1. By Dr. Nancy K. Kerns Ancient India and The Bhagavad-Gita

2. Ancient India History and Heroic Age

3. Beginnings of Indian Civilization c. 3000 BC – 1500 BC Earliest known Indian civilization develops in Indus River Valley Writings exist but currently remain un-deciphered

4. Beginnings of Classical Indian Literature 1500 BC – 500 BC Aryan tribes settle region now known as India Introduce Sanskrit language, from which all later Indian dialects evolve Sanskrit dialect Tamil becomes the language of classical Indian literature starting with Rig Veda (1200 - 1000 BC)

5. Heroic Age (700 BC – 400 AD) Rise of Hinduism Rise of the caste system Brahmin (priests) Kshatriya (rulers, land owners, warriors) Vaishya (merchants) Sudra (artisans, farmers) Harijans (“untouchables”) Rise of the heroic epic

6. Hinduism’s Ideas of Divinity Hindu Trinity Brahma: Creator Vishnu: Sustainer Shiva: Destroyer Many other deities exist, but are all manifestations of the Trinity

7. Basic Religious Tenets of Hinduism “Dharma” guides all conduct; defines conscience and law “Karma” are the deeds one does during life Reincarnation / rebirth Soul created pure and immortal Soul reincarnated based on karma of previous life Ultimately liberated from rebirth when one is in karmic balance; goes to another plane of existence

8. The Bhagavad-Gita The Indian Epic and Hindu Scripture

9. The Indian Epics Long narrative poems which deal with legendary history (here, Aryan tribes and Indian royal houses) Mahabharata: Story of civil war between three royal houses; contains Bhagavad-Gita Ramayana: Story of Prince Rama’s exile and adventures

10. Nature of the Bhagavad-Gita Inserted into the narrative of The Mahabharata epic Translated “Song of the Lord”: Functions as guide to Hindus on how to achieve karmic balance Treated as a Hindu Scripture Krishna is an incarnation of the god Vishnu the Sustainer Arjuna stands as a representative of humanity

11. Narrative Context of Bhagavad-Gita Narrator is the bard who is telling the Mahabharata epic Arjuna is a warrior hero of ancient India’s civil war who is despairing at fighting his own people on the eve of a historic battle Krishna is disguised as his charioteer and is encouraging him; his divine teachings to Arjuna make up the Bhagavad- Gita and are meant to be directed towards all Hindus

12. Main Themes / Questions What is dharma? How does one know one’s dharma? How does one reconcile contradictory duties? How does one obtain karmic perfection in a world full of wickedness? How important is self-control? How much free will does a person have? What is the individual’s place in the cosmos?

13. Sources (Informally Cited) Texts “Hindu Deities.” www.hindunet.orgwww.hindunet.org “Indian Caste System.” www.csuchico.eduwww.csuchico.edu The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Images (in order of appearance) Indus Civilization Map. www.rivervalleycivilizations.comwww.rivervalleycivilizations.com Indus Elephant Script. www.bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk Rig Vida Writing. www.swayamonline.comwww.swayamonline.com The Caste System. www.beyondbooks.comwww.beyondbooks.com Hindu Trinity. www.shankarwolf.wordpress.comwww.shankarwolf.wordpress.com Samsara: Reincarnation Cycle. www.jdemirdjian.comwww.jdemirdjian.com Page from Mahabharata. www.time.comwww.time.com Vishnu. www.vishnu-sahasranamam.blogspot.comwww.vishnu-sahasranamam.blogspot.com Krishna the Charioteer. www.indolink.comwww.indolink.com