Hinduism – India’s #1 religionHinduism – India’s #1 religion

The Aryans were a group of Indo-European people that moved from the dry grasslands of western Asia (the steppes), into what is now India starting about 1700 BCE and captured the land and people of the Indus Valley. Archaeology tells almost nothing about the Aryans. But their sacred literature, the Vedas, tells a lot about them.

The Aryans were divided into classes of people. Over time, they made many rules for how people in these classes, or castes, could interact with one another. People were born into their caste for life. These castes were initially determined by varna — literally, color. The Aryans were light skinned, and comprised the upper castes, while the native peoples found in India were darker skinned, and made up the lowest caste

Caste SystemCaste System

The upper three classes consisted of Aryan people while the bottom two were the local native Indian people.

The Aryans were a group of Indo-European people that moved from the steppes into what is now India.

““Untouchables”Untouchables”

Some “impure” people lived in a group Some “impure” people lived in a group outside outside this class system. (ie. They were this class system. (ie. They were outout-castes.) They were butchers, grave -castes.) They were butchers, grave diggers, and trash collectors. Because diggers, and trash collectors. Because they did work that was thought unclean, they did work that was thought unclean, they were called “they were called “untouchablesuntouchables”. ”.

The Caste System – social class The Caste System – social class systemsystem

1. The caste system is the traditional 1. The caste system is the traditional hereditary social class system that affected hereditary social class system that affected every aspect of their life – their job, their every aspect of their life – their job, their status, who they could marry, and even who status, who they could marry, and even who they could talk to.they could talk to.

2. Hindus are born into their caste and could 2. Hindus are born into their caste and could not get out until their deathnot get out until their death

3. There was no SOCIAL MOBILITY – could 3. There was no SOCIAL MOBILITY – could not move up in social class!not move up in social class!

1. The Gods 1. The Gods

a. Brahman – the Creatora. Brahman – the Creator

b. Vishnu – the Preserverb. Vishnu – the Preserver

c. Shiva – the Destroyerc. Shiva – the Destroyer

2.2. Reincarnation Reincarnation – the soul never dies, it is re- – the soul never dies, it is re-born and goes through many lives until it can born and goes through many lives until it can unite with Brahmaunite with Brahma

Basic Hindu BeliefsBasic Hindu Beliefs

Hindu Beliefs continuedHindu Beliefs continued

3. 3. KarmaKarma – a person’s behavior in life – a person’s behavior in life determines their caste in the next lifedetermines their caste in the next life

4. 4. DharmaDharma – Your DUTIES in life to – Your DUTIES in life to family and caste, do your job well!family and caste, do your job well!

5. 5. CremationCremation – Burn body to release soul – Burn body to release soul for next lifefor next life

6. 6. MOKSHAMOKSHA – ultimate goal - state of – ultimate goal - state of perfect understanding of all things, perfect understanding of all things, become one with the universe.become one with the universe.

Hindu Beliefs continuedHindu Beliefs continued

• Cows – Hindus refuse Cows – Hindus refuse to eat beef ,they roam to eat beef ,they roam freelyfreely

• Ganges RiverGanges River – Holy – Holy river believed to wash river believed to wash away evilaway evil

• Today Today 85%85% of all of all Indian people are Indian people are HinduHindu

Sacred ObjectsSacred Objects

From Hinduism Comes BuddhismFrom Hinduism Comes Buddhism

Around 528 BCE another new religion, Buddhism, arose in India. It was started by Siddhartha Gautama.

The founder, Siddhartha Gautama, has many legends and stories that have surrounded his life. While we can't be certain which of these stories and legends are true, we do know that the basic historical outlines of his life are accurate.

Beginnings of BuddhismBeginnings of Buddhism He was the chief's son of a tribal group, so he was born a Kshatriya

(Warrior class) around 566 BC.

At the age of 29, he left his family in order to lead a simple life.

A few years later he returned with a number of followers; followers that devoted their lives to "The Middle Way“, a lifestyle that is midway between a completely simple lifestyle and one that is full of materialistic goods.

Siddhartha searched for a way that would allow him to escape the suffering of human life. He spent many years searching for this answer. He was looking for enlightenment, or wisdom.

Finally, he sat down and meditated under a tree. After 49 days, he had his answer. He was now called the Buddha, which means “enlightened one”. The Buddha began to teach others how to attain enlightenment.

