Caste System Hinduism World History S Vedic Age

Caste System & Hinduism World History S

Vedic Age (1500 - 500 BCE) S Sacred literature of the Aryans are called the Vedas S Passed down by elders orally S Four collections of spells, prayers, and instructions for rituals S Rig Veda most important

India’s Vedic Age (1500 -500 B. C. E. ) S Creation of the Caste System S Aryan society was divided into four groups that were based on occupation S Groups became more rigid as they had more contact with non-Aryan people S Caste determined where you could work, who you could marry, who you could eat with, etc… S Each caste represented a different part of the creator god Brahma

India’s Vedic Age (1500 -500 B. C. E. ) � The four major castes � The Brahmins- the priest caste, believed to have emerged from Brahma's mouth � The Kshatriyas- the warrior or ruling caste, believed to have emerged from Brahma's arms � The Vaishyas- the merchants or artisan caste believed to have emerged from Brahma's thighs � The Shudras- the unskilled laborers and servant caste, believed to have emerged from Brahma's feet

India’s Vedic Age (1500 -500 B. C. E. ) S The “untouchables” or Dalits S Those too impure and unclean to be within the caste system S Called untouchables because it is believed they were not created by Brahma and are unclean S “Untouchability” was made illegal in 1950 when India adopted its constitution, but the law is hard to enforce in rural India where most of the population is located

Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism S Hindus believe in one, all-knowing Supreme Being called Brahman S This being is both creator and reality

Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism S Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas S The world’s most ancient scripture S Hindus believe that the universe goes through endless cycles of creation and destruction

Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism S Hindus believe in karma S The law of cause and effect by which an individual creates his/her destiny through his/her actions S Affects the caste you are born into, how wealthy you are, your health, etc.

Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism S Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates S The soul evolves through many births until all karma is resolved and the soul achieves moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth S No one is deprived of this destiny

Beliefs and Practices of Hinduism S Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others S All genuine paths are facets of God’s true light and should be treated with tolerance and respect

Gods of Hinduism S Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic religions S They recognize a single deity or universal soul (Brahman), and view other gods and goddesses as manifestations of Brahman, and accept existence or possible existence of other gods S Different Hindu communities may have their own deities (gods) whom they worship S Different ways of approaching the ultimate goal

Three Principle Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva S Brahma S Hindus recognize Brahma as the creator of the world and all its creatures S He has four heads, each representing one of the four Vedas S He is the least worshipped god in Hinduism today (only two temples devoted to him)

Three Principle Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva S Vishnu S Preserver of the universe S Lord of protection, sustenance, and maintenance S Has links to a very early sun god and is considered by his worshippers to be the greatest among the gods

Three Principle Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva S Destroyer and re-creator of the universe S Necessary because without destruction there can be no recreation S Source of both good and evil, where opposites meet