IndiaIndia

Goals: How did the caste system develop Goals: How did the caste system develop in India? How did Hinduism emerge? in India? How did Hinduism emerge?

What is being described What is being described in the passage?in the passage?

““When they divided Purusha, in how many When they divided Purusha, in how many different portions did they arrange him? different portions did they arrange him? What became of his mouth, what of his What became of his mouth, what of his two arms? What were his two thighs two arms? What were his two thighs and his two feet called? His mouth and his two feet called? His mouth became the Brahman [priests]; his two became the Brahman [priests]; his two arms were made into the rajanya (or arms were made into the rajanya (or kshatriya) [warriors]; his two thighs the kshatriya) [warriors]; his two thighs the vaishyas [business people]; from his two vaishyas [business people]; from his two feet the shudra [person of the lower feet the shudra [person of the lower working class] was born.”working class] was born.”

Aryans & The Vedic Age Aryans & The Vedic Age (1500-500 BC)(1500-500 BC)

• Aryan Migration – Aryan Migration – Indo-EuropeansIndo-Europeans

How do we trace their migrations?How do we trace their migrations?

Language!!!!Language!!!!

Indo-European Migrations

Indo-European Migrations

Sanskrit

writing

The VedasThe VedasSacred literature – four Sacred literature – four

collections of prayers, spells, & collections of prayers, spells, & instructionsinstructions– Rig Veda Rig Veda hymns to Aryan hymns to Aryan

godsgods

The Caste System The Caste System DevelopsDevelopsAryan means “noble” (Sanskrit)Aryan means “noble” (Sanskrit)

Viewed themselves as superior to Viewed themselves as superior to native “dasas”native “dasas”

Existing caste system becameExisting caste system becamemore complexmore complex

Varna (Social Hierarchy)

ShudrasShudras

VaishyasVaishyas

KshatriyKshatriyas as

Pariahs [Dalits] UntouchablesPariahs [Dalits] Untouchables

BrahmiBrahminsns

The Caste System

The mouth?

The arms?

The legs?

The feet?

WHO IS…

What is a JATI?

BrahminsBrahmins

Kshatriyas

Kshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

Cleanliness & Cleanliness & purity were purity were essentialessential

“ “Untouchables” Untouchables” (dalits) – considered (dalits) – considered impure because of impure because of their worktheir work– i.e. butchers, i.e. butchers,

gravediggers, trash gravediggers, trash collectorscollectors

Origins of Hinduism & Origins of Hinduism & BuddhismBuddhism

Development of HinduismDevelopment of Hinduism Developed gradually, collection of Developed gradually, collection of

religious beliefsreligious beliefsReligion seen as a way of Religion seen as a way of

freeing the soul from illusions, freeing the soul from illusions, disappointments, mistakesdisappointments, mistakes

No single founderNo single founder Dialogues or discussions of the Vedic Dialogues or discussions of the Vedic

hymns developed into the hymns developed into the UpanishadsUpanishads

Beliefs of HinduismBeliefs of Hinduism

Desire Moksha Desire Moksha

Atman Atman

Brahman Brahman

State of State of perfect perfect understandinunderstandingg

Individual Individual soul of living soul of living beingbeing

Universal soul – Universal soul – unites all atmansunites all atmans

Beliefs of HinduismBeliefs of Hinduism Reincarnation Reincarnation Soul is reborn until Soul is reborn until mokshamoksha

is achievedis achieved One’s karma, or good & bad deeds, One’s karma, or good & bad deeds,

influences caste or circumstances in next lifeinfluences caste or circumstances in next life

Ahimsa = Ahimsa = non-violencenon-violence

Supported the Caste SystemSupported the Caste System Complex & rigid social system…Complex & rigid social system… People divided into varnas (groups)People divided into varnas (groups)

1. Brahmins 1. Brahmins priests priests2. Kshatriyas 2. Kshatriyas rulers & warriors rulers & warriors3. Vaishyas 3. Vaishyas peasants & peasants &

traderstraders4. Shudras 4. Shudras laborers laborers5. Pariahs 5. Pariahs “Untouchables” “Untouchables”

Brahman is three major gods in Brahman is three major gods in oneone

1. Brahma1. Brahma Creator Creator

2. Vishnu 2. Vishnu Protector Protector

3. Shiva 3. Shiva Destroyer Destroyer

Hinduism’s Growth & InfluenceHinduism’s Growth & Influence Strengthened caste systemStrengthened caste systemHinduism changed over timeHinduism changed over time

- Different branches - Different branches

- different deities more important- different deities more important

- different names for Brahman- different names for Brahman

- Hindus worship - Hindus worship devasdevas by performing by performing puja puja at temples and shrinesat temples and shrines

Hindus comprise 13.7%

(765,351,710) of the world's

population residing in 150

countries

• How does one reach How does one reach mokshamoksha??• What is the difference between What is the difference between Atman Atman and Brahman?and Brahman?• What is the relationship between What is the relationship between reincarnation, karma, & caste reincarnation, karma, & caste according to Hinduism? according to Hinduism? • How has Hinduism changed?How has Hinduism changed?• What influence has Hinduism had What influence has Hinduism had on on society in India?society in India?

Overview QuestionsOverview Questions