Aryans and Hinduism

1500 BCE, Aryans migrated into 1500 BCE, Aryans migrated into Ganges Plain.Ganges Plain.

Spread new civilizationSpread new civilization Sanskrit – spoken and written Sanskrit – spoken and written

languagelanguage Vedas – holy books of hymns, Vedas – holy books of hymns,

poems, legends, and religious ritualspoems, legends, and religious rituals

AryansAryans

Nomadic Herders from Central Asia Invaded India through the Hindu Kush (1700-

1500 BCE)

– Khyber Pass – Seeking rich pastures – Skilled warriors- able to conquer

Brought with them…– Hinduism- religion– Caste System

INDUSINDUSRIVER RIVER VALLEYVALLEY

Hindu Caste SytemHindu Caste Sytem

Rigid legal system of Rigid legal system of social organization social organization based on based on HinduismHinduism

Created by the Aryans Created by the Aryans A person’s position in society was fixed at A person’s position in society was fixed at

birthbirth System placed restrictions on System placed restrictions on foodfood, ,

occupations, marriageoccupations, marriage, ect…, ect… The Caste System is abolished today BUT The Caste System is abolished today BUT

some places still practice it strongly. some places still practice it strongly.

When they divided manWhen they divided manInto how many parts did they divide Into how many parts did they divide

him?him?What was his mouth, what were his What was his mouth, what were his

arms,arms,What were his thighs and feet What were his thighs and feet

called?called?The Brahmin was his mouthThe Brahmin was his mouthOf his arms made the warrior, Of his arms made the warrior, His thighs became the Vaisya His thighs became the Vaisya Of his feet the Sudra was born. Of his feet the Sudra was born.

Bronze Age Vedic Poem Bronze Age Vedic Poem

Varna: 4 main social classes

Jati- smaller groups within each varna

Caste System…

PariahsPariahs (slaves, “untouchables”)

BrahmansBrahmans(priests)

VaisyasVaisyas(common people)

Sudras(unskilled laborers, servants)

Vedas: Vedas: Holy literature Holy literature – Memorized Memorized and told to younger generations and told to younger generations – Developed writing and recorded the vedasDeveloped writing and recorded the vedas

Language= Language= SanskritSanskrit

UpanishadsUpanishads– Epics (long poems/ stories) of the Vedas Epics (long poems/ stories) of the Vedas – RamayanaRamayana

Most famousMost famous Love story of Rama and his wife Sita Love story of Rama and his wife Sita

HinduismHinduism

Polytheistic?, Monotheistic?, Polytheistic?, Monotheistic?, MonisticMonistic (God and (God and Creation are ONE) Creation are ONE) ??

…many gods one spirit – Brahma- creatorBrahma- creator– Vishnu- preserverVishnu- preserver– Shiva- Destroyer Shiva- Destroyer

Reincarnation: Reincarnation: soul being reborn into another beingsoul being reborn into another being Religious Practice Religious Practice

– Caste System Caste System – Yoga- mental/ physical. Bring body and mind togetherYoga- mental/ physical. Bring body and mind together– Festivals- rituals, food, music, dancing. Helps bring in the Festivals- rituals, food, music, dancing. Helps bring in the

seasonsseasons– Cows- sacred animal, pull plows, milk, butter, were Cows- sacred animal, pull plows, milk, butter, were

protected by law. protected by law. Maya-the world of senses is an illusionMaya-the world of senses is an illusion

Hinduism…Hinduism…

HinduismHinduismBasic BeliefsBasic Beliefs

BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite atman ( an Goal in life is to unite atman ( an individual’s soul) w/ Brahmanindividual’s soul) w/ Brahman

Multiple Multiple GodsGods

DharmaDharma

KarmaKarma

SamsaraSamsara

BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman

Multiple Multiple GodsGods

Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma

DharmaDharma

KarmaKarma

SamsaraSamsara

BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman

Multiple Multiple GodsGods

Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma

DharmaDharma Sacred dutySacred dutyIndividual dharma determined by Individual dharma determined by age, gender, social classage, gender, social classFollowing dharma promotes Following dharma promotes harmonyharmony

KarmaKarma

SamsaraSamsara

BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman

Multiple Multiple GodsGods

Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma

DharmaDharma Sacred dutySacred dutyIndividual dharma determined by Individual dharma determined by age, gender, social classage, gender, social classFollowing dharma promotes Following dharma promotes harmonyharmony

KarmaKarma Sum of good and bad actions your Sum of good and bad actions your soul carries from life to lifesoul carries from life to lifeGood and bad actions affect future Good and bad actions affect future lifelife

SamsaraSamsara

BrahmanBrahman Supreme GodSupreme GodEverything is a part of BrahmanEverything is a part of BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ BrahmanGoal in life is to unite w/ Brahman

Multiple Multiple GodsGods

Worship many gods and goddessesWorship many gods and goddessesGods and goddesses are part of Gods and goddesses are part of BrahmanBrahmanImportant gods – Vishnu, Shiva, Important gods – Vishnu, Shiva, BrahmaBrahma

DharmaDharma Sacred dutySacred dutyIndividual dharma determined by Individual dharma determined by age, gender, social classage, gender, social classFollowing dharma promotes Following dharma promotes harmonyharmony

KarmaKarma Sum of good and bad actions your Sum of good and bad actions your soul carries from life to lifesoul carries from life to lifeGood and bad actions affect future Good and bad actions affect future lifelife

SamsaraSamsara Continuous cycle of birth, death, Continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirthand rebirthGoal in life is to achieve moksha Goal in life is to achieve moksha and be released from samsaraand be released from samsara

Hindu Mandalas Hindu Mandalas Mandala means “circle” in Mandala means “circle” in

Sanskrit Sanskrit circular diagrams that circular diagrams that

originated with Hinduism originated with Hinduism and are used to increase and are used to increase spiritual awareness. spiritual awareness.

symbolize the cyclical symbolize the cyclical nature of the universenature of the universe

people often use mandalas people often use mandalas to focus themselves during to focus themselves during meditationmeditation

Used in Hinduism and Used in Hinduism and Buddhism Buddhism

Create your own Hindu Mandala Create your own Hindu Mandala using the symbols on the chart we using the symbols on the chart we just created just created

Your mandala should show you that Your mandala should show you that each of the beliefs are connected. each of the beliefs are connected. Therefore, it should go in a certain Therefore, it should go in a certain order. order.

Create your Mandala! Use color and Create your Mandala! Use color and be creative!! be creative!!