1. Early Indian Religious Texts
Vedas, Upanishads, mahabharata, ramayana

2. The Vedas
There are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.
The Vedas are the primary texts of Hinduism. They also had a vast influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
The Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, was composed about 1500 B.C., and it was finally committed to writing probably at some point after 300 B.C.
The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. Along with the Book of the Dead, they are among the most ancient religious texts still in existence.
Besides their spiritual value, they also give a unique view of everyday life in India four thousand years ago. The Vedas are also the most ancient extensive texts in an Indo-European language, and as such are invaluable in the study of comparative linguistics.

3. In your literature textbook:
Read background p. 178
Read two hymns from the Rig Veda
Creation Hymn on p. 180
Night on p. 181

4. Upanishads The Upanishads are a continuation of the Vedic philosophy.
They were written between 800 and 400 B.C.
They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and meditation, as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a persons' actions.

5. In your literature textbook:
Read background p. 189
Read from the Upanishads.
The Mystery of the Brahman on p.188

6. The Epics: Mahabharata
The Mahabharata and Ramayana are the national epics of India.
The Mahabharata, attributed to the sage Vyasa, was written down from 540 to 300 B.C.
The Mahabharata tells the legends of the Bharatas, a Vedic Aryan group.
A key Hindu sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita, is embedded in Book Six of the Mahabharata.

7. In your literature textbook:
Read background p. 190.
Read from the Mahabharata
Yoga of Knowledge from the Bhagavad-Gita on pp

8. In your literature textbook:
Read background p. 190.
Read from the Mahabharata
Sibi on pp

9. The Epics: Ramayana
The Ramayana, attributed to the poet Valmiki, was written down during the first century A.D., although it is based on oral traditions that go back six or seven centuries earlier.
The Ramayana is a moving love story with moral and spiritual themes that has deep appeal in India to this day.

10. In your literature textbook:
Read background p. 190.
Read from Ramayana
Rama and Ravana in Battle on pp