The Caste System
• Brahmins (priests)• Kshatriyas (warriors)• Vaishyas (traders and farmers)• Shudras (servants)
Note: untouchables were created out of darkness when Brahman created the universe
The Varnas
(four social classes)
Modern India and Caste
A. Politics and Legality– Constitution forbids practicing discrimination based upon caste – Quota Systems – more developed/modern areas; college
entrance, jobs, ect.
B. Social Characteristics– More flexible in larger urban areas– Developing India Caste unable to contain the
socioeconomic changes
C. Dalits– 160 million untouchables, 15% of population– Gandhi called untouchables Harijans Children of God– Untouchables called themselves Dalits Oppressed
Caught in Caste: Marketplace Radio Segment
• http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/01/03/caught_in_caste/
How and why was the reporter forced into observing the caste system against her
will?
Religion Population Percent
All religions 1,028,610,328 100.00%
Hindus 827,578,868 80.456%
Muslims 138,188,240 13.434%
Christians 24,080,016 2.341%
Sikhs 19,215,730 1.868%
Buddhists 16,947,992 1.504%
Jains 4,225,053 0.41%
INDIA
Aryans In South Asia
• Aryans invaded in 1500 BCE and brought the Vedas
• Vedas – 4 texts- “eternal truth”
- the earliest texts in Hinduism
This famous cover of the National Geographic magazine of June 1985 shows a female Afghan refugee fleeing the then Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The picture is valuable as it vividly demonstrates the left over genetic imprint of the Aryans who founded Afghanistan nearly 4000 years ago. The girl's eyes are green, her hair light brown and her features almost indistinguishable from modern White Europeans. This then represents the last remaining traces of the Aryans in Afghanistan.
Sacred Writings• Other texts reinforce the Vedas
- Upanishad, discuss philosophy, meditation, and the nature of God; they form the core spiritual thought of Hinduism.
Epics - Mahabharata, which contains the epic poem Bhagavad Gita, “song of god”
- Ramayana, epic that tells the story of god and prince Rama and wife Sita;
Hinduism
Aum • represents the
Brahman or the Absolute
All Gods are part of ONE large force called “Brahman”
Brahman is nameless, formless, and unlimited
Deities3 principle gods:
1. Brahma, creator of the universe
2. Vishnu, preserver of the universe
3. Shiva, destroyer of the universe– These gods can take many forms because there are
creators, preservers, and destroyers for everything
Beliefs
• Polytheistic Belief in many Gods
• Pantheistic God is in everything and is infinite
• Eternal soul, atman, which is reborn many times
• Samsara, Sanskrit word meaning reincarnation
• Moksha – free your soul from your body so that you can unite with Brahman
– Cannot be achieved in your lifetime so you must be reincarnated for Moksha to occur
• Non-Violence – All living things are equal because they are part of God’s force and have a soul
Beliefs continued…
Karmaa. Moral law which guides the universe
b. Total difference between good and bad deeds.• The balance of karma in a previous life determines
an individual’s present condition.• Your present situation is a result of your deeds in a
past existence
c. End goal is final and complete union with Atman and Brahman
Karma and Caste System
• Beliefs about rebirth and Karma tied to Caste System
1. Born into a CasteA. Remain in that caste for this lifeB. Nothing you did could change that
2. KarmaA. The reason for where you are placedB. High and Low placements are directly influenced by
your deeds from previous lifeC. Highest Cast = Brahmins = close to Moksha
Sikhism
Blend of Hinduism and IslamBasic Beliefs
1 God
Gurus
85% of 19 million in the world live in Northern India in Punjab
Sikhism
• Founded on the teachings of Nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India
• Religious teachers• No priests
• Heaven and Hell not important; spiritual union with god which results in salvation
Sikhism
• Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
• Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women.
• Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.
The Five Evils of Sikhism
• Influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust—known as the Five Evils—are believed to be particularly destructive.
• The fate of people exposed to the Five Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion.
The 5K’s• Kesh – unkempt hair = living in harmony with
the will of god• Kanga – comb = keep hair clean and tidy• Kara – steel bracelet = restraint from evil deeds• Kacha – soldiers shorts = self-restraint• Kirpan – sword = courage and self-defense
• Amrit Ceremony - All baptized Sikh’s are bound to wear the 5 k’s
Kacha: To be worn by all baptized Sikhs as undergarment.
A kaṛā, kaṅghā and kirpān.
The 5 K’s of Sikhism
The Golden TempleHarmandir Sahib
The most significant place of worship and one of the oldest gurdwaras
The Akal Takht - before & after • India’s Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to invade the most sacred of all Sikh shrines, the Golden Temple complex to flush out Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale a Sikh leader
• On June 4, 1984, the Akal Takht building was heavily damaged during Operation Blue Star.
Jainism
Jainism
• Followers of Jinas (24 conquerors)– Believed in the immediate consequence of
ones behavior
• Ascetic (Abstinent)
5 Principles of JainismNonviolence
– Ahimsa
Speaking the truth– Satya
No stealing– Asteya
Sexual monogamy– Brahmacharya
Detachment from
people, places, and material things– Aparigraha
Jainism
• Jain monks can be seen with their nose and mouth covered by a cloth mask to ensure that they do not kill any germs or insects while breathing