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Classical India, Hinduism, and Buddhism

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1 Classical India, Hinduism, and Buddhism

2 Hinduism Atman: human soul
Brahman: creator of the universe, supreme being Dharma: universal principle of law, order, and harmony; how to live an appropriate life Samsara: rebirth/reincarnation Karma: action or deed that causes samsara Moksha: liberation from samsara

3 Hinduism Devas: Hindu gods
Descend to Earth as avatars to help humans achieve moksha Humans must follow dharma in order to have good karma Karma determines into which caste you are reincarnated Goal is to end samsara and unite your atman with Brahman

4 Varnas in Caste System May have been based on mixing of invading lighter-skinned Aryans and native Indians Brahmin: priests, teachers Kshatriya: warriors, rulers Vaisya: artisans, merchants, farmers, herders Sudra: laborers, peasant farmers Varna, codified in the caste system, originated most likely as the lighter-skinned Aryans migrated into the Gangetic plain, and was used to distinguish themselves from the darker-skinned natives. The system helped to accommodate the constant influx of varied people and immediately defined them in the Indian culture. You were born into your varna, and it was very difficult to move out of it. Jatis, or occupational subgroups, divided the varnas into smaller and more distinct sections in which a person worked, married, and interacted. Untouchables (Dalit): handled corpses and animal skins

5 Hindu Texts Vedas (written by 600 BCE) Upanishads (800-400 BCE)
Collection of poems, hymns, prayers, and rituals Upanishads ( BCE) Mystical interpretations of the Vedas Mahabharata (400 BCE) Epic poem about a battle within a family Bhagavad Gita—Krishna counsels Arjuna Ramayana (400 BCE) Epic poem about duties of relationships

6 Buddhism

7 Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 566-486 BCE)
Wealthy Indian prince Lived luxuriously until he was exposed to suffering Sought to overcome suffering by being an ascetic Followed the Middle Way to achieve nirvana Became the Buddha (“Enlightened One”) Taught others the Four Noble Truths

8 Middle Way Path between indulgence and asceticism
Remove desire and craving for individual fulfillment to end suffering Live modestly, meditate, compassion for all beings Nirvana: enlightenment, extinguishing of the self, removal of greed, hatred, delusion

9 Appeal of Buddhism Egalitarian
No caste system Individual was responsible for spiritual enlightenment No need for Brahmins Buddhist teachings were available in local language Written down as sutras Written in Pali, not Sanskrit Women could participate equally Joined monasteries

10 Changes in Buddhism Mahayana (“Great Vehicle”) branch emerged in st century CE Buddha became divine rather than just a wise teacher Acts of piety and devotion could achieve nirvana Ideas of heaven and hell, salvation Bodhisattvas: teachers who helped others in search of nirvana Mahayana was embraced by more people

11 Mauryan Empire (326-184 BCE) Chandragupta Maurya (r. 322-298 BCE)
United most of India Created a bureaucracy influenced by Persia and Alexander the Great Ashoka (r BCE) Converted to Buddhism Sent out Buddhist missionaries, built monasteries Ended slavery Invested in roads and used diplomacy to deal with neighbors

12 Stupas of Ashoka Built between 269-232 BCE 40-50 feet tall
19 survive of purported 84,000 built by Ashoka

13 Wheel: Ashoka Chakra Symbolic of dharma: following the Middle Way of Buddhism Many placed at holy Buddhist sites Some contained relics of the Buddha

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15 Rock and Pillar Edicts Edicts proclaimed Ashoka’s practice of Buddhism
Communicated laws and policies of his administration Contained ideas about benevolence, moral treatment of people and animals

16 Pataliputra Capital of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires
Population of 150, ,000 Situated on the Ganges River Major economic center and trade hub Architecture influenced by Persian Achaemenid style

17 Mauryan Decline Weak rulers after Ashoka
Unable to manage army and government Invasion by Central Asian kingdoms Bactria and Kushan Empire

18 Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) Golden Age of India Development of chess
Concept of zero, base 10, numerals Studied Earth’s rotation, solar and lunar eclipses Development of chess Built free hospitals Performed inoculations, skin grafts, set broken bones

19 Nalanda Residential university
Specialized in Buddhist studies Massive library Flourished with Gupta government support 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers Students came from Middle East, China, Greece

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21 Mauryan and Guptan Organization
Alliances with Hellenistic kingdoms Regional princes and ministers ruled provinces and districts in empire No main political theory aside from laws Sanskrit promoted as official language of the elite Vast army of 600,000 soldiers and 9,000 war elephants Caste system and village life dominated local politics

22 Mauryan and Guptan Society
Trade along Silk Roads and Indian Ocean ports Merchants had great wealth and high status Economy was primarily agricultural Upper classes controlled most land Majority of population were subsistence-farming peasants

23 Gupta Influence and Decline
Extensive trade with the Middle East and Mediterranean Less with China and Southeast Asia Exported cotton and pepper Gupta Empire collapsed No single language Repetitive invasion of the White Huns Conflict with other local kingdoms

24 Changes in Buddha in Art
For five hundred years there are no representations of the Buddha. Footprints are some of the most widespread art during this time, which includes the dharmachakra, lotus flower, and triratna, which symbolizes the three things Buddhists can take refuge in: The Buddha himself, his teachings, and the sangha (Buddhist community).

25 Changes in Buddha in Art
During the Gupta, we see an early Indian representation of the Buddha. He is thin, has long ears that show how he came from wealth and had heavy earrings, and has a knot in his hair, symbolizing his enlightenment. As Buddhism moves into East Asia, his ethnic characteristics change from Indian to Chinese and Japanese. This statue is in Japan.

26 Various Buddhas

27 Changes in Buddha in Art
From China: The “Laughing Buddha” is popular in East Asia, but is not Siddhartha Gautama. Rather, this is of a Buddhist monk named Budai, who was known for being jovial and spreading good cheer. He is often associated with the Maitreya, or future Buddha, who will bring back Buddhist teachings when they become forgotten.

28 Comparing Buddhism to Hinduism
Similarities Ordinary life is an illusion Karma and samsara Meditation Hope for moksha Specific to Hinduism Need for rituals and Brahmins Caste system


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