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Ancient Ancient IndiaIndia
History and philosophy of
Yoga
II. The Indus River Valley . The Indus River Valley CivilizationCivilizationOver 5,000 years old!2,500 BC developed on the banks of
the Indus River ValleyReferred to as Harappan civilization
– After one of its major cities– Lasted until approx. 1,700 BC– Near present-day Pakistan
Borders stretch from present-day Kabul, Afghanistan to Delhi, IndiaAlexander the Great named Indus people
Indian based on Indus River
I. The Indus River Valley I. The Indus River Valley CivilizationCivilization
– Mohenjo-Daro • 2500 to 1500 B.C.E. stretched for 900 miles • home to about 100,000 people • Enormous cities for ancient standards • Craft workers used clay for beautiful figurines
and communication• Streets in a grid design• Wall around the city• Houses had brick/stone foundations
– Several rooms, toilets, wells, drainage system with brick lined sewers in the streets
• Ditches and canals for irrigation• Public bathhouse• Buildings for storing grain and holding meetings
II. The Aryan Influence II. The Aryan Influence on South Asiaon South Asia 1,700 BC—Aryans came to South Asia
– were a nomadic tribe from north of the Caucasus Mountains
– Migrated through Russia and passes in the Hindu Kush mountains
– Used horses and advance weapons to easily defeat the populations of the Indus Valley
– They gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled in the Indus Valley
Suggests that Aryans played a role in the end of the Harappan civilization
Possible theories of Collapse:– Climate change?– Conquered?– Destroyed?
Aryan people and Indus River valley civilization eventually blended into one culture
This culture was concentrated in both the Indus River valley and the Ganges River valley
II. The Aryan Influence II. The Aryan Influence on South Asiaon South AsiaA New People, a New Civilization
– Aryans were very different from the Indus River valley people• Spoke the language of Sanskrit• Nomads and herders (never lived in
cities)• Food and clothes came from animals
they raised• Wealth was measured in number of
cattle a person owned
II. The Aryan Influence II. The Aryan Influence on South Asiaon South AsiaNew Technology
– After 1,000 BC Aryans discovered iron ore in the Ganges River valley• Improved agriculture• Began to settle in towns
Developed new iron weapons– Stronger than the Harappan people’s
weapons– introduction of horses allowed
Aryans to rule the whole area of northern India.
Sanskrit Means Polished 50 letters
III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife
Major Religions in Ancient India– Aryan conquest of the
Indus Valley established their religious beliefs on the Indian subcontinent , in particular their belief in reincarnation
– They recorded their beliefs and traditions in the Vedas and Upanishads
– Later formed the basis for Hinduism
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva – TheTrimurti of Hindu Gods
III. Hinduism—A Way III. Hinduism—A Way of Lifeof Life Om (Sound of the Universe)
The most ancient of sounds - Described in the Vedas
(pranava)- Used at the opening and
closing of chants- Similar to Hum, Amin,
Amen, Shalom Four states of
Consciousness1. Waking – “I am holding
the bottle” duelistic2. Sleeping (REM)3. Dreaming – bridge
between Conscious and subconscuious
4. Unnamed – Can’t create Object from it
III. Hinduism—A Way III. Hinduism—A Way of Life of Life Dharma
– From the sankrit “dhr” • To hold, to bear, to
carry– So dharma is that
which “holds together” to support the universe
– On a personal level it is – Duty, custom, virtue,
social function– “it is better to carry
out your own dharma poorly than another’s well”
– To the Buddha – “dharma” is the truth, way or teachings
III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife
Karma and Reincarnation
– Central ideas of Hinduism
– Karma: the idea that a person’s actions will determine what happens to them after their death
• (think “What goes around comes around,” or “You get what you deserve.”)
III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife Karma and
Reincarnation, cont.– Reincarnation: idea
that after death a person’s soul is reborn into a different body
– Believe cycle of birth, death and rebirth occurs over and over again
– Status in life is then determined by actions in a previous life
III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife
The Caste System– Main characteristic of
India that sets it apart from other civilizations!
– Caste: Inherited social class
• Once born into a class, cannot leave for entire life…no matter what!
• Influenced by the Aryan tribal system
• Tribal system based on organizational belief that people are NOT equal
III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife The Caste System, cont.
