Hindu

History Founded c B.C. by Dravidians Aryans= nomadic invaders from Central Asia Caste System Priests Warriors/Rulers Merchants/Traders Farmers/Laborers Untouchables

Caste System Caste determines occupation and social status No marriage outside of caste No sharing of meals Outlawed since 1947, but still deeply ingrained in Indian society

Beliefs 3 main gods: Brahma – creator god Shiva – the destroyer Vishnu – the preserver Brahman – the “ultimate reality” Hindus believe Brahman is the source of all things and is in all things. All other gods are manifestations of Brahman.

The Four Aims All Hindus live with 4 goals: Dharma – righteousness (right behavior) Artha – success/prosperity Kama – satisfaction of desires Moksha – release from “samsara,” the life cycle

Atman= soul Every living thing has one The body is mortal, but the soul is immortal Reincarnation – soul is reborn in another form Dharma- your record Karma- law of consequences Samsara- transmigration & reincarnation Ultimate goal: moksha & nirvana Your atman blends with Brahman and becomes part of it.

Hindu and the Caste System Very closely tied Karma determines reincarnation If your dharma is good, you will be reincarnated in a higher caste. If your dharma is bad….lower. You can even drop below castes into the world of beasts.

What is sacred: The Vedas (sacred texts) The Cow

veR74gSo&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch% 3Fv%3Dj31veR74gSo&nomobile=1 Questions: How many million Untouchables? What similarities can you see in our own American history?

Article on College Quotas Questions: What is a quota or reservation? Why does India have these reservations? What is similar to it in the U.S.?