In your opinion what is the purpose of religion? What the benefits to belonging to a religion? What are some aspects that all religions share and

have in common?

DO NOW…

REVIEW MOHENJO DARO

Approximately 1500 B.C.E. a nomadic and pastoral people who spoke the Indo-European language passed through the Hindu Kush mountains.

They called themselves “Aryans” or “noble people. ”

They established small herding and agricultural communities throughout northern India.

Their migrations took place over several centuries.

Intermarried and laid social and cultural foundations that infl uenced Indian society to present day

ENTER THE ARYANS

The Aryans brought with them their own language, called Sanskrit and religious and cultural beliefs.

The Indus Valley people eventually became intermixed with the Aryan people and the two cultures together make up what is now much of the culture of modern India.

Hinduism, the major religion of India, was a mixture of Aryan and Indus Valley beliefs.

The caste system, which keeps people in strict social classes, was brought to India by the Aryans.

TWO CULTURES COMBINE

Early texts Hymns and

Poems Religious Prayers Magic Spells Gods and

Goddesses

VERDIC AGE

ORIGINS OF HINDUISM

Aryans brought their rel igious beliefs with them. Their early rel igious books- the Vedas- tel l about their many nature gods

As they conquered diff erent people, they included conquered religious beliefs with their old beliefs.

This is why Hinduism is so diff erent from the other major world religions.Hinduism is the only major world religion that does not have a starting point. It just developed out of ancient polytheism, combining many belief systems as time went on.With this background, Hindus have many diff erent beliefs and many diff erent religious practices. (There is not one way to “be Hindu.”

“GOD IN HINDUISM”Hindus worship many gods and goddesses, but they believe all the gods and goddesses are part of the single all-powerful force (God) called Brahman.Brahman is a spirit and is too complicated for humans to understand. The many gods and goddesses help us understand things about Brahman (God).

MAIN GODS/GODDESSES

BrahmaVishnuShiva

BRAHMA

Brahma- the Creator

Vishnu- Preserver- a kind god who cares about people. He sometimes visits Earth in different forms to help humans.

SHIVAShiva- Destroyer doesn’t

care about people. Sometimes destroys, but creates again.

Samsara is the wheel of rebirth which means the soul is reborn from one life form to another.

People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower level of existence depending on their karma from their present life.

People may be reborn as plants or animals or they may be elevated to a higher caste as a human.

Death is not fi nal for Hindus as they expect to be reborn many times

REINCARNATION

KARMA & DHARMA

Karma: “action” or “deeds”

Every action produces a Justified effect based on its moral worthiness.

Karma determines all the particular circumstances and Situations of one’s life.

Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. The word is the closest equivalent to “religion.”

FOUR STAGES OF LIFE

Stage One: Student stage

Stage Two: Householder

Stage Three: Forest-dweller --after the birth of

first grandchild

Stage Four: Sannyasin - wondering ascetic

What do the Mouth, Arms, Thighs, and Feet Represent?

Sudras(Non-Aryan)

Farm Workers, Servants, Laborers

VaishyasHerders, Farmers,

Artisans, Merchants

KshatriyasWarriors

BrahminsPriests

Dalits (Outside the Caste System) Did work others did not want

Pros Cons

THE CASTE SYSTEM

Could the caste system work in the United States today? This is a good opportunity to practice your writing skills!

EXIT SLIP