Ancient Ancient IndiaIndia

History and philosophy of

Yoga

II. The Indus River Valley . The Indus River Valley CivilizationCivilizationOver 5,000 years old!2,500 BC developed on the banks of

the Indus River ValleyReferred to as Harappan civilization

– After one of its major cities– Lasted until approx. 1,700 BC– Near present-day Pakistan

Borders stretch from present-day Kabul, Afghanistan to Delhi, IndiaAlexander the Great named Indus people

Indian based on Indus River

I. The Indus River Valley I. The Indus River Valley CivilizationCivilization

– Mohenjo-Daro • 2500 to 1500 B.C.E. stretched for 900 miles • home to about 100,000 people • Enormous cities for ancient standards • Craft workers used clay for beautiful figurines

and communication• Streets in a grid design• Wall around the city• Houses had brick/stone foundations

– Several rooms, toilets, wells, drainage system with brick lined sewers in the streets

• Ditches and canals for irrigation• Public bathhouse• Buildings for storing grain and holding meetings

II. The Aryan Influence II. The Aryan Influence on South Asiaon South Asia 1,700 BC—Aryans came to South Asia

– were a nomadic tribe from north of the Caucasus Mountains

– Migrated through Russia and passes in the Hindu Kush mountains

– Used horses and advance weapons to easily defeat the populations of the Indus Valley

– They gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled in the Indus Valley

Suggests that Aryans played a role in the end of the Harappan civilization

Possible theories of Collapse:– Climate change?– Conquered?– Destroyed?

Aryan people and Indus River valley civilization eventually blended into one culture

This culture was concentrated in both the Indus River valley and the Ganges River valley

II. The Aryan Influence II. The Aryan Influence on South Asiaon South AsiaA New People, a New Civilization

– Aryans were very different from the Indus River valley people• Spoke the language of Sanskrit• Nomads and herders (never lived in

cities)• Food and clothes came from animals

they raised• Wealth was measured in number of

cattle a person owned

II. The Aryan Influence II. The Aryan Influence on South Asiaon South AsiaNew Technology

– After 1,000 BC Aryans discovered iron ore in the Ganges River valley• Improved agriculture• Began to settle in towns

Developed new iron weapons– Stronger than the Harappan people’s

weapons– introduction of horses allowed

Aryans to rule the whole area of northern India.

Sanskrit Means Polished 50 letters

III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife

Major Religions in Ancient India– Aryan conquest of the

Indus Valley established their religious beliefs on the Indian subcontinent , in particular their belief in reincarnation

– They recorded their beliefs and traditions in the Vedas and Upanishads

– Later formed the basis for Hinduism

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva – TheTrimurti of Hindu Gods

III. Hinduism—A Way III. Hinduism—A Way of Lifeof Life Om (Sound of the Universe)

The most ancient of sounds - Described in the Vedas

(pranava)- Used at the opening and

closing of chants- Similar to Hum, Amin,

Amen, Shalom Four states of

Consciousness1. Waking – “I am holding

the bottle” duelistic2. Sleeping (REM)3. Dreaming – bridge

between Conscious and subconscuious

4. Unnamed – Can’t create Object from it

III. Hinduism—A Way III. Hinduism—A Way of Life of Life Dharma

– From the sankrit “dhr” • To hold, to bear, to

carry– So dharma is that

which “holds together” to support the universe

– On a personal level it is – Duty, custom, virtue,

social function– “it is better to carry

out your own dharma poorly than another’s well”

– To the Buddha – “dharma” is the truth, way or teachings

III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife

Karma and Reincarnation

– Central ideas of Hinduism

– Karma: the idea that a person’s actions will determine what happens to them after their death

• (think “What goes around comes around,” or “You get what you deserve.”)

III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife Karma and

Reincarnation, cont.– Reincarnation: idea

that after death a person’s soul is reborn into a different body

– Believe cycle of birth, death and rebirth occurs over and over again

– Status in life is then determined by actions in a previous life

III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife

The Caste System– Main characteristic of

India that sets it apart from other civilizations!

– Caste: Inherited social class

• Once born into a class, cannot leave for entire life…no matter what!

• Influenced by the Aryan tribal system

• Tribal system based on organizational belief that people are NOT equal

III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife The Caste System, cont.

