-
Symbol
- Sacred Om
-
Founder
- cannot be traced
- Aryans + Harappans + Dravidians
-
Religious Texts
- The Vedas
- Bhagavad Gita- poem on fulfilling castly duties
- Mahabarata- aryan epic, longest poem
- Ramayan- ideal couple=Ram+Sita
-
Place of Worship
- not specific
- homes, temples
-
Origins
Indus River Valley
-
Beliefs
- Polytheistic: 3 gods (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
- Reincarnation > Moksha
- Karma
- Cleanliness/Purity
-
"Hindu Trinity"
- Brahma- universal soul, creator of life
- Vishnu- preserver of life
- Shiva- destroyer of life
-
Caste System
- Brahmans(priests)
- Kshatriyas(warriors+landowners)
- Vaisyas(merchants+artisans)
- Sudras(farmers+laborers)
- Pariahs(untouchables)
- determined place in society+ occupation
- no intermarrying
-
Understanding the Vedas (3 stages)
- 1. Brahmas (priests), rituals
- 2. Brahmanas- commentaries on Vedas
- 3. Upanishads- discussed nature of life, rebelled priestly power
|
|
