent flowers will always be more pleasing, and they will never go out of style. Better to use a flower in a peach or coral hue, which is the direct chromatic complement to turquoise and a naturally occurring color of roses. Choosing the complementary hue allows the flowers to stand out as a lovely accent to highlight the room. Points to remember Choose flowers that are almost open fully, cut at a slant and place in water. Remove bruised petals and leaves that do not look very good. Change the water in the vase when it becomes cloudy. Use at least three different kinds of flowers in an arrangement. They can be the same color, but different shades or they can be different colors that complement each other. Source Decorating with plants, living color in the home by A.C. Muller-Idzerda Elisabeth de Lestrieux Indoor flowers-A popular guide by Brain Valerie Proudley http://www.chennaionline.com/homedecor/flowerdecoration.asp By Amber Saleem 12- Gosha Angoori Park Link Road Baghbanpura Lahore.

Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl :: essays papers

Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl No one ever questioned T.S. Eliot as to whether or not he is a human being. Harriet Jacobs is just as much of a person, but looked down upon as a possession, as an animal. T.S. Eliot: white, popular, praised. Harriet Jacobs: African-American, hidden, questioned. In comparing Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and T.S. Eliot?s ?The Fire Sermon? there lies a correlation between the two literary works. While T.S. Eliot never experienced the life of a slave, ?The Fire Sermon? alludes to white supremacy tainted with dirty scenery, while Harriet Jacobs describes a world where the color of skin can make you feel as if you hadn?t bathed in weeks. Religious references to scriptures also appear in both literary texts. While neither T.S. Eliot nor Jacobs preach religion, the presence of godliness and spirituality explain how different races use religion as a means of escape. Understanding the significance of the historical contexts that shape these works tell why Jacobs and Eliot write at this time and what difference it makes within the text itself. Historical contexts and the continuing literary value of texts mold the way in which they can be received and survive among competing authors. T.S. Eliot wrote during a time where slavery was illegal. It might have been common for African Americans to hold jobs that were looked upon as ?dirty work? such as being housemaids, cooks, etc. but the extent of brutality among African Americans and the work that they did was voluntary. Harriet Jacobs?s character, Linda Brent, had no such luck. When Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was written, Lincoln was president but slaves were still being beaten and housed in plantations. Almost overnight, T.S. Eliot?s works became infamous; Eliot being a white male poet rising to infinite proportions. With a Nobel Prize under his belt as well as other numerous merits, anyone who questions the validity of his writings will almost always be argued with. On the other hand, Harriet Jacobs faces what Rafia Zafar calls a ?double negative of black race and female gender?(). Incidents has not received any sort of awards for literature although the book cover itself states it as ?one of the most important books ever written documenting the traumas and horrors of slavery in the antebellum South?(). Jacobs?s novel has yet to be recognized as a ?