Indo-Aryan Migrants

Indo-Aryan MigrantsIndus Valley

The Migration 1750 B.C.- Indo-

European tribes crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains came for rich pasture land

• Vedas- Indo-Aryan works of religious literature written in Sanskrit

• From 1500 B.C. to 1000 B.C. is known as the Vedic Age

• Brahmins- Priests of the Vedic faith

The Vedas• Rig-Veda consists of 1028

hymns dedicated to the Aryan gods

• Gods mentioned in the Vedas identified with natural elements (fire, rain, sun, etc.)

• New stories created in the Epic Age (1,000 to 600 B.C.)

• Mahabharata, which contains the Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana were created during the Epic Age

Indra, god of Thunder

Society• Settlements

formed small states led by rajas- military leaders, lawmakers, and judges

• Lighter skinned Aryans were at top of social order, darker natives at the bottom

• Warriors and later priests were at the top

Caste System• Caste system-

complex form of social organization

• Divided into four varnas or social classes

• Top-rulers and warriors

• Second-Brahmins and scholars (Brahmins eventually become first)

• Third-merchants, farmers

• Fourth-peasants

A Fifth Class• Pariahs or

“untouchables”• Could only do unclean

jobs like skinning animals and preparing the dead for burial

• Untouchables have designated wells, streets, homes and have NO contact with other castes

Society• Rules in the Vedas

governed and limited marriage among the social orders

• Usually arranged marriages

• Marriage by purchase or capture or marriage of love were permitted

Traditional Indian Wedding

Economy• Irrigation was used

for growing rice• Bartered until

around 500 B.C. when coins began to be used

• Poor transportation hindered long-term continuous trade

Southern India• Unification between

northern and southern India was difficult due to geography

• Society was divided into diverse social groups

• Most were farmers• Made contact with

Southeast Asia through trade

Hind

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Origins• 700 B.C.- religious

thinkers questioned Brahmin authority, traveled teaching their message

• Teachings collected into the Upanishads- explanations of Vedic religion

• Part of the teachings is called the Bhagavad Gita, most famous Hindu Scripture

Hindu Religion• Divine essence called

Brahman fills everything in the world

• People have individual essence- Self or Attman

• Brahman and Attman are one in the same

• All things in the universe share the same essence as God

• Monism- unity between God and creation

Salvation• The world we see is

an illusion called maya

• Those who believe the illusion is real, cannot be saved

• It may take many lifetimes to reject maya- reincarnation (soul is reborn over and over)

What Goes Around…• Dharma-doing one’s

moral duty so the soul can advance to next life; Hindus refer to their faith as dharma, the moral path

• Karma-the good or bad force created by a person’s action

• Nirvana-perfect peace; the soul unites with Brahman

Not this Nirvana

This Nirvana

Hindu Gods• Brahma-creator• Vishnu-preserver• Siva-destroyer• Original gods of

nature were changed to represent more abstract ideas, ex. Varuna

• Spirits of trees, animals, people, but all part of Brahman

• Polytheistic• Gurus- Hindu leaders

Vishnu Child

Other Hindu Work• Dancing Shiva:

page 58 in book• Kamasutra

written in the 4th century and referred to as “Laws of love”

• Intended to improve closeness and spirituality between husbands and wives

Practices• Yoga

• Festivals• Cows viewed as

sacred because the provided power for plows and milk and butter

Buddhism

Origins• Founder-Siddhartha

Gautama became known as the Buddha, “The Enlightened One”

• Born 563 B.C. in Northern India

• Left palace at 29 and was shocked at the harshness of everyday life

Great Renunciation• Left family and

home to attain truth

• After six years, while meditating under a tree, Siddhartha felt he understood the truth of life.

• Became the Buddha

Teachings• Kept reincarnation and

other Hindu beliefs (Dharma, karma and nirvana)

• Salvation-knowing the “Four Noble Truths” and following the “Eightfold Path”

• Ethics, selflessness• Desire causes suffering• No gods; priests live

morally and in poverty

Four Noble Truths• All human life

involves suffering• The desire for

pleasure and material gain causes suffering and sorrow

• Renouncing desire frees people from suffering and helps souls attain nirvana

• The Eightfold Path leads to denial of desire and attainment of nirvana

Eightfold Path• Right Views-seeing life as it really is

• Right intentions-living a life of good will; striving toward perfection

• Right speech-avoiding lies and gossip• Right action-trying to be law-abiding and honest• Right living-avoiding work that harms others• Right effort-seeking to prevent evil• Right mindfulness-constant awareness of one’s

self• Right concentration-directing the mind in

meditation

Spread of Buddhism

• Few followers during his lifetime but spread through missionary efforts

• Two branches: • Theravada-maintains traditional Buddhist

teachings, believe that Buddha was a great teacher (Burma, now Myanmar; Siam, now Thailand; Ceylon, now Sri Lanka)

• Mahayana-more elaborate ceremonies and believe that Buddha was a god and savior (China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan)