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