The People and Culture of The People and Culture of IndiaIndia

Early Peoples of IndiaEarly Peoples of India• Dravidians- original people of Indus/ Dravidians- original people of Indus/

Ganges River valleys, forced to move Ganges River valleys, forced to move by Aryansby Aryans

• Aryans-nomadic, warlike, fair-Aryans-nomadic, warlike, fair-skinned, came from Central Asia and skinned, came from Central Asia and conquered India, many aspects of conquered India, many aspects of their culture can be found in their culture can be found in HinduismHinduism

HinduismHinduism

•More than a religion-way of lifeMore than a religion-way of life

•One of the world’s oldest One of the world’s oldest religionsreligions

•Basic belief-all things have a soulBasic belief-all things have a soul

•Predominate religion of India-900 Predominate religion of India-900 million followersmillion followers

•Organization- Organization- – No founderNo founder– No formal church-people worship at No formal church-people worship at

home or in a templehome or in a temple

•Polytheistic-Polytheistic--belief in many gods/goddesses -belief in many gods/goddesses

•Brahman- The Supreme Being; Brahman- The Supreme Being; creator and sustainer of the creator and sustainer of the universe; all-powerful spirituniverse; all-powerful spirit

•Hindu Triad-3 gods, each is Hindu Triad-3 gods, each is considered to be an aspect of considered to be an aspect of BrahmanBrahman-Brahma-creator of life-Brahma-creator of life

-Vishnu-preserver of life-Vishnu-preserver of life

-Shiva-destroyer of life-Shiva-destroyer of life

Vishnu

Brahma

Shiva

• A Person’s Soul ( ATMAN )A Person’s Soul ( ATMAN )

-leaves the body at death and moves -leaves the body at death and moves to a new life form, where a soul goes to a new life form, where a soul goes is based on its behavior during its lifeis based on its behavior during its life

• Reincarnation-Reincarnation-– the belief that the soul continues the belief that the soul continues

through a series of lives on a journey to through a series of lives on a journey to nirvana (ultimate resting place)nirvana (ultimate resting place)

What determines where a soul What determines where a soul goes?goes?• Karma-Karma-

-”to do”-”to do”

-sum of all of your good and bad -sum of all of your good and bad thoughts and actionsthoughts and actions

-good karma=better place next life-good karma=better place next life

-bad karma=soul moves down-bad karma=soul moves down

Where/When have Where/When have you heard about you heard about Karma before?Karma before?

What determines where a soul What determines where a soul goes?goes?• Dharma-Dharma-

-moral and social responsibilities in a -moral and social responsibilities in a person’s life that must be followedperson’s life that must be followed

-is determined by your caste-is determined by your caste

-do your dharma=get good karma-do your dharma=get good karma

A Soul’s Journey……..A Soul’s Journey……..

• Transmigration-Transmigration-

-when the soul leaves the body at -when the soul leaves the body at death and moves to a new life formdeath and moves to a new life form

• Nirvana/Moksha-Nirvana/Moksha-

-the ultimate resting place-the ultimate resting place

-end of the cycle of reincarnation-end of the cycle of reincarnation

Caste SystemCaste System

• Society was broken into castes based Society was broken into castes based on occupationon occupation

• Born unequal in ability and Born unequal in ability and opportunityopportunity

• Stay in the caste you were born into Stay in the caste you were born into for lifefor life

Caste SystemCaste System4 Main Varna4 Main Varna• Brahmin-priests/Brahmin-priests/

teachersteachers• Kshatriya- Kshatriya-

warrior/politicianswarrior/politicians• Vaishya- Vaishya-

merchants/businesmerchants/business mens men

• Sudra-laborers/Sudra-laborers/servantsservants

• Untouchables- Untouchables- street cleaners, street cleaners, lowest jobslowest jobs

• Origins of Caste- dates back to Aryan Origins of Caste- dates back to Aryan societysociety

• No intermarriage-must marry No intermarriage-must marry someone from your own castesomeone from your own caste

• Pollution- contact with members of a Pollution- contact with members of a lower caste can pollute your soullower caste can pollute your soul

• Vegetarianism- no meat, except Vegetarianism- no meat, except KshatriyaKshatriya

Hindu Sacred WritingsHindu Sacred Writings• Vedas & Rig Veda-( 800 BCE) oldest Vedas & Rig Veda-( 800 BCE) oldest

known religious documentknown religious document– Prayers, chants and truths Prayers, chants and truths

• Upaninshads-(600 BCE)- tells the Upaninshads-(600 BCE)- tells the origins of the universe & the origins of the universe & the meaning of the soulmeaning of the soul

• Law Book of Manu- (250 BCE) Law Book of Manu- (250 BCE) explains the origins of the caste explains the origins of the caste systemsystem

Epic MasterpiecesEpic Masterpieces• Mahabharata- long poem that tells the Mahabharata- long poem that tells the

story of a war between a royal family, story of a war between a royal family, shows the importance of following shows the importance of following dharmadharma

-Bhagavad-Gita-part of Mahab.-tells -Bhagavad-Gita-part of Mahab.-tells the story of Prince Arjuna-code of the story of Prince Arjuna-code of conductconduct

• Ramayana-story of Prince Rama, Ramayana-story of Prince Rama, illustrates the importance of illustrates the importance of appropriate behavior and karmaappropriate behavior and karma

Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita

RamayanaRamayana