Hinduism and India. Aryans invade India Over Hindu Kush 1500 BC Khyber Pass.
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Transcript of Hinduism and India. Aryans invade India Over Hindu Kush 1500 BC Khyber Pass.
Hinduism and India
Aryans invade India
• Over Hindu Kush 1500 BC
• Khyber Pass
• Tribes with chiefs – “rajahs”• Spoken language = Sanskrit means knowledge
• Oral tradition • myths• stories• poems
Writing develops the Vedas
• Vedas = “books of knowledge” – holy texts
• Upanishads
The Gods
A hierarchy (different levels)
Universal Spirit = Brahma Nerguna
• created all things – even the other gods
• present in all things
Vishnu
• Preserver of Life
• Krishna – Vishnu in Human form
Siva
• The Destroyer
- a positive force
Cycle of LifeAll souls reincarnated (given new flesh).
Lesser gods There are almost
10,000 lesser gods
Example: Ganga – goddess of renewal
For which the Ganges river is named
The Varnas
Varna = Social class1. Brahmins – priests
2. Kshatriyas – warriors / rulers
3. Vaisyas – craftspeople / farmers
4. Sudras – servants
5. Pariahs or Untouchables – do unclean work
Social Status
• Birth into a class determines status for life
• Only on reincarnation can you rise to the next level
• Within each Varna there are 100’s of Castes
• You grow up to do the job of the caste you were born into
The Bhagavad-Gita
• Part of the Vedas
• “Song of the Lord”
• Relates the importance of dharma
Merited Incarnation
• Means you earned the life you were givenby actions in a past life• Karma = idea that if you do good you will
be blessed with good, if you do evil, you will be cursed
• Dharma = “righteous conduct” your dharma is the duty of your caste
• “Follow your Dharma, get good Karma, raise your Varna”
The Goal
• Attain perfection or “Moksha” or Enlightenment
• part of the Universal Spirit (Brahma) - in all things and released from the cycle of reincarnation
Moksha
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaisyas
Sudrahs
Pariahs
Offshoot of Hinduism- Jainism
• Principle of Ahimsa is most important
• Ahimsa = all life is sacred and worthy of respect
• No Rigid Social Structure
Another offshoot is Sikkism
• Universal God
• Truth, Self- Control, Remembrance