Topic 7: State, Society and
the Quest for Salvation in
India
Chronology of Early Indian History
• c. 2500 BCE:
Indus Valley civilization
• c. 1900 BCE:
Harappan decline
• c. 1500 BCE:
Beginning of Aryan migration
• 1500-500 BCE:
The “Vedic Age”
• 520 BCE:
Darius of Persia invades India
• 327 BCE:
Alexander the Great invades India
• 321-185 BCE:
Mauryan dynasty
• 320-550 CE:
Gupta dynasty
“original Gandhi”
Gupta “Golden Age” 320-550ce
Gupta’s “Golden Age”
320-540ce
• Arts and sciences fully developed
– Sanskrit literature – Kalidasa
– Science – striking achievements
• Mathematics – “Arabic numerals,” concept of the zero,
quadratic equations, atomic theory of matter
• Surgery and dentistry
• Metallurgy, glassware, cotton fabrics
• Agriculture and trade the basis of Empire
• Southernization – spread of Indian influence
into Southeast Asia – Funan, Mekong River,
Funan
The “Vedic Age”: 1500-500
BCE
• Named for sacred
texts, the “Vedas”
• Period important for:
– Assimilation of Aryans
– Emergence of varna
distinctions
The Rig Veda in Sanscrit
– Emergence of
Hinduism
Caste / Varna
• System of social
distinctions probably
created by Aryans
• Distinctions were
based on occupations
and roles in society
• Varna = caste
Jati = sub-caste
Varna
• Brahmin
Priests
• Kshatriyas
Warriors and aristocrats
• Vaishyas
Cultivators, artisans, merchants
• Shudras
Servants
_______________________________________
• Outcastes
“Untouchables”
From the Rig Veda:
When they divided Purusha, how
many portions did they make?
What do they call his mouth, his
arms? What do they call his thighs
and feet?
The BRAHMIN was his mouth, of
both his arms was the KSHATRIYA
made.
His thighs became the VAISHYA, and from his feet
the SHUDRA was produced.
What is varna today?
Varna ISN’T:
Varna IS:
•
Class
•
•
Color
•
Aryan vs. non-Aryan
“A group of families whose
members can marry each other
and can eat in each other’s
company without believing
themselves polluted.” Taya
Zinkin
•
Occupation
•
“ranked, named, endogamous
[in-marrying], with membership
achieved by birth”
•
TE: Throughout Indian history,
caste has promoted “social
stability”
Since 1949
• Untouchability is illegal
• India’s constitution forbids
discrimination based on
caste
• India has caste-based
“positive discrimination”
programs
• Yet caste remains
important in social life:
who one can marry, or
eat and socialize with
Mohandas Gandhi
Hinduism
• Oldest religion that is
still widely practiced
• A fusion of Aryan and
Dravidian beliefs
• Unique among world
religions:
– No founder
– No centralized
authority
Indra
Emergence of Hinduism
• The Vedas 1400-900
BCE:
– Ritual and sacrifice solely
by priestly class
• The Upanishads 800-400
BCE:
– Individual is responsible for
his/her own salvation
• The Bhagavad Gita 300
BCE-300 CE:
– Salvation possible through
a balanced life and by
fulfilling one’s duties
Hanuman
Concepts introduced in the
Upanishads:
Brahman: “the universal soul” (See RGH #40, p. 121)
• Everyone and everything is part of Brahman
• atman – individual soul (See RGH #39, p. 119)
Samsara: reincarnation
• The cycle of death and rebirth
Karma: deeds (See RGH#41, p. 123-124)
• One’s present situation is the product of deeds done in a
previous life
Moksha / Nirvana: release
• Escape from samsara
Basic Hindu Beliefs:
Bhagavad Gita:
Dharma:
• Obedience to religious and moral laws;
caste duty
Karma:
• “As you sow, so shall you reap;” for
every action a consequence
Samsara:
• Reincarnation or rebirth (or redeath?)
Artha:
• Pursuit of economic well-being and
honest prosperity
Kama:
• Enjoyment of social, physical, sexual
pleasure
Moksha: Attainable through proper
balance of these.
HINDU WHEEL OF LIFE
Varna and Hinduism
• Varna is legitimized in Rig Veda
• Hindu concepts uphold and reinforce varna
• Samsara explains one’s present caste and offers hope of
better incarnation in next life
• “Fulfilling one’s duties” = fulfilling the duties of one’s
caste
Hindu pantheon: combination of
Vedic and indigenous gods:
Avatars:
incarnations of
god
Popular
Hinduism, see
TE text, p. 239
Shiva doing the dance of destruction
Buddhism
• Founded by
Siddhartha Gautama
[b. 563 B.C.E.]
• Shared many
concepts with
Hinduism
• But also reacted
against many Hindu
ideas, including varna
Principles of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths:
• All life is suffering
• Suffering is caused by
desire
• To stop suffering, stop
desiring
• Stop desiring by following
the Eight-Fold Path
• Nirvana – “extinction of
desire”
BUDDHA UNDER THE BODHI TREE
The Spread of Buddhism and
Hinduism
Five Stages of Buddhism
•
“Old” Buddhism – 500-100
bce
philosophy emphasized
•
Hinayana – “Lesser Vehicle”
• monasticism
• “save yourself through
intense self-effort”
• Popular in Tibet, Sri
BOUDHANATH WITH MONKS,
NEPAL
Lanka, Thailand
Five Stages of Buddhism
• Mahayana – “Greater Vehicle”100bce-500ce
– bodhisattva – emphasis on compassion (See
RGH #44, p. 131) and “saving others”
– blending of Buddhism with Greek philosophy
– Buddha begins to be worshipped like a god
– Education – Nalanda U. – center of learning
– Popular in Japan, China, the world.
• Buddhism spreads throughout Asia and
the world 500ce - present
The many shapes and
faces of the
Buddha
Why was (is?) Buddhism
attractive?
• message appealed to
lower castes and women.
• used common language,
not Sanskrit.
• pilgrimage and holy sites
emphasized.
• wealthy patrons, like
Ashoka.
• “Buddhism movement” –
the monastery.
ZEN BUDDHISTS
MEDITATING IN KENTUCKY
(1997)
The Dalai Lama in conversation with
U.S. President George W. Bush at
the White House
Great Stupa of Dharmakaya in Colorado
"American Buddhist with Thai Buddha",
Living Enrichment Center, Wilsonville,
Oregon, 1998.