Hinduism and India

Aryans invade India

• Over Hindu Kush 1500 BC

• Khyber Pass

• Tribes with chiefs – “rajahs”• Spoken language = Sanskrit means knowledge

• Oral tradition • myths• stories• poems

Writing develops the Vedas

• Vedas = “books of knowledge” – holy texts

• Upanishads

The Gods

A hierarchy (different levels)

Universal Spirit = Brahma Nerguna

• created all things – even the other gods

• present in all things

Vishnu

• Preserver of Life

• Krishna – Vishnu in Human form

Siva

• The Destroyer

- a positive force

Cycle of LifeAll souls reincarnated (given new flesh).

Lesser gods There are almost

10,000 lesser gods

Example: Ganga – goddess of renewal

For which the Ganges river is named

The Varnas

Varna = Social class1. Brahmins – priests

2. Kshatriyas – warriors / rulers

3. Vaisyas – craftspeople / farmers

4. Sudras – servants

5. Pariahs or Untouchables – do unclean work

Social Status

• Birth into a class determines status for life

• Only on reincarnation can you rise to the next level

• Within each Varna there are 100’s of Castes

• You grow up to do the job of the caste you were born into

The Bhagavad-Gita

• Part of the Vedas

• “Song of the Lord”

• Relates the importance of dharma

Merited Incarnation

• Means you earned the life you were givenby actions in a past life• Karma = idea that if you do good you will

be blessed with good, if you do evil, you will be cursed

• Dharma = “righteous conduct” your dharma is the duty of your caste

• “Follow your Dharma, get good Karma, raise your Varna”

The Goal

• Attain perfection or “Moksha” or Enlightenment

• part of the Universal Spirit (Brahma) - in all things and released from the cycle of reincarnation

Moksha

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaisyas

Sudrahs

Pariahs

Offshoot of Hinduism- Jainism

• Principle of Ahimsa is most important

• Ahimsa = all life is sacred and worthy of respect

• No Rigid Social Structure

Another offshoot is Sikkism

• Universal God

• Truth, Self- Control, Remembrance