Hinduism

1
Hinduism

• World History and Geography

2
Ancient History

• The Aryans
• 2000 BCE Indo-Europeans speakers created a new
  society in India
• Sacred language Sanskrit
• Created Vedas collections of songs, prayers,
  hymns honoring gods (veda wisdom or knowledge)
• Political power held by tribal chieftains called
  raja prince and maharaja great prince

3
The Caste System

• Developed social structure to maintain power over
  indigenous people (the Dravidians), called the
  caste system which is part of Hinduism (the
  religion developed by the Aryans).

4
The Caste System

• Brahmins priests and intellectuals
•  
• Brahmins in the holy
• Ganges River.

5
Brahmins (Brahmanas)

• The brahmanas provide education and spiritual
  leadership. They determine the vision and values
  of any society. Traditionally their basic needs
  were fulfilled so that they could dedicate
  themselves to their spiritual tasks.They are
  expected to live very frugally.
• To study and teach the Vedas.
• To perform sacrifice and religious ceremonies,
  and teach others how to perform such rituals.

6
Brahmins

• To accept alms and also give in charity.
• To offer guidance, especially to the kshatriyas.
• To provide medical care and general advice free
  of charge.
• To know Brahman (spirit, the self, God).
• To never accept paid employment.
• To develop all ideal qualities, especially
  honesty, integrity, cleanliness, purity,
  austerity, knowledge and wisdom

7
Caste System

• Kshatriyas the nobility and warriors

8
Kshatriyas

• Kshatriyas nobility and warriors
• Though permitted a number of privileges, they are
  expected to display considerable strength of body
  and character.
• To protect the citizens from harm, especially
  women, children, cows, brahmanas, and the
  elderly.
• To ensure that the citizens perform their
  prescribed duties and advance spiritually.
• To be the first into battle and never to flee the
  battlefield.

9
Kshatriyas

• Continued
• To never refuse a challenge.
• To be true to their royal word
• To develop noble qualities such as power,
  chivalry, and generosity.
• To levy taxes (from the vaishyas only) and to
  never accept charity under any circumstances.
• To take counsel, especially from the brahmanas.

10
Kshatriyas

• Continued
• To know the scriptures, especially the
  artha-shastras.
• To deal uncompromisingly with crime and
  lawlessness.
• To take responsibility for shortcomings in their
  kingdom.
• To conquer their own minds and senses and to
  enjoy only according to scriptural injunction.
• To beget an heir.

11
Caste System

• Vaisyas farmers, merchants, business people

12
Vaisyas (Vaishyas)

• The vaishyas are the productive class. They and
  the two varnas below are called twice-born,
  indicating that they accept the sacred thread
  (symbolising spiritual initiation) and must
  perform certain rituals and rites of passage.
• To protect animals (especially cows), and the
  land.
• To create wealth and prosperity.
• To maintain workers with abundant food, clothes,
  etc.

13
Vaisyas (Vaishyas)

• Continued
• To trade ethically.
• To give taxes to the kshatriyas (ruling class).

14
Caste System

• Sudras (Shudras) artisans, workers, peasants
  (people with limited rights)

15
Sudras (Shudras)

• The shudras are the only section of society
  allowed to accept another's employment other
  varnas are occupationally and financially
  self-sufficient.
• To render service to others.
• To take pride in their work and to be loyal.
• To follow general moral principles, (e.g. not to
  steal).
• To marry (the only compulsory rite of passage).

16
Caste System

• Untouchables slave class, outsiders, perform
  only the most menial of tasks (5 of population)

17
The Family in Ancient India

• Ideal was an extended family (with three
  generations) all living under the same roof
• Patriarchal, the oldest male held legal authority
  over the entire family unit

18

• The superiority of males was evident in a number
  of ways
• Women could not serve as priest
• The male head of family was the only who carried
  on family rituals
• In high class families, young men began their
  education with a guru (teacher)
• Some then went on to higher studies in a major
  city
• They were not to marry until they had twelve
  years of study

19

• Superiority of males, continued...
• Only males could inherit property
• According to law, woman was always considered a
  minor
• Divorce not allowed, unless woman was abandoned
  by her husband
• Husbands could take on a second wife if the first
  was unable to bear children
• Child marriage, common for young girls, probably
  because daughters were seen as an economic drain
  on their parents.

