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INDUS VALLEY CULTURE:

INDUS VALLEY CULTURE:. Review:. Review Terms: Yoga Prana Linga Yogin. Indus Valley Belief System: Yoga / Meditation Unification with Divine Non-duality. Shiva linga, 20thc, Banaras. Shiva linga? 3000BC, Harappa. Pre-Vedic/Hindu Concepts Unity: male ( linga ) and

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INDUS VALLEY CULTURE:

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  1. INDUS VALLEY CULTURE: Review:

  2. Review Terms: Yoga Prana Linga Yogin Indus Valley Belief System: Yoga / Meditation Unification with Divine Non-duality

  3. Shiva linga, 20thc, Banaras Shiva linga? 3000BC, Harappa

  4. Pre-Vedic/Hindu Concepts Unity: male (linga) and Female (yoni) Non-duality : divine and individual Metaphor: man vs. cosmos

  5. Swastika: “well being to all” Seal with Swastika, 3000 BCE. Indus Valley Swastika as symbol of auspiciousness Rajasthan, NW India

  6. Appropriation of Sacred Symbols

  7. Decline of the Indus Civilization • In decline in 1800 BCE • WHY? • “Indo-Aryan Invasion” ? • Climactic Factors • Gradual decline more likely

  8. Vedic Civilization • Indo-Aryan Migration: 1500 BCE • Migration from the northwestern areas of Central Asia • Aryans: same groups that also went to Europe • Distinctive language and ethnic group • Language: Indo-European family: SANSKRIT • - later the sacred language of Hinduism

  9. Vedic Civilization1000-500 BCE • Self-Designation: ARYA “noble/honorable/first” • Aryans distinctive from the indigenous people, • in terms of language, religion, and ritual • Settled in central India: dominance over the Dravidians • DRAVIDIAN vs ARYANS • Aryan Migration vs Cultural Transformation - The sacred Aryan text, Vedas, speak of subduing the cities of the their enemies, — the dark-skinned Dasas

  10. Vedic Civilization: New Ideas and Culture • SOURCES: • VEDAS “vid” = knowledge •  Sanskrit language • Revealed scriptures SRUTI “that which is heard” [by the sages]” • Source of all Hindu tradition • oral tradition: divine in origin; revealed to sages who were in charge of transmitting this gift to others • the priests, Brahmans, preserve the text through oral recitation with care and accuracy

  11. VEDAS: 4 Vedas: Rig Yajur Sama Atharva 4 Categories: (chronological) Samhita: Rig Yajur Sama Atharva Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads:

  12. Rig Veda • Oldest and most important, composed 1500 BCE • Hymns to Vedic gods • Vedic cosmology and ritual

  13. Vedic Cosmology and Ritual Cosmology : Golden Embryo (Hiranyagarbha) Creation of universe: sacred primordial world that was not created but simply self-existed. Within this realm was the germ of life "golden embryo/ germ” In the beginning, was darkness swathed in darkness; All this was but unmanifested water Whatever was, that One, coming into being Hidden by the Void, was generated by the power of heat (tapas) In the beginning this [One] evolved Became desire, first seed of Mind Wise seers, searching within their hearts Found the bond of Being in Non-being

  14. Hiranyagarbha “Golden Embyro” “In the beginning the Golden Embryo [stirred and] evolved Once born, he was the one Lord of every being This heaven and earth did he sustain What god shall we revere with the oblation?

  15. Vedic Ritual • 1. Yajna (Sacrifice) • Vedic sacrifice and sharing of meal with each other • and the gods (devas) • Fire Sacrifice : gods propitiated for material benefits • : Cosmic Order (rta) • Fire god: AGNI: • purification • mediator between gods and humans • priest required for sacrifice • Transports death to the realm of YAMA, the god of death • , and takes all offering to realm of gods • Plant god: SOMA • soma drink: (ephedra?)

  16. Vedic Pantheon and Mythology Devas: “gods” vs. Asuras “demons” • Gods: • Gods of the Three Realms: • 1. Heaven: sky god, of the night, Varuna • 2. Atmosphere: warrior god Indra, wrathful god Rudra • 3. Earth: Soma, fire god Agni • 33 Gods of the Vedic pantheon

  17. Primordial Man VARNA: as COSMIC ORDER (Rta): VARNA: “COLOR” (Caste System) Priests (Brahmins): from mouth of cosmic man Warriors (Kshatriyas): from arms Common people (Vaisyas): from thighs Untouchables (Sudras): from feet)

  18. UPANISHADS Also called VEDANTA “end of the Vedas: 600 BCE Highly philosophical: metaphysical questions NEW IDEAS: SAMSARA: notion of rebirth and death as painful KARMA

  19. UPANISHADS: New Ideas • BRAHMAN = atman • UNIVERSAL = individual • Spiritual Methods: • Contemplation, not ritual • Meditation • Ascetism and yoga • Renunciation of the world • Detachment of wordly action

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