Why do good things happen to some people, and not to others? Karma How do I know what I am supposed to do in my life? Dharma

WHO: The people of the Indus Valley/the Aryans – nowadays, 80% of India are Hindus WHO: The people of the Indus Valley/the Aryans – nowadays, 80% of India are Hindus WHEN: 2500 – 1500 BCE WHEN: 2500 – 1500 BCE WHERE: Indus Valley WHERE: Indus Valley

History of… Bharat-ism [HINDUISM] Name evolved after Muslim conquest: non-Muslim population called Hindus British called their religion “Hinduism”

ARYANS Entered and introduced belief system to the Harappans From BC, they spread Bharat to most of Northern India

THE VARNAS [COLORS] 1.Brahmin: ritual experts 2.Kshatriya: government agents/warriors 3.Vaishya: traders/farmers 4.Sudra: servants

Brahmans Kshatriyas Vaishyas Sudras

VARNA -> CASTE Untouchables Born into Social movement is not possible in present life

Untouchables Slaves: “untouchables” This group was outside of the varnas performed tasks considered unclean Today there are 160 million untouchables

Caste System All people are born, married, and die within Assigns work, a place, a need for one another No social mobility Hereditary system Know your place in the order

FOR TODAY Significance of cows, fire Karma Dharma Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma Yoga Moksha

GOALS 1.Dharma: how to behave 2.Artha: importance of material goods 3.Kama: enjoyment of the senses 4.Moksha: release from rebirth

Why are there cows in the middle of Indian roads? Why haven’t “over 1 billion people been served” by McDonalds? All Life is Sacred

COSMIC ORDER & SACRIFICE Life depends on natural order it is set Sacred Cow: Mother’s Milk to an infant Milk, Curds, Ghee, Urine and Dung Kill a cow = killing a priest Humans depend on non-humans

ALL-POWERFUL FIRE Fire consumes everything Smoke carried to the Gods Marriages use fire Cremation preferred to burial

DHARMA Means to “hold” or “uphold” How people should behave appropriately

DHARMA duties and obligations owned by each caste! People can only improve their life by carrying out duties now and hoping for a better next life.

“action” or “deed” How your soul is reborn depends on your dharma and karma!

KARMA: the sum of a person’s past lives, which is carried into new lives…good deeds bring happiness/evil deeds bring sorrow.

KEY BELIEFS: Interconnectedness of all life Nonviolence & respect for nature Vedas & Upanishads are the source of Hinduism.

MONOTHEISTIC BUT POLYTHEISTIC? Brahman is the creator, but can never be known, heard, visualized Brahman creates deities as his agents of the world

BrahmaShivaVishnu

Skillions of Gods Is Hinduism purely polytheistic? While there are many gods, Hindus still believe there is one truth about the world: “Truth is one and the wise ones call it by many names.” There are three gods who are considered “in charge.” The Trinity:

Where are these gods worshiped? Small Shrines –At home –Along the road Temples –Called “Mandirs” –Big shrine to god in temple –Bath in middle of temple Water –Ganges River holiest place for Hindus Barnaras – the holiest city –“city of light” –City of Shiva- where people go to die »Cremation- burning of bodies so that the soul can be released »Ashes scattered on the Ganges

PRACTICE YOGA ~ stresses the importance of physical harmony, not just mental.

PRACTICE Ritual washings, and spreading of loved ones ashes in the ‘Holy” Ganges river. Ganges poured from Heaven

THE ULTIMATE GOAL MOKSHA ~ the ultimate goal of life! A release/freedom from the human condition that stand between each individual & cosmic unity.