© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee A Comprehensive History of India Lecture – 4 November 20, 2011 War and Peace Maharaj Mukherjee

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee The Spread of Aryans in India Aryavarta – Land of Aryans Dakshinapath – The way of the South The Aryans moved along the river Ganges Their spread came to Bengal last Their spread was limited by Himalyas on the North, Vindhya on the South and Ganges+Bramhaputra on the East

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Story of Wars Two grand Indian Epics –Ramayana –Mahabharata

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee The Story of Ramayana

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee The Story of Ramayana

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee History Lessons from Ramayana

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee History Lessons from Ramayana Time of Ramayana about 3000 years back or 1000 BC Aryans were still concentrated in the Northern India They have learned building city states –A state with a city in its capital and other areas surrounding it They were slowly spreading into Southern India They are encountering people who had been there before them –Monkeys – Forest dwelling hunter/gatherers?? –Demons – people who can build nice cities Ramayana authors had a very good grasp of Indian Geography They still did not know writing –Ramayana is written in poetic form for easy memorization

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Story of Mahabharata

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee History Lessons from Mahabharata Time of Mahabharata 2700 years back or about 700 BC Aryans are now well established all over India City states are building or aspiring to build empires The concept of India as a country is now being established The Mahabharata is written in prose form –Mahabharata is a written text –Writing is now well established

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Address of India Uttaram Jat Samudrasya Himadreschaiba Dakshinam Barsham Tad Bharatam Bharati Jatra Santati The Land that is North of the Oceans and South of the Himalayas – is known as Bharata (India). Its children (inhabitants) are known as Bharati(Ya) – Indians.

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee History Lessons from Mahabharata

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee War and Peace Need for Social Reformation –Excessive Ritualistic Religion –Evils of untouchability

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Stories of Peace Jain Religion Buddhist Religion

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Jain Religion 1.Started around 600 BC 2.The religion is based on ethics and moral values than rituals 3.The religion is carried by Tirthankaras – Saviours of Human Soul 4.24 Tirthankaras – 5.Mahavira is the last Tirthankara Mahavira around 500 BC

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Jain Religion Basic Tenets: 1.Ahimsa (non-violence) 2.Parasparopagraho jivanam (interdependence) 3.Anekantavada (the doctrine of manifold aspects) 4.Samyaktva (equanimity) 5.Jiva-daya (compassion, empathy and charity) THE JAIN CODE OF CONDUCT The five vratas (vows): Non-violence in thought, word and deed, 2. 2.To seek and speak the truth, 3. 3.To behave honestly and never to take anything by force or theft, 4. 4.To practice restraint and chastity in thought, word and deed, 5. 5.To practice non- acquisitiveness.

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Buddhism

Buddhism Eight Fold Path: Leads to Moksha or relief from rebirth 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration Around 500 BC Buddha had among his disciples –King Prasenjit –King Bimbisara –Untouchables: Ananda and Upali Strong statement against –Ritualism –Untouchability Buddha did not say anything about God or any superior being He preached in the common language of the people such as Pali.

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Spread of Buddhism Buddha is the most notable Indian About 6% of World Population is Buddhist

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Time Line Studied So Far Early Inhabitants of India? –Hunter Gatherers – Years ago Earliest Civilization in the World? –Fertile Crescent – Years ago Earliest Civilization in India –Indus Valley Civilization – Years ago Arrival of Aryans – Years ago Time of Ramayana – Years ago Time of Mahabharata – Years ago Time of Buddha and Mahavira –2500 Years ago or about 600 BC

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Quiz What are the main epics of India –Ramayana and Mahabharata Where did the Aryans lived at the time of Ramayana –Mostly in Northern India When did the concept of India develop: Ramayana time or Mahabharata time? –Mahabharata time What is the style of writing for Mahabharata –Prose style

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Quiz Name two religions of peace in India –Jainism and Buddhism What brought in the religions of peace –Ritualism and Untouchability Who was the main leader of Buddhism –Buddha Name one leader of Jainism –Mahavira How many vows are there in Jainism? Name one. –Five How many basic tenets are in Buddhism? Name One –Eight:

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee Food For Thought We discussed four leaders of ancient India: – Rama and Krishna 1000 – 700 BC –Buddha and Mahavira 600 – 500 BC They are still the most revered leaders in Indian History – All four are worshipped as gods. –Why did their appearance happened around such a small time frame of 400 years of each other in the long years of Indian History?