The origins of Hinduism can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilization and the arrival of the Aryans in India in around 1500 BCE. The Aryans developed the caste system and their religious beliefs were documented in the Vedas. Key Hindu texts like the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita explored philosophical concepts like Brahman, karma, dharma and samsara. In the post-classical period, Hinduism evolved to emphasize devotion to major gods like Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Modern Hinduism has been influenced by encounters with other religions and grapples with issues like the caste system and role of Hinduism in a democratic India.

1. Chapter Four
Hinduism

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The Origins of Hinduism
Pre-Aryan India
•Very little is known about the pre-Aryan
people of India
– Archeology has revealed that the civilization
of the Indus Valley was advanced and
included a written language
– Many statutes and amulets (possibly a fertility
god) suggested a religious belief
– Ceremonial buildings were also found

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The Origins of Hinduism
The Coming of the Aryans
•Aryan has been used to describe many
peoples, but it includes North Indians
– In Sanskrit, it means the “noble ones”
– They were believed to have migrated to the
Indus Valley and were organized in tribes with
chiefs called rajas
– Aryan society developed three classes, or
varnas

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The Origins of Hinduism
• Aryan Classes
– Brahmins
• Highly regarded priests
– Kshatriyas
• Chieftains and their warriors
– Vaishyas
• Commoners and merchants
– Shudras
• Slaves or servants (not full members of society)

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The Origins of Hinduism
Aryan Religion
•Polytheistic – often in the form of
personifications of nature
– Possibly a link to ancient animistic religion
•Worship – open air sacrifices on altars and
in fire
•Horse sacrifice

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The Vedic Era
The Vedas
•The Vedas are the oldest sacred book of
Hinduism
– Four basic books:
• The Rig-Veda is the most important
• Yajur-Veda
• Sama-Veda
• Atharva-Veda

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The Vedic Era
The Vedas
•Each book is divided into four parts:
– Hymns
– Ritual materials
– Forest Treatises
– Upanishads
• Philosophical works
•How does the Veda’s format compare to
Western religions texts?

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The Vedic Era
The Upanishads
•These early philosophical statements
became the basis of Hinduism
– Humans have a false knowledge when they
believe that this life and our separation from
the Brahman are real
• Brahman is an impersonal god-like being
– There is one true reality in the universe –
Brahman

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The Vedic Era
The Upanishads
•The living beings that make up our world
are only expressions of the Brahman
•Human beings are bound up in the world of
illusions and ignorance
– Karma: every action or thought has a
consequence
• Does that definition of Karma sync up with our
Western understanding of it?

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The Vedic Era
The Law of Manu
•Traditional Indian literature produced
around the same time as the Vedas
•The Varna system (class system):
– The first three classes are “twice born,” and
the Shudras are “once born”
– Members of each group have dharma or
duties that they must obey

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The Vedic Era
The Law of Manu
•The Law of Manu included early
understanding of reincarnation
•Another central teaching is that upper caste
men are expected to pass through various
stages of life
• Student
• Householder
• Hermit

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The Vedic Era
Jainism and Buddhism
•Both Jainism and Buddhism broke from
Hinduism by teaching that personal
achievement, not ritual sacrifice, was the
path to obtaining release from life
– Jainism taught asceticism, whereas Buddhism
did not believe that the extremes of
asceticism were necessary

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The Vedic Era
Bhagavad Gita
•This epic poem is about a great battle and
relates the struggles of heroes and gods
– The basic teaching of the Bhagavad Gita is
that people should perform the duties of their
caste and thus avoid karma
– The Gita is open to a variety of religious
expression – people can achieve release
through many means

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Postclassical Hinduism
• After the classical period ended, interest
evolved in worshiping only a few gods
• The major gods were seen as taking an
interest in human affairs
• By the end of the classical period,
scholars have noted a more pessimistic,
life-denying attitude amongst Indians

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Postclassical Hinduism
Devotion to Three Major Gods
•Brahman
– Creator of the world
•Shiva
– “The destroyer” – the god of death, disease,
destruction, and dance
•Vishnu
– The god of love, benevolence, and
forgiveness

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Postclassical Hinduism
Devotion to Knowledge
•People could choose one or more of the
gods to devote themselves to
•Another acceptable path was the “way of
knowledge,” which refers to the following
systems of philosophy:
– Sankhya, Yoga, Mimansa, Vaisheshika,
Nyaya, and Vedanta

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Muslim Influences in India
• Portions of India were conquered by
Muslim forces in the classical period
• Today, there are more Muslims on the
Indian subcontinent than anywhere else
on Earth
– India has a Muslim population second only in
size to Indonesia
• Indian society has adopted parts of
Muslim culture

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Modern Hinduism
• One of the most important modern
influences on Hinduism has been
exposure to Christianity and its European
and American representatives
• Those exposures led to internal religious
reform movements
– One of the most famous is Mohandas K.
Ghandi, who worked to bring political and
social benefits to Indians under British rule

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Modern Hinduism
• Another modern issue is the caste system
– Unlike the ancient varnas system, the modern
caste system allows for little interaction
between the classes
– The life of the lowest cast, called
“untouchables,” is full of low wages and poor
living and working conditions
– Traditional Hinduism seems to support
people’s placement in the caste system as
evidence of karma

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Hindu Holy Days
• Because of the large number of gods and
goddesses, Hinduism has many festivals
and feasts
– Millions of Hindus make an annual pilgrimage
to the Ganges River to bath and renew their
vows
• Holi
– The most popular festival
– Celebrates spring

21. Hindu Holy Days
• Divali
– The Hindu new year and festival of lights
– Celebration of Kali and Lakshmi
• Dasehra
– Nine days in October to celebrate in honor of
Durga, a consort of Shiva
– It celebrates Durga’s victory over the buffalo
demon
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22. Hinduism Today
• India, which is the primary home of
Hinduism, is the world’s largest
democracy
– That fact has put Hinduism in conflict with
modern questions like birth control and
urbanization
• In other parts of the world, Hindus face
minority religious status and issues of
assimilation
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