»Based on Hindu principles?«

In the opening credits, there was a techno-y song playing in the background. I caught the words because I was familiar with it. The lyrics goes as:

"Asatoma Sat Gamaya
Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityorma Anritam Gamaya

Om Shanti "

The words above are Hindu chants. Here's the English translation:

"Lead me from the unreal to the Real
Lead me from the darkness to the Light
Lead me from the temporary to the Eternal

Om Peace"


Here's something to ponder upon. I got these definitions from a website.
Unreal = untruth; only relatively real; that which is merely manifest out of something else, such as the pot manifesting out of the clay; the aspects of ourselves that are really false identities appearing to be who we are
Real = truth; that unchanging reality, like the clay, out of which everything else manifests; the true Self, the core of our being

Darkness = the darkness of ignorance, of not seeing either the world or ourselves clearly; stemming from the process of ignoring, which is inherent in ignorance
Light = the light of knowledge, of seeing clearly the true spiritual nature of things and ourselves

Temporary = that which is mortal, subject to death, decay, and decomposition; our surface identities
Eternal = that which is not subject to death, decay, or decomposition; the immortal core of our being

... The chant reflects the philosophy of The Matrix. I believe there was some Hindu elements in the movie. It played a big religious role. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't there 6 Neos reincarnates before this Neo? Of course, reincarnation is a major element of Hinduism.

I can go on about this topic, but I would like to know what you think.

I think while their are elements of many religions included in the trilogy, to say that Hiduism played a "large part" is ignoring the FACT that the majority of religious symbolism in the movie is derived from Gnostic Christianity

Hmm- Neo's 'second sight' in the real world seems amazingly akin to Shiva's Third eye -

"The frontal eye, the eye of fire, it is the eye of inner perception. It looks mainly inward, but whenever directed outward, it burns all that appears before it." "Shiva formed the third eye to restore order and fire emerged from his third eye to re-create light. The fierce light from his third eye is so powerful and destructive that henceforth he only opens it to destroy all that is unconscious, dark, and dualistic, in this dancing universe. Shiva’s third eye opens to end all illusion."

How's that for a large part of the movie?

the matrix trilogy definitely has hindu elements. The very idea that the world that we live in is an illusion is actually a hindu idea. Hindus believe that the world isnt real, and they must strive to get out of it and realize the truth. Another thing is the prayer at the end and beginning of matrix revolutions, saying lead me into truth. the untruth represents the matrix and the truth and immortal represents the real world

Another thing is the matrixes themselves. In hinduism, they have something called yugas, which are essentially ages. After each set of four yugas, the world was destroyed and recreated all over again, with the same people being created. And according to the hindu calendar, we are in the 7th cycle, which means each of us has been here 6 times before and this is the 7th time. That explains the 6 neos before

sorry for being so long....

Copy of my post elsewhere:

First, I think the Wachowskis got their pronunciation wrong: They call the Indian husband (Revolutions) "Rama Kandra." Now, a very popular Indian name, also the name of one of the most famous Indian Gods is "Rama Chandra," the second word pronounced as with the "ch" sound you get when you say "chat." Why they got it wrong is probably because words containing the letters "ch" are also pronounced with the "k" sound.

Next, in Revolutions, when Smith and Neo fight for the last time, and also in the background during the credits in the end, the "song" in the background, sung in "opera fashion" has these lyrics (first two lines):

Asato ma sat gamayah
Tamso ma jyotirgamayah

These lines are in Sanskrit, an Indian language, and the meaning is:

From falsehood and lies, I go to the truth
From darkness (of ignorance,) I go to the light (of knowledge)

If I am not wrong, these lines are from Bhagwad Geeta--a religious epic of the Hindus, or Upansihads, also a sacred text of the Hindus.

Oh wow! Since this topic is about Hinduism perhaps someone could direct me to a thread with a more global view ie. talking about how all the different religions can be seen in the matrix.

I had already realised that aspects from Christianity (gnostic or otherwise) and Buddhism could be seen and possibly even Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism- see the movie Pi). However, I had not been sure how Hinduism could tie in with the matrix and there is a great deal more to do with Hinduism in this last movie.

I liked that section from the Bhagavad Gita. There is a similar section from the Bible:

"What we see now is but a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face to face."

Anyone who has seen the anime Ghost In The Shell will recognise this line. Like I said before, sorry to mention Christianity in a Hinduism thread - but you must admit, it IS similar.

jliechty wrote:

I think while their are elements of many religions included in the trilogy, to say that Hiduism played a "large part" is ignoring the FACT that the majority of religious symbolism in the movie is derived from Gnostic Christianity

Certainly the Architect is a demi-urge !

Ooops -- what happened there -- it posted instead of being previewed?
As I was saying, there are certainly Gnostic elements involved, but also Greco-Roman ones as well (see my post about the Matrix as the Underworld at matrix-explained.com...), but then the Gnostics built upon early forms of religion as well.

Neo is both an Avatar and a Buddha figure as well -- messiahs are not just the monopoly of "religions of the book" -- he's been "enlightened" by Morpheous et al and returned to help others.

jliechty wrote:

I think while their are elements of many religions included in the trilogy, to say that Hiduism played a "large part" is ignoring the FACT that the majority of religious symbolism in the movie is derived from Gnostic Christianity

Viewers in primarily non-Christian regions are likely to read these films rather differently. The parts they can relate to make those parts large.

As far as I know, Hinduism has three main gods (who are simply aspects of Brahman, the supreme god). They are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer.

The Architect created the Matrix. His purpose is to balance equations. He is Brahma.

