1. The document describes key concepts in Hinduism and India's caste system. It explains the goals of life in Hinduism which are to free the soul from the body and unite it with Brahman, reaching moksha. 2. It outlines the Hindu concepts of karma, dharma, reincarnation, and maya. Karma determines one's fate in future lives based on current deeds. Dharma refers to caste rules and moral laws. Reincarnation involves the soul taking new physical forms until moksha is reached. Maya obscures the true knowledge of Brahman. 3. The caste system placed Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaish

1. Nandi, Ganesha, Shiva and Parvati Sitting in front of Lingam
1 Nandi

2. Early Indian History
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3. ARYANS
CASTE SYSTEM
(Light Skin Invaders)
CREATED. . .
DRAVIDIANS
(Dark Skin Native ORIGINALLY BASED ON
inhabitants of India) VARNA (COLOR)
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3

4. 3
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5. Rise of universal monarchy
 Approximately 4th BCE
 326 BCE invasion by
Alexander the Great. He
dies 323 BCE. What
happens next?
 Greeks make agreement
with the growing Northern
Empire of Chandragupta
Maurya
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6. Mauryan Empire
Greeks leave India
Chandragupta takes over as
leader of the Mauryan Empire –
4th BCE
Capital = MAGADA (note
location)
MAGADHA
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7. Chandragupta’s reign (321 BCE)
 Extends empire from Hindu Kush to Bay of Bengal
but…
Can’t Conquer All of India
Interesting Fact
 Machiavelli (an Italian)
wrote The Prince
 Kautiliya
Wrote the Arthasastra or The Science of
Government . . . 10 centuries before The
Prince
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8. Asoka’s Reign (269-232 BCE)
 Succeeded Chandragupta
 Warfare causes ASOKA’s conversion from
HINDUISM to BUDDHISM
 “Ashoka’s edicts” were carved in rock
Emphasized:
– Equality: there was flexibility in the
caste system
– Peace: non-violence to all living Asoka (Ashoka)
creatures the Great
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9. Asoka’s accomplishments
 Spread Buddhist philosophy
Built stupas
 Public works…
Hospitals, Veterinary clinics,
Bathhouses,
wells, rest-houses for travelers
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9

10. Stupa built by Asoka
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11. Gupta Empire 4th - 6th CE (320- 535)
 Founded by Chandra Gupta I (no relation to the
earlier one)
 Great period of prosperity
 (the “Golden Age of the Guptas”)
 Accomplishments:
Art, literature, trade, poetry, math (Indian
mathematicians contributions to study of decimal
number system, zero, negative numbers,
arithmetic, and algebra.)
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12. India’s Caste System
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13. H IN D U I
S M
an
d
C AS T
E
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14. H i n d u /C a s t e
C o nc e p ts
 A tma n
E s s e n t i a l s e l f
( t h e “ s o u l” )
S e l f i s p a r t o f a
u n iv e r s a l
s oul (B ra hma n)
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15. H i n d u /C a s t e
C o nc e p ts
R e in c a r n a t io n
R e b i r t h o f the s o u l
in v a r io u s
( te m p o r a r y) fo r m s
C o n t i n u e s u n t i l o n e
re a c he s moks ha
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16. M a y a …B l o c k s k n o w l e d g e
o f B ra hma n & p re ve nts o ne
f r o m r e a c h in g m o k s h a
Are you “Living In a Material World” ???
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17. A Hindu dies and it is the. . .
G o a l o f lif e t o
F r e e t h e s o u l ( a t m a n ) f r o m
b o d y t o u n it e w it h B r a h m a n
R e le a s e f r o m t h e
p h y s ic a l w o r ld &
u n if ic a t io n w /
B r a h m a n is . . .
*M o k s h a
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18. K a rma
…s a ys e v e r y d e e d
( m e n t a l o r p h y s ic a l) in
t h is lif e a f f e c t s a
p e r s o n ’ s f a t e in a
f u t u r e lif e ( Yo u R e a p
W h a t Yo u S o w . )
K a r m a . . . i s t h e s u m o r
to ta l ( o f d h a r m a s ) fr o m
y o u r p a s t liv e s .
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19. D ha rma
D u t ie s & o b lig a t io n s
O b e d ie n c e t o c a s t e
r u le s & m o r a l la w s
( C a s t e R u le s C r it e r ia )
– R it u a lly P u r e
P r a c t ic e s
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20. R a n k in g C a s t e B y R it u a l
P u r it y
1. Vegetarianism
2. No Alcohol
3. Occupations
4. Accepting Food
5. Religious Rites
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21. What can you tell about the Caste system from
these village maps?
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22. H in d u
C o nc e p ts
 C a s te S ys te m
P a n c h a y a t – F o u n d i n
t r a d it io n a l v illa g e In d ia
S t r i c t s o c i a l /r e l i g i o u s
orde r
B o r n i n t o & r e m a i n e d f o r
lif e
R e s u l t o f ‘ k a r m a ’
B r a h m i n s = c l o s e s t t o
moks ha 22

23. H in d u
C o nc e p ts
C a s te S ys te m
B r a h m i n s = P r ie s t s ,
s c h o la r s ( c lo s e s t t o
m s h a t ra y a s = W a r r i o r s ,
oks h i )
•K
R a il s y a s = M e r c h a n t s ,
V u e rs
•
C ra fts m e n
•S u d r a s = L a b o r e r s ,
S e rfs
•D a l i t s = O u t c a s t e s ( W a s t e
R e m o v a l)
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24. H in d u
C o nc e p ts
D a l i t s = O utc a s te s ,
U n t o u c h a b le s
Peasants, Laborers doing the dirtiest
work and jobs in society
This Work is considered “ritually impure”
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