– Four Major Classes (Varnas)1. Brahmans—highest class; priests and

scholars, (because daily life was based on religion and rituals)

2. Kshatriyas—ruling class; warriors, princes and nobles

3. Vaisyas—merchants and farmers4. Sudras—laborer or commoners___________________________________ 5. Untouchables - considered lowest of the

low (still holds true today)

III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife

The UntouchablesThe Untouchables: Did work no one else wanted

to do– Ex: cleaned up after

cremating the dead, executed criminals, tanned animal hides, did jobs seen as unclean

– Shunned/discriminated against in society

– Ex: eat out of out broken bowls, wear clothes taken from the dead, sound wooden clappers to warn they were coming

– Higher classes could be shunned for either being seen with an untouchable or being near his or her shadow

The Buddha Born 563 BCE – 483BCE Born to be a great

leader or teacher… fathers decision

Raised a spoiled prince As a prince he saw:

– Sickness– Age – Death – A holy man

Leaves his wife and newborn son to seek the cure for suffering

The Buddha Studies with great yogis and

masters their samadhis… not the answer!

Goes off with 5 friends to seek own answer

Ascetic life almost kills him– Chooses the “middle way”– Discovers the 4 noble

truths1. Happiness – the cure is

the 8 fold path2. The causes of Happiness –

the cause has a cure3. Suffering – suffering

exists4. The causes of suffering –

suffering has a cause

Ascetic -practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.

Buddhism The Buddha taught

that all phenomenon, everything that exists, has 3 characteristics– Anicca =

impermanence (that which arises, one day dies)

– Dukha = unsatisfactoriness or unreliable

– Annatta = nothing has an independent existence

The Eight Fold Path Panna = Wisdom

• Right view (understanding)

• Right intention ( mindedness)

“stab a woman and she dies”

Sila = Ethics• Right speech• Right action• Right livelihood (non-

toxic) Samadhi or Meditation

• Right effort• Right mindfulness• Right Concentration

The Five Kleshas (Obstacles) Desire: clinging and craving

– Desire is a big cause of suffering Aversion (procrastination/lack of

communication) – Fear is the other big cause of suffering

Sleepiness: sloth– Laziness or weakness can stop us from the

work Restlessness

– When we distracted, progress ceases Doubt

– Faith (shraddha) is required

Nirvana “Enlightenment”

Our current existence is mired in samsara– The cycle of rebirth– The delusion of

uniqueness and self-ishness

Nirvana is escape from Samsara– We are reborn no

more– We see the true

nature (dhamma) of existence

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta DynastiesThe Mauryan Empire

• Around 321 B.C.E. the largest empire arose in India

• Spanning from the Indus River Valley eastward through the Ganges River Valley and Southward through the Deccan Plateau

• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya but it would be his grandson Ashoka Maurya who would take the empire to new heights

– Became very powerful and wealthy due to trade and the military

– traded cotton, silk, and elephants to Mesopotamia and Roman Empire

– Military used elephants in fighting

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties

The Mauryan Empire– Ashoka was successful

only after a savage war, whose consequences changed his views on war and led him to pledge never to wage a war.

– Stricken with remorse for a very violent and bloody victory his forced claimed in Kalinga in southeast India, Ashoka converted to Buddhism.

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties

The Mauryan Empire– The Rock and Pillar Edicts

reminded Mauryans to live generous and peaceful lives.

– Following Ashoka’s conversion and commitment to Buddhism, the religion spread to Southeast Asia.

– After Ashoka’s death 232 B.C.E. the empire began to decline rapidly mainly because of economic problems and attacks from the northeast.

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties

The Golden Age and the Gupta Dynasty– Approx. 320-500 AD– During India’s

“Golden Age” of science, art and literature

– Most rulers were Hindu

– Hindu and Buddhism were major religions at this time

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties

Hindu and Buddhism inspired art– Created sculptures and

paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses

– Many temples built containing images of Hindu mythology

– Mountainside cliffs were hollowed out for Buddhist temples

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties

Literature– Sanskrit became

more frequent during the Gupta dynasty

– Kalidasa—• Great poet and

playwright during 5th century AD (400’s)

• Plays taught moral principles through creativity and mystery

IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties Mathematics

– Gupta mathematicians

• Developed “zero concept” and numerals we use today

– numbers have a place system, with zero as a place holder

• Called this system Arabic