Following the path led to NirvanaNirvana

Buddhist BeliefsBuddhist BeliefsThe Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

Suffering is universal – everyone suffers

Cause of suffering is DESIRE

If you end your desires – suffering will end (necessary to reach NIRVANA- a release from a release from

selfishness and pain.selfishness and pain.)

Follow the EIGHTFOLD PATH –

How to become How to become enlightenedenlightenedBuddhists were to follow a plan of behavior called the Eightfold Path — right views, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

This would lead to nirvana, or a release from nirvana, or a release from selfishness and pain.selfishness and pain.

Other Buddhist BeliefsOther Buddhist Beliefs

1. Believed in KARMA and DHARMA 1. Believed in KARMA and DHARMA and REINCARNATION –and REINCARNATION –

2. 2. REJECTED THE CASTE SYSTEMREJECTED THE CASTE SYSTEM – felt it was not fair, unjust!!– felt it was not fair, unjust!!

““Not by birth does one become Not by birth does one become an outcast, not by birth does an outcast, not by birth does one become a Brahmin. By one become a Brahmin. By DEEDS one becomes an DEEDS one becomes an outcast, by DEEDS one outcast, by DEEDS one becomes a Brahmin” – Buddhabecomes a Brahmin” – Buddha

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism

Buddhism spread from Buddhism spread from India to China and other India to China and other parts of the world along parts of the world along the the SILK ROADSILK ROAD – –

The sharing of religion is The sharing of religion is an excellent example of an excellent example of cultural diffusion.cultural diffusion.

India first EmpiresIndia first Empires

Maurya & GuptaMaurya & Gupta

In 321 BCE, the founder and eventual King of the Maurya In 321 BCE, the founder and eventual King of the Maurya Empire, Empire, Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya used his army to defeat used his army to defeat powerful kings in eastern and northern India. powerful kings in eastern and northern India.

By 305 BCE, he began to challenge for Alexander the Great’s By 305 BCE, he began to challenge for Alexander the Great’s western territories in India, and by 300 BCE, for the first time, western territories in India, and by 300 BCE, for the first time, northeastern and northwestern India were joined under the northeastern and northwestern India were joined under the rule of one person. rule of one person.

Chandragupta was a harsh ruler. He charged a heavy tax on Chandragupta was a harsh ruler. He charged a heavy tax on farmers — one-half of the crop they grew each year. He used farmers — one-half of the crop they grew each year. He used this wealth to build a huge army. He controlled his this wealth to build a huge army. He controlled his government by carefully choosing officials and watching them government by carefully choosing officials and watching them closely closely

The Maurya EmpireThe Maurya Empire

In 269 BCE, Chandragupta’s grandson, In 269 BCE, Chandragupta’s grandson, AsokaAsoka, took , took the throne. He brought the Mauryan Empire to its the throne. He brought the Mauryan Empire to its greatest height. At first he was a warlike king but greatest height. At first he was a warlike king but then he decided to accept the teachings of the then he decided to accept the teachings of the Buddha. Buddha.

Asoka promised to rule in a fair and just way. Asoka promised to rule in a fair and just way. He issued laws that urged his subjects to avoid He issued laws that urged his subjects to avoid

violence. violence. He urged He urged religious tolerationreligious toleration. This is acceptance . This is acceptance

of people’s rights to differing religious beliefs. of people’s rights to differing religious beliefs. He made great roads so that people could travel He made great roads so that people could travel

easily. easily. Asoka is also known as “the lawgiver” because he Asoka is also known as “the lawgiver” because he

carved the laws into stone pillars which were placed carved the laws into stone pillars which were placed in the center of towns. in the center of towns.

The Maurya EmpireThe Maurya Empire

Some of the Pillars of AsokaSome of the Pillars of Asoka

Sanskrit Language

The Gupta EmpireThe Gupta Empire

Soon after Asoka died, however, his empire Soon after Asoka died, however, his empire collapsed. collapsed.

Around 320 AD, Chandra Gupta I came to Around 320 AD, Chandra Gupta I came to power in the north. He was not related to power in the north. He was not related to the first emperor Chandragupta Maurya of the first emperor Chandragupta Maurya of the Maurya Empire , but he too took the title the Maurya Empire , but he too took the title of king and began to conquer other areas in of king and began to conquer other areas in the name of the the name of the Gupta Empire.Gupta Empire.

The Gupta Golden AgeThe Gupta Golden Age

Added western coast Added western coast to empireto empire

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