3. ORIGINS
Hinduism is unusual in that it does not have a single
FOUNDER that we can point to as the beginning of the
religion.
The origins and authors of its multitude of sacred texts
are largely unknown.
The origin of Hinduism dates back 5000 years.
The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of river
Indus, which flows through northern India.
4. Indu Valley
C. 2500 BCE
Develops along the
Indus River Valley in
NW India.
Farmers
Beliefs:
MATRIARCHAL
Fertility Gods/Goddesses
Peaceful
7. Aryans
C. 1500 BCE
Conquerors
From Central Asia
Spoke Sanskrit, have written language
Nomadic hunter/gatherers
Beliefs:
âŠMale, sky gods associated with the hunt
8. Aryan and Indu Valley Merge
It appears a FUSION of the two occurred over a long
period of time.
9. Hinduism Develops
Once the merge between Indus Valley people and the
Aryans occurred, Hinduism began to develop
It was a slow process that can be subdivided into four
timeframes:
âŠThe Vedic (approx 1200 BCE)
âŠThe Upanishad (approx 600 BCE)
âŠClassical Hinduism (approx 400 BCE â 1700s CE)
âŠModern Hinduism (1700s to present)
10. The Vedic Period
1200 BCE
Focus = RITUAL worship (sacrifice, petition and praise to
gods).
4 Vedas Composed
âŠMost authoritative Hindu scripture; believed to have come
from the deities through Holy People.
âŠConcentrate on RITUALS
âŠOldest = Rig Veda (contains hymns that praise the ancient
deities).
âŠMantras (psalms of praise) make up the main body of Vedas.
11.
12. The Upanishad Period
600 BCE
Focus = meditation.
Upanishads
âŠRecord the teachings of HOLY
MEN (reflections on the Vedaâs).
âŠ14 main books.
13. Classical Hinduism
400 BCE â 1700âs CE
Flourishing of Hindu culture,
art and meditation.
Merging of Hindu beliefs and
culture.
The Ramayana and
Mahabharata Created
âŠEpic stories â spread Hindu ideals of
moral conduct.
âŠMahabharata contains the
Bhagavad-Gita - the one text that
could claim to be the Hindu bible.
14. Modern Hinduism
1700 CE to present day
Period of great change and
turmoil:
âŠBritish occupation of India
(late 1700âs)
âŠGandhi
âŠPopulation growth and
emigration