1.  In your opinion what is the purpose of religion?  What the benefits to belonging to a religion?  What are some aspects that all religions share and have in common? DO NOW…

2. REVIEW MOHENJO DARO

3.  Approximately 1500 B.C.E. a nomadic and pastoral people who spoke the Indo-European language passed through the Hindu Kush mountains.  They called themselves “ Aryans ” or “ noble people. ”  They established small herding and agricultural communities throughout northern India.  Their migrations took place over several centuries.  Intermarried and laid social and cultural foundations that influenced Indian society to present day ENTER THE ARYANS

4.  The Aryans brought with them their own language, called Sanskrit and religious and cultural beliefs.  The Indus Valley people eventually became intermixed with the Aryan people and the two cultures together make up what is now much of the culture of modern India.  Hinduism, the major religion of India, was a mixture of Aryan and Indus Valley beliefs.  The caste system, which keeps people in strict social classes, was brought to India by the Aryans. TWO CULTURES COMBINE

5.  Early texts  Hymns and Poems  Religious Prayers  Magic Spells  Gods and Goddesses VERDIC AGE

6. ORIGINS OF HINDUISM AAryans brought their r eligious beliefs with them. Their early religious books- the V edas - tell about their many nature gods As they conquered different people, they i ncluded conquered religious beliefs w ith their o ld beliefs.

7. This is why Hinduism is so different from the other major world religions. Hinduism is the only major world religion that does not have a starting point. It just developed out of ancient polytheism, combining many belief systems as time went on. With this background, Hindus have many different beliefs and many different religious practices. (There is not one way to “ be Hindu.”

8. “GOD IN HINDUISM” Hindus worship many gods and goddesses, but they believe all the gods and goddesses are part of the single all-powerful force (God) called Brahman. Brahman is a spirit and is too complicated for humans to understand. The many gods and goddesses help us understand things about Brahman (God).

9. MAIN GODS/GODDESSES Brahma Vishnu Shiva

10. BRAHMA Brahma- the Creator

11. Vishnu- Preserver- a kind god who cares about people. He sometimes visits Earth in different forms to help humans.

12. SHIVA Shiva- Destroyer doesn’t care about people. Sometimes destroys, but creates again.

13.  Samsara is the wheel of rebirth which means the soul is reborn from one life form to another.  People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower level of existence depending on their karma from their present life.  People may be reborn as plants or animals or they may be elevated to a higher caste as a human.  Death is not final for Hindus as they expect to be reborn many times REINCARNATION

14. KARMA & DHARMA  Karma: “action” or “deeds”  Every action produces a Justified effect based on its moral worthiness.  Karma determines all the particular circumstances and Situations of one’s life.  Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. The word is the closest equivalent to “religion.”

15. FOUR STAGES OF LIFE Stage One: Student stage Stage Two: Householder Stage Three: Forest-dweller --after the birth of first grandchild Stage Four: Sannyasin - wondering ascetic

16.  What do the Mouth, Arms, Thighs, and Feet Represent?

17. Sudras(Non-Aryan) Farm Workers, Servants, Laborers Farm Workers, Servants, Laborers Vaishyas Herders, Farmers, Artisans, Merchants KshatriyasWarriors BrahminsPriests

18. ProsCons THE CASTE SYSTEM

19.  Could the caste system work in the United States today? This is a good opportunity to practice your writing skills! EXIT SLIP