Hinduism and India Aryans invade India Over Hindu

Aryans invade India • Over Hindu Kush 1500 BCE • Khyber Pass

• Tribes with chiefs – “rajahs” • Spoken language = Sanskrit means knowledge

Writing develops the Vedas • Vedas = “books of knowledge” – holy texts •

The Mahabharata • • • Includes the Bhagavad Gita 100, 000 verse epic Hindu

The Gods A hierarchy (different levels) Universal Spirit = Brahma Nerguna • created all

Vishnu • Preserver of Life • Krishna – Vishnu in Human form

Shiva • The Destroyer - a positive force

Lesser gods There almost 10, 000 lesser gods Example: Ganga – goddess of renewal

All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman

The Varnas Varna = Social class 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Brahmins – priests

Social Status • • Birth into a class determines status for life Only on

Cycle of Life All souls reincarnated (given new flesh).

The Bhagavad-Gita • Part of the Vedas • “Song of the Lord” • Relates

Merited Incarnation • Means you earned the life you were given by actions in

The Goal • Attain perfection or “Moksha” or Enlightenment • part of the Universal

Offshoot of Hinduism- Jainism • Principle of Ahimsa is most important • Ahimsa =

Slides: 17

Download presentation

Hinduism and India

Aryans invade India • Over Hindu Kush 1500 BCE • Khyber Pass

• Tribes with chiefs – “rajahs” • Spoken language = Sanskrit means knowledge • Oral tradition • myths • stories • poems

Writing develops the Vedas • Vedas = “books of knowledge” – holy texts • Upanishads

The Mahabharata • • • Includes the Bhagavad Gita 100, 000 verse epic Hindu Gods Good triumphs over evil Love conquers all Stories that teach morals

The Gods A hierarchy (different levels) Universal Spirit = Brahma Nerguna • created all things – even the other gods • present in all things

Vishnu • Preserver of Life • Krishna – Vishnu in Human form

Shiva • The Destroyer - a positive force

Lesser gods There almost 10, 000 lesser gods Example: Ganga – goddess of renewal For which the Ganges river is named

All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman

The Varnas Varna = Social class 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Brahmins – priests Kshatriyas – warriors / rulers Vaisyas – craftspeople / farmers Sudras – servants Pariahs or Untouchables – do unclean work

Social Status • • Birth into a class determines status for life Only on reincarnation can you rise to the next level Within each Varna there are 100’s of Castes You grow up to do the job of the caste you were born into

Cycle of Life All souls reincarnated (given new flesh).

The Bhagavad-Gita • Part of the Vedas • “Song of the Lord” • Relates the importance of dharma

Merited Incarnation • Means you earned the life you were given by actions in a past life • Karma = idea that if you do good you will be blessed with good, if you do evil, you will be cursed • Dharma = “righteous conduct” your dharma is the duty of your caste • “Follow your Dharma, get good Karma, raise your Varna”

The Goal • Attain perfection or “Moksha” or Enlightenment • part of the Universal Spirit (Brahma) - in all things and released from the cycle of reincarnation Moksha Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaisyas Sudrahs Pariahs

Offshoot of Hinduism- Jainism • Principle of Ahimsa is most important • Ahimsa = all life is sacred and worthy of respect • No Rigid Social Structure Another offshoot is Sikhism • Universal God • Truth, Self- Control, Remembrance