10 December 201410 December 2014Bellringer – Have your HW on your desk

Turn to bellringer section and # 1 - 5

HinduismPpt. Notes

HW – Read Section 5.2 (130 – 135)

Bellringer Use your HW for # 1 - 5

1. Along what river did the first civilization in India develop?2. What mountain range’s snow caused the river to flood?3. This civilization is considered to be India’s first.4. What are the vedas? 5. What is Sanskrit?6. What is karma?  Give an example.

The Indian Caste System & Hinduism

The Indian Caste System

The Indian caste system has been in use for many years. 

Still today the values of the caste system are held strongly. 

It has kept a sense of order, and peace among the people.

Brahma

According to an ancient text known as the Rigveda, the division of Indian society was based on Brahma's divine manifestation of four groups.

Priests and teachers were cast from his mouth, rulers and warriors from his arms, merchants and traders from his thighs, and workers and peasants from his feet.

The Indian Caste System

Aryan Society became divided over the years.

Usually this division was decided by occupation.

These divisions were called the Varnas

Caste System

The Caste System

Brahmins (BRAH-muhns)- The Brahmin were the priests, teachers, and judges who understood dharma. Dharma are the spiritual laws that govern the universe. The Brahmin often lived apart from the rest of society in temples

The Caste System

Kshatriyas (KSHA-tree-uhs)- The Kshatriya were the warrior caste who made everyday decisions and ran the government. The Kshatriya had most of the power in everyday life, but their decisions could be overruled by the Brahmin.

The Caste System

Vaisyas (VYSH-yuhs)- Farmers (landowners), craftspeople, and merchants skilled farmers and merchants. They occasionally had leadership positions in local villages

The Caste System

Sudras (SOO-drahs)- Workers and Servants

The Untouchables

In addition to the varnas, there is a fifth class in Hinduism. It encompassed outcasts who, literally, did all the dirty work. They were referred to as "untouchables" because they carried out the miserable tasks associated with disease and pollution, such as cleaning up after funerals, dealing with sewage, and working with animal skin.

Brahmins were considered the embodiment of purity, and untouchables the embodiment of pollution. Physical contact between the two groups was absolutely prohibited. Brahmins adhered so strongly to this rule that they felt obliged to bathe if even the shadow of an untouchable fell across them

The Caste System

Harijan (Untouchables)- Did all the jobs that no one else wanted to do.

These girls, who belong to the Untouchable caste, make dung patties which are used for fuel and heat by members of all the castes. This job was considered so unclean that other castes did not associate with the members of society that performed it.

Caste System

These groups were later divided into groups called castes.

Castes- Divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s wealth, birth, or occupation.

Caste Rules

Caste is a matter of birth

Each group has rules of conduct to be obeyed.

People were not allowed to marry outside of their caste

It was forbidden to eat with members of another caste

Hinduism

Hinduism is a code of life — a collection of attitudes, personal experiences, and spiritual practices. It is, in essence, defined by behaviors rather than beliefs

Hindu Beliefs:

There are 3 major Gods (Each part of Brahman – so…monotheistic – 1 Godso…monotheistic – 1 God)

Brahma – the Creator

Siva – the Destroyer

Vishnu – the Preserver

Basic Beliefs of Hinduism

Each god is part of a single universal spirit called Brahman

The Brahman preserves the world.

Everyone has a soul, atman.

The world that we live on

is an illusion.

We are all reborn many times in the process of reincarnation.

11 December 201411 December 2014Write this in your planner : India Quiz Thursday, Write this in your planner : India Quiz Thursday, 12/1912/19

• Bellringer – Answer the “Dear History Student” Questions!

HinduismFinish Hinduism NotesCaste Man!

HW – No Homework (if you read Section 5.2)

Bellringer – Dear History Student, 1. I am a Sudra farmer, but I have been practicing my skills, and think I would make the best warrior ever (Kshatriya)! What should I do? ~Wishful Warrior

2. I am a member of the Brahmins, but I think I am falling in love with a Vaisya! What should I do? ~ Love Torn

3. Can you please explain Karma to me? I have heard, “What goes around, comes around.” My teacher says it is also related to Hinduism? Please explain. ~ Confused Student

Karma

The effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul is called karma.

This will determine what a person will be reborn as.

If you have bad karma – you will be born into a lower caste in your next life.

If you have good karma – you will be born into a higher caste in your next life.

Moksha

If you have enough good karma you can reach a salvation called moksha.

Moksha – the freedom from life’s worries and the cycle of rebirth

Other Important Terms

Dharma- The duty to accept one’s place in the world without complaint. Hinduism is a way of life – not a religionSamsara – refers to the cycle or reincarnationThe Vedas - are the oldest religious texts in Hinduism.

The word Veda means knowledge. The Vedas are mainly comprised of of hymns or mantras written in the Sanskrit language. The books are so special that they are often kept in glass cases.

BrahminsKshatriyas Vaisyas SudrasHarijan

ThighsArms MouthFeet

“Purusa”- The Caste ManBrahmins- The mouth,

they speak the faithKshatriyas- The arms and

chest, they are the warriors

Vaisyas- The thighs, they are the farmers and craftspeople. (They support the upper levels)

Sudras- The feet, they do all the “running.”

Harijan (Untouchables)- They aren’t worthy to be on the body

The Sacrifice of PurusaSanskrit puruṣa, पु�रुष "man, cosmic man"

When they divided the Purusa [as the victim at the cosmic sacrifice], into how many parts did they separate him?...

The Brahman [“priest”] was his mouth,

his two arms became the Rajanya [“ruler”];

his two thighs are the Vaisya [one of “the people,” an artisan, merchant, or farmer],

from his two feet the Sudra [“serf” or “servant”] was produced.

The moon sprang from his thought organ [manas],

the sun was produced from his eye;

from his mouth Indra and Agni, from his breath Vayu [“the wind” was produced.

From his navel arose the atmosphere,

from his head the heaven evolved;

from his two feet the earth,

from his ear the directions.

Thus they fashioned the worlds. (Rg Veda X.90.11-14) [Thomas J. Hopkins, The Hindu Religious Tradition, 24]