Vedic India I Stage One Early Vedic Age

Vedic India I. Stage One: Early Vedic Age, 1500 -1000 BCE II. Stage Two: Later Vedic Age, 1000 -500 BCE III. Stage Three: Hinduism & Early Buddhism, after 500 BCE IDs: Brahmans, karma, Mahavira, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), d. 483 BCE

Argument The Vedic religion provided a united identity for people in north India. It began as a tribal faith which emphasized sacrifice and evolved into an ethical religion - Hinduism – around 500 BCE.

Indus River Civilization (3500 -2000 BCE) India Pakistan Bangladesh Himalaya Mtns. Punjab

2000 -1600 BCE: Crisis & collapse of Indus River Culture

Vedic Nomads Invade, ca. 1500 BCE • Indo-European • Vedic peoples (Aryans) • Dravidians Vedic Age, 1500500 BCE

I. Stage 1: Early Vedic Age, 1500 -1000 BCE

A. History Vedic People brought • Horses • Chariots • Iron tools & weapons

Settled Ganges River Valley • Pastoral agricultural • Villages & no cities

B. Caste (varna) in early Vedic Age brahman kshatriyas vaisyas Shudras

C. Religion in early Vedic Age • • • Brahmans Vedas Sanskrit Rig Veda, ca. 1500 BCE Indra

Emphasis on Sacrifice • • Proper rituals Sacrifices to gods Cosmic order Brahmans

II. Stage 2: Late Vedic Age (1000 -500 BCE) A. History Many small states Rajas Growth of towns

B. Caste System Develops Jatis/sub-castes outcastes/ untouchables purity

C. New religious ideas from late Vedic Age • karma • transmigration of souls (reincarnation) • dharma

Philosophy & Written Texts Upanishads (700 BCE) Brahman atman

III. Stage 3: Hinduism “Spiritual Age”: 6 th -4 th c. BCE A. Mahavira Jainism Asceticism Non-violence

B. Dissatisfaction with Brahman leadership: Popular texts • Mahabharata (written down 200 BCE) • Bhagavad Gita • Krishna • Arjuna

C. Early Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563 – 483 BCE) the Buddha (the Enlightened One) Ganges Bodhi tree (bo)

Four Truths 1. Life is full of suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by desires. 3. The only way to rise above suffering is to renounce desire. 4. One can only do this by following Noble Eightfold Path.

Goals rid self of desire & the illusion of separate identity reach nirvana (contentment and extinction) By following Noble Eightfold Path

The Buddha’s Footprints Limestone carving on stupa, India 1 st c. BCE

Sangha (Order) • monks • nuns

The Three Jewels “I go for refuge to the Buddha. I go for refuge to the Doctrine (dharma). I go for refuge to the Order (sangha). ”

D. Religious Changes in South Asia (in Hinduism) Emergence of Popular Cults • Shiva • Vishnu • Krishna

Development of Vedic Religion into Hinduism Stage One 1500 – 1000 BCE Early Vedic Religion Stage Two (1000 BCE – 600 BCE) History: Tribal organization, migration into north India, settlement, domination by Brahmins & kshatriya History: Many small states governed by kshatriya; growth of towns Text: Rig Veda Religion: elaboration of caste system, karma, reincarnation, dharma Religion: Brahmins (priests), sacrifice, caste, obedience Human Needs: Identity (caste) Security Text: Upanishads Human Needs: Identity Security Answers Stage Three (600 BCE – 500 BCE) Hinduism & Buddhism History: Dissatisfaction, towns, trade Texts: Mahabharata, Ramayana Religion: Mahavira & nonviolence; Buddha & 4 Noble Truths Human Needs: Answers Personal Connection