1. Early Civilizations and Major Religions of South Asia

2. Early Civilizations Two major early civilizations in India:
Indus Valley
Aryan

3. The Indus Valley Civilization
A highly developed civilization
Carefully planned and organized cities
Well-organized governments
Taxes in the form of food to support cities
Most people were farmers

4. The Indus Valley Civilization
Arose around 3000 BC and lasted 1500 years
Mysteriously disappeared
Archaeologists are trying to unravel the mystery of this society
Decipher: determine the meaning of something
Possible reasons for civilization’s decline:
Climate changed
No longer able to produce food
Aryan migration

5. The Aryans Nomadic, war-like society settles in Indus Valley
Polytheistic
Begin farming, herding

6. The Aryans Vedas: oral religious traditions
Later written in Sanskrit
The basis for Hinduism
Varna: four social classes of Aryans
Priests
Warriors
Merchants
Servants/Peasants
Became the Indian caste system

7. Review Indus Valley Aryan Civilization Very organized Farming society
Mysteriously disappeared
Aryan Civilization
Nomad, war-like
Polytheistic, Vedas
Varna– social organization (7 elements of culture)

8. Major Religions of South Asia
Hinduism
Buddhism

9. Beliefs and Traditions
Hinduism
Beliefs and Traditions

10. Hinduism Chief religion of India No real founder known
It’s a way of life

11. Hinduism
Sacred texts
Vedas – scriptures/hymns that explain Hindu teachings
Upanishads
Help explain the ideas of the Vedas
Vedas

12. Hinduism
“The Vedas are the ancient scriptures or revelation (Shruti) of the Hindu teachings. They manifest the Divine Word in human speech. They reflect into human language the language of the Gods, the Divine powers that have created us and which rule over us.” The hymn sections are the oldest. The Upanishads were added at a later date and explain the hymns. “The Vedas were compiled around the time of Krishna (c B.C.), and even at that time were hardly understood. Hence they are very ancient and only in recent times has their spiritual import begun to be rediscovered or appreciated even in India.  Like the Egyptian teachings they are veiled, symbolic and subtle and require a special vision to understand and use properly.”
Hindunet.org

13. Hinduism– Beliefs Brahman: the single supreme force of the universe
Only a few people can fully understand it
Many gods are worshiped as part of the Brahman
Nameless, formless, unlimited
Names and faces given to certain aspects of the Brahman:
Shiva, destroyer
Brahma, creator
Vishnu, protector

14. Hinduism– Beliefs Sect: religious group
various religious groups for each god
Ganges River Goddess
Her sect prays to her and her healing powers.
Also, many pray to thousands of local gods and goddesses.

15. Hinduism– Beliefs Atman: the essential self Also, part of the Brahman
Nonviolence
Every living thing has an atman

16. Hinduism– Beliefs Moksha: freeing your atman/soul from your body
The ultimate goal of all Hindus
Your atman is reunited with the Brahman and you will have true peace.
Brahman
atman

17. Hinduism– Beliefs How does a Hindu achieve moksha?
Caste system: strict social classes
Handed down from the Aryan varna
A Hindu must reach the top of the caste system in order to achieve moksha
How do you get to the top?
Priests, “brahman”
Traders, merchants
Commoners, peasants
Untouchables

18. Hinduism– Beliefs How does a Hindu achieve moksha?
Karma: every deed in a person’s life affects a person’s fate in a future life
Reincarnation: rebirth of the soul
Karma determines where you are reincarnated in the caste system
Good Karma = higher in caste system
Bad Karma = lower in caste system

19. Hinduism– Beliefs How does a Hindu achieve moksha?
Dharma: duties and obligations of your caste
Doing your dharma will get you good karma

20. Hinduism– Beliefs
To achieve moksha, you must do your dharma to get good karma and be reincarnated into a higher caste.
Brahman
atman

21. Review Hinduism Vocabulary Chief religion of India Two sacred texts
Brahman
atman
sect
moksha
caste system
karma
reincarnation
dharma

22. Beliefs and Traditions
Buddhism
Beliefs and Traditions

23. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama, founder
He was a reformer who tried to limit the power of the brahman, or priest, caste in India

24. Buddhism
Siddhartha lived a life of luxury in northern India

25. Buddhism
His parents did not allow him out of the palace because they did not want him to see or experience the suffering of the world.

26. Buddhism One day, he snuck out of the palace.
Outside of the palace walls he saw people with no homes, no food. He saw sick people and suffering.

27. Buddhism
Realizing the reality of human suffering, Siddhartha left his life of wealth and set out to find the cause of human suffering.

28. Buddhism
By meditating under a tree and concentrating all of his efforts, he reached “enlightenment” and understood the cause and cure of human suffering.

29. Buddhism Siddhartha became known as “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”
The Buddha decided that he would leave his life of meditation to teach others the way to end suffering.

30. Buddhism The Four Noble Truths Suffering is universal
The cause of suffering is want/desire
The only way to end suffering is to end desire
Nirvana: condition of wanting nothing
The way to achieve nirvana is to follow the Eightfold Path
Compassion for all creatures, kindness, truthfulness, meditation

31. Buddhism Two main Buddhists sects have emerged
Theravada: monastic life to reach nirvana, Buddha is a great teacher
Mahayana: worship Buddha as a god, more popular

32. Buddhism– Beliefs Ultimate goal of Buddhism:
End suffering by achieving nirvana. Once you are in the condition of wanting nothing, you will be Enlightened, or understand the universe and cause of human suffering

33. Buddhism– Beliefs Similarities with Hinduism Differences with Hinduism
1. Belief in reincarnation
2. Belief in nonviolence
Differences with Hinduism
Buddhists deny the existence of gods
Priests are not necessary, you must seek nirvana on your own
Buddhists reject the caste system

34. Jainism A similar religion, often confused with Buddhism:
Jainism: also grew from an effort to end the power of the brahman caste in India and to end suffering
Ahisma: nonviolence for any living creatures
vegetarians

35. Review The Buddha Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism
Differences between Hinduism and Buddhism
Jainism