November 28th , 2017 EQ – What are the basic principals of Hinduism?

1. November 28th, 2017EQ – What are the basic principals of Hinduism? • Bellringer –Take out your notes from yesterday for a little check in quiz • When you’re done, turn-it-in up front and take a new packet (fill out the top) • Hinduism • Ppt. Notes – in your packet • HW – Read Section 5.2 (130 – 134)

2. Directions: Answer the following questions using your 5.1 Notes. • 1. What river did ancient Indians first settle along? _________________ • 2. What mountains did this river originate in (to cause floods and silt)? _____________________ • 3. What was the name of the 1st group of people in Ancient India? ___________ • 4. What group came in and settled after the 1st group died out? They might have even conquered the first group. __________________ • 5. What is the main written language- that we can read- used by the 2nd group of people in Ancient India? _____________________

3. The Indian Caste System & Hinduism

4. VarnasThe Indian Caste System • The Indian caste system has been in use for many years.  • Still today the values of the caste system are held strongly.  • It has kept a sense of order, and peace among the people.

5. VarnasThe Indian Caste System • Aryan Society became divided over the years. • Usually this division was decided by occupation. • These divisions were called the Varnas

6. Caste System

7. The Caste System • Brahmins (BRAH-muhns)- Priests. They were the highest. • The Brahmins are the caste from which Hindu priests are drawn, and are responsible for teaching and maintaining sacred knowledge. • Today, the Brahmins comprise about 5% of the total population of India

8. The Caste System • Kshatriyas (KSHA-tree-uhs)- Rulers and warriors • Their purpose in the society is to fight as warriors during war and govern in time of peace

9. The Caste System • Vaisyas (VYSH-yuhs)- Farmers (landowners), craftspeople, and merchants • Agriculture, breeding cattle, trade, (this) is the natural duty of the Vaisyas

10. The Caste System • Sudras (SOO-drahs)- Workers and Servants • Ancient texts support the claim that Sudras exist to serve the other three castes

11. The Caste System • Harijan (Untouchables)- Did all the jobs that no one else wanted to do. • Some of the occupations that the Untouchables had include hunters, arrow makers, woodworkers, executioner, dead animal disposers, scavengers, and earth workers

12. Caste System

13. These groups were later divided into groups called castes. • Castes- Divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s wealth, birth, or occupation.

14. Caste Rules • Caste is a matter of birth • Each group has rules of conduct to be obeyed. • People were not allowed to marry outside of their caste • It was forbidden to eat with members of another caste • If you broke a caste rule you could be banned from homes & castes • Spent most of time with your caste • Helps to keep everyone “in line”

15. Mobility within the Caste System is rare and not likely to happen throughout one’s lifetime. Most people stay in the same caste their whole life and marry within their caste. It was rare to see an individual leave his or her caste to take on his or her own path. However, in contemporary society people are becoming more caste aware. Castes can interact more and it is more common to leave the occupations of one’s ancestors. This does not mean the discrimination and inequality doesn’t exist, there is still a long way left for equal rights and equal treatment.

16. Hindu Beliefs: • There are 3 major Gods (Each part of Brahman – so…monotheistic – 1 God) • Brahma – the Creator: Brahma is the first member of the Hindu Trinity and is “the Creator” because he periodically creates everything in the universe. (The word periodically here refers to the Hindu belief that time is cyclical; everything in the universe — except for Brahman and certain Hindu scriptures — is created, maintained for a certain amount of time, and then destroyed in order to be renewed in ideal form again. • Shiva – the Destroyer: Shiva is the third member of the Hindu Trinity, tasked with destroying the universe in order to prepare for its renewal at the end of each cycle of time. Shiva’s destructive power is regenerative: It’s the necessary step that makes renewal possible. • Hindus customarily invoke Shiva before the beginning of any religious or spiritual endeavor; they believe that any bad vibrations in the immediate vicinity of worship are eliminated by the mere utterance of his praise or name • Vishnu – the Preserver: Vishnu is the second member of the Hindu Trinity. He maintains the order and harmony of the universe, which is periodically created by Brahma and periodically destroyed by Shiva to prepare for the next creation. • Vishnu is worshipped in many forms and in several avatars (incarnations). Vishnu is an important, somewhat mysterious god. Less visible than nature gods that preside over elements (such as fire and rain), Vishnu is the pervader — the divine essence that pervades the universe. He is usually worshipped in the form of an avatar • Millions of manifestations of Brahman • Each god is part of a single universal spirit called Brahman

17. Basic Beliefs of Hinduism • The Brahman preserves the world. • Everyone has a soul, atman. – this soul is constant – always the same. • You change your clothing just as your atman changes form. • We are all reborn many times in the process of reincarnation.

