Transcript Hinduism Origins

HRT3M – World Religions
Hinduism
Harmony and Tolerance
Harmony and Tolerance
Harmony and Tolerance
Tolerance and Harmony
Tolerance and Harmony
Hinduism
There is only one God,
but endless are his
aspects and endless
are his names. Call
him by any name
and worship him in
any aspect that
pleases you, you are
sure to see him Shri
Ramakrishna, quoted in Prabhavananda
(1836-1886)
History:
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Hinduism is simply the
religion of the people of
India, which has
gradually developed
over four thousand
years.
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The origins and authors
of its sacred texts are
largely unknown
History – The Indus River Valley
Civilization

early as 7000 BC
peaked 2300 to 2000
BC,
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traded with
Mesopotamia.
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The original settlers
were nomadic hunters.
They domesticated
animals and grew barley
History – The Indus River Valley
Civilization Cont.

Our understanding of this religion is based on
physical evidence alone.
Baths
Meaning???
Terracotta figures
Seal
Prototype for Shiva???
Or Mesopotamian seal
History – The Indus River Valley
Civilization Cont.

religion focuses on
fertility
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Sculptures
suggested fertility
goddess – early
version of Hindu
goddesses Paravarti
and Kali ??
???
History – The Indus River Valley
Civilization Cont.

Like the Egyptians
they also had a male
god on a bull ,
possibly a
predecessor of
Shiva.
???

they buried objects
with their dead.

had taboos,
especially about
cleanliness.
History – The Indus River Valley
Civilization and the Aryan Invasion
2 Hypothesis
A) Aryan Invasion
or
B) Gradual Integration

Aryans brought their Sanskrit language and Vedic religion
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The original inhabitants - Dravidian (language and culture) became
subordinate to that of the invading peoples.
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By the end of the 2nd millennium these 2 cultures gave rise to what
would become modern Hinduism – a conscious expressions of
Aryan ethnicity found in the Rig Veda (Religious Sanskrit text)
Rig Veda
History – Aryan Culture – Evolution
of Hinduism

Aryan tribal kings evolved into autocratic rulers.

Kings allied themselves with priests – why??

Aryans and Dravidians settled alongside each
other resulting in a social hierarchy – caste
system

Caste legitimized and enforced by religious
conviction
Interpret!
The Caste System
Caste System
Established 600 BC

One’s caste is the result of
their accumulation of Karma
during past lifetimes

The higher your caste, the
more you are respected, the
greater your religious
responsibility

Your route to Brahman (how
you pray and how you work)
is predetermined by your
caste.
Sacred Text

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Vedas Hinduism earliest sacred texts – doctrines and
still today, considered Hinduism authoritative scripture
Sacred literature: early hymns, magical chants spells
and sacrificial formulae
Development of
The Vedas
1500-800 BC
Pre-Epic Period—
the Upanishads
800-500BC
Establishment of
the caste system
600BC
The Epic Period
500-200 BC
Popular Religion
Buddhism
Jainism
The Epic Period 500 – 200 BC
The Vedas – Religion for the higher
castes only
The Epics – Religion for the masses:


1.
2.
3.
4.
Stories telling of the battle
between good and evil
Introduces religious concepts
Cosmology
Yoga (Yoke)
Trinity
Avatars
Islam in India

Islam arrived in North
India in the 12th
Century

A history of both
conflict and integration

India / Pakistan
partition 1947
British Raj in
India

British rule in the Indian
subcontinent between 1858
and 1947

Coined term “Hindu”
adherents of Indian religion
(not Muslim)

Gandhi led India to
independence and inspired
movements for nonviolence
Hinduism Today
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The world's third largest religion, after
Christianity and Islam
950 million followers -- about 14% of the
world's population.
It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and
among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Hinduism in Canada
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In Canada there are about 297,200 practicing
Hindus and 70 temples (2001 census)
Hindu Temple, Toronto
Hindu Temple – Ottawa Carleton
Hinduism Today – Wrap up!
Hinduism differs from Christianity and other
monotheistic religions in that it does not have:
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a single founder, Explain
a single concept of deity, Explain
a single holy text, Explain
a single system of morality, Explain
a central religious authority, Explain
the concept of a prophet. Explain
Summary

Hinduism is the world's oldest organized
religion. It consists of "thousands of different
religious groups that have evolved in India
since 1500 BCE."

Because of the wide variety of Hindu
traditions, freedom of belief and practice are
notable features of Hinduism.