Classical India, Hinduism, and Buddhism

Mauryan Empire (326-184 BCE) Chandragupta Maurya (r. 322-298 BCE) United most of India Created a bureaucracy influenced by Persia and Alexander the Great Ashoka (r. 268-232 BCE) Converted to Buddhism Sent Buddhist missionaries, built monasteries Ended forced labor Established ideal of Buddhist kingship

Pataliputra Capital of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires Population of 150,000-300,000 Situated on the Ganges River Major economic center and trade hub Architecture influenced by Persian Achaemenid style

Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) Golden Age of India Development of chess Concept of zero, base 10 Studied Earth’s rotation, solar and lunar eclipses Development of chess Advancements in art, literature, engineering, mathematics, astronomy

Nalanda Residential university 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers Specialized in Buddhist studies Massive library 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers Students came from Middle East, China, Greece

Gupta Influence and Decline Extensive trade with the Middle East and Mediterranean Less with China and Southeast Asia Cotton and pepper Gupta Empire collapsed No single language Repetitive invasion of the Huns Conflict with other local kingdoms

Mauryan and Guptan Organization Alliances with Hellenistic kingdoms Emperor used regional representatives and military to maintain control over the empire Vast army of 600,000 soldiers and 9,000 war elephants No political theory aside from laws Sanskrit promoted as official language of the elite Caste system and village life dominated local politics

Mauryan and Guptan Society Emphasis on trade Merchants had great wealth and high status Economy was primarily agricultural Upper classes controlled most land Majority of population were subsistence-farming peasants

Hinduism Akshardham, Delhi, India

Hinduism Samsara: rebirth/reincarnation Atman: human soul Brahman: world soul; supreme being Dharma: universal principle of law, order, harmony; ethics, duties Samsara: rebirth/reincarnation Karma: action or deed that causes samsara Moksha: liberation from samsara

Hinduism Devas: Hindu gods Descend to Earth as avatars to help humans achieve moksha Humans follow dharma in order to have good karma Karma determines into which caste you are reincarnated Goal is to end samsara by uniting atman with the Brahman

Varnas in Caste System May have been based on mixing of invading lighter-skinned Aryans and native Indians Brahmin: priests, teachers Kshatriya: warriors, rulers Vaisya: artisans, merchants, farmers, herders Sudra: laborers, peasant farmers Varna, codified in the caste system, originated most likely as the lighter-skinned Aryans migrated into the Gangetic plain, and was used to distinguish themselves from the darker-skinned natives. The system helped to accommodate the constant influx of varied people and immediately defined them in the Indian culture. You were born into your varna, and it was very difficult to move out of it. Jatis, or occupational subgroups, divided the varnas into smaller and more distinct sections in which a person worked, married, and interacted. Untouchables (Dalit): handled corpses and animal skins

Hindu Texts Vedas (written by 600 BCE) Upanishads (800-400 BCE) Collection of poems, hymns, prayers, and rituals Upanishads (800-400 BCE) Mystical interpretations of the Vedas Mahabharata (400 BCE) Epic poem about a battle within a family Bhagavad Gita—Krishna counsels Arjuna Ramayana (400 BCE) Epic poem about duties of relationships

Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 566-486 BCE) Wealthy Indian prince Lived luxuriously until he was exposed to suffering Sought to overcome suffering by being an ascetic Followed the Middle Way to achieve nirvana Became the Buddha (“Enlightened One”) Taught others the Four Noble Truths

Middle Way Path between self-indulgence and self-mortification Remove desire and craving for individual fulfillment to end suffering Live modestly, meditate, compassion for all beings Nirvana: enlightenment, extinguishing of the self, removal of greed, hatred, delusion

Appeal of Buddhism Egalitarian No caste system Individual was responsible for spiritual enlightenment No need for Brahmins Buddhist teachings were available in local language Written down as sutras Written in Pali, not Sanskrit Women could participate equally Joined monasteries as nuns

Comparison with Hinduism Similarities Ordinary life is an illusion Karma and samsara Meditation Hope for moksha Specific to Hinduism Need for rituals and Brahmins Varnas

(Teaching of the Elders) Changes in Buddhism Theravada Mahayana (Teaching of the Elders) (Great Vehicle) Non-divine Buddha Divine Buddha Individual responsibility for spiritual development Bodhisattvas: helped others in search of nirvana Practices, not beliefs Acts of piety, devotion, to achieve nirvana Championed by monks and nuns Embraced by more people Little emphasis on gods Elaborate descriptions of past and future supernatural Buddhas, levels of heavens and hells

Changes in Buddha in Art For five hundred years there are no representations of the Buddha. Footprints are some of the most widespread art during this time, which includes the dharmachakra, lotus flower, and triratna, which symbolizes the three things Buddhists can take refuge in: The Buddha himself, his teachings, and the sangha (Buddhist community).

Changes in Buddha in Art During the Gupta, we see an early Indian representation of the Buddha. He is thin, has long ears that show how he came from wealth and had heavy earrings, and has a knot in his hair, symbolizing his enlightenment. As Buddhism moves into East Asia, his ethnic characteristics change from Indian to Chinese and Japanese. This statue is in Japan.

Various Buddhas

Changes in Buddha in Art From China: The “Laughing Buddha” is popular in East Asia, but is not Siddhartha Gautama. Rather, this is of a Buddhist monk named Budai, who was known for being jovial and spreading good cheer. He is often associated with the Maitreya, or future Buddha, who will bring back Buddhist teachings when they become forgotten.

In-Class Essay Explain Hinduism: What are its main beliefs? Explain Buddhism: What are its main beliefs? Compare the two. What do they share, and how are they different? WHY would some people follow one religion over the other?

Stupas of Ashoka 40-50 feet tall 19 survive of purported 84,000 built by Ashoka Built between 269-232 BCE

Wheel: Ashoka Chakra Symbolic of dharma: following the way of Buddhism Many placed at holy Buddhist sites Some contained relics of the Buddha

Edicts proclaimed Ashoka’s Buddhism Contained ideas about benevolence, moral treatment of people and animals