Classical India

Unit 10

Hinduism One of the worlds oldest religions.Practiced by most in India today.Developed as a blend of Aryan and Indian indigenous beliefs.Origins are difficult to trace. (No Founder)Evolved over thousands of years and influenced by various cultures and people.Practices differ from place to placeA few teachings are fundamental by all.

BrahmanBelief in Brahman: eternal being that created and preserves the world. Everything in the world in an aspect of Brahman, including humans.Human mind not capable of understanding. Everyone has an atman: a soul that shapes your personality. Can not be destroyed, even in death. Various manifestations of Brahman called devas (day-vuhs) help to maintain order.Devas: Brahman the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Siva the destroyer. Some Hindus believe in more, others believe in one.

Rebirth & Salvation

The universe and everyone in it are part of a continual pattern of birth, death, and rebirth.

In death the atman is released and later reborn in another. Called Reincarnation.

The nature of the person’s new life will be shaped by his or her Karma: the sum effect of his or her deeds and actions during life.

Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal is Moksha: escape from the cycle of rebirth, worldly cares, difficulties, and the atman reunites with Brahman.

To achieve this you have to fulfill your dharma: set of spiritual duties and obligations.

Dharma is based on your class and station in life and fulfilling this creates good Karma.

Sacred Texts

The Vedas: sacred hymns of praise, earliest writings. Revealed to them by Brahman.

Later writings inspired by the Vedas: include the upanishads are reflections on the Vedas also revealed by Brahman.

Sacred epics: bases on themes found in the vedas but composed by sages. What it means to live by vedic teachings.

The Vedas

Practices

Worship can take place anywhereRecite the vedas to worshippersFood or gift offeringsImages of a deva brought forthMeditation: silent reflection and prayer. Yoga: to help meditate some perform physical and mental exercises to focus body and mind. Some even make a pilgrimage to a holy site.

Social orderThe religion secretly had a way of keeping people in line.Reincarnation gave the poor hope for a better life. Those in lower levels were inclined to accept their role and hope for a better one next time. Divided into 4 social classes called varnasMembership in a caste determines what jobs one can hold.

Buddhism Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism can be traced back to a single founder; Siddhartha Guatama, also called the Buddha (enlightened one).Most of what we know come from Buddhist literature some written centuries after his death. Born 500’s B.C.E. A Hindu prince had a sheltered life. His life changed when he realized the hardships of life and wanted to stop the suffering of others. To find this new path he gave up all his possessions and left his palace.

Buddha's New PathSought enlightenment or spiritual understanding. Began living in the forest begging for food.He studied with teachers called gurus and monks but left them because he felt they could not teach him how to end suffering. He sat under a tree day and night until he thought of it himself.After many temptation he arose enlightened. This spot is now a sacred place where a temple has been built.

Buddhist beliefs:The Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering is a part of human life. No one can escape from suffering while alive.

2. Suffering comes from people’s desires for pleasure and material goods.

3. Overcoming these desires during life eventually brings suffering to an end.

4. Desires can be overcome by following the eightfold path.

Buddhist beliefs:The Eightfold Path1. Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four

Noble Truths.2. Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all

things.3. Right speech, or avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful

words.4. Right action, or treating others fairly.5. Right livelihood, or avoiding jobs that could bring

harm to others.6. Right effort, or constantly trying to improve

oneself.7. Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of the

world around one.8. Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and

discomfort while meditating.

Buddhist beliefs:The goal

Those that followed the Eightfold path could attain nirvana: a state of perfect peace in which the soul would be free from suffering forever. If you do not attain nirvana then you will be reborn to live again until you do. The teachings can be boiled down to or simplified to the Middle Way: live in moderation and avoid extremes.

Divisions of BuddhismWhen Buddha dies there were differences in some of the teachings. They would split and felt their teachings were closer to Buddha.

Three main traditions:

Theravada: Buddha is not a god, oldest tradition, sacred writings, best way to achieve nirvana is to become a monk.

Mahayana: Believe Buddha is a god, they can help each other find enlightenment, texts used are after Buddha’s life.

Tibetan: similar to the others but have special techniques to harness spiritual energy and achieve nirvana in a single lifetime.

Buddhism spreadsHinduism remained an Indian religion. Buddhism continued to spread after Buddha’s death. A later emperor of an Indian Empire named Asoka (Ashoka) became a Buddhist and sent missionaries to other lands to spread the religion. The religion also spread through trade with other civilizations. It spread throughout Asia, including China (it blended many Chinese philosophies), Sri Lanka, Japan, and Korea. The religion is very diverse with a wide arrange of practices.

Buddhism spreads

Mauryan Empire

1st Indian empire started by Chandragupta Mauryan

Many small states conquered by one of the small states.

Alexander the Great influences unification.

War Elephants!

Mauryan cont.

Strong centralized government.Government controlled economy. Divided the empire into districts and appointed generals to ruleCapital: Pataliputra Farmers: paid taxes and rent for land, funded the government and the armyAshoka considered their greatest emperor.

Conquers most of India.Appalled by war in the East and converts to Buddhism.After his death leads to chaos and the fall of the Empire.India is split into many small kingdoms and for 400 years India is divided

The Gupta Empire

320 A.D. Re-united under Founder: Chandra Gupta Less centralized government. Hinduism spreads. Chandra Gupta II considered Golden age. Economy and culture at its height. Samudra Gupta (son) extended the empireChandra Gupta II: ruled from 375-415, extended the empire, empire reached its height

End of Gupta Rule

Began to weaken in the late 400sWhite Huns began to invadeDisrupted trade550: Gupta rule ended and India returned to small regional kingdoms

Life in Gupta India

Civilization: trade increased and economy strengthened, cities prospered and traditions developed under Gupta.

Growth of TradeTrade: Silk Road and by sea. Silk Road: a network of routes stretching from China 4,000 miles across the heart of Asia to the Mediterranean Sea. It linked China, India, Middle East, and the Roman Empire. Exchanged cashmere, cotton, ivory, and spices for Chinese silk and Roman ceramics and more. Also spread ideas (ex. religion)

Life in Gupta IndiaDaily Life

New class: bankers and moneylenders emergedVillages: self-sufficient, held religious festivals

Social Structure

Castes grew and developed rules and customs

Legal codes: defined people’s role in Gupta India

Gender: men (more rights, patriarchal) women (marry and have children)

A Gupta Golden AgeCultural and scientific achievements

Sanskrit LiteratureWriter: Kalidasa, poet and playwright

Art and ArchitectureArtwork: religious focus, paintings, statuesBuildings: temples and monuments carved out of rock, Ajanta and Ellora (famous ones)

Science and TechnologyMetallurgy: the science of working with metalsMath: symbol for zero, Hindu-Arabic numeralsMedicine: made medicines from plants and animals, performed surgery,Astronomy: identified 7 planets, predict eclipses, Aryabhata-Earth rotates on axis and revolves around the Sun