Varnas are social orders in Aryan society There

Varnas are social orders in Aryan society There were four

Brahmins Vaisyas Kshatriyas Sudras

Brahmins • This was the highest ranking class • They had great influence over the other varnas

Kshatriyas • These were the rulers and warriors • The second highest of the varnas

Vaisyas • The Vaisyas were the middle class • Farmers, craftspeople, and traders

Sudras • Sudras were the lower class • They were workers and servants

• In time, each of the four varnas were further divided into castes • Castes are groups based on birth, wealth, occupation • At one time, over 3, 000 castes • Rarely, people could change caste

• Sutras, or guides, listed all the rules of the caste system • Could not marry anyone of a different caste • Breaking the rules could make one an “untouchable”

• Aryan priests were called “Brahmans, ” therefore the religion is called Brahmanism • Aryan religion is based on the Vedas • There are four Vedas

• Rigveda is the oldest, written before 1000 B. C. • Vedic texts came later, describing various rituals • The Upanishads were written in 600 s B. C.

• Ideas from Persia and central Asia eventually blended with the Aryan beliefs • This blending created Hinduism • It’s the largest religion in India today

Three major gods: Brahma the Creator Siva the Destroyer Vishnu the Preserver

• Atman is the soul • Ultimate goal is to reunite the soul with Brahman • This can take several lifetimes • The process is called reincarnation

• Karma, the effects of good or bad actions on a person’s soul • Bad karma led to a lower caste • Good karma led to a higher caste and salvation (moksha) • Dharma = duty to accept one’s place in society

Based on the teachings of Mahavira, a Kshatriya, born 599 BC Four principles: Injure no life Do not steal Tell the truth Own no property

• Sanskrit word ahimsa • Based on the belief that everything is alive and part of the cycle of rebirth • They don’t eat any food that comes from animals (vegetarians)