The Foundation of Indian Society From Aryans to Ashoka The Foundation of Indian Society

Hindu Origin Myth A lotus flower grew from Vishnu’s navel In the middle of the blossom sat Vishnu's servant, Brahma Vishnu spoke to his servant, "It's time to begin…create the world”

Harappan Civilization The key to early Indian civilization is the city of Harappa in modern-day Pakistan, discovered in 1921 Archaeologists then discovered Mohenjo Daro in 1922, a bronze age Manhattan

Sanskrit & the Vedic Hymns Like Latin, Sanskrit is no longer a spoken language…locals still use it to memorize their peoples’ earliest scriptures, the Vedic Hymns, older than the Holy Bible by at least 1500 years

MOTHER = “Mater” In Latin “Meter” in Greek “Matar” in Sanskrit Aryan Migration FATHER = “Pater” In Greek & Latin “Pitar” In Sanskrit MOTHER = “Mater” In Latin “Meter” in Greek “Matar” in Sanskrit Mahabarata Ramayana

Hinduism Atman (Spirit) Karma (Good Deeds) Brahman (World Soul) Atman (Individual Soul) Dharma (Duty) Moksha (Liberation) Karma (Actions)

Hindu Holy Trinity Brahma (Creator) Vishnu (Preserver) Shiva (Destroyer)

Hindu Caste System

Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama (563-486 BCE) Wandered for six years before finally coming to Bodh Gaya Core of Buddhism are the “Four Noble Truths” Following the “eight-fold” path of non-violence will lead to supreme enlightenment

Persian Empire Greatest power on earth was the Persian Empire, stretching from Greece to India Founded by Cyrus the Great and expanded by Darius I Alexander the Great then overthrew the Persians and conquered the region

Jainism Kaivalva (Detachment) Ahimsa (Non-Violence)

Vardhamana Mahavira Arguably, the greatest Jain teacher was Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara (omniscient teacher) Tirthankara is a person who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth, providing a bridge to Moksha

Mauryan Empire Chandragupta Maurya would found the Mauryan Empire, forerunner of modern India Patna stretched for 10 miles along the bank of the Ganges River Patna was such an important site, that seven capital cities would be built on its ruins

Ashoka Ashoka was a brutal king who built a prison called Agam Kuan…but after the Battle of Kalinga, the king grew to regret his conquest, renounced war, and turned to Buddhism

Conclusion