Religions of Ancient India

Chapter 6.2

Origins of Hinduism

• One of the world’s oldest

• 3rd largest religion after Chrisitianity and Islam

• Developed by the Aryans

• Started off as Brahmanism – Sacred writings called the Vedas

Vedas

• Had to be memorized by Brahmin priests

• Spoken out loud

• After Aryans developed writing, the Vedas were written down in Sanskrit

What is Hinduism?

• Universal spirit called Brahman

Hinduism

• Ancient texts known as Upanishads– Describe the search for Braham– Says every living thing has a soul and is part

of Braham– At death, the soul leaves the body and joins

with Braham

Brahma

• The Creator

Vishnu

• The Preserver

Shiva

• The Destroyer

Reincarnation

• Rebirth of the Soul

• Soul passes through many lives

• Before reaching Brahman

Karma

• People’s status

• Based on past lives

• What a person does in previous life will decide how they are reborn– If a person has bad karma, they are reborn in

a lower form– When good people die, they are reborn in a

higher form of life

Dharma

• Personal duty to earn a better existence in the next life

How beliefs shape society

• All life is sacred

• Animals as well as people were treated with kindness and respect

• Made Indians more accepting of varna system

• A person who leads a good life is reborn into a higher jati

Rise of Buddhism

• Some Indians were not happy with Hinduism

• Some left their homes and looked for peace

Buddhism

• Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions

• Most Buddhist live in SE Asia and E Asia

• Only a few live in India– Buddha’s birthplace

Siddhartha Gautama

• Became known as the Buddha

• Founded a new religion call Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama

• Born c.563 B.C. in Nepal• Was a rich prince• Left is wife and newborn son to explore life• Shocked at the misery of people• For the first time he realized the world was filled

with suffering• Became a monk• Stopped to meditate• Gained followers

What did Buddha teach?

• Believed the world of the spirit was more important than the everyday world

• People suffer because they care too much about the wrong things

• Fame, money, and personal possessions lead to greed or anger

• Taught the 4 Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

• 1. Life is full of suffering• 2. people suffer because they desire worldly things and want to satisfy themselves• 3. The way to end suffering is to stop desiring things.

4. The only way to stop desiring things is following the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path to Enlightment

• 1. Know and understand the Four Noble Truths• 2. Give up worldly things and do not harm others• 3. Tell the truth, do not gossip, and do not speak badly

of others• 4. Do not commit evil acts, such as killing, stealing, or

living an unclean life.• 5. Do rewarding work• 6. Work for good and oppose evil• 7. Make sure your mind keeps your senses under

control• 8. practice meditation to see the world in a new way

Buddhism

• When people are free from earthly concerns, they reach nirvana-state of perfect peace

• Welcomed all people

• Placed little importance on varna system

• Believed in reincarnation– People would reach the end of cycle of rebirth

by following 8 Fold Path

Buddhism

• Many Untouchables and Indians in lower jati accepted Buddhism

• For the first time they had hope of reaching enlightenment

Buddhist divide

• Theravada-believe Buddha is a great teacher

• Mahayana-teaches Buddha is a god

Jainism

• Developed by Mahavira

• Became known as Jina-or conqueror

• Practice nonviolence toward ALL living things

Gandhi

• Led a nonviolent struggle against British rule

• Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.