Northwest India

3,000 B.C.E.

Advanced Agricultural Communities

Complex Irrigation Systems

Written Language

Large Ceremonial Buildings

Mobility through the system could only be achieved through reincarnation.

Brahmins - Highly regarded priests

Kshatriyas - Chieftans and their warriors

Vaishyas - Commoners and their merchants

Shudras - Slaves

Oldest sacred books of Hinduism

1500 - 400 B.C.E.

Four books

Each book is made up of 4 parts:  Mantras is a section of hymns to the gods.  Brahmanas is the proper way to to perform sacrifices.  Aranyakas are materials for hermits.  Upanishads ("sitting near") are philosophical materials.

Rig-Veda - 1,000 hymns to basic mythology gods

Yajur-Veda - Collection of rites to be recited during sacrifices

Sama-Veda - Hymns recited by priests at sacrifices

Artharva-Veda - Rituals to be used in the home - Spells and incantations

Dharma

Samsara

Karma

Veda

Aryan

specific duties

"to wander across"

"to do or act"

"knowledge"

"the noble ones"

Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata

Story and Lesson

Gita is about a great battle.  The Bhagavad Gita is found within the text of a longer epic called the Mahabharata.  The Mahabharata is the story of the struggles between the two leading families.  They come together at the battle of Kurukshetra.  Prior to the battle, Arujuna comtemplates his fate and talks with Krishna.  Their conversation makes up the Bhagavad Gita. 

1. Individuals should perform the duty of their caste and thus avoid karma.
2. There are a variety of means of religious expression.
3. Vishnu is a god who loves and is concerned about human beings.

Brahma - Creator of the world, Widely respected but received the least attention

Shiva - God of death, disease, destruction and dance - God of human reproduction - Wife is Paravati, fertility goddess

Vishnu - God of love, benevolence, and forgiveness - Concern for humanity - Has appeared on earth in nine forms, including Krishnu and the Buddha