Hinduism World Religions Class

Primarily Practiced in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka 950 Million followers 14% of the worlds population

B.C.E  Indus River Valley Civilization develops  Archaeological evidence of Hinduism dates to this civilization

B.C.E  Aryan Warrior Culture conquers Indus River Valley  Sanskrit  Influences Hinduism developement

B.C.E.  Vedic Age (4 Veda Texts)  Rig Veda written  Combination of Aryan and Indus

B.C.E  Brahmans added to the Vedas  Brahman class – priests  Upanishads added to the Vedas

B.C.E.  Age of Protest  Buddhism  Janism  Break away from Hinduism

C.E  Hinduisms response to Buddhism & Janism results in greater changes in Hinduism

C.E.  Hinduism returns as the dominant religion of India  Temples and monuments build to honor Hindu ideas, gods and beliefs  Hindu Renaissance

Hindu Renaissance  Arabic – Indian numerals

Trinitarian  Brahmin - Creator  Vishnu (Krishna)- Preserver  Shiva-Destroyer

C.E.  the main spiritual practice is loving devotion among the Shaivite and Vaishnava saints  Will eventually develop into Sikhism

900 C.E  Shankara teaches the reality of One Brahman or One God

1100 C.E.  Muslims arrive in India and influence Hinduism  Translation of Sanskrit texts  Conversion of part of the population  Trade

C.E.  Europeans arrive  Colonization  Portuguese Vasco de Gama  English**

C.E.  Mahatma Gandhi

 Gandhi struck out firmly against untouchability and caste discrimination.  He brought uniformity, a sense of common identity and unity to millions of Congressmen and hundreds of millions of people who were divided by caste, religion, language and ethnicity.  Gandhi defended common Hindu traditions, customs and values against the criticism of Christian missionaries and the Westernized elite of England-educated Indians and Britons in India;  He was critical of Brahmin corruption and the oppression of the common people by corrupt priests and leaders.

Gandhi’s Influence on India  Untouchability  Dowry  child marriage  the purdah were outlawed in independent India  casteism was denied official recognition and use.

 India & Pakistan become independent countries  Hindu & Muslim populations exist in both countries and tension results from both