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The People and Culture of India

The People and Culture of India. Early Peoples of India. Dravidians- original people of Indus/ Ganges River valleys, forced to move by Aryans Aryans-nomadic, warlike, fair-skinned, came from Central Asia and conquered India, many aspects of their culture can be found in Hinduism. Hinduism.

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The People and Culture of India

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  1. The People and Culture of India

  2. Early Peoples of India • Dravidians- original people of Indus/ Ganges River valleys, forced to move by Aryans • Aryans-nomadic, warlike, fair-skinned, came from Central Asia and conquered India, many aspects of their culture can be found in Hinduism

  3. Hinduism • More than a religion-way of life • One of the world’s oldest religions • Basic belief-all things have a soul • Predominate religion of India-900 million followers

  4. Organization- • No founder • No formal church-people worship at home or in a temple • Polytheistic- -belief in many gods/goddesses

  5. Brahman- The Supreme Being; creator and sustainer of the universe; all-powerful spirit • Hindu Triad-3 gods, each is considered to be an aspect of Brahman -Brahma-creator of life -Vishnu-preserver of life -Shiva-destroyer of life

  6. Vishnu Shiva Brahma

  7. A Person’s Soul ( ATMAN ) -leaves the body at death and moves to a new life form, where a soul goes is based on its behavior during its life • Reincarnation- • the belief that the soul continues through a series of lives on a journey to nirvana (ultimate resting place)

  8. What determines where a soul goes? • Karma- -”to do” -sum of all of your good and bad thoughts and actions -good karma=better place next life -bad karma=soul moves down

  9. Where/When have you heard about Karma before?

  10. What determines where a soul goes? • Dharma- -moral and social responsibilities in a person’s life that must be followed -is determined by your caste -do your dharma=get good karma

  11. A Soul’s Journey…….. • Transmigration- -when the soul leaves the body at death and moves to a new life form • Nirvana/Moksha- -the ultimate resting place -end of the cycle of reincarnation

  12. Caste System • Society was broken into castes based on occupation • Born unequal in ability and opportunity • Stay in the caste you were born into for life

  13. Caste System 4 Main Varna • Brahmin-priests/teachers • Kshatriya- warrior/politicians • Vaishya- merchants/business men • Sudra-laborers/servants • Untouchables- street cleaners, lowest jobs

  14. Origins of Caste- dates back to Aryan society • No intermarriage-must marry someone from your own caste • Pollution- contact with members of a lower caste can pollute your soul • Vegetarianism- no meat, except Kshatriya

  15. Hindu Sacred Writings • Vedas & Rig Veda-( 800 BCE) oldest known religious document • Prayers, chants and truths • Upaninshads-(600 BCE)- tells the origins of the universe & the meaning of the soul • Law Book of Manu- (250 BCE) explains the origins of the caste system

  16. Epic Masterpieces • Mahabharata- long poem that tells the story of a war between a royal family, shows the importance of following dharma -Bhagavad-Gita-part of Mahab.-tells the story of Prince Arjuna-code of conduct • Ramayana-story of Prince Rama, illustrates the importance of appropriate behavior and karma

  17. Bhagavad-Gita

  18. Ramayana

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