20

• Superiority of males, continued
• Parents had to provide a dowry (gift of money or
  goods) to get a husband for their daughter.
• After marriage, the girl joins the family of her
  husband

21

• Superiority of males, continued
• Perhaps the most vivid symbol of womens
  subjugation to men was the ritual of sati
• This required a wife to throw herself on her dead
  husbands flaming funeral pyre

22
The Ritual of Sati
23
(No Transcript)
24
Religious Concepts of Hinduism

• Brahman
• Name for Hinduisms supreme god or spirit.
• Creates, maintains, destroys, and re-creates the
  universe in a never-ending cycle.
• Everything in the world, including each human
  soul (atman) is a part of Brahma.

25
The Concept of Brahman

• Just like a single drop of water in a great
  ocean, the atman is both separate from and one
  with Brahman (god).
• A Hindus spiritual goal is to unite his or her
  soul with Brahman.

26
Multiple Gods (Polytheism)

• Hindus worship many gods and goddesses
• They believe the gods and goddess represent the
  countless different qualities and powers of
  Brahma
• Some gods have humanlike personalities
• Others represent such things as success, good
  luck, and war
• Each Hindu person or family may be especially
  devoted to a particular god or goddess

27
Multiple Gods (Polytheism)

• Three of the most important are Vishnu, Shiva,
  and Brahma (not to be confused with Brahman)
• Brahma the creator
• Vishnu the preserver
• Shiva the Destroyer

28
Brahma

• Brahma
• Engraving of Brahma
• On a Hindu Temple

29
Brahma

• Brahma

30
Vishnu
31
Shiva
32
Hinduism

• Dharma
• Means to hold or support
• Relates to sacred duty or moral responsibility
• The system of rules and values Hindus follow in
  daily life the right thing to do in any
  situation
• Also believe in individual dharma which can be
  determined by personality, age, gender, and
  inherited social class.
• Believe that when people follow their dharma,
  they contribute to the harmony and balance of
  society and the universe

33
Dharma

• What types of jobs are
• shown? How is the figure
• in center different? Why
• do you think in shape of
• flower?

34
Hinduism

• Karma
• The sum of good and bad actions a human soul
  (atman) carries with it from life to life
• Believe that when people die the soul leaves the
  body and is reborn into another body.
• Thus your karma determines whether a soul is
  reborn as human or an animal, into a rich family
  or a poor one, and into what social class.

35
Karma effects Re-birth
36
Hinduism

• Samsara
• Continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
  (sometimes referred to as reincarnation)
• Goal is to be released from samsara and be united
  with Brahman, this is called moksha
• To achieve moksha, one must follow the path of
  dharma, balance their karma, worship the gods
  faithfully, and have a direct and personal
  experience of god by following certain practices

37
Samsara
38
Hinduism and Yoga
39
Hinduism and Yoga

• Developed the practice of yoga, a method of
  training designed to lead to union with Brahman.
• Because people are different, Hindus developed
  four types of yoga to meet different needs

40
Types of Yoga

• Path of Knowledge
• Path of Love
• Path of Work
• Path of Meditation
• In this path, the follow seeks to still the mind
  and achieve oneness with god.
• As one Hindu writing states, When all the senses
  are stilled, when the mind is at rest, that, say
  the wise, is the highest state.

41

• History of India (500-1500 C.E.)
• Hindu rulers had control in South India
• Muslim sultans (kings) ruled in Northern India
  (conquered when Hindu rulers in that area
  weakened)
• Conflict between Hindus Muslims (very different
  religious ideas)