Topic 7: State, Society and the Quest for Salvation in India

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Topic 7 State, Society and the Quest for
Salvation in India
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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

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original Gandhi
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Gupta Golden Age 320-550ce
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Guptas Golden Age320-540ce

• 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, Khmer

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Funan
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The Vedic Age 1500-500 BCE

• Named for sacred texts, the Vedas
• Period important for
• Assimilation of Aryans
• Emergence of varna distinctions
• Emergence of Hinduism

The Rig Veda in Sanscrit
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Caste / Varna

• System of social distinctions probably created by
  Aryans
• Distinctions were based on occupations and roles
  in society
• Varna caste
• Jati sub-caste

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Varna

• Brahmin Priests
• Kshatriyas Warriors and aristocrats
• Vaishyas Cultivators, artisans, merchants
• Shudras Servants
• _______________________________________
• Outcastes Untouchables

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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.
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What is varna today?

• Varna IS
• A group of families whose members can marry each
  other and can eat in each others company without
  believing themselves polluted. Taya Zinkin
• ranked, named, endogamous in-marrying, with
  membership achieved by birth
• TE Throughout Indian history, caste has
  promoted social stability

• Varna ISNT
• Class
• Color
• Aryan vs. non-Aryan
• Occupation

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Since 1949

• Untouchability is illegal
• Indias 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
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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
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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 ones duties

Hanuman
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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 RGH41, p. 123-124)
• Ones present situation is the product of deeds
  done in a previous life
• Moksha / Nirvana release
• Escape from samsara

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Basic Hindu BeliefsBhagavad 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
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Varna and Hinduism

• Varna is legitimized in Rig Veda
• Hindu concepts uphold and reinforce varna
• Samsara explains ones present caste and offers
  hope of better incarnation in next life
• Fulfilling ones duties fulfilling the duties
  of ones caste

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Hindu pantheon combination of Vedic and
indigenous gods
Avatars incarnations of god
Popular Hinduism, see TE text, p. 239
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Shiva doing the dance of destruction
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Buddhism

• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama b. 563 B.C.E.
• Shared many concepts with Hinduism
• But also reacted against many Hindu ideas,
  including varna

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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
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The Spread of Buddhism and Hinduism
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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 Lanka, Thailand

BOUDHANATH WITH MONKS, NEPAL
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Five Stages of Buddhism

• Mahayana Greater Vehicle100bce-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

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The many shapes and faces of the Buddha
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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)
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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.
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