RACHELL MISOLES NOVEMBER 29, 2019

RS 4 PRELEM PT

1. The Origin of Hinduism (Narrative)

There is no single story of a founder in Hinduism, since there is no founder. There is no

single story or even collection of stories that lays out the divine realm. There is no single story of
creation, since the world is recreated countless times. Indeed, in the vast corpus of Hindu myths
there is not only tremendous variety and variation, but there are often what appear to be
conflicting stories about the creation of the cosmos, about the deeds of the gods and goddesses,
and about the ways humans should interact with these divine beings. The first evidence points to
the Indus River Valley civilization developing around 2500 BCE. Archaeological evidence
suggests that early Hindu practice begins here. The Aryans invade the Indus River Valley around
1600 BCE. This brings the Sanskrit language to the region and drastically influences Hinduism,
which is developing at this time. The Vedic Age, the period in which the oldest scriptures of
Hinduism, the Vedas, are written, begins. This period signals the rise of large, urbanized areas
and the shramana movements, which include Jainism and Buddhism.

The eleven major Upanishads are written around 800 BCE, and these become
fundamental texts of Hinduism. These introduce the ideas of reincarnation and karma, that those
who are righteous in the current life will be reborn in a better life until they eventually reach
Nirvana, or the holy bliss. The Epics, which chronicle history of mortal men, and the Puranas,
which chronicle the history of celestial figures, are written around 500 BCE. These signal the
beginning of devotional Hinduism, in which followers commit themselves to one deity,
particularly Shiva or Vishnu, though Devi is popular as well. Chandragupta founds the Maurya
Empire in the Indian subcontinent around 320 BCE, which goes on to become one of the world's
largest empires in its time. Hindu ministers, including Chanakya, initially introduce Hinduism as
the major religion of the empire, but under Ashoka's leadership, the empire later embraces
Buddhism. Around 320 CE, Maharaja Sri Gupta founds the Gupta Empire, which covers much
of the Indian subcontinent. It ushers in an era of peace and prosperity that allows Hindu culture
to stabilize and spread. Overrun by the invading Hun, the Gupta Empire fragments into various
weaker entities around 500. Vasco de Gama's arrival in southern Asia in 1498 signals the
beginning of European's involvement in India. He is quickly followed by missionaries from
Portugal.

The Hindu Renaissance begins around 1600. Scholars focus on modernistic

interpretations of the sacred texts and social reform. Hoping to make money trading with India,
the British East India Company wins trading rights on the fringe of the Mughal Empire in 1617.
As the Mughal Empire declines, the East India Company’s influence in India grows steadily.
Parliament ends the rule of the East India Company and places India directly under control of the
British crown on August 2, 1858. India is now governed by colonial rule, with British officials
ruling in the name of the queen and holding top positions. Britain slows the reforms that so
angered Hindus and Muslims, but continues to develop India for its own economic benefit.
Formed by Vivekananda in 1894, the Vedanta Society promotes Hinduism as a religion in the
west, and argues for India's integration as a single nation. Indian lawyer Mahatma Gandhi
launches a two-year campaign of noncooperation beginning in 1920. He encourages Indians to
leave British institutions, return British honors, and practice self-reliance. While Gandhi is
forced to stop the campaign upon his arrest and imprisonment in 1922, he goes on to become the
most recognized leader of the Indian nationalist movement. After World War II, Britain finally
agrees to grant India independence around June 1947. However, the Muslim League, led by
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, insists that the Muslim minority have its own separate state, Pakistan.
Britain decides to partition the subcontinent into two states: Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India.
This causes massive migration and death as members of the two religious groups travel to their
new states.

The Origin of Hinduism

(Timeline)

2500 BC The Indus River Valley civilization begins to develop (c. 2500 BCE).
The Civilisation of Indus Valley was a Bronze age Civilisation
located technology and sophisticatedly. The Indus Valley had an
advanced urban culture, both Civilization, but some figures in early
forms of Hindu gods have been found.
1600 BC The Aryan invasion begins (c. 1600 BCE). Brings the Sanskrit
language to the region and drastically influences Hinduism.
1500 BC The Vedic Age begins (c. 1500 BCE). The Vedic period (or the
Vedic era) has been named after the period during which the four
Vedas were composed. In the early part of the Vedic period, the
Indo-Aryans settled to the Northern parts of India. The invasion of
Darius I of the Indus Valley and meanwhile the shramana
movements challenged the authority of Vedic scriptures. It is seen
that the Vedic period ends there.
800 BC The major Upanishads are written (c. 800 BCE). The introduction
ideas of reincarnation and Karma.
500 BC The Epics and Puranas are written (c. 500 BCE). The beginning of
devotional Hinduism.
320 BC The Maurya Empire is founded (c. 320 BCE). The Maurya Empire
dominated Ancient India, and was the largest to have ever existed on
Indian subcontinent. It was founded by Chandragupta in 322 BCE.
320 The Gupta Empire is founded (c. 320 CE).
500 The Gupta Empire falls (c. 500).
1498 Vasco de Gama arrives in southern Asia.
1600 The Hindu Renaissance begins (c. 1600).
The British East India Company wins trading rights in the Mughal
 1617 empire.
August 2, 1858 Parliament puts India directly under control of the British crown.
1894 The Vedanta Society is formed.
Mahatma Gandhi launches a campaign of noncooperation (Summer
1920 1920).
June 1947 Britain agrees to grant India independence.
1875 - present Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement. Its members believe in one
God and reject the worship of idols.

2. Dharma (Venn diagram)

In Hinduism, dharma signifies ehaviours that are in accord with Ṛta, the order that
makes life and universe possible, and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and “right
way of living”. The religious and moral law governing individual conducts and is one of the four
ends of life.

