The Indus River Valley/Aryans/Hinduism

The Indus River Valley Civilization, the Aryans, and Hinduism

objectives: 1. Be able to discuss the origins of Indian civilization along the Indus River Valley. 2. Be able to discuss the characteristics of the ancient Indus River Valley civilizations and to relate these features to Hinduism. 3. Be able to discuss the important concepts of the Hindu religion as illustrated in the Upanishads and the film The Long Search: Hinduism. 4. Be able to discuss the Aryan invasion and the characteristics of Aryan society. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Why has India historically lagged behind the west in technological development? After studying the Upanishads and other Vedic texts, can you see any reasons for this state of affairs which are related to their religious views? Why does the caste system still remain influential in India today? How can this be explained on the basis of their religious views? After studying this unit, do you think the phrase "Third World" is a fair description of Indian civilization? India developed what many historians refer to as "The Empire of the Spirit." Hinduism is one of the world's most tolerant religions, in which reverence for life in all its various forms is a key tenet. The Vedic literature spoke of an Absolute Spirit which encompassed all, and raised humanity to new heights as the quintessential expression of the Divine. Even the ancient Indus River Valley culture reflects these ideals, giving evidence of a peace-loving society which valued cleanliness and purity. These are still the ideals of India today, which stands as the world's oldest culture in continuous existence. They reckon ill who leave me out; When me they fly, I am the wings; I am the doubter and the doubt; And I the hymn the Brahmin sings. If the red slayer thinks he slays, or if the slain think he is slain, They know not well the subtle ways I keep, and pass, and turn again. Emerson, Brahma

OUTLINE I. Origins of Indian Civilization A. The Indus and Ganges Rivers B. origin of words "India" and "Hindu" i. importance of Sanskrit C. importance of Indian culture for western society i. Arabic numerals ii. mathematics iii. rta -- unified world order iv. use of iron, steel, cotton cloth II. Early centers of Indian civilization A. Harappa and Mohenjo Daro (be able to locate these centers on a map!!!!) B. First discoveries -- 1850's i. the British in India: the fate of Harappa ii. clay seals -- later Hindu features iii. writing -- undeciphered a)character of language and relation to other cultures in region C. Character of cities i. Well planned cities ii. buildings -- aspects of later Hinduism iii. water supply -- and Hinduism i. citadels -- great bath in Mohenjo Daro iv. toys vs. weapons -- and Hinduism v. modern features -- granaries in Harrapa D. The Decline of Harappan culture i. abandonment of ports 1900 b.c. ii. decline in construction of homes, quality of pottery iii. hypotheses -- a) buildup of alkalines in soil b) flooding and Mohenjo Daro c) violent invasion i. skeletons ii. Rig Veda and the Aryans III. The Aryan Culture A. origins in Asia i. conquest of North India ii. The Rig Veda: a) the warriors and the conquered: Indra b) the beginnings of Hinduism: i) Parusha of 1,000 eyes ii) The self-sacrifice of Parusha and the creation of the castes B. Vedic period -- 1700-500 b.c. late Vedic -- 1000-500 b.c. (Brahamanic Age) i. evolution of Sanskrit; Hindu religion ii. Veda=knowledge a) Rig Veda b) Mahabharata c) Ramayana d) Bhagavad Gita e) Upanishads: i) What are the Upanishads? ii) world's oldest religious texts still in use iii) last of the Vedas iv) "teachings received at the feet of the master" C. content of the Vedas/character of Hinduism i. Hinduism as a way of life vs. organized religion ii. no founder iii. no canon of Scriptures. iv. Stages of Belief: a) Brahman/atman-inner Brahman implications b) The nature of Brahman: 1. can it be understood or grasped through the senses? 2. logic vs. intuition 3. Yoga as means of knowledge c) dharma=duty d) atman-eternal soul=unity with the divine e) Karma=consequences of actions: the Bhagavad Gita e) samsara=reincarnation f) moksha -- unity with the Godhead g)consequences: i) tolerance ii) non-violence (ahimsa) vi. The forms of Hindu belief a) Ishwara -- what the mind can know of God b) 3 persons: i) Brahma=creator ii) Vishnu=preserver iii) Shiva=destroyer iv) forms of representation v) the cyclical nature of reality vi) samsara seen in the Trinity vii) 330 million gods: varieties of religious experience vii. freedom of choosing one's path a) everyone free to follow their conscience b) different incarnations of the divine= Jesus, Buddha, many more. c) 330 million Gods =totality of all living things d) emphasis on one supreme God, Brahman expressed polytheistically IV. General Summation: contrast of modern western values/lifestyle with India

FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION FROM THE UPANISHADS Your examination essay topic #2 should incluse discussion of the following ideas as well as of the texts in the Andrea/Overfield anthology (Upanishads and Baghavad Gita): From the Kena Upanishad: What cannot be thought with the mind, but that whereby the mind can think: Know that alone to be Brahman, the Spirit; and not what people here adore. What cannot be seen with the eye, but that whereby the eye can see; Know that alone to be Brahman, the Spirit; and not what people here adore. What cannot be heard with the ear, but that whereby the ear can hear; Know that alone to be Brahman, the Spirit, and not what people here adore. From the Katha Upanishad: As fire, though one, takes new forms in all things that burn, the Spirit, though one, takes new forms in all things that live. He is within all, and is also outside. There is one Ruler, the Spirit that is in all things, who transforms his own form into many. Only the wise who see him in their souls attain the joy eternal. When the five senses and the mind are still, and reason itself rests in silence, then begins the Path supreme. From the Supreme Teaching: Even as a caterpillar, when coming to the end of a blade of grass, reaches out to another blade of grass and draws itself over to it, in the same way the soul, leaving the body and unwisdom behind, reaches out to another body and draws itself over to it. Karma: According as a man acts and walks in the path of life, so he becomes. He that does good becomes good, he that does evil becomes evil. By pure actions he becomes pure; by evil actions he becomes evil. Liberation: He who is free from desire, whose desire finds fulfillment, since the Spirit is his desire, the powers of life leave him not. He becomes one with Brahman, the Spirit, and enters into the Spirit.