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INDUS VALLEY CULTURE: Review: Review Terms: Indus Valley Belief System: Yoga Prana Linga Yogin Yoga / Meditation Unification with Divine Non-duality Shiva linga? 3000BC, Harappa Shiva linga, 20thc, Banaras Pre-Vedic/Hindu Concepts Unity: male (linga) and Female (yoni) Non-duality : divine and individual Metaphor: man vs. cosmos Swastika: “well being to all” Seal with Swastika, 3000 BCE. Indus Valley Swastika as symbol of auspiciousness Rajasthan, NW India Appropriation of Sacred Symbols Decline of the Indus Civilization • In decline in 1800 BCE WHY? • “Indo-Aryan Invasion” ? • Climactic Factors • Gradual decline more likely Vedic Civilization Indo-Aryan Migration: 1500 BCE •Migration from the northwestern areas of Central Asia •Aryans: same groups that also went to Europe • Distinctive language and ethnic group •Language: Indo-European family: SANSKRIT - later the sacred language of Hinduism Vedic Civilization 1000-500 BCE • Self-Designation: ARYA “noble/honorable/first” • Aryans distinctive from the indigenous people, in terms of language, religion, and ritual Settled in central India: dominance over the Dravidians DRAVIDIAN vs ARYANS 1. Aryan Migration vs Cultural Transformation - The sacred Aryan text, Vedas, speak of subduing the cities of the their enemies, — the dark-skinned Dasas Vedic Civilization: New Ideas and Culture SOURCES: • VEDAS “vid” = knowledge Sanskrit language Revealed scriptures SRUTI “that which is heard” [by the sages]” Source of all Hindu tradition oral tradition: divine in origin; revealed to sages who were in charge of transmitting this gift to others the priests, Brahmans, preserve the text through oral recitation with care and accuracy VEDAS: 4 Vedas: Rig Yajur Sama Atharva 4 Categories: (chronological) Samhita: Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads: Rig Yajur Sama Atharva Rig Veda • Oldest and most important, composed 1500 BCE • Hymns to Vedic gods • Vedic cosmology and ritual Vedic Cosmology and Ritual Cosmology : Golden Embryo (Hiranyagarbha) Creation of universe: sacred primordial world that was not created but simply self-existed. Within this realm was the germ of life "golden embryo/ germ” In the beginning, was darkness swathed in darkness; All this was but unmanifested water Whatever was, that One, coming into being Hidden by the Void, was generated by the power of heat (tapas) In the beginning this [One] evolved Became desire, first seed of Mind Wise seers, searching within their hearts Hiranyagarbha “Golden Embyro” “In the beginning the Golden Embryo [stirred and] evolved Once born, he was the one Lord of every being This heaven and earth did he sustain What god shall we revere with the oblation? Vedic Ritual 1. Yajna (Sacrifice) Vedic sacrifice and sharing of meal with each other and the gods (devas) Fire Sacrifice : gods propitiated for material benefits : Cosmic Order (rta) Fire god: AGNI: • purification • mediator between gods and humans • priest required for sacrifice •Transports death to the realm of YAMA, the god of death , and takes all offering to realm of gods Plant god: SOMA • soma drink: (ephedra?) Vedic Pantheon and Mythology Devas: “gods” vs. Asuras “demons” Gods: • Gods of the Three Realms: 1. Heaven: sky god, of the night, Varuna 2. Atmosphere: warrior god Indra, wrathful god Rudra 3. Earth: Soma, fire god Agni 33 Gods of the Vedic pantheon Primordial Man VARNA: as COSMIC ORDER (Rta): VARNA: “COLOR” (Caste System) 1. 2. 3. 4. Priests (Brahmins): from mouth of cosmic man Warriors (Kshatriyas): from arms Common people (Vaisyas): from thighs Untouchables (Sudras): from feet) UPANISHADS Also called VEDANTA “end of the Vedas: 600 BCE Highly philosophical: metaphysical questions NEW IDEAS: 1. SAMSARA: notion of rebirth and death as painful 2. KARMA UPANISHADS: New Ideas BRAHMAN = atman UNIVERSAL = individual Spiritual Methods: • Contemplation, not ritual • Meditation • Ascetism and yoga • Renunciation of the world • Detachment of wordly action