Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from The Vedas
The Vedas – A collection of hymns from early India, passed down for thousands of years until they are written down between 1500 and 500 BCE (Rigveda is the oldest)
Aryan Social Structure:
Gods
Bhramin – Priests, Academics
Kshatryia – Warriors, Kings
Vaishya – Merchants, Landowners
Sudra – Commoners, Peasants, Servants
Untouchables – Outcast (Out of Caste), Street sweepers, latrine cleaners
The caste system was ultimately based on your birth/parents. It was initially based on skin color and occupation.
Aryan Rules:
No marrying outside of your caste
No eating with someone from a lower caste
Breaking rules can make you an untouchable
Hinduism developed slowly over a long period of time
No single founder or founding date
Goal: Liberate the soul of worldly pains
This goal is known as Moksha
Hinduism is monotheistic, has one God with multiple “avatars”
Vedic hymns were written down to create the Upanishads
The Upanishads explore how one can liberate themselves from desire and suffering
Moksha is achieved through the perfect understanding between atman and Brahman
The soul is released from the cycle of life once Moksha is achieved
Atman – An individual’s soul
Brahman – The world soul, united all atman
Samsara – The cycle of death and rebirth
Dharma – The moral responsibility that you hold within your life/caste level
When you fulfill your Dharma, your soul will hold more Karma
Karma then dictates your rebirth
Caste – a social group in a traditional Indian society
Castes maintained social order and gave people a sense of identity.
Hindus worship a variety of deities who are gods and goddesses that are forms of Brahman
Brahma – The creator of the universe
Shiva – The destroyer, restarts the universe’s cycle through destruction
Vishnu – The preserver of the universe, preserves harmony in between the cycle of creation and destruction
The Avatars of Vishnu:
Rama – 7th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of chivalry and virtue
Krishna – 8th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of love, joy, and playfulness
Ganesh – remover of obstacles, god of intellect and wisdom
Kali – goddess of time, doomsday, death, mother of all children
Hanuman – leader of monkey armies in Ramayana, helped Rama recover his wife Site from the demon king Ravana
Jainism
Ancient Indian religion
Unique religion, not derived from another religion
Based on the practice of Ahimsa, which is a principle of non-violence
Ahimsa, honesty, self-discipline, and lack of attachment to material objects
Jains are generally vegetarian, fast often and consistently, and are very focused on the practice of meditation
Jains believe that everything has a soul and should not be harmed
Jains are one of the wealthiest groups in Modern India because they often chose to work in trade
This is in order to avoid harming any creature or being in their work
The swastika was a symbol used for positive meaning in Jainism before Hitler stole it and adopted it.
Sikhism
Based on the teaching of Guru Nanak
Progressed during the religious persecution of the Mughal Empire
Believe that no one holds Absolute Truth
Basic Beliefs:
Faith and meditation in the name of one single creator
Divine unity and equality in all of mankind
Selfless service, honesty, and justice for the benefit of everyone
Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism
Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism
Hinduism
Aryan Migration – 1750 BCE
Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from The Vedas
The Vedas – A collection of hymns from early India, passed down for thousands of years until they are written down between 1500 and 500 BCE (Rigveda is the oldest)
Aryan Social Structure:
Gods
Bhramin – Priests, Academics
Kshatryia – Warriors, Kings
Vaishya – Merchants, Landowners
Sudra – Commoners, Peasants, Servants
Untouchables – Outcast (Out of Caste), Street sweepers, latrine cleaners
The caste system was ultimately based on your birth/parents. It was initially based on skin color and occupation.
Aryan Rules:
No marrying outside of your caste
No eating with someone from a lower caste
Breaking rules can make you an untouchable
Hinduism developed slowly over a long period of time
No single founder or founding date
Goal: Liberate the soul of worldly pains
This goal is known as Moksha
Hinduism is monotheistic, has one God with multiple “avatars”
Vedic hymns were written down to create the Upanishads
The Upanishads explore how one can liberate themselves from desire and suffering
Moksha is achieved through the perfect understanding between atman and Brahman
The soul is released from the cycle of life once Moksha is achieved
Atman – An individual’s soul
Brahman – The world soul, united all atman
Samsara – The cycle of death and rebirth
Dharma – The moral responsibility that you hold within your life/caste level
When you fulfill your Dharma, your soul will hold more Karma
Karma then dictates your rebirth
Caste – a social group in a traditional Indian society
Castes maintained social order and gave people a sense of identity.
Hindus worship a variety of deities who are gods and goddesses that are forms of Brahman
Brahma – The creator of the universe
Shiva – The destroyer, restarts the universe’s cycle through destruction
Vishnu – The preserver of the universe, preserves harmony in between the cycle of creation and destruction
The Avatars of Vishnu:
Rama – 7th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of chivalry and virtue
Krishna – 8th incarnation of Vishnu, embodiment of love, joy, and playfulness
Ganesh – remover of obstacles, god of intellect and wisdom
Kali – goddess of time, doomsday, death, mother of all children
Hanuman – leader of monkey armies in Ramayana, helped Rama recover his wife Site from the demon king Ravana
Jainism
Ancient Indian religion
Unique religion, not derived from another religion
Based on the practice of Ahimsa, which is a principle of non-violence
Ahimsa, honesty, self-discipline, and lack of attachment to material objects
Jains are generally vegetarian, fast often and consistently, and are very focused on the practice of meditation
Jains believe that everything has a soul and should not be harmed
Jains are one of the wealthiest groups in Modern India because they often chose to work in trade
This is in order to avoid harming any creature or being in their work
The swastika was a symbol used for positive meaning in Jainism before Hitler stole it and adopted it.
Sikhism
Based on the teaching of Guru Nanak
Progressed during the religious persecution of the Mughal Empire
Believe that no one holds Absolute Truth
Basic Beliefs:
Faith and meditation in the name of one single creator
Divine unity and equality in all of mankind
Selfless service, honesty, and justice for the benefit of everyone