Exit Slip socrative.com (room = 205lions) OR just use a half slip of paper Question: How are the religion of Hinduism and the culture of India connected? Use evidence from your #3 notes.

EQ – “How are religion and culture connected?”

Basics of Hinduism religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal (80%) over 900 million people practice Hinduism oldest living religion closely linked to other Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism no single founder, no single holy book, and no commonly agreed set of teachings

A central part of Indian culture!

Aryan Migration  warriors  horse-drawn chariots

The Vedas  one Hindu holy book  written from 1500 BCE-600 BCE in Sanskrit  included in the Vedas:  hymns and poems  religious prayers  magical spells  lists of the gods and goddesses Hindu Holy Books

Primary Source  Watch the Hindu creation myth: /myths/english/2_hindu_full.htm /myths/english/2_hindu_full.htm  What similarities and differences do you see between the Hindu story and the stories of the Middle East (Mesopotamia and Egypt)?

Sanskrit Writing ancient language in Hindu holy books read by Brahmin (priests) -“language of the gods” no longer spoken today, but many Indian languages are based on Sanskrit English and Sanskrit are even related!

Most Hindus believe in a supreme spiritual force, Brahman, the “universal soul”. Brahman is one, but has many incarnations. – Many Hindus believe that all the different gods are different aspects (forms) of the supreme Brahman. – “God is one – but wise men know it by many names.” Polytheism or Monotheism? Beliefs about God

Primary Source  Read the excerpt from “Isha”, chapter two of The Upanishads.  How would you describe the “self”?  If you were to draw a picture to symbolize the “self”, what would it look like?

Brahma “creator” Vishnu “preserver” Shiva “destroyer” symbols

Other Hindu Gods

12/5/14 Friday Happy B-day, Lindsey! Question: What is reincarnation? Answer: cycle of birth, death, and rebirth found in Hinduism and Buddhism

Beliefs about Life Hindus believe in reincarnation: a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by karma. Karma: Hindus believe that the soul is reborn into other social classes based on your behavior in your previous life, “consequences”. – You can be reborn in human, god, or animal form. Moksha: your GOAL = freedom from the cycle Guru: spiritual leader, helps you achieve moksha

Hindu Beliefs Read “Hindu Beliefs” and answer the accompanying questions at the end of the packet.

What goes around, comes around! “My karma ran over my dogma…”

Hindu Festivals Ganges River: Holi: Diwali:

Hindu Festivals

Caste System

Sudras “laborers, crafts workers, servants” Vaisyas “farmers and merchants” Kshatriyas “rulers and warriors” Dulits/Pariahs  Untouchables “impure” jobs Brahmins “Priests and Scholars” caste = fixed social class you are born into jati – occupation varnas - religion *outlawed in India today* KARMA

The Caste System  The mouth?  The arms?  The legs?  The feet? WHO IS… Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaisyas Sudras

Hindu Symbols Choose one of the “Hindu Symbols” to draw and describe its significance.

The Vedic Age The foundations for Hinduism were established – and a huge piece of Indian culture!