@ 1750 BCE Deforestation loss of topsoil Agriculture soil
exhaustion Tectonic activity earthquakes, shifting river courses,
Sarswati River
Slide 3
@ 1500 BCE Nomadic, warlike, bronze, Sanskrit Brahminism
polytheistic, gods of nature Warring kingdoms established
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Oral traditions written down Vedas Focus on internal being
atman (soul) Liberation from desire/suffering Justification of
social order
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Blending of Aryan and local traditions no founder Upanishads
sitting near, dialogues to explain faith Brahma
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Origin of atman (soul)--strives to join once again with Brahman
Moskshastate of perfect understanding Universal Spirit different
forms for different roles, different comfort Choice of worship
Slide 7
Brahma - creator Vishnu - order Shiva - destroyer,
transformation
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Shakti - female aspect of divine Ganesh - remover of obstacles
Avatar - human incarnation of divine come to assist humans on path
to Moksha
Slide 9
Moksha: Freeing of the soul from earthly pain and
suffering->Eternal Bliss/Nirvana (peace of mind). Union with the
Supreme Being Brahman Reincarnation: Living multiple lives,
improving each time until you reach the peak (also had a higher
position in society) Karma: The actions of your current life
determine how you will be reincarnatedbetter than before and closer
to Moksha or worse and farther away Part of good Karma is following
your Dharma: the proper path for your current life done by
humility, personal sacrifices, living a pure life in all
aspects
Slide 10
I believe in Reincarnation which explains about the human
hopehope to do better; and which makes a person responsible. If
there is no reincarnation, if I have money and wealth I could do
anythingI dont have to obey, to be compassionate, to care for
people. So reincarnation makes it clear, the way I am supposed to
live.
Slide 11
This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would
cause you pain if done to you. Just as he acts, just as he behaves,
so he becomes.
Slide 12
Live a Pure life The higher your (position in society) the more
pure you should be 2 types of Purity Moral Purity Ritual
Purity
Slide 13
Practice Truthfulness Dont steal, covet, or enter into debt Be
sexually pure Exercise patience Show steadfastnesspersevere, plan,
dont complain, have a purpose Practice Compassion Act honorably at
all timesdont cheat, follow the laws, dont take shortcuts Moderate
dietdont over indulge, drink in moderation
Slide 14
Rituals: actions done on a regular basis Why? Demonstrates Pure
Spirit, Shows commitment Earn forgiveness for Karmic Debts
Examples: Worship Offerings Meditation Yoga Pilgrimages to Holy
Places Avoid contact with less pure people
Slide 15
Ganges River = a divine goddess, made to cleanse the earth from
impurity Bathing in the Ganges can give peace of mind and cleanse
karmic sins. Better karma better reincarnation Therefore: The
Ganges: key pilgrimage spot for ritual bathing
Slide 16
Banks of the Ganges Oldest Aryan Settlement Place to cleanse
spirit in river Death in Varanasipossible to break cycle of rebirth
After deathhuman remains put into the Ganges can still lead to
karmic cleansing
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Aryan supremacy over local population Varnas color Myth of
Purusha Brahmin(priest) Kshatriya(warrior) Vaishya(merchant)
Shudra(laborers)
Slide 23
4 main castes become 1000s (by profession) Controls marriage,
occupation, social company, How do you know what caste someone is
in? Occupation, family name, family location, manner of dress,
manner of speech,
Slide 24
Live outside the Caste Systemtoo dirty/impure Jobs related to
death or dirt (leather workers, street sweepers) If you are higher
caste and have contact with untouchables you can become unclean too
Extremesno eating, drinking, touching, even shadows of the
untouchables were unclean Untouchables couldnt enter into the city
gates, couldnt drink from the same wells
Slide 25
Who benefitted the most from the caste structure? Who
benefitted the least? Why would something like the caste system
survive for so long?
Slide 26
Mentioned in the sacred texts (Vedas) Karma and reincarnation
Part of good Dharma is observing duties without question Laws set
up severe punishments for breaking Caste rules: Fines, outcast,
lose family and social support, death Human nature to stay with
whats familiar
Slide 27
Was the caste system a good or bad thing for society?
Slide 28
Castes were very unitedtight knit social groups People became
experts at their jobs Everyone knew their place in societyit was
structured and organized All Castes were seen as important in
creating the whole society
Slide 29
Castes fought and distrusted eachother society was divided
Smart and talented people were held back limited progress for
everyone Upper Castes could abuse their power and position in the
name of religion with little complaint or resistance Human rights
abuses--Untouchables
Slide 30
Roughly 16% of Indias Population170 million people Untouchable
is not used anymorenow called Dalits Also found in other Countries:
Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UK
Slide 31
Technically illegal Indian Constitutionbans negative public
discrimination on the basis of caste (employment, education, etc)
Government has set up quotas in schools and government to help
traditional lower castes In realitystill exists. Many educated,
upper class, urban Indians dont follow it but more popular in rural
settings. State of mind
Slide 32
Intercaste marriages often not approvedin traditional families
or areas Caste based organizations still exist Political
Partiesoften organized around Caste membership Some workplace or
school conflicts (some violent) Lower castes still have lower
quality of life