18. Karma • The effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul is called karma. • This will determine what a person will be reborn as. • If you have bad karma – you will be born into a lower caste in your next life. • If you have good karma – you will be born into a higher caste in your next life.

19. Moksha • If you have enough good karma you can reach a salvation called moksha. • Moksha – the freedom from life’s worries and the cycle of rebirth

20. Other Important Terms • Dharma- The duty to accept one’s place in the world without complaint. Hinduism is a way of life – not a religion • Why is this so important? • The Vedas - are the oldest religious texts in Hinduism. • The word Veda means knowledge. • The Vedas are mainly comprised of hymns or mantras written in the Sanskrit language. The books are so special that they are often kept in glass cases.

21. 10 December 2015Goal – Gain a better understanding of Hinduism & Caste system (focused on symbolism) • Bellringer – Answer the “Dear History Student” Questions!  • Hinduism • Caste Man! • HW – Study guide due Tuesday! • Assessment on Wednesdsay

22. Bellringer – Dear History Student, • 1. I am a Sudra farmer, but I have been practicing my skills, and think I would make the best warrior ever (Kshatriya)! What should I do? ~Wishful Warrior • 2. I am a member of the Brahmins, but I think I am falling in love with a Vaisya! What should I do? ~ Love Torn • 3. Can you please explain Karma to me? I have heard, “What goes around, comes around.” My teacher says it is also related to Hinduism? Please explain. ~ Confused Student

23. Brahmin • The Brahmin were the priests, teachers, and judges who understood dharma. • The Brahmin often lived apart from the rest of society in temples. • Many Brahmin priests believed contact with lower castes would contaminate their souls. • Vedic prayers were considered so pure that they could not be recited or even heard by a person of a lower caste. One Indian law stated that if a Sudras was caught listening to the Vedas, molten lead was to be poured into his ears.

24. The Kshatriya • The warrior caste who made everyday decisions and ran the government. • The Kshatriya had most of the power in everyday life, but their decisions could be overruled by the Brahmin.

25. The Vaishyas • Skilled farmers (landowners) and merchants. • They occasionally had leadership positions in local villages.

26. The Sudras • The unskilled workers were of the Sudras caste. • Members of the Sudras caste often worked on the farms of the people of higher castes.

27. Untouchables/Dalit (Oppressed) • Hired to do work that members of the caste system would not do.  • Often forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells where caste members drew water. In some parts of India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting. The untouchables were often forced to sleep during the day and work at night. • The Indian Constitution has forbidden discrimination against the Dalit since 1950 • The Indian people elected a Dalit to the presidency. K. R. Narayanan served in that position from 1997 to 2002.

28. Brahmins • Kshatriyas • Vaisyas • Sudras • Harijan • Thighs • Arms • Mouth • Feet

29. The Sacrifice of Purusa (Poor-ish-a)Sanskritpuruṣa, पुरुष "man, cosmic man" • When they divided the Purusa [as the victim at the cosmic sacrifice], into how many parts did they separate him?... • The Brahman [“priest”] was his mouth, • his two arms became the Rajanya [“ruler”]; • his two thighs are the Vaisya [one of “the people,” an artisan, merchant, or farmer], • from his two feet the Sudra [“serf” or “servant”] was produced. • The moon sprang from his thought organ [manas], (brain) • the sun was produced from his eye; • from his mouth Indra and Agni, from his breath Vayu [“the wind” was produced. • From his navel arose the atmosphere, • from his head the heaven evolved; • from his two feet the earth, • from his ear the directions. • Thus they fashioned the worlds. (Rg Veda X.90.11-14) [Thomas J. Hopkins, The Hindu Religious Tradition, 24]

31. “Purusa”- The Caste Man • Brahmins- The mouth, they speak the faith • Kshatriyas- The arms and chest, they are the warriors • Vaisyas- The thighs, they are the farmers and craftspeople. (They support the upper levels) • Sudras- The feet, they do all the “running.” • Harijan (Untouchables)- They aren’t worthy to be on the body