Ancient India• Out of 2

groups of people –

• one diverse religion

Indus/Dravidian PeopleIndus/Dravidian People

• Written language

• Industry & trade

• Agriculture

• Planned Cities

• Citadel

• Underground sewers

• Oven baked bricks

Indo-AryansIndo-Aryans• Nomadic tribes

• Herded cattle, sheep goats

• Warriors

• Male dominated

• No cities

• No written lang.– only oral tradit.

The Indo-Aryans maybe conquered and The Indo-Aryans maybe conquered and enslaved the Indus Valley People c.1500 BCEenslaved the Indus Valley People c.1500 BCE

From the clash of these two From the clash of these two cultures came:cultures came:

• Structure of Society – the Varna or castes

• The religion Hinduism

• Religious writings

Brahmin

Kshatriya

Vaisya

ShudraShudra

Caste Caste SystemSystem

priests

Nobles, warriors, royalty

Merchants & skilled workers

Servants, peasants, slaves, laborers

Untouchables: Outcaste, pariah = outside caste system

Varna (castes) divided into

3000 subcastes,

jati, based on occupation

HinduismOne religion and many…

BrahmanOne Divine

EssenceUnity

Gods (diversity)Many manifestations of Brahman

BrahmaThe

Creator

ShivaThe

Destroyer

VishnuThe Preserver

Had many earthly incarnations:

Rama, Krishna

Hindu

Gods

+ millions of other gods

+ divine essence, “atman” in all things

“Trinity”

Hindu BeliefsHindu Beliefs

• Worshiping many gods

• Reincarnation – cycle of rebirth (samsara, transmigration)

• Atman – spirit that goes from birth to rebirth (sort of like “soul”)

• Karma – every action is rewarded or punished in this life or a next life

• Dharma: one’s moral duty in life; may differ according to varna

• Maya: the illusion of the material world (diversity)

• reality is the divine essence (Brahman=unity)

• Moksha: release from pain & suffering of rebirth

• Ahimsa: reverence for all life forms

• Yoga: mental and physical discipline to free mind/spirit from bodily control

• Asceticism – extreme self-denial

• Nirvana – ultimate goal; to escape cycle of rebirth

• Guru: teacher

• Yogi: yoga guru

Religious WritingsReligious Writings

•Vedas: “Books of Knowledge”

• -oral tradition: songs, prayers, stories of the Indo-Aryans

•- eventually written in Sanskrit

Religious WritingsReligious Writings

•UpanishadsUpanishads:: mystical/ philosophical discussions

• -reality and illusion

• -unity and diversity

"What makes my mind think, my eyes

see, my tongue speak, my body

live?"What happens when

this body dies?“

mysticism

Religious Writings – The Epics• Epic: long heroic tale• Also began as oral

tradition; teaching tools

•Mahabarata: great war

• -Bhagavad-Gita “song of God”

• -Krishna’s instruction on love and morality

Religious Writings - Epics• Ramayana – Story of Rama and

wife Sita

• allegorical sense: represents Indo-Aryans establishing hold over north India & moving influence south

• religious/mythical point of view: Rama represents the noble Rama represents the noble man, following man, following dharmadharma and and living rightly; living rightly;

• Sita is the honorable wifeSita is the honorable wife

A Hindu’s goal• Immediate goal: A good Hindu should

follow the dharma of his caste. If he does this , karma will cause the transmigration of his atman into a higher caste/varna in his next life….

• Ultimate goal….The Atman will recognize maya, escape samsara, achieve Nirvana and be one with Brahman.

“New” ideas threaten the status quo - 5th c. BCE

• Jainism - MahaviraJainism - Mahavira

• Buddhism – Siddartha GautamaBuddhism – Siddartha Gautama

Jainism• “Jina” – the conqueror

• Mahavira – the “last conqueror”

• Holiness of the life force

• Extreme ahimsa

• Karma & detachment

• Monogamy & honesty

• Became city dwellers; trade

• vegetarian

• ….

BuddhismBuddhism

““The Middle The Middle Way”Way”

Buddha…“The Enlightened One”

• 6th c. BC, Born a prince, isolated

• into world, saw illness, death & old age

• Left family (Great Renunciation) in search of “truth”

• austere, ascetic life for years, it didn’t help

• 35th birthday…weeks of meditation became the “Enlightened OneEnlightened One”

Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama …the traditional story

Four Noble Truths1. All life is suffering &

sorrow…

2. suffering is caused by greedy desiredesire

3. To eliminate suffering must eliminate desire

4. To eliminate desire follow the Eight-Fold Path or the Middle Way to reach Nirvana

Eightfold Path... “The Middle Way”

• Know the truth

• Resist evil

• Say nothing to hurt others

• Respect life

• Work for the good of others

• Free mind of evil

• Control thoughts

• Practice meditation

wisdom

morality

meditation

The Eightfold Path Expanded

Compare/Contrast with Hinduism

Same

• reincarnation - sort of…

• Nirvana• Karma• Ahimsa –

reverence for all living things

• Dharma ….

Different – Buddhists:

• Do not believe in worshipping gods

• Reject caste/ varna system

• Believe one can escape cycle of rebirth by following 8-fold Path – a universal dharma

Spread of Buddhism• Asoka – 3rd c. BC ruler who sent

out Buddhist missionaries

• Rise of Buddhism leads to a flowering of architecture and the arts

• Stupas – large stone mounds built over the bones of holy people

• Paintings/statues of Buddha

• Zen temples, surrounded by beautiful gardens

Two Branches of Buddhism

Theravada (“Way of the Elders”)

• View Buddha as a teacher

• South and SE Asia

• Tripitika - scriptures

Mahayana

• View Buddha as a savior/divine being

• China, Korea, Japan

• Bodhisattvas – “saints”

More variations within Mahayana Buddhism…

• In Nepal, Buddhists believe Buddha is the incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu

• Tantric Buddhism in Tibet – Buddhism and nature worship

• Zen Buddhism (Japan) – focuses on meditation & harmony & simplicity –

So…who is this???So…who is this???• This is NOT the Buddha• This is Pu-tai or Hotei• A fertility symbol who was

said to bring gifts to small children (think Santa Claus)

• As Hotei – one of the 7 Japanese Shinto Gods

cf. MahaviraMahavira, Siddhartha Siddhartha GautamaGautama &

Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth

Classical India1. Local Princes (rajahs)

2. Mauryan Empire – 322 BC

• Founder: Chandragupta• Asoka – after fierce wars of conquest,

became “enlightened”

– Renounced war

– Followed Buddhist teachings

– Encouraged tolerance

– Spread Buddhism throughout India and other parts of Asia by missionaries

Asoka’s Rock Edicts• Laws carved on

rocks and pillars throughout empire

• Laws stressed concern for other human beings

Gov’t cont’d: Gupta Empire

• Gupta Empire

• 320AD-535AD

• India’s “Golden Age” – arts & sciences flourished

• Began to write down rules for everything: grammar,

drama, politics

Classical Society

• Caste System

• Women respected but had little power or independence

• Polygamy - many wives

• Suttee /sati wives’ ritual suicide

Ancient Art/Architectu

re

• Golden Age during Gupta Empire

–(Drama, poetry, math and sciences flourished)

• Stupas – mound shaped shrines to Buddha/bodhisattvas

• Temples with brightly painted sculptures