The Dasas and the Aryans clashed and fought with one another. At first, the Aryans and the other civilization in India practiced their own religions. The Dasas were the other major civilization living in India at the time The Dasas and the Aryans clashed and fought with one another. Eventually, the Aryans and the Dasas intermingled Their seperate forms of religions fused into one.

New religious ideals were formed The Aryans’ + Dasas’ beliefs = Hinduism Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over a long period of time in India around 1700-1100 BC. *NO founder has been traced Vinayagar Hanuman

Hindus share a common worldview. Religion is a way of liberating the soul from illusions, disappointments, and mistakes of everyday existence. Sometime between 750 and 550 B.C., Hindu teachers tried to understand and explain the hidden meaning in the Vedic hymns Remember the Veda? The teachers’ interpretations were written down in a book called the Upanishads Adi Shankara

This achievement is known as moksha The Upanishads are written dialogues or discussions betweens students and teachers. The dialogues between the students and teachers explain how people can achieve freedom from desires and sufferings. This achievement is known as moksha A state of perfection

Brahman (the uniting soul) Atman (the human soul) Brahman (the uniting soul) When a person fully understands the relationship between atman and Brahman, this is when they achieve PERFECT understanding PERFECT understanding= Moksha God Kali

Three Paths to achieve Moksha: Path of right thinking Path of right action Path of religious devotion *A sadhu is person who has given up their life to achieve Moksha*

Moksha does not usually come every lifetime. Sometimes it takes multiple lifetimes before a spirit reaches the PERFECT understanding Hindus believe in Reincarnation Reincarnation is basically a Rebirth An individual soul or spirit is born again and again until moksha is achieved.

Reincarnation is affected by karma Karma is the soul’s good or bad deeds. It follows one’s soul from one reincarnation to another. It influences specific life circumstances, such as being born into castes.

Hinduism has changed greatly over the last 2,500 years. The word soul Brahman has the personalities of THREE GODS Brahma = The Creator Vishnu = The Protector Shiva = The Destroyer Devi (a mother Goddess) has become more important.

Devi Bhrama Vishnu Shiva

Hinduism and the caste system determined: Hindu ideas about karma and reincarnation has strengthened the caste system *Remember the social order system?* Whatever social class you were born into depended on your karma in a past life. If you lived a good life, you were born into the wealthier class Ex: Merchant or warrior If you lived a bad life, you were born into the bottom classes Ex: Untouchables Hinduism and the caste system determined: What a person ate Cleanliness And who you could associate and talk with

April 2008