Indo-Europeans (Abridged Student Copy) PDF

Beyond Om A Very Brief Introduction to Hinduism's Foundations Last lesson Part I: Indus Valley Civilization Today's Lesson Part II: Early Vedic Civilization  HINDUISM BASED ON 2 FOUNDING CULTURES - INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION - ANCIENT VEDIC CIVILIZATION (I...

Beyond Om A Very Brief Introduction to Hinduism's Foundations Last lesson Part I: Indus Valley Civilization Today's Lesson Part II: Early Vedic Civilization  HINDUISM BASED ON 2 FOUNDING CULTURES - INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION - ANCIENT VEDIC CIVILIZATION (INDO-EUROPEANS)  Short Segment on IVC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ndRwqJYDM John Green - Crash Course in World History #2 (9:35) Why term civilization is problematic. Characteristics of a civ. Indus Valley Civ. & its characteristics Possible reasons for its demise  THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Indus valley pop. did not morph into current residents of that part of the world, so what happened to them? Possible reasons for decline of this civ. 3 theories fr. historians: 1) Conquest 2) Environmental Disaster 3) Earthquake  THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Theory # 1: Conquest Indus valley overrun by ppl fr. Caucasus*. Invasion? * Caucasus: A mountainous region in southeastern Europe & southwestern Asia that lies between the Black & Caspian seas in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, & southeastern Russia.  THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Theory # 1: Conquest Indus valley overrun by ppl fr. Caucasus*. Invasion? * Caucasus: A mountainous region in southeastern Europe & southwestern Asia that lies between the Black & Caspian seas in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, & southeastern Russia. ANCIENT VEDIC CIVILIZATION Conquest? Migration vs Invasion  THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Indus valley pop. did not morph into current residents of that part of the world, so what happened to them? Possible reasons for decline of this civ. 3 theories fr. historians: 1) Conquest 2) Environmental Disaster 3) Earthquake THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Theory # 2: Environmental Disaster Indus population brought about their own demise by destroying their environment.  THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Indus valley pop. did not morph into current residents of that part of the world, so what happened to them? Possible reasons for decline of this civ. 3 theories fr. historians: 1) Conquest 2) Environmental Disaster 3) Earthquake  THEORIES FOR INDUS VALLEY CULTURE'S DECLINE Theory # 3: Earthquake An earthquake changed the course of Indus river so that its tributaries dried up. W/out adequate water supplies for irrigation, ppl couldn't sustain themselves & moved to different areas.  HINDUISM BASED ON 2 FOUNDING CULTURES - INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION - ANCIENT VEDIC CIVILIZATION (INDO-EUROPEANS) Who are they & where did they come from? Ancient Vedic Civilization: The Indo-Europeans Ancient Vedic Civilization: The Indo-Europeans  Ancient Vedic Civilization: The Indo-Europeans "Indo-Europeans” : generic term referring to those ppl in antiquity who spoke languages that stem fr. a common ancestral source. The close relationship betw. many of the languages of southern Asia & most of the languages of Europe has been known for more than 200 years.  Ancient Vedic Civilization: The Indo-Europeans The homeland of the Indo-Europeans -> a matter of dispute up to the present. The origins of the Indo-Europeans have been sought in Europe, Asia, & even Africa. Ancient Vedic Civilization: The Indo-Europeans  Ancient Vedic Civilization: The Indo-Europeans Most languages of the world w/ more than 100 million speakers each are of Indo-European affiliation: that is, English, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, Bengal, Portuguese, French, German.  INDO-EUROPEANS nomadic  INDO-EUROPEANS nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle)  INDO-EUROPEANS nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle) w/ portable religious traditions  INDO-EUROPEANS Nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle) w/ portable religious traditions believed in a pantheon of deities (devas & devis) devas = gods devis = goddesses  INDO-EUROPEANS nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle) w/ portable religious traