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INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
The origins of Hinduism trace the
religion's roots to the Indus valley
civilization circa 4000 to 2200 BCE.
This was a very advanced civilization
that boasted:
 Own language
 Planned cities
 Sophisticated plumbing and
sewage systems
 Vast trading network
 No standing army
 No monuments to rulers
• Thriving mercantile ruling
class
Aryan Invasions
The development of Hinduism was influenced by many invasions over
thousands of years. The major influences occurred when light-skinned
nomadic "Aryan" Indo-European tribes invaded Northern India (circa
1500 BCE) from the steppes of Russia and Central Asia. They brought
with them their religion of Vedism. These beliefs mingled with the more
advanced, indigenous Indian native beliefs, often called the "Indus Valley
culture."
The Vedic Period
The predominance of
female figurines and
seals depicting a
horned goddess by the
Indus People is
generally regarded as
evidence of the
worship of a mother
goddess who presided
over fertility and birth
and who may have
acted as guardian and
protector of the dead.
The o ldest and most important of all Hindu sacred texts are the
Vedas:
The o ldest Vedaswere composed about 1500 BCE and written
down about 600 BCE.
The Vedas contain h ymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient
India.
UPANISHADAS
They are a continuation of the Vedas, and were written between
800 and 400 BCE.
They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the
ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation,
as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a
person’s actions.
MAHABHARATA & BHAGAVAD GITA & RAMAYANA
The Mahabharata, were written 540 to 300 BCE,
The Bhagavad Gita is the sixth book of the Mahabharata. It is a poem
describing a conversation between a warrior Arjuna and the God
Krishna. It is an ancient text that has become central to Hinduism
Another important text is the Ramayana. It is a moving love story with
moral and spiritual themes. It is dated to the first century AD
CATEGORIZING HINDUISM IS CONFUSING
Polytheistic - one which worships multiple deities: gods and goddesses.
Monotheistic religion, because it recognizes only one supreme God: Brahman, that all reality is a
unity.
Trinitarian because Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a triad:
Brahma, the Creator Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver and Shiva, the Destroyer
Brahma the Creator who is
continuing to create new realities
Vishnu, (Krishna) the Preserver, who
preserves these new creations.
Whenever dharma (eternal order, righteousness, religion, law
and duty) is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in
one of ten incarnations.
Shiva, the Destroyer, is at times
compassionate, erotic and destructive.
URBAN HINDUS
Most urban Hindus follow one of two major divisions within
Hinduism:
Vaishnavaism: which generally regards Vishnu as the ultimate deity
Shivaism: which generally regards Shiva as the ultimate deity.
RURAL HINDUS
Many rural Hindus worship their own village goddess or an earth
goddess. She is believed to rule over fertility and disease -- and
thus over life and death.
The priesthood is less important in rural Hinduism: nonBrahmins and non-priests often carry out ritual and prayer there.
SAMSARA
Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul.
This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body.
This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth
through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara.
KARMA
Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma
determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts
and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can
escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a
person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The
unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as
natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in
previous lives.
Dharma
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• Dharma is to fulfill your moral duty in this life.
By fulfilling your Dharma and producing only
good Karma you can move up the caste system
and could release you from Samsara.
CASTE SYSTEM
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The enslavement of the dark skinned people of the
Indus Valley is thought to have laid the foundation of
the caste system. The caste system was further
enforced by the Hindu belief of Karma. Bad deeds
can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or
even as an animal. The unequal distribution of
wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural
consequences for one's previous acts, both in this
life and in previous lives.
Atman
• Atman is the “soul’ that is reincarnated. Atman is
the part of god in every living thing. The purpose
of life is to unite Atman with Brahman.
MOKSA
The main goal for those who renounce the world is:
Moksa or liberation from "samsara," This is uniting
Atman with Brahman. Moksa is considered the
supreme end of mankind.
Maya
• Maya is the illusionary world created by our
senses. This veil of illusion makes people believe
they are separate from Brahma
MEDITATION
Meditation is often practiced, with Yoga being the most common.
The goal of meditation is to help break-through the Maya and to
seek Brahman.
Prayer & Offerings
Offerings are also often
used to assist the Poor
Other activities include daily devotions,
public rituals, and puja, a ceremonial dinner for a
God.
TOLERANT & ELASTIC
Hinduism has a deserved reputation of being highly tolerant of other
religions. Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha
Vadanti," which may be translated: "The truth is One, but different
Sages call it by Different Names"