Heritage of South Asia

1. Heritage of South Asia Chapter 8

2. Learning Goals • Identify sacred texts of Hinduism • Define and describe Brahman and Atman • Link our study of Buddhism to its roots in Hinduism • Correctly explain the concept of reincarnation and its relationship to karma.

3. Hinduism • Chief religion of India • No founder • No formal church

4. Hinduism • A way of life • Shapes and unifies Indian culture

5. Sacred Texts • Vedas • Contain the eternal truths that were revealed to the wise men. • Hindu scriptures. • Oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. • Upanishads • Explains ideas contained in the Vedas

6. Sacred Texts • Ramayana • Mahabharata • Epic poems that explain the law codes of Hinduism.

7. Brahman • Hindus worship thousands of Gods • ALL GODS are contained in ONE FORCE • Brahman

8. Brahman • Only a few can truly understand Brahman • Characteristics of Brahman: • Nameless • Formless • Unlimited

9. Three Main Gods of Hinduism • (The Hindu Trinity) • Brahma • Vishnu • Siva

10. Brahma • The Creator

11. Vishnu • Preserver

12. Siva • Destroyer

13. Sects • Sect – a religious group • A sect of Hinduism would mean a (what?) within Hinduism? • Many Sects of Hinduism • Different sects worship different Gods. • “Such Perfection” R.K. Narayan • Page 240

14. Atman • Every person has an essential self. • This self is part of a universal soul - Atman

15. Atman • In all things • Upanishad teaches: • Essential self in humans is no different than that of: • An ant • A gnat • An elephant

16. Hindu Belief • Atman = Brahman • Because Atman is in ALL THINGS: • Hindus believe: • NON VIOLENCE • RESPECT NATURE

17. Hindu Beliefs • Suffering: • Pain and Sorrow • Why? People pursue false goals • False Goals: • Material wealth • Personal pleasure

18. Hindu Beliefs • Goal of Life: • Moksha • Freeing of the soul from the body so that the soul can unite with Brahman. • Cannot be achieved in one lifetime

19. Reincarnation • Reincarnation – a rebirth • After the body dies, the soul is reborn as anything from a god to a flower to as snake. • This form is only TEMPORARY

20. Karma • Cycle of birth and death continues until the soul reaches Brahman. (or union with Brahma) • This release is determined by KARMA. • Karma – • From the Sanskrit meaning “to do” • Law – every deed—mental or physical—in this life affects a person’s present situation is the result of his or her deeds in a past existence. • Good deed = happiness • Bad deed = sorrow

21. Review • Karma • Reincarnation • Brahman • 3 Gods of Hindu Trinity • Sacred Texts • Hinduism – founding? Formal church?

22. Learning Goals • Identify various levels of the Caste System • Interpret higher vs. lower caste and what caste significance means in terms of Brahman. • Determine the roots of the Caste System in the Aryan Civilization.

23. The Caste System • Based on the idea that there are separate kinds of humans. • Higher Caste- (pure) closer to Moksha • Lower Caste- (impure) away from Moksha

25. Caste System • Based on occupation • New castes are created to adapt to change. • New occupations • Technology • Transportation • New arrivals may be absorbed into an existing caste, or, depending on the occupation and numbers, be part of forming a new one.

26. Rules • Purpose: Help people remain spiritually pure. • Highest Caste = Strictest Rules • In relation to purity, this makes sense. The purest caste should have the strictest rules.

27. Contact with other castes • High Caste • Contact with lower castes creates a risk of possible spiritual impurity for the high caste. • Even contact with a shadow • Some members of low castes have to warn people in advance of their presence. • Wooden clapper

28. Caste Rules • Govern: • Cooking • Cleaning • Eating habits • Marriage • Employment

29. Marriage • Brahman must marry a Brahman • We see this changing in India • For the most part remains true. • Think of applying this to American culture.

30. Interdependence • Castes look after their own members • No caste can do the work of another. • Caste System based on: • Law Custom Tradition – acceptance • Cannot interfere.

31. Village and Family Life • Indians identify with both. • Family always before village. • Family Life: • THE JOINT FAMILY – an extended family. • Includes: husband, wife, their sons with their wives and children, and unmarried daughters. • the husband’s brothers, uncles, and cousins might also live under the same rooms.

32. Patriarchal • “Father” • The oldest male. • Thought to be most knowledgable. • Makes the decisions.

33. Marriage • Arranged marriages • Bride’s families pay most of expenses • Might go into debt for a marriage. • Dowry – a gift of money or goods paid to the groom.

34. Women • Skakti – creative energy. • Women – seen as dangerous unless ruled by man. • Purdah- complete seclusion. • Higher caste rule • Wear veils • Sati – Virtuous woman.

35. Indus Valley Civilization • 2,500 – 1,500 BCE • Indus River (Pakistan) • Planned Cities: • Harrapa and Mohenjo Daro • Checkerboard pattern of streets. • Strong urban planning suggests a strong government.

36. Farming • Taxes collected • Taxes came in the form of food. • Barley/ Wheat/ Peas/ Sesame. • Cattle/ Sheep/ Goats/ Water buffaloes.

37. Indus Valley Civilization • Form of writing: • Picture writing • Religion: • Believed in a mother Goddess • Important members of society: • Priests were important individuals within society.

38. Trade • Traded within middle-east • EXPORT: Cotton / Ideas

39. The Decline • Indus Valley Civilization • Believed: Natural Causes – climate became too dry • Towns abandoned • Bricks no longer uniform size • Streets no longer repaired. • What might one infer about the strength of government? • Without food to pay taxes = no funding for government.

40. Aryans • 1500-500 BCE • Gradually moved into Indus Valley • Invaders? • Characteristics: • Light skinned • Began in Caucus Mountains

41. Aryans • Vedas: oral/written tradition • (hymns/prayers/rituals used in religious practices) • Information historians know is derived from Vedas. • Religious beliefs: Polytheistic • Vedas = Holy texts • Beginnings of Hinduism • Establish the Caste System • Involved religious sacrifices of food and water to the Gods. • Swastika – an Aryan symbol – Hitler wanted to build an Aryan race.

42. Aryans • Farmers & Herders • GREAT value on cattle • Men received cattle as reward for good work (as in success in war) • Wealth – measured in terms of cattle. • Vedas – Demonstrate importance of cow. • Cow’s milk like rain to the earth • War = translates “let’s go get some cows”

43. Aryans • Villages • Rajahs – hereditary chiefs that ruled Aryan villages. • Council of warriors at his disposal.

44. Aryans • Social Classes • 4 Basic Classes = the VARNA • Brahmans • –Priests • Kshatriyas • Warriors • Vaisyas • Landowners/ Merchants/ Herders • Sudras • Servants/ Peasants

45. Aryans • Vedas • Hymn • Divides the four classes from a human. • Brahmans • Mouth • Kshatriyas • Arms (Warrior) • Vaisya • Thighs • Sudra • Feet

46. Aryan • Sanskrit – ancient language developed by the Aryans • (Greek or Latin) – other examples of ancient languages.

47. Review • Harappa • Mohenjo-Daro • Sanskrit

48. Learning Goals • Identify various ancient civilizations of India and significant leaders of each. • Explain the reasons behind the rise and fall of various empires. • List achievements of various Ancient Indian Civilizations.

49. The Maurya Empire • Chandagupta Maurya • First ruler of the Maurya Empire • Why important? • Began the Maurya Dynasty • Ruled India for 140 years • Dynasty – ruling family.

50. The Maurya Empire