Aryans and Hinduism
1500 BCE, Aryans migrated into 1500 BCE, Aryans migrated into Ganges Plain.Ganges Plain.
Spread new civilizationSpread new civilization Sanskrit – spoken and written Sanskrit – spoken and written
languagelanguage Vedas – holy books of hymns, Vedas – holy books of hymns,
poems, legends, and religious ritualspoems, legends, and religious rituals
AryansAryans
Nomadic Herders from Central Asia Invaded India through the Hindu Kush (1700-
1500 BCE)
– Khyber Pass – Seeking rich pastures – Skilled warriors- able to conquer
Brought with them…– Hinduism- religion– Caste System
INDUSINDUSRIVER RIVER VALLEYVALLEY
Hindu Caste SytemHindu Caste Sytem
Rigid legal system of Rigid legal system of social organization social organization based on based on HinduismHinduism
Created by the Aryans Created by the Aryans A person’s position in society was fixed at A person’s position in society was fixed at
birthbirth System placed restrictions on System placed restrictions on foodfood, ,
occupations, marriageoccupations, marriage, ect…, ect… The Caste System is abolished today BUT The Caste System is abolished today BUT
some places still practice it strongly. some places still practice it strongly.
When they divided manWhen they divided manInto how many parts did they divide Into how many parts did they divide
him?him?What was his mouth, what were his What was his mouth, what were his
arms,arms,What were his thighs and feet What were his thighs and feet
called?called?The Brahmin was his mouthThe Brahmin was his mouthOf his arms made the warrior, Of his arms made the warrior, His thighs became the Vaisya His thighs became the Vaisya Of his feet the Sudra was born. Of his feet the Sudra was born.
Bronze Age Vedic Poem Bronze Age Vedic Poem
Varna: 4 main social classes
Jati- smaller groups within each varna
Caste System…
PariahsPariahs (slaves, “untouchables”)
BrahmansBrahmans(priests)
VaisyasVaisyas(common people)
Sudras(unskilled laborers, servants)
Vedas: Vedas: Holy literature Holy literature – Memorized Memorized and told to younger generations and told to younger generations – Developed writing and recorded the vedasDeveloped writing and recorded the vedas
Language= Language= SanskritSanskrit
UpanishadsUpanishads– Epics (long poems/ stories) of the Vedas Epics (long poems/ stories) of the Vedas – RamayanaRamayana
Most famousMost famous Love story of Rama and his wife Sita Love story of Rama and his wife Sita
HinduismHinduism
Polytheistic?, Monotheistic?, Polytheistic?, Monotheistic?, MonisticMonistic (God and (God and Creation are ONE) Creation are ONE) ??
…many gods one spirit – Brahma- creatorBrahma- creator– Vishnu- preserverVishnu- preserver– Shiva- Destroyer Shiva- Destroyer
Reincarnation: Reincarnation: soul being reborn into another beingsoul being reborn into another being Religious Practice Religious Practice
– Caste System Caste System – Yoga- mental/ physical. Bring body and mind togetherYoga- mental/ physical. Bring body and mind together– Festivals- rituals, food, music, dancing. Helps bring in the Festivals- rituals, food, music, dancing. Helps bring in the
seasonsseasons– Cows- sacred animal, pull plows, milk, butter, were Cows- sacred animal, pull plows, milk, butter, were
protected by law. protected by law. Maya-the world of senses is an illusionMaya-the world of senses is an illusion
Hinduism…Hinduism…
HinduismHinduismBasic BeliefsBasic Beliefs
BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite atman ( an Goal in life is to unite atman ( an individual’s soul) w/ Brahmanindividual’s soul) w/ Brahman
Multiple Multiple GodsGods
DharmaDharma
KarmaKarma
SamsaraSamsara
BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman
Multiple Multiple GodsGods
Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma
DharmaDharma
KarmaKarma
SamsaraSamsara
BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman
Multiple Multiple GodsGods
Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma
DharmaDharma Sacred dutySacred dutyIndividual dharma determined by Individual dharma determined by age, gender, social classage, gender, social classFollowing dharma promotes Following dharma promotes harmonyharmony
KarmaKarma
SamsaraSamsara
BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman
Multiple Multiple GodsGods
Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma
DharmaDharma Sacred dutySacred dutyIndividual dharma determined by Individual dharma determined by age, gender, social classage, gender, social classFollowing dharma promotes Following dharma promotes harmonyharmony
KarmaKarma Sum of good and bad actions your Sum of good and bad actions your soul carries from life to lifesoul carries from life to lifeGood and bad actions affect future Good and bad actions affect future lifelife
SamsaraSamsara
BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman
Multiple Multiple GodsGods
Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma
DharmaDharma Sacred dutySacred dutyIndividual dharma determined by Individual dharma determined by age, gender, social classage, gender, social classFollowing dharma promotes Following dharma promotes harmonyharmony
KarmaKarma Sum of good and bad actions your Sum of good and bad actions your soul carries from life to lifesoul carries from life to lifeGood and bad actions affect future Good and bad actions affect future lifelife
SamsaraSamsara Continuous cycle of birth, death, Continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirthand rebirthGoal in life is to achieve moksha Goal in life is to achieve moksha and be released from samsaraand be released from samsara
Hindu Mandalas Hindu Mandalas Mandala means “circle” in Mandala means “circle” in
Sanskrit Sanskrit circular diagrams that circular diagrams that
originated with Hinduism originated with Hinduism and are used to increase and are used to increase spiritual awareness. spiritual awareness.
symbolize the cyclical symbolize the cyclical nature of the universenature of the universe
people often use mandalas people often use mandalas to focus themselves during to focus themselves during meditationmeditation
Used in Hinduism and Used in Hinduism and Buddhism Buddhism
Create your own Hindu Mandala Create your own Hindu Mandala using the symbols on the chart we using the symbols on the chart we just created just created
Your mandala should show you that Your mandala should show you that each of the beliefs are connected. each of the beliefs are connected. Therefore, it should go in a certain Therefore, it should go in a certain order. order.
Create your Mandala! Use color and Create your Mandala! Use color and be creative!! be creative!!
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