CHAPTER 5: ANCIENT INDIAOrigins of Hindu India

SOCIAL CLASSES• 4 Varnas (Social classes)• 1. Brahmas: Priestly Class in charge of religious

ceremonies• 2. Kshatriyas: Warrior Class• 3. Vaisyas: Merchants and Farmers• 4. Sudras: Peasants and Servants (Limited Rights)

• Social Classes based off of the Caste System

THE CASTE SYSTEM• Every Indian was born into a specific caste or social class

• Family lineage had nothing to do with what caste you were in

• Caste determined who you married, who you hung out with, and what job you had.

• Untouchables: Lowest of the low in society

• Religious standards set with each level which made it difficult to escape a caste level

HINDUISM• First established in 1500BC by Aryans

• Started as a collection of hymns and religious ceremonies

• Brahman• Single force in the Universe• Considered to be the ultimate reality• People wanted to seek to know the ultimate reality

HINDUISM

• Yoga: method of training to get a union with Brahman

• 4 paths of yoga• 1. Path of Knowledge• 2. Path of Love• 3. Path of Work• 4. Path of Meditation• The Goal is a relationship with Brahman• Can be difficult to relate to

CHIEF GODS AND GODDESSES

1. Brahma: The Creator

2. Vishnu: The Preserver

3. Shiva: The Destroyer

PRINCIPLES• Reincarnation• Belief that an individual’s soul is reborn in a

different form after death• A person’s soul has a number of existences• Eventually, a soul will be released to reach a union

with Brahman• Karma is important aspect to reincarnation

KARMA

• Force of a person’s actions in this life determines how a person will be reborn in the next life

• The higher the class you move in to, the closer you are to being released to a union with Brahman

• How you act now, will determine your future

• Has a connection to the concept of dharma

DHARMA

• Divine Law

• Rules the idea of karma

• People must do the duties assigned to them

• The higher the class, the greater the expectations are for you

CHAPTER 5: ANCIENT INDIABuddhism

WHO IS SIDDARTHA GAUTAMA?• 563-483 BC

• Founder of Buddhism

• Was born into a ruling family in India

• Although surrounded by wealth, eventually became aware of the pain and suffering around him

• Led to his search for the meaning of life

PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT• Path began with Asceticism• Revealing the ultimate reality through self denial• Abusing your body by starvation• Almost led to his death

• Found enlightenment while sitting under a tree• Be responsible for your own life• Go find what you are looking for

PRINCIPLES OF BUDDHISM• Nirvana• The ultimate reality• There is no need for material goods• Wisdom (Budhi) is required• The goal is to reunite with the Great World Soul

• “To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.”

PRINCIPLES OF BUDDHISM• The 4 Noble Truths• 1. Ordinary life is full of suffering• 2. Suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves• 3. Way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals

and to see others as extensions of ourselves• 4. Way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path

• “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”

WHAT IS THE MIDDLE PATH?• Also known as the Eightfold Path• 1. Right view: Know the 4 Noble Truths• 2. Right intention: Know what we want• 3. Right speech: Seek to speak only the truth• 4. Right actions: Don’t kill, lie, steal, be unchaste, or consume

drugs/alcohol• 5. Right livelihood: Uplift our beings• 6. Right effort• 7. Right mindfulness: Keep control of your thoughts• 8. Right concentration: Meditate

LEGACY OF BUDDHA AND HOW IT FIT IN SOCIETY

• Did not want to be worshipped

• Women• Not seen as equals• Monks needed to be free of desire from women

• Anyone can reach nirvana

• Reincarnation exists

• Caste system does not exist

IMAGES OF BUDDHA

CHAPTER 5: ANCIENT INDIAThe Mauryans

THE MAURYAN EMPIRECandragupta Maurya (ruled 324-301BC)

Capital established in Ganges Valley

Appointed governors to rule provinces in empire

Constantly feared assassination

Never stayed in same bed twice

Always had food tested

Had secret police

THE MAURYAN EMPIRE• Asoka: Grandson of Candragupta Maurya• Greatest of all Indian rulers• Converted to Buddhism• Caused him to set up hospitals for sick• Shelters for travelers• Expanded Indian commerce• Went from Pacific Rim to Southwest Asia and Mediterranean Sea

• Death in 232 BC led to decline of Mauryan Empire

THE KUSHAN EMPIRE• Ganges Valley to Afghanistan (Bactria)

• Location made them a prosperous trading center

• Silk Road: Ran between Roman Empire and China• Silk was China’s best product

• Combination of Empires• Used Greek alphabet• Practiced Buddhism and Hinduism• Used sun and moon for calendar

EMPIRE OF THE GUPTAS• Established 320 AD by Candra Gupta• Created alliances with other wealthy families to solidify power• Son, Samudra Gupta, expanded the empire

• Candra Gupta II (380-415 AD)• Created the golden age of the Guptas• Engaged in trade with China• Salt, iron, and clothing

• Owned silver and gold mines

• Eventually around 500 AD, the Huns overtook the Guptas

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF INDIA• Literature• Vedas: Earliest known Indian writing• Included chants and religious songs

• Mahabharata• 90,000 2 line stanzas (Longest poem of any type)• War between cousins for control of kingdom• Includes sermon from Krishna • Moral of poem: Don’t worry about victory or defeat in battle, only if morally

worth it• Ramayana• Fictional ruler banished from kingdom due to plot• Fights to get back his wife

• Kalidasa: The Cloud Messenger: Exiled male spirit grieves for wife

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF INDIA• Architecture• 3 main types of structure• 1. Pillars• Stone pillars were designed to mark events of Buddha’s life• Polished sandstone pillars designed with Buddha’s messages

• 2. The Stupa• Meant to house a relic of Buddha • Built like burial mounds• Became place of devotion

• 3. Rock Chambers• Designed to house monks• Serve as halls for religious ceremonies

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF INDIA• Science• Charted the movements of the stars• Figured out the Earth was a sphere and revolved around sun

• Mathematics• Aryabhata• First scientist to use algebra• Came up with concepts of zero and the symbol (0)