Personal Dharma
* brahmacārya, the life of
preparation as a student
* gṛhastha, the life of the
householder with family
and other social roles
* vānprastha or aranyaka,
the life of the forest-dweller,
. from worldly
transitioning
occupations to reflection
and renunciation.
* sannyāsa, the life of
giving away all property,
becoming a recluse and
devotion to moksa, spiritual
matters
Universal Dharma
* It acts as the regulatory
moral principle of the
* Both satisfy the
Universe.
striving for stability and
* Must always an appeal
order, a life that is lawful
to piety and gods, of social
and harmonious, the
virtue and of tradition
striving to do the right
thing, be good, be virtuous, * Ingalls, free will versus
earn religious merit, be
destiny, when and why
helpful to others, interact
human beings believe
successfully with society.
in either, ultimately
* Both are dependent on concluding that the strong
poverty and prosperity and prosperous naturally
of each other uphold
free will, while those facing
grief
or frustration naturally lean
towards destiny.
3. Karma, Samsara, and Moksha Conceptual Framework

The amount of good works or actions, following your dharma (duty) that you perform.
The more good karma you build up in your atman (soul) during your life, the better your rebirth.

Karma - Law of cause and effect by which one reaps

what one sows.

a. “Karma” means “works”, “deeds”

b. All actions, particularly moral actions, have
predictable effects – each person is responsible
for every action he or she performs; every action
will influence one’s future
c. One’s present conditions, character,
circumstances are all the result of past actions.
d. Textual and popular understandings of karma:
interpreting a deadly fire

Rebirth Birth

Samsara
(Reincarnation)

Death

Moksha – The Eternal Perspective

a. Moksha means “release” or “liberation” from

karma and so from the cycle of death and rebirth. In
moksha one becomes unbound by the laws of
karma and samsara = the ultimate spiritual goal in
Hinduism.
b. The end of births; an anonymous, impersonal and
blissful state.
If your atman has better Karma than the previous life then you will be reborn into a higher life
form. Eventually, your atman will not be reborn into another body. You will achieve Moksha,
release from Samsara and be at one with Brahman.

4. Hindu Caste System – (group assigned by birth not personality). The Hindu conception of the
social order is that people are different, and different people will fit well into different aspects of
society. Social order or social class according to varna forms the framework of moral duties
according to personal characteristics of individuals (not necessarily birth).

Brahmins
Priestly, Academic Class

Kshatriyas
Rulers, Administrators, warriors

Vaishyas
Artisans, tradesmen, farmers, merchants

Shudras
Manual Laborers

Dalits
Street cleaners, menial tasks
The Indian caste system is a complex social structure wherein social roles like one’s profession
became ‘hereditary,’ resulting in restricted social mobility and fixed status hierarchies. It does
affect the moral responsibility and social relationship of each individual. The inherent property
of caste heightens group identification with one’s caste. Highly identified group members would
protect the identity of the group in situations when group norms are violated. High caste norms
are associated with moral values while the lower caste norms are associated with immorality.

It is very unfortunate to know a Hinduism religion has been in the clutches a few privileged
castes. It would be a great service to cause of Hinduism if the present day Vedic teachers identify
bright children from the lower caste and start teaching them the Vedas and the Upanishads and
allow them to serve God in the temples of India. I think for an Indian to be born in an upper caste
is a matter of pride whether the family to which a person belongs deserve it or not but nowadays,
numbers of Indians visit foreign countries and they sometimes complain about being treated
differently on account of their skin color or accent. They overlook the fact that a vast number of
people in their own country exhibit a far greater obsession with accent, skin color and caste.
Caste system will only divides people into bickering groups and keeps them apart.

The following are the negative effect of caste system in India.

1. It hindered national unity: the caste system developed a parochial feeling and made the
people unduly conscious of their own castes.
2. It stood against democracy: it presupposes human equality
3. It resulted in suppression: the lower caste were suppressed and repressed by higher castes
4. It hampered national development: only few got the scope to control the national life.
5. It resulted in treachery and ultimate fall of the Hindus: when the sudras aware they
cannot prosper in the Hindu society, they leaked out the strategic secrets to the invaders.
6. It resulted in religious conversion: Many of the victim of the caste embraced new faith.
7. It undermined the ability and aspirations of the people: since the statuses are fixed up,
personal endeavour, ability or diligence became meaningless.
8. It created a false sense of prestige among higher castes: the higher castes believed they
had the monopoly of wisdom.
9. It is resulted in the creation of a class of idlers: the Brahmins supposed to preach and
teach but became apathetic to their avowed profession.
10. It resulted in the introduction of untouchability: the lower castes were categorized as
untouchable.
11. It gave lower status to women: the women were utterly neglected in the caste sytem.
5. Hinduism is a universal religion and has influenced our world. Its primary emphasis is on
universal brotherhood. It views as one family. It believes that man is divine in nature and
realization of that supreme truth as the primary aim of all human activity. Many people follow
the teachings of Hinduism without actually considering themselves to be a Hindu by faith,
including atheists. Example of this is the practice of yoga and meditation. Many people don’t
know these two practices originated within the Hindu faith. The practice of Ahimsa, or non-
violence, is a widely practiced Hindu teaching around the world. Ahimsa doesn’t apply towards
humans but animals as well. The teaching of Ahimsa is the main factor in the rising
vegetarian/vegan population that is actually the entire concept of the philosophy is: the equal
living opportunities for all living creatures. The founder of the Ahimsa, Gautama Buddha has
influenced the world greatly, as his words of wisdom and teachings continue to inspire and
influence people, religious and non-religious alike. I think those are the essential and beneficial
of Hindu belief’s in the society today.