Jnana Yoga And Hinduism: A Study Guide To Hinduism

The “Aryans, or Noble Ones, and the religion they brought with them comprised the first evolutionary layer of Hinduism” (Novak 1). The Aryans used “a burnt offering to the gods, performed by priests specially trained to chant sacred hymns” as the centerpiece to their rituals (Novak 1). The “first principle to be learned in speaking of God, the Hindus insist” is “to learn what to leave out” (Smith 59-60). In Hinduism there is not just one god but multiple gods and goddesses, some gods and goddesses can be found in the Yoga paths that Hindu believers follow. Multiple Gods and Goddesses is what causes Hinduism to be known as a “polytheistic religion” (Naik par. 1). Furthermore, “some Hindus believe in the existence of three gods, some believe

However, keep in mind that Atman (God/Divine) is also found inside of every human soul and not just those that choose the Jnana Yoga path. Furthermore, in my study guide for Hinduism, under Jnana Yoga, it states, “intuitive discernment that transforms, turning the knower eventually into that which she knows”. This means that after following the three steps of Jnana Yoga the Hindu believer will be transformed from the knower into what they know, which is finding Atman (God/Divine). Atman can be described as “the self or individual soul” (Woodburne 53). Also, Atman can be defined in multiple ways, including “the principle of life” or “the individual self, known after enlightenment to be identical with Brahman”

According to the Upanishads (“end of the Veda”), “the Brahman is all in all. It is that mysterious cosmic power which emanates from everything associated with the cult” (Woodburne 53). He is also known as the expression of God itself. In Bhakti Yoga, God is seen as a person rather than something that is inside of everyone’s soul. Also, there is two more God’s in this Yoga path that will be discussed. For instance, Shiva which is the destroyer of ego/judgment and Rama who is the sustainer of the universe. Shiva’s wife is named “Parvati” (Religionfacts.com). In Jnana Yoga, God is seen as the “infinite sea underlying the waves of our finite selves; God is impersonal, transpersonal, because personality seems to be finite” (Hinduism Study Guide). However, in Bhakti Yoga, “God is personal; there is a distinction between the self and God; thus, the goal in Bhakti is to adore God with every element of being” (Hinduism Study Guide). Bhakti and Jnana Yoga (mode) are used to practice Karma