Indo-European Caste System Quiz

Hinduism's Foundations

• Hinduism is based on two founding cultures: Indus Valley Civilization and Ancient Vedic Civilization (Indo-Europeans).

Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

• The term "civilization" is problematic. Key characteristics of civilization include: the characteristics of urban life.
• Indus Valley Civilization's characteristics include developed urban planning, advanced drainage systems, and standardization of weights and measures.
• Possible reasons for its decline include: Conquest, Environmental Disaster, or Earthquake.
  • The Conquest theory, suggesting an invasion by people from the Caucasus region, has been rejected.
  • The Environmental Disaster theory suggests the Indus Valley people contributed to their own downfall by destroying their environment.
  • The Earthquake theory suggests an earthquake altered the Indus River's course, drying up tributaries, and forcing relocation.

Ancient Vedic Civilization (Indo-Europeans)

• Indo-Europeans were a nomadic, pastoral people who migrated to the region, brought cattle and grazing animals, and settled between the Indus and the Ganges Rivers.
• The Indo-Europeans had portable (movable) religious traditions and worshipped a pantheon of deities (devas & devis).
• Religious practices centered around sacrifices ('yajna'). Prayers, called 'mantras,' were chanted during 'yajna'.
• The Sanskrit language, the language of the Vedas is spoken by the Indo-Europeans.
• The Indo-Europeans referred to themselves as 'Arya,' meaning "noble."
• The term "Aryans" had negative associations with the Nazi movement and now is recognized as an inaccurate generalization.
• The Indo-European social structure includes a hierarchical system known as a Caste system (varnas), organized like a pyramid with Brahmins (Priests), Kshatriyas (Warriors/Rulers), Vaishyas (Merchants/Farmers/Artisans), and Shudras (Servants).
• Untouchables/Outcastes are a separate category outside the caste system. Their jobs are considered polluting and were not permitted into temples.

Vedas

• The Vedas are sacred scriptures in Sanskrit. They include hymns (mantras) intended in praise of gods who are personifications of natural forces to obtain boons (favors).
• The Vedas cover four categories: Rig Veda (oldest), Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.
• The Vedas are considered uncreated, self-existent, and eternal.
• The knowledge in the Vedas was revealed to seers (rishis) via mystical experiences (from the Sanskrit word 'drish',meaning, to see).
• The Purusha Sukta (hymn from Rig Veda 10.90) is a creation hymn. The Purusha sacrifices himself to produce the universe, and his parts became the basis of the caste system: feet=servants; thighs=landowners, farmers, merchants, artisans, labors; arms=warriors, rulers (kings); mouth =priests.
• The Nasadiya Sukta (hymn from Rig Veda 10.129) is another creation hymn that is often compared to the Big Bang theory. This hymn explores the origin of the universe from a state of nothingness and formlessness.
• Vedic rituals involved sacrifices (yajna), which helped maintain the cosmic order (rita) to ensure the universe functioning properly.
  • The chanting of mantras/hymns accompanied these sacrifices.
• The gods/goddesses in the RigVedic pantheon were praised and asked for specific Boons (favors). The Boons were typically mundane, or worldly requests like rain, healthy cattle, or birth of sons. The rituals and hymns also discussed rebirth. There were no explicit prayers to avoid reincarnation. -Examples of Vedic gods/goddesses include: gods of wind (Vayu), thunderstorms (Indra), sun (Surya), fire (Agni), some river goddesses (e.g., Sarasvati), Yama (God of the underworld/ death), and Soma (God representing the hallucinogenic Soma plant consumed in rituals).

Development of Vedic Thought

• The Vedas, which began as hymns accompanied by sacrifices, later developed into more elaborate and philosophical discussions found in Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.

  • Brahmanas: focused on the proper performance of rituals to ensure good outcomes.
  • Aranyakas: are books of the forest written for sages who had retired and couldn't perform elaborate sacrifices. They emphasized meditation and the intellectual understanding of sacrifice rather than physical sacrifices.
  • Upanishads: This is the final portion of the Vedas. It contains more philosophical discussions about the concept of "atman" (the immortal soul/self) and its relationship to Brahman (the universal soul/supreme being/ultimate reality). The Upanishads explored themes like monism, reincarnation, liberation (moksha), and meditation.

• Max Müller's concept of henotheism describes the Vedic practice of worshipping one specific god at a time while believing in the existence of a broader pantheon of gods.