Download The Aryans (2) Aim 1 The origins of Hinduism

The origins of Hinduism
1
The origins of Hinduism
The Aryans (2)
Aim
In this section you will learn more about the different theories regarding the origins of
the Aryan culture.
Evidence to support cultural transformation theories
Scholars who are particularly noted for their support of cultural transformation theories include Feuerstein, Frawley and
Kak, in their book In Search of the Cradle of Civilisation. In line with this view one might speculate that the Aryans were
considered noble in the sense of being the elite amongst the Indus Valley residents, perhaps by virtue of following the
Vedic traditions, rather than being a distinct racial group. Allied to this it may be possible that the Vedic system of the
Aryans operated alongside a tribal system practising a religion more akin to the later Puranic forms of Hinduism. As time
passed these two systems may have become more assimilated, but with the Vedic traditions retaining superiority.
Evidence to support cultural transformation theories
Evidence
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Possible interpretations
The Indus Valley civilisation was very large.
Such a large civilisation would be very hard to overturn by
force, and would require a huge invasion force.
The cities in the Indus Valley seem to have been
abandoned rather than destroyed. There are no siege
works, no mass graves, there is no evidence of fire, and
buildings do not appear to have been destroyed.
This suggests people left, rather than were forced out by
an invading army.
The unburied bodies at Mohenjo Daro are located in
several apparently random sites.
If these were the bodies of the last fighters making a
stand while the rest of the city fled we might expect them
to be located in one defensive position. Some scholars
have suggested that the existence of several sites might
be more indicative of plague than invasion.
The Vedas feature many references to city life.
This would be odd in the records of a nomadic people. In
addition the term purusha used in the Vedas to mean man
appears to be derived from pur vasa, meaning town
dweller.
The Rig Veda appears to refer to an organised culture,
rather than one newly settling into an area.
Perhaps the Aryans were already settled in cities when the
Vedas were created. It has frequently been suggested that
the Rig Veda was created as early as 1500BCE, but
references in the Vedas to the Saraswati river suggest it
could in fact be much earlier (see below). This would mean
the Aryans were settled in cities prior to the end of the
Indus Valley civilisation and the purported invasion.
The Vedas make reference to settlements on the
Saraswati river, which had dried up by 1900 BCE.
People are unlikely to settle by a dry river, especially in
hot countries like India where access to water is vital. This
might indicate that the Aryans were present in India prior
to 1900 BCE, at a time when the Indus Valley civilisation
was flourishing. At the least this suggests co-habitation of
the two groups.
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The Aryans (2)
The references to invasions in the Rig Veda are minor in
nature, and have to be pieced together. They are in no
way a major theme. Where references to destruction of
cities occur they refer to cities with circular walls.
The sparseness of references to invasions detracts from
their significance. This makes it difficult to suggest it was a
recent historical event at the time the Vedas were
recorded, or it would have been likely to have a more
prominent place. The references to circular walls do not
match the grid structure of the Indus Valley cities, so
might refer to an earlier invasion of a different area or
civilisation.
Given the size of the Indus Valley civilisation it may also
be possible that the references to invasions refer to
infighting between different groups within the Indus Valley
civilisation.
There is no memory of an invasion in the oral or written
traditions of north India.
Given the necessary scale of an invasion which could
defeat the Indus Valley civilisation it seems unlikely that
all memory of it would be lost.
The descriptions of scenery in the Vedas match the
setting of north India.
This suggests that the Vedas were composed in the Indus
Valley region.
There are distinct similarities between the Aryan culture
and the Indus Valley civilisation. They both appear to
worship goddesses, both seem to use water and fire in a
religiously or culturally significant manner and both show
a great interest in cows (bulls).
This might indicate a much closer relationship between the
two, and perhaps one of direct historical influence.
Analysis of skeletons over the period of the purported
invasion has shown no change to skeletal structures.
This suggests that no new racial groups appeared, making
it unlikely that a group invaded from outside India.
• ACTIVITY (AO1)
Draw up a chart comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence over the last three pages supporting
migration and cultural transformation theories.
• WHAT DO YOU THINK? (AO2)
Do you think it matters to modern Hindus how the Aryan culture originated?
The Aryans and the caste system
What is commonly referred to as the caste system should more properly be called the class system. The term varna is
often translated as colour, and refers to the four main classes with Hindu society. The colours referred to are not racial
characteristics, but rather the symbolic colours of the gunas or qualities associated with each varna. These classes are:
Varna
Role
Colour
Guna
Brahmins
Priests and scholars
White
Purity
Kshatriyas
Rulers and warriors
Red
Passions and energy
Vaishyas
Merchants and traders
Yellow
Earth
Sudras
Labourers
Black
Darkness and inertia
These varnas are then, in essence, subdivided into jatis, which are often referred to as castes, though this is a western
term for a non-western concept. The jatis are based primarily on the occupation of your father. In later Hinduism a subclass has developed comprising those who are outside the system for various reasons – outcastes. You can find out more
about the varna system in modern Hinduism in the section on varnashramadharma on pages 21–24.
The first three varnas are deemed to be ‘twice-born’. They undergo an initiation ceremony and are allowed to study the
Vedas. Scholars who support migration theories have tended to argue that the first three varnas represent the incoming
Aryans, with the indigenous population subjugated to menial roles as the lowest class. They have argued that the term
varna reflects the difference in skin colour between the Aryans and the indigenous population. The varna system thus
acted as a method of controlling the indigenous population, and ensuring that the Aryans retained a high status with the
new land.
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The origins of Hinduism
Those who support cultural transformation theories might argue that we can see hints of the varna system in the Indus
Valley civilisation. The Great Bath might indicate a concern with purity, which is reflected in the controlled interactions
between different classes within the varna system. In addition many items in the Indus Valley were created in two
different standards, for example metal and terracotta female images. Perhaps the higher standard items were for those
accorded a higher status. Recently scholars have suggested that the colours referred to by the term varna are the colours
of the gunas, or qualities associated with each group. This has been supported with reference to the later Hindu text The
Bhagavad Gita. It might also be considered whether the term colour is in fact the best translation of the term varna. If
the term is linked back to its root source then it might be better translated as ‘hidden appearance’. This might support the
claim that varnas are based on the gunas, rather than on physical appearance.
However the varnas were derived, it is clear that the Aryans explained and codified them, so they can be considered to
have had great importance in Aryan society.
• STRETCH AND CHALLENGE (AO1)
Explore how different views of the origins of the Aryan culture might influence the attitudes people have towards the
varna system.
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© Pearson Education Ltd 2008