Download Chapter 5 Section 2

Chapter 5
Section 2
Origins of
Hinduism
The Big Idea
Hinduism, the largest religion in India today,
developed out of ancient Indian beliefs and practices.
Main Ideas
• Indian society divided into distinct groups under the
Aryans.
• The Aryans practiced a religion known as
Brahmanism.
• Hinduism developed out of Brahmanism and
influences from other cultures.
• The Jains reacted to Hinduism by breaking away to
form their own religion.
Indian Society Divides
• As Aryan society became more complex
they began to divide into groups based on
occupations.
• Strict rules were developed based on how these
groups would interact and became central to
Indian society.
The Varnas
• According to
the Vedas,
there were
four main
social
divisions, or
varnas in
Aryan society.
Varnas
Social
divisions
in Aryan
society
Indian
Society
Divides
Brahmins
Priests
Kshatriyas
Rulers and warriors
Vaisyas
Farmers, craftspeople, and traders
Sudras
Laborers and non-Aryans
The Brahmins
• The Brahmins were seen as the highest
ranking because they performed rituals
for the gods.
• This gave the Brahmins great influence over other
varnas.
The Caste System
• As rules of interaction
between varnas got
stricter, the Aryan social
order became more
complex.
• This caste system divided
the society based on birth,
wealth, or occupation.
• 3,000 castes once existed
in India.
The Caste System
• The caste a person belonged determined his or
her place in society.
• On rare occasions, people could change caste.
• Both men and women belong to the same caste.
• Women had most of the same rights as men, but
were limited later on.
The Caste System
• To keep classes distinct, the Aryans developed sutras,
or guides, which listed all the rules for the caste.
• People were not allowed to marry anyone from a different
class.
• People were not allowed to eat with another class.
• Those who broke the sutras, were banished from their
caste and placed with the Sudras, or untouchables.
Brahmanism
• Aryan religion is based
on the Vedas.
• There are four Vedas,
the oldest is called
Rigveda.
• It includes hymns of
praise to many gods.
Later Vedic Texts
• Aryan Brahmins wrote down their
thoughts about the Vedas, they were
compiled into collections called Vedic
texts.
• Collection of these texts describe religious rituals,
such as how sacrifices should be made.
Later Vedic Texts
• A second collection of Vedic texts contain secret
rituals that only certain people could perform.
• The final group is called Upanishads, which are
reflections on the Vedas by religious students and
teachers.
Hinduism Develops
• The Vedas, Upanishads, and other Vedic
texts began blending with beliefs from
different cultures, such as the people from
Persia and other kingdoms of Central Asia,
creating Hinduism.
Hindu Beliefs
• The Hindus believe in many gods: polytheism
• The Big Three are:
• Brahma the Creator
• Siva the Destroyer
• Vishnu the Preserver
• Hindus believe that each god is part of a single
universal spirit called Brahman. Also that
everything in the world is part of Brahman.
Life and Rebirth
• Everyone has a soul, or atman, which holds the
persons personality.
• Hindus believe that a person’s ultimate
goal should be to reunite their soul with
Brahman, which by practicing to see
through the illusion of this world that it
can attained.
Life and Rebirth
• Since it is hard to see
through illusions, it can
take several lifetimes.
• That is why Hindus
believe that souls are
born and reborn many
times, this process of
rebirth is called
reincarnation.
Hinduism and the Caste
System (VC)
• The type of form that a person is reborn
into depends on his or her karma.
• Bad karma leads to lower forms and therefore
lower castes, while good karma will lead to higher
castes.
• In due time, good karma will bring salvation, or
freedom from life’s worries and cycles of rebirth,
called moshka.
Hinduism and the Caste
System
• Each person has a dharma, or a set of spiritual
duties to fulfill.
• Fulfilling ones dharma's required accepting ones
station in life, this would help preserve the caste
system.
Origins of Jainism
(VC)
• In 599 BC, established as an alternative to Hindu
ritualism
• Based on the teachings of Mahavira, who
abandoned his life of luxury to become a monk
Jainism
• The most worthy goal in life of Jainism is to
never injure or kill another living thing.
• Jains are strict vegetarians.
• The Four Principles of Jainism
•
•
•
•
Injure no life.
Tell the truth.
Do not steal.
Own no property.
Sikhism (VC)
• Founded by Guru Nanak, who lived in the 1400s
AD
• Guru is Sanskrit for teacher
• He blended Hinduism and Islam, his teaching
were later expanded upon by nine other gurus.
Sikhism
• Sikhism is monotheistic, that there is only one God.
• For Sikhs, the ultimate goal is to be reunited with God
after death.
• To achieve this goal, one must meditate to find
spiritual enlightenment.
• They believe in reincarnation, that people should live
truthfully, treat everyone equally, and pray several
times each day.
Questions page 130-135
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What were the four varnas?
What could happen to someone who broke caste rules?
What is the Rigveda?
What are the three major forms of Brahman?
What led to the development of Hinduism?
What is karma?
What are two religions that developed out of Hinduism?