– Four Major Classes (Varnas)1. Brahmans—highest class; priests and
scholars, (because daily life was based on religion and rituals)
2. Kshatriyas—ruling class; warriors, princes and nobles
3. Vaisyas—merchants and farmers4. Sudras—laborer or commoners___________________________________ 5. Untouchables - considered lowest of the
low (still holds true today)
III. Hinduism—A Way of III. Hinduism—A Way of LifeLife
The UntouchablesThe Untouchables: Did work no one else wanted
to do– Ex: cleaned up after
cremating the dead, executed criminals, tanned animal hides, did jobs seen as unclean
– Shunned/discriminated against in society
– Ex: eat out of out broken bowls, wear clothes taken from the dead, sound wooden clappers to warn they were coming
– Higher classes could be shunned for either being seen with an untouchable or being near his or her shadow
The Buddha Born 563 BCE – 483BCE Born to be a great
leader or teacher… fathers decision
Raised a spoiled prince As a prince he saw:
– Sickness– Age – Death – A holy man
Leaves his wife and newborn son to seek the cure for suffering
The Buddha Studies with great yogis and
masters their samadhis… not the answer!
Goes off with 5 friends to seek own answer
Ascetic life almost kills him– Chooses the “middle way”– Discovers the 4 noble
truths1. Happiness – the cure is
the 8 fold path2. The causes of Happiness –
the cause has a cure3. Suffering – suffering
exists4. The causes of suffering –
suffering has a cause
Ascetic -practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.
Buddhism The Buddha taught
that all phenomenon, everything that exists, has 3 characteristics– Anicca =
impermanence (that which arises, one day dies)
– Dukha = unsatisfactoriness or unreliable
– Annatta = nothing has an independent existence
The Eight Fold Path Panna = Wisdom
• Right view (understanding)
• Right intention ( mindedness)
“stab a woman and she dies”
Sila = Ethics• Right speech• Right action• Right livelihood (non-
toxic) Samadhi or Meditation
• Right effort• Right mindfulness• Right Concentration
The Five Kleshas (Obstacles) Desire: clinging and craving
– Desire is a big cause of suffering Aversion (procrastination/lack of
communication) – Fear is the other big cause of suffering
Sleepiness: sloth– Laziness or weakness can stop us from the
work Restlessness
– When we distracted, progress ceases Doubt
– Faith (shraddha) is required
Nirvana “Enlightenment”
Our current existence is mired in samsara– The cycle of rebirth– The delusion of
uniqueness and self-ishness
Nirvana is escape from Samsara– We are reborn no
more– We see the true
nature (dhamma) of existence
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta DynastiesThe Mauryan Empire
• Around 321 B.C.E. the largest empire arose in India
• Spanning from the Indus River Valley eastward through the Ganges River Valley and Southward through the Deccan Plateau
• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya but it would be his grandson Ashoka Maurya who would take the empire to new heights
– Became very powerful and wealthy due to trade and the military
– traded cotton, silk, and elephants to Mesopotamia and Roman Empire
– Military used elephants in fighting
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties
The Mauryan Empire– Ashoka was successful
only after a savage war, whose consequences changed his views on war and led him to pledge never to wage a war.
– Stricken with remorse for a very violent and bloody victory his forced claimed in Kalinga in southeast India, Ashoka converted to Buddhism.
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties
The Mauryan Empire– The Rock and Pillar Edicts
reminded Mauryans to live generous and peaceful lives.
– Following Ashoka’s conversion and commitment to Buddhism, the religion spread to Southeast Asia.
– After Ashoka’s death 232 B.C.E. the empire began to decline rapidly mainly because of economic problems and attacks from the northeast.
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties
The Golden Age and the Gupta Dynasty– Approx. 320-500 AD– During India’s
“Golden Age” of science, art and literature
– Most rulers were Hindu
– Hindu and Buddhism were major religions at this time
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties
Hindu and Buddhism inspired art– Created sculptures and
paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses
– Many temples built containing images of Hindu mythology
– Mountainside cliffs were hollowed out for Buddhist temples
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties
Literature– Sanskrit became
more frequent during the Gupta dynasty
– Kalidasa—• Great poet and
playwright during 5th century AD (400’s)
• Plays taught moral principles through creativity and mystery
IV. The Maurya and IV. The Maurya and Gupta DynastiesGupta Dynasties Mathematics
– Gupta mathematicians
• Developed “zero concept” and numerals we use today
– numbers have a place system, with zero as a place holder
• Called this system Arabic