Belief Systems of CLASSICAL INDIA

HINDUISM Comes from the blending of Aryan and Dravidian (IRV) beliefs Vedas (hymns), Rig Veda, Upanishads (written down) Brahman=universal soul Samsara=reincarnation Karma=sum of good and bad in this life will determine next life Moksha=salvation of the soul

Caste system, created by Purusha

POPULAR HINDUISM The epics The Bhagavad Gita Mahabharata A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Ramayana Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story The Bhagavad Gita A short poetic work within the Mahabharata A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation

EARLY BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.) Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Witnessed miseries of the human condition Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for enlightenment Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha The Buddha and his followers "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”) Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to others

EARLY BUDDHISM Buddhist doctrine: The dharma The Four Noble Truths All life involves suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”) Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior, right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation Religious goal: Nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence

APPEAL OF BUDDHISM Appealed strongly to members of lower castes and women Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Holy sites and pilgrimages The monastic organizations Emperor Ashoka's support Spread the Buddhist message, won converts Could be endowed by others to support the religion Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsa Granted lands to monasteries Sent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon

VARIANTS OF BUDDHISM The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? Mahayana - "the greater vehicle" Spread to Central, East Asia Blended in India with Hinduism, which co-opted Buddha as a god Co-opted Chinese traditions and Daoist gods in China Hinayana or Theravada Continued to view Buddha as human Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia Buddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism

JAINISM Vardhamana Mahavira Jainist doctrine and ethics Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of incarnation Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine His disciples began to lead a monastic life Mahavira became Jina, the "conqueror," and followers, Jains Jainist doctrine and ethics Inspired by the Upanishads Everything in the universe possessed a soul Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss The principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmins Appeal of Jainism Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati Became attractive to members of lower castes The ascetic tradition continues to today