The Oracle's purpose is to unbalance equations. She is Shiva.

Vishnu? The preserver? The preserver of the Matrix is the One. Much like Vishnu incarnates as a different avatar every once in awhile, the One recurs as a different human every once in awhile.

Neo is the same as Christ, and Christ is remarkably similar to Krishna--the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Neo is the sixth One, but there were two Matrices before The One existed qua "The One" (i.e. as someone who pops up and returns to the Source every 100 years): the first was the perfect human world, "flawless, sublime, a triumph equalled only by its monumental failure." The second also failed. (See Architect Speech). One would assume that, their failure notwithstanding, that both Matrices had a similar preserving mechanism, thus making Neo the eighth Preserver.

The Two wrote:

As far as I know, Hinduism has three main gods (who are simply aspects of Brahman, the supreme god). They are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer.

Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva form the Hindu "Trinity!"
Ain't that an interesting coincidence!

Rama Chandra is the 7th incarnation of vishnu. kamala is an incarnation of rama chandra's wife. vishnu is the ultimate reality incarnate, similiar in theory to christ.

architect is brahma
oracle is shiva
neo is vishnu

during the final fight scene, besides the chant from the upanishads, "om namah shivaya" is also chanted...this is a chant to pay homage to the destroyer and restorer -- shiva....

i was honetly suprised that the matrix had so much hindu flavor...there are even tantric references....after the second movie the eastern influence opened up, but seemed more buddhist....

hinduism and chritstianity have a suprising lot in common concerning the one incarnate....

If Rama Chandra is the 7th incarnation who is the sixth - seeing as Neo is supposed to be the 6th One?

Shiva does form the Hindu Trimurti, or Trinity, with Brahma(n) and Vishnu. Shiva is the destroyer and restorer of worlds also appearing in numerous other forms. Shiva is often conceived as a member of the Trimurti, also including Brahma(n) and Vishnu. Brahma is the creator, the holy or sacred power that is the source and sustainer of the universe. Vishnu is the the protector and preserver of worlds, who in many sects parallels the work of Brahma(n). In some sects Brahma(n) and Vishnu are both the same incarnation that can divide and re-combine.
These icons also date back to ancient Sanskrit writings.

jliechty wrote:

I think while their are elements of many religions included in the trilogy, to say that Hiduism played a "large part" is ignoring the FACT that the majority of religious symbolism in the movie is derived from Gnostic Christianity

The concepts of the world as "maaya" (illusion), which one needs to conquer in order to understand and "merge" with the absolute truth is most definitely a Hindu and Buddhist concept. The concept of re-incarnation (or multiple "avataars" of Neos) and cyclical nature of the Matrix itself ("cycles of creation, growth, and decay of the cosmos") also borrows heavily from Hindu and Buddhist thoughts. And of course, you have allusions of the Architect as Brahma, Oracle as Shiva, and Neo as Vishnu - the divine "Trinity".

Certainly the movie borrows from all major religious traditions. Depending on the knowledge and interest of the viewer, he/she may notice certain subtle things, but not certain others - which is exactly what the beauty of the movie is! It's about how you view and interpret the happenings. And that's also true of all religions - they are based on views and experiences of people.

Fatpie42 wrote:

If Rama Chandra is the 7th incarnation who is the sixth - seeing as Neo is supposed to be the 6th One?

The sixth incarnation of Vishnu was Parshurama (pur shoo rama). He is believed to have killed 47 generations of Warriors (Kshatriyas) in order to avenge the death of his family. He is the first human incarnation.

The Two wrote:

As far as I know, Hinduism has three main gods (who are simply aspects of Brahman, the supreme god). They are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. The Architect created the Matrix. His purpose is to balance equations. He is Brahma. The Oracle's purpose is to unbalance equations. She is Shiva. Vishnu? The preserver? The preserver of the Matrix is the One. Much like Vishnu incarnates as a different avatar every once in awhile, the One recurs as a different human every once in awhile. Neo is the same as Christ, and Christ is remarkably similar to Krishna--the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Neo is the sixth One, but there were two Matrices before The One existed qua "The One" (i.e. as someone who pops up and returns to the Source every 100 years): the first was the perfect human world, "flawless, sublime, a triumph equalled only by its monumental failure." The second also failed. (See Architect Speech). One would assume that, their failure notwithstanding, that both Matrices had a similar preserving mechanism, thus making Neo the eighth Preserver.

Keanu Reeves himself mentioned the blink of vishnu in an interview, and I think it is the concept taken in very literal form that is shown in the movie. In other words, it is strongly hinted at that there is a higher level of reality than even what we see of the real world.

As for Oracle being Shiva, you're wrong there. She's Kali, the goddess of birth and death, the goddess of change. Shiva is Smith, that is why it is emphasized that Smith is the destroyer, and that he is the same as Neo.

And yes, I definitely believe the Wachowski Bros. wanted to tell a story of Hindu philosophy through the use of various religious symbols from both eastern and western religions. And I think they succeeded there. While the Matrix has obvious parallels to the life of Christ, it also has obvious parallels to the life of Rama in the Ramayana.

I've also read an interview which claimed the Wachowskis were strongly influenced by Hinduism and especially the Bhagavad-Gita.

Neo's 6th incarnation is Parashurama, but when he goes into a coma and wakes up in the train station, Sati greets him saying "Good morning" as in, he has been re-born as the 7th incarnation. That's when he meets Rama, who is the same as Neo. Neo gets the divinity of Christ from Rama Kandra, just like how in the Ramayana, Parashurama transfers his potency from himself to Rama, it is done the other way around in the train station.