Introduction to South Asia A look at cultural influences on contemporary literature

India The name India comes from the Sanskrit word sindhu which was used to identify the ancient civilization in the Indus Valley. This word became sinthos in Greek and then sindus in Latin. Corrupted to indus (means river), it was applied to what constitutes today's Pakistan. Subsequently, it was again modified to India to refer generally to the land of river basins and clusters of peoples from the Indus River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east.

India India, the world's seventh largest country, has an area of 1,269,340 sq. miles which represents 2.2 percent of the total land area of the planet (57,900,000 sq mi). India has an estimated population of 1,095,351,995 as of July 2005 (17% of the world total), the world's second largest country in population after China. There was an increase of 19,100,000 people from 2002 to In 2000, India had 1,002,100,000 people, while in 1920 the population of the country was 250,000,000. The population of the country quadrupled in 80 years. The Ganges-Brahmaputra and Indus River systems are crucial lifelines for hundreds of millions of people.

Languages India has many, many languages. In 1947, the Indian subcontinent had 550 princely states, 900 separate dialects and 15 major languages. The two major linguistic families are the Indo- European and the Dravidian. Languages that are members of the Indo-European family are spoken in the central and northern parts of the country, and languages that belong to the Dravidian family are spoken in southern India. Dravidian languages are spoken by about 25 percent of the Indian population. They include Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Today India has fourteen official languages including ____________________________________________.

Culture Southern Asia Is marked by strong cultural regionalism. Division is largely based on religious differences between Moslem dominated and Hindu dominated regions. The ______________ is the most important river of South Asia. It is the most sacred of all rivers to the Hindus, and provides water to a major urban area along its course, including Kolkata (Calcutta) in India and Dhaka in Bangladesh. The Hindustan holy city of _______________ is located on the Ganges.

Religions Hinduism_______ Muslim ________ Sunni 9.0% Shiite 3.0% Christian 2.3% Protestant 1.1% Roman Catholic 1.0% Sikh 1.9% Buddhist 0.8% Jain 0.4% Zoroastrian 0.01% Other 1.3%

What is Hinduism? One of the oldest religions of humanity The religion of the Indian people Gave birth to _________, _________, _________ Tolerance and diversity: “________________________________" Many deities but a single, impersonal Ultimate Reality A philosophy and a way of life – focused both on this world and beyond

Hinduism This system of beliefs forms the cultural basis of the Indian society, which is highly stratified. The _________________ is an integral part of Hinduism. A ___________ is a hereditary social group limited to persons of the same rank, occupation, etc., and having distinctive mores. _________________ in Hinduism is the individual duty of each person. Dharma is related to the rigid social order of India (caste system), since the caste to which one is born in determines the duty that must be followed.

Caste System Four broad castes exist in Hindu Society: 1.________________ : are the teachers, religious leaders, and scholars. 2.________________ : political leaders and warriors. 3.________________ : are engaged in trades or farming. 4.________________ : are the lowest class and provide services to support the society.

The Untouchables Each of these four broad groups is broken down into subgroups whose relative status is dependent upon their extent of ritual purity (avoidance of contact with unclean objects). Those dealing with death or decaying materials were in the lowest classes of the shudra. At the very bottom of the order are the untouchables (_________), so called, because in the past (and among many Indians today) it is believed that they would contaminate others’ ritual purity if there was any personal contact between them. Untouchables lived in separate communities, had separate wells for water, and in the 19th century, were prohibited from using roads used by other castes.

How did Hinduism begin? No particular founder Indus River Valley Civilization >5000 years ago Aryans enter years ago Vedic Tradition 3500 – 2500 years ago: rituals and many gods (polytheism) sacred texts (Vedas) social stratification (caste system) Upanishads (metaphysical philosophy) 2800 – 2400 years ago Vedic Tradition develops into Hinduism

What are the Sacred Texts? Shruti (“_______”) – oldest, most authoritative: Four Vedas (“truth”) – myths, rituals, chants Upanishads - metaphysical speculation Plus other texts Smriti (“___________”) – the Great Indian Epics: Ramayana Mahabharata (includes ________________) Plus others

What do Hindus believe? One impersonal Ultimate Reality – ___________ Manifest as many personal deities True essence of life – _______________, the soul, is Brahman trapped in matter Reincarnation – atman is continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime (____________) ___________ – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad) Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahman (_______________)

How does Hinduism direct life in this world? Respect for all life – vegetarian Human life as supreme: ___________ “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class ____________ stages of life – student, householder, retired, renunciant ____________ duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha)

Trimurti (Hindu Trinity) Each is a manifestation of the divine Brahman Brahma Vishnu Shiva

Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Brahma, the creator god Brahma is the creator of the universe and all living beings are said to have evolved from him. Brahma is depicted as red in color with four heads, bearded faces, and four arms. His hands hold a kamandalu, his bow or a rosary, a sacrificial ladle, and the Vedas. Brahma is sometimes depicted as sitting on a lotus. The four Vedas are said to have originated from his head. The four castes are also believed to have originated from Brahma.

Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Vishnu, the preserver god Incarnates as ten _________ (descents) including: _______________ (featured in the Ramayana) _______________ (featured in the Mahabharata) (Each shown with his consort, Sita and Radha, respectively)

Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Shiva, god of constructive destruction (the transformer) Appears as Shiva Nataraj, lord of the dance of creation… and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha (the elephant headed remover of obstacles)

What about the goddesses? Devi – the feminine divine ___________, goddess of wisdom, consort of Brahma

What about the goddesses? Devi – the feminine divine ___________, goddess of good fortune, consort of Vishnu

What about the goddesses? Devi – the feminine divine ___________, divine mother, wife of Shiva

What about the goddesses? Devi – the feminine divine ___________, protectress __________, destroyer of demons Plus about 330 million other deities

All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman

And we too are manifest forms of God! “We are not human beings having spiritual experiences; We are spiritual beings having a human experience!” Hinduism is about recognizing the all pervasiveness of the divine

Helpful terms to know: NAMASTE: Namaskar or Namaste is the most popular form of greeting in India. It is a general salutation that is used to welcome someone and also for bidding farewell. While doing namaste, both the palms are placed together and raised below the face to greet a person. It is believed that the right hand represents higher nature, and the left and denotes worldly or lower nature. BINDI: is derived from bindu, the Sanskrit word for dot. It is usually a red dot made with vermilion powder which is worn by women between their eyebrows on their forehead. Considered a symbol of Goddess Parvati, a bindi signifies female energy and is believed to protect women and their husbands. Traditionally a symbol of marriage, it has also become decorative and is worn today by unmarried girls and women as well.

Helpful terms to know: Ahimsa - _____________________________________ Ashram - spiritual community Dharma - duty, religious and social duty, balanced approach Guru - _______________________________________ Karma - cosmic moral law of cause and effect Mantra - _____________________________________ Maya - illusion Puranas - legends that focus on creation and the origins of the gods

Explore Hinduism on the Web: The Hindu UniverseThe Hindu Universe: Lots of information on Hinduism and the Hindu community on-line and around the world. Includes chat rooms and message board forums - The Virtual Hindu Temple:The Virtual Hindu Temple: Contains some interesting and useful pages including: Discover Hindu Gods & Goddesses and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HINDUISM. Also contains a gallery of deity images and a collection of links to Hindu sacred texts online and other sites related to Hinduism - Hindu Gods & Goddesses FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HINDUISM.collection of links Hinduism for SchoolsHinduism for Schools provides basic, introductory info to teach primary and secondary level students about Hinduism -

SOURCES: Shulman, Laura Ellen. “What is Hinduism?” Hinduism. 14 Oct Northern Virginia Community College. 06 Dec /Rel231/lectures/hindu/intro.htm Constantinou, Stavros. “South Asia.” Geography 200. Ohio State. 06 Dec /geography200/