DO NOW…
 In your opinion what is the purpose of religion?
 What the benefits to belonging to a religion?
 What are some aspects that all religions share and have in
common?
REVIEW MOHENJO DARO
ENTER THE ARYANS
 Approx i m ately 1 5 0 0 B . C. E . a
n o m adic a n d pa s to ra l pe o pl e w h o
s po ke th e In do - E uro pean l a n gua ge
pa s s ed t h ro ug h t h e H i n du Kus h
m o un t ains.
 Th ey c a l l ed t h e m selves “ Ar ya n s ” o r
“ n o ble pe o pl e . ”
 Th ey e s t a blished s m a ll h e rdi n g a n d
a g ri c ult ural c o m m unit ies
th ro ug h out n o r th e rn In di a .
 Th e i r m i gra t ions to o k pl a c e ove r
s everal c e n t uri es .
 I n te rm a rried a n d l a i d s o c ial a n d
c ul t ura l fo un da t i ons t h a t
i n fl uenc ed In di a n s o c iet y to
pre s e n t day
TWO CULTURES COMBINE
 The Aryans brought with them their own language,
called Sanskrit and religious and cultural beliefs.
 The Indus Valley people eventually became
intermixed with the Aryan people and the two
cultures together make up what is now much of the
culture of modern India.
 Hinduism, the major religion of India, was a mixture
of Aryan and Indus Valley beliefs .
 The caste system, which keeps people in strict
social classes, was brought to India by the Aryans.
VERDIC AGE
Early texts
Hymns and Poems
Religious Prayers
Magic Spells
Gods and Goddesses
ORIGINS OF HINDUISM
 Ar yans brought their religious beliefs with them. Their early
religious books- the Vedas- tell about their many nature gods
As they conquered dif ferent people, they included conquered
religious beliefs with their old beliefs.

This is why Hinduism is so different from the other major
world religions.
Hinduism is the only major world religion that does not
have a starting point. It just developed out of ancient
polytheism, combining many belief systems as time
went on.
With this background, Hindus have many dif ferent
beliefs and many dif ferent religious practices. (There is
not one way to “be Hindu.”
“GOD IN HINDUISM”
Hindus worship many gods and goddesses, but they
believe all the gods and goddesses are part of the single
all-powerful force (God) called Brahman.
Brahman is a spirit and is too complicated for humans
to understand.
The many gods and goddesses help us understand
things about Brahman (God).
MAIN GODS/GODDESSES
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
BRAHMA
Brahma- the Creator
Vishnu- Preserver- a kind
god who cares about people. He
sometimes visits Earth in different
forms to help humans.
SHIVA
Shiva- Destroyer doesn’t care
about people. Sometimes
destroys, but creates again.
REINCARNATION
 Samsara is the wheel of
rebir th which means the soul
is reborn from one life form to
another.
 People may be reincarnated at
a higher or lower level of
existence depending on their
karma from their present life.
 People may be reborn as
plants or animals or they may
be elevated to a higher caste
as a human.
 Death is not final for Hindus
as they expect to be reborn
many times
KARMA & DHARMA
Karma: “action” or “deeds”
 Every action produces a Justified effect based on its moral
worthiness.
Karma determines all the particular circumstances and Situations
of one’s life.
Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. The
word is the closest equivalent to “religion.”
FOUR STAGES OF LIFE
Stage One: Student stage
Stage Two: Householder
Stage Three: Forest-dweller --after the birth of
first grandchild
Stage Four: Sannyasin - wondering ascetic
What do the Mouth,
Arms, Thighs, and
Feet Represent?
Brahmins
Priests
Kshatriyas
Warriors
Vaishyas
Herders, Farmers, Artisans,
Merchants
Sudras
(Non-Aryan)
Farm Workers, Servants, Laborers
THE CASTE SYSTEM
Pros
Cons
EXIT SLIP
 Could the caste system work in the United States today? This
is a good opportunity to practice your writing skills!