Post on 28-Dec-2015
HistoryHistory
Hinduism began in Hinduism began in the Indus Valley the Indus Valley about 3000 BCEabout 3000 BCE
This civilization was This civilization was advanced, although advanced, although not as much is known not as much is known about it as the about it as the Egyptian or Egyptian or MesopotamianMesopotamian
Aryan MovementsAryan Movements
BrahmanBrahman
BrahmanBrahman: Absolute unchanging ultimate : Absolute unchanging ultimate realityreality Some see Brahman as GodSome see Brahman as God Others see Brahman as an impersonal power Others see Brahman as an impersonal power
which is beyond all descriptionwhich is beyond all description Salt and Water AnalogySalt and Water Analogy
SamsaraSamsara
Cycle of birth, life, Cycle of birth, life, and deathand deathPeople continually go People continually go through this cycle…through this cycle…they are reincarnated they are reincarnated at either a higher or at either a higher or lower level depending lower level depending on how well they on how well they fulfilled their dharmafulfilled their dharma
MokshaMoksha
Liberation from Liberation from samsarasamsara
Your soul (atman) Your soul (atman) becomes one with becomes one with Brahman, the Brahman, the universal souluniversal soul
This happens when This happens when one’s karma one’s karma continually fulfills their continually fulfills their dharma.dharma.
KarmaKarma
KarmaKarma Actions performed by each individual Actions performed by each individual
during a lifetime. during a lifetime. Good actionGood action = a step towards a better = a step towards a better
rebirthrebirth Bad actionBad action = step towards a poorer rebirth = step towards a poorer rebirth Can be reborn as an animal—it will be Can be reborn as an animal—it will be
harder for them to gain the knowledge they harder for them to gain the knowledge they need to escape from samsaraneed to escape from samsara
DharmaDharma
Your duty in Your duty in life….what is right life….what is right according to your according to your castecaste
If you live your life If you live your life according to your according to your dharma, you will dharma, you will receive good karmareceive good karma
VishnuVishnu
Preserver GodPreserver God
His role is to maintain His role is to maintain a balance between a balance between good and evilgood and evil
He returns to earth in He returns to earth in different forms different forms (avatars) both animal (avatars) both animal and humanand human
ShivaShiva
The Destroyer GodThe Destroyer God
Dances in a halo of Dances in a halo of fire representing the fire representing the cycle of birth and cycle of birth and deathdeath
He crushes the dwarf, He crushes the dwarf, the demon of the demon of ignoranceignorance
ShivaShiva
Left hand holds the Left hand holds the flame of destruction, flame of destruction, purification, and purification, and renewalrenewal
Around his neck he Around his neck he wears snakes which wears snakes which symbolize his power symbolize his power over evilover evil
BrahmaBrahma
The Creator GodThe Creator God
Four faces stand for Four faces stand for the four corners of the the four corners of the universeuniverse
Many Hindus believe Many Hindus believe that all Gods originate that all Gods originate from Brahmafrom Brahma
Hindu TrinityHindu Trinity
The VedasThe Vedas
World’s oldest World’s oldest writingswritings
Initially, orally Initially, orally transmitted…transmitted…eventually translated eventually translated into Sanskritinto Sanskrit
The Rig-Veda tells of The Rig-Veda tells of 33 gods all born of 33 gods all born of BrahmanBrahman
Sacred WritingsSacred Writings
VedasVedas: collection of psalms, prayers, chants: collection of psalms, prayers, chants
Rig VedaRig Veda: oldest religious document 800 BCE: oldest religious document 800 BCE
UpanishadsUpanishads: origin of the universe, Brahman, : origin of the universe, Brahman, struggles to achieve mokshastruggles to achieve moksha
RamayanaRamayana: Life of Rama (Vishnu): Life of Rama (Vishnu)
MahabharataMahabharata: longest poem in the world: longest poem in the world
Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita: Krishna (Vishnu) and Arjuna: Krishna (Vishnu) and Arjuna
PracticesPracticesWash hands before prayerWash hands before prayer
Cremated the same day you dieCremated the same day you dieGanges River is a goddess GangaGanges River is a goddess Ganga
Cow is sacredCow is sacred
Worship in temples and in home shrines Worship in temples and in home shrines In India: most Hindus only attend temple on holy days or In India: most Hindus only attend temple on holy days or festivalsfestivalsWestern Countries: temples have become more prominent as Western Countries: temples have become more prominent as meeting places for Hindus to form a community. meeting places for Hindus to form a community.
Pilgrimages to holy citesPilgrimages to holy citesVaranasiVaranasi
SutteeSuttee
The Caste SystemThe Caste SystemExploring differences in Exploring differences in
societysociety
The Caste SystemThe Caste System(Varna or Jati) (Varna or Jati)
Brought by the Aryans in 1500 Brought by the Aryans in 1500 BCEBCEForced the Indians (Dravidians) Forced the Indians (Dravidians) to become their servantsto become their servantsAs a result, the caste system As a result, the caste system originated based on social and originated based on social and economic distinctionseconomic distinctionsToday there are 300 sub-castes Today there are 300 sub-castes and four main castes. There is and four main castes. There is also a fifth group. also a fifth group.
Caste FactsCaste Facts
Once born into a caste, you stay in the Once born into a caste, you stay in the castecaste
Used to be only be able to marry within Used to be only be able to marry within caste, but that is changing caste, but that is changing
Each caste has its own rules and Each caste has its own rules and duties (dharma)duties (dharma)
Differences in class exists in each Differences in class exists in each caste.caste. It is possible to have a poor Brahmin It is possible to have a poor Brahmin
and a rich Kshatriya. and a rich Kshatriya. Brahmin
Wedding
The Main CastesThe Main CastesPeople divided by birth and hereditary occupation.People divided by birth and hereditary occupation.
BrahminsBrahmins: Priestly class : Priestly class and cultured elite. and cultured elite.
KshatriyasKshatriyas: Warrior class : Warrior class and ruling aristocracy and ruling aristocracy
VaishyasVaishyas: Farmers, : Farmers, merchants, and merchants, and professional class. professional class.
SudrasSudras: Low status : Low status laborers and artisans. laborers and artisans. Known as the servant Known as the servant class. class.
Brahmin Brahmin
Top casteTop caste
About 5% of Indian About 5% of Indian peoplepeople
Usually educated and Usually educated and literateliterate
KshatriyasKshatriyas
Ruler, Warrior, and Ruler, Warrior, and Landowner classLandowner class
Second highestSecond highest
VaishyaVaishya
Shopkeepers and Shopkeepers and merchantsmerchants
Sell goodsSell goods
Third highestThird highest
SudrasSudras
Artisans, people who Artisans, people who perform servicesperform services
Fourth highest classFourth highest class
Harijans Harijans (Untouchables or Dalits) (Untouchables or Dalits)
Considered to be so lowly that Considered to be so lowly that
they do not have a caste. they do not have a caste.
Perform the despicable tasks like killing Perform the despicable tasks like killing animals, tanning hides, sweeping and cleaning. animals, tanning hides, sweeping and cleaning.
Gandhi called them the children of GodGandhi called them the children of God
1950 Indian Constitution abolished 1950 Indian Constitution abolished untouchability…but still existsuntouchability…but still exists
HarijansHarijans
Perform unclean jobs Perform unclean jobs such as making dung such as making dung patties to be used for patties to be used for fuelfuel
Weakening of theWeakening of theCaste System Caste System
Greater educational opportunitiesGreater educational opportunities
Movement of people to citiesMovement of people to cities blurs caste lines. blurs caste lines.
Constitutional changes: Constitutional changes: all people have the right to vote. all people have the right to vote.
The work of Gandhi The work of Gandhi
Growth of industry & need for jobs Growth of industry & need for jobs
Technology Technology
Gandhi
Cities
Continuing Caste Strength Continuing Caste Strength
Still strong in the villages (change is slow)Still strong in the villages (change is slow)
Hard to separate from the Hindu Hard to separate from the Hindu tradition…it is entrenched! It is linked to tradition…it is entrenched! It is linked to Karma and Dharma Karma and Dharma
What connection is the What connection is the between the Caste between the Caste
System and Hinduism?System and Hinduism?
Summarize: Write a paragraph Summarize: Write a paragraph using each of these termsusing each of these terms
BrahminBrahmin
KarmaKarma
DharmaDharma
DalitDalit
Caste SystemCaste System
ReincarnationReincarnation
MokshaMoksha