1. Caste System & Hinduism
World History

2. Vedic Age ( BCE)
Sacred literature of the Aryans are called the Vedas
Passed down by elders orally
Four collections of spells, prayers, and instructions for rituals
Rig Veda most important

3. India’s Vedic Age (1500-500 B.C.E.)
Creation of the Caste System
Aryan society was divided into four groups that were based on occupation
Groups became more rigid as they had more contact with non-Aryan people
Caste determined where you could work, who you could marry, who you could eat with, etc…
Each caste represented a different part of the creator god Brahma

4. India’s Vedic Age (1500-500 B.C.E.)
The four major castes
The Brahmins- the priest caste, believed to have emerged from Brahma's mouth
The Kshatriyas- the warrior or ruling caste, believed to have emerged from Brahma's arms
The Vaishyas- the merchants or artisan caste believed to have emerged from Brahma's thighs
The Shudras- the unskilled laborers and servant caste, believed to have emerged from Brahma's feet

5. India’s Vedic Age (1500-500 B.C.E.)
The “untouchables” or Dalits
Those too impure and unclean to be within the caste system
Called untouchables because it is believed they were not created by Brahma and are unclean
“Untouchability” was made illegal in 1950 when India adopted its constitution, but the law is hard to enforce in rural India where most of the population is located

6. Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism
Hindus believe in one, all-knowing Supreme Being called Brahman
This being is both creator and reality

7. Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism
Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas
The world’s most ancient scripture
Hindus believe that the universe goes through endless cycles of creation and destruction

8. Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism
Hindus believe in karma
The law of cause and effect by which an individual creates his/her destiny through his/her actions
Affects the caste you are born into, how wealthy you are, your health, etc.

9. Beliefs & Practices of Hinduism
Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates
The soul evolves through many births until all karma is resolved and the soul achieves moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth
No one is deprived of this destiny

10. Beliefs and Practices of Hinduism
Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others
All genuine paths are facets of God’s true light and should be treated with tolerance and respect

11. Gods of Hinduism Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic religions
They recognize a single deity or universal soul (Brahman), and view other gods and goddesses as manifestations of Brahman, and accept existence or possible existence of other gods
Different Hindu communities may have their own deities (gods) whom they worship
Different ways of approaching the ultimate goal

12. Three Principle Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
Hindus recognize Brahma as the creator of the world and all its creatures
He has four heads, each representing one of the four Vedas
He is the least worshipped god in Hinduism today (only two temples devoted to him)

13. Three Principle Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
Preserver of the universe
Lord of protection, sustenance, and maintenance
Has links to a very early sun god and is considered by his worshippers to be the greatest among the gods

14. Three Principle Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva
Destroyer and re-creator of the universe
Necessary because without destruction there can be no recreation
Source of both good and evil, where opposites meet