Castes and Guilds Increasing economic diversification challenges simplistic caste system Jati formed: guilds that acted as subcastes Enforced social order  “Out-castes” forced into low-status employment 1 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Wealth and the Social Order Upward social mobility possible for vaishyas, shudras Wealth challenges varna for status 2 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Religions of Salvation in Classical India Social change generated resentment of caste privilege  e.g. brahmins free from taxation Sixth-fifth century B.C.E., new religions and philosophies challenge status quo Charvakas: atheists Jainists, Buddhists, Hindus 3 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Jainism Vardhamana Mahavira, B.C.E. Abandons privileged family to lead ascetic life Promotes seventh century movement based on Upanishads Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all beings 4 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ahimsa Principle of extreme nonviolence Jainists sweep earth, strain water, use slow movements to avoid killing insects Ahimsa continues to inspire modern movements (Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.) 5 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Appeal of Jainism Rejected caste, jati distinctions Obvious appeal to underprivileged groups But asceticism too extreme to become a mass movement 6 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Early Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama, ca B.C.E. Encountered age, sickness, death, then monastic life Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk 7 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Gautama’s Search for Enlightenment Intense meditation, extreme asceticism Forty-nine days of meditation under bo tree to finally achieve enlightenment Attained title of Buddha: “the enlightened one” 8 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Buddha and His Followers Begins teaching new doctrine ca. 528 B.C.E. Followers owned only robes, food bowls Life of wandering, begging, meditation Establishment of monastic communities 9 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Buddha and His Disciples 10 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Buddhist Doctrine: The Dharma The Four Noble Truths  All life is suffering  There is an end to suffering  Removing desire removes suffering  This may be done through the eight-fold path  Right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration 11 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Appeal of Buddhism Less dependence on brahmins for ritual activities No recognition of caste, jati status Philosophy of moderate consumption Public service through lay teaching Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit Monasteries become important institutions in Indian society 12 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A Buddhist Monastery 13 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism Personal conversion to Buddhism Saddened after violent war with Kalinga Banned animal sacrifices, mandated vegetarianism in court Material support for Buddhist institutions, missionary activities 14 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Changes in Buddhist Thought Third century B.C.E. to first century C.E.  Buddha considered divine  Institution of boddhisatvas (“saints”)  Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as pious activity 15 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Spread of Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer development  India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada), earlier version  Ceylon, Burma, Thailand 16 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nalanda Buddhist monastery Quasi-university: Buddhism, Hindu texts, philosophy, astronomy, medicine Peak at end of Gupta dynasty Helped spread Indian thought  e.g. mathematical number zero 17 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Emergence of Popular Hinduism Composition of epics from older oral traditions  Mahabharata  Ramayana Emphasis on god Vishnu and his incarnations 18 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Bhagavad Gita “Song of the lord” Centuries of revisions, final form ca. 400 C.E. Dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna during civil war 19 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Hindu Ethics Obedience to religious and moral laws (dharma) Pursuit of economic well-being and honesty (artha) Enjoyment of social, physical, and sexual pleasure (kama) Salvation of the soul (moksha) 20 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Popularity of Hinduism Gradually replaced Buddhism in India Gupta dynastic leaders extend considerable support 21 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.