Download RELIGIONS OF ANCIENT INDIA

RELIGIONS OF ANCIENT
INDIA
HINDUISM
Also known as “Sanatana Dharma”
Roots in the Indus Valley
Influenced by “Aryan” Indo-European
tribes
Tolerance of other religions
“The truth is One, but different sages call
it by different names”
Dominant religion pre and post Mogul
rule
Currently 80% of Indians are Hindu
SACRED TEXTS
Mahabharata Epic
Credited to the sage Vyasha
Contains the Bhagavad Gita
(Divine Song)
Vedas Texts – Contain hymns,
incantations, and rituals
Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva
Veda
Structure
Polytheistic or Monotheistic?
Belief in one supreme being, but recognizes
other gods as facets, manifestations, or aspects
of that supreme being.
Brahma- Creator
Vishnu (Krishna)- The
preserver, appears in one of
ten incarnations
Shiva- The Destroyer
Core Beliefs
Samsara – Transmigration of the soul
(Reincarnation)
KARMA- actions in life will determine
the conditions of your next life
Four aims of Hinduism
Dharma- Righteousness in religious life
Artha- success in economic life
Kama- gratification of the senses
Maksa- liberation from samsara
BUDDHISM
► Founder
– Sadartha Guatama (Buddha)
 Hindu prince who sought enlightenment
► Belief
that everything is imperfect and nothing
lasts
► Enlightenment holds the answer
► Samsara-Continual cycle of birth, old age, illness,
death, and rebirth (Suffering)
► Nirvana (Enlightenment) is the only way to end
the cycle
► No sacred text, all traditions are passed orally
The Four Noble Truths
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dukkha: Existence is a realm of suffering
Samudaya: Desire is the cause for
suffering
Nirodha: Achievement of Nirvana
(Enlightenment) ends suffering
Magga: To end suffering you must follow
the Eightfold path
Eightfold Path
Panna: Discernment, Wisdom
1. Samma Ditthi – Right Understanding
2. Samma Sankappa – Right Thinking
Sila: Virtue, Morality
3. Samma Vaca – Right Speech
4. Samma Kammanta – Right Conduct
5. Samma Anjiva – Right Livlihood
Samadhi:
6. Samma Vayama – Right Effort
7. Samma Sati – Right Mindfulness
8. Samma Samadhi – Right Concentration
Sacred Places
► Lumbini
– Sadartha Guatama’s birthplace
► Bodh Gaya – Place of enlightenment
► Sarnath – Place of his first discourse
► Kushinara – Place of his death
ISLAM
• Belief in one God—Allah
– Allah is all wise and knowing
– Creator of all things
• Allah has sent prophets to Earth
– This is the only way that humans can know of
Allah
– The Prophet Muhammad
• Received the Qur’an
Five Pillars of Islam
1.
The Shahadah - the Declaration of Faith
1.
2.
3.
4.
Salat - prayer five times a day facing Mecca
Zakat - “giving to charity”
Sawm – “fasting”
1.
5.
Said to newborns, twice a day at awakening and before sleep,
just before death
Muslims fast in times of daylight during the month of
Ramadan
Hajj – The pilgrimage to Mecca.
1.
Each Muslim tries to make it once in their lifetime
Places of Worship
• General place of worship is a Mosque
• Major places of worship
• The Kaaba
• Shrine in the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca
• The Black Stone
• Sits in a corner of the Kaaba, meteorite from ancient times
• The Mosque of The Prophet
• Located in Medina, hold the tomb of Muhammad
• The Mosque of the Dome of the Rock
• Located in Jerusalem, the rock is said to be the place
where the call to Judgment will be sounded
Islam in Ancient India
• Originally brought by traders from Arabia during
the 7th and 8th centuries.
• Moguls began to take over India and impress
Islam
– Qur’an states that no one can be forced to be Muslim
– Non-Muslims had to pay special taxes
– Other religions were tolerated as long as they did not
interfere with the Muslim way of life
• Moguls ruled for 1,000 years
Christianity
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Monotheistic
Jesus Christ – Son of God sent to save the
world
Arose out of Judaism
Holy Trinity
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Believe in Heaven and Hell
Evangelism
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Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Aim to convert other people and religions
Brought to India on a large scale during
Imperialism
Basic Tenants
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Beliefs based on teachings of Christ through
the Bible
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Compassion and Forgiveness
Sin separate people from God
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New and Old Testaments
Goal is to Reconcile with God
Ten Commandments
There will be a day of Judgment
Christ will return to earth
Major Religious Places
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Place of Worship
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Churches, Cathedrals
Holy Places
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Jerusalem – Home of the Jews
Bethlehem – Birthplace of Jesus
Nazareth – Jesus’ home
Rome – Home of the Vatican (Pope