HinduismMake a circle map as you take notes.

Hinduism: background knowledge

● Harappan society was taken over by a nomadic tribe called the Aryans in 1500 BCE.

● The Aryans introduced the caste system to subjugate the non-Aryans (Harappans).

● They introduced the sanskrit language.● Their oral traditions were eventually

written down into a book called the Vedas.

Hinduism: historical origins

● The Vedas are the basis for modern Hinduism (literally means “knowlege”). They are the spiritual and religious records of the early Aryan culture/teachings.

● Additions have been made throughout time, however, there is no one official sacred text for Hinduism. (There is also no set founder)

Hinduism: central ideas

● One god, Brahma (the creator), comes in many forms (note: they would not call themselves polytheistic)

● Main forms are Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer)

● These gods represent the three main forces of nature: creation, maintenance, and destruction

● There are thousands, maybe millions, of other gods

Who is the Hindu Trinity?

(From left to right)

Brahma - the creator

Vishnu - the preserver

Shiva - the destroyer

Hinduism: central ideas

● Behind Hindu practice is the belief that every soul is trapped in a cycle of birth-death-rebirth(called Samsara). ○ The idea that souls are reborn after death is called

reincarnation

● Every Hindu wants to escape from this cycle○ The ultimate goal is to achieve oneness with

Brahma, called Moksha.

Hinduism: central ideas

● Hindus aim to live in a way that will cause each of their lives to be better than the life before.○ Dharma – doing one’s moral duty in this life, so that

you can be reborn into a better life■ Your duty depends on your status in society■ People that live in harmony with Dharma proceed

more quickly toward Moksha○ Whether one is reborn into a better life, a worse life,

or even to live as an animal, depends on Karma, which is the value of your good and bad deeds

Caste System

The system determines who a person can marry, specifies what kind of work they can do, and even controls what he can eat or touch.

Untouchables

● Lowest part of society - not even considered to be a part of the caste system

● Considered unclean, and should not be touched; often discriminated against

● They do jobs that no one else wants to do (dealing with human and animal waste or dead bodies/carcasses) and live lives of poverty

Check for Understanding

What is the relationship between Karma and the Caste System?

Karma determines your rebirth, so it justifies the Caste System. Those at the top are obviously deserving of the Brahman privileges because they did their Dharma (they followed the duties of their status in past lives and were rewarded by being reincarnated at a higher caste). Karma also gives those in the bottom castes hope because if they follow their Dharma, they will improve their condition in the next life.

Hinduism: spread/regional patterns

Mostly isolated to India and Nepal, although it can be found all over the world