1. Origins of Hinduism
The Beginnings…

2. Pre-Aryan India Migratory waves during 2nd millennium BCE
Mingling b/w natives and Aryans resulted in Hinduism
Little known about pre-Aryan India
Indus Valley-large scale civilization
Elaborate drainage

3. Pre-Aryan India 40,000 people/city Brick house w/ bath and running H2O
Written language
Statues of Gods/desses
Ceremonial buildings

4. Coming of the Aryans What is an Aryan?
N. Indians, Western Asians and Europeans
“The Noble Ones”
Indo-European language
B/W BCE
Invasion or move? Evidence of both

5. What is an Aryan? Organized by tribal lines RAJAS-chiefs who lead
6th century settled in Indus Valley
Developed into 3 classes-VARNAS
Priests: BRAHMINS
Chiefs/warriors: KSHATRIYAS
Commoners/merchants: VAISHYAS
Slaves/servants: SHUDRAS (not considered full society members)

6. Aryan Religion Brought w/ them polytheism
Personifications of sun, moon, storms, fertility
Sacrifice was chief manner of worship
Nomadic = alters, not temples
Animals, dairy products→ fire
Soma Plant – Hallucinations; lost in modern world

7. The Aryan Religion

8. The Vedas
As the Aryans mingled with the natives, the sacred Hindu texts were developed
Source of Hindu understanding of universe
Developed as Aryans migrated and settled
Four basic books
Rig Veda
Yajur Veda
Sama Veda
Atharava Veda

9. Rig Veda Most important Knowledge Collection of 1,000 hymns to Gods
Basic mythology of Gods

10. Arthava Veda Second most important Knowledge given by sage Arthava
Rituals, prayers and spells to ward off evil

11. Yajur Veda “Knowledge of rites”
Collection of material to be recited during sacrifice

12. Sama Veda Knowledge of chants
Collection of verses from basic hymns recited by priests at sacrifices

13. Four Sections of Veda Books
Mantras
Hymns to Gods
Religious poetry
Statements memorized, chanted and passed to generations
Brahmanas
Ritual materials
Proper instructions
Sacrifices

14. Four Sections of Veda Books
Arayankas
Forest treatises
Materials for hermits in religious pursuits
Upanishads
Philosophical materials
Basic Indian philosophy

15. From the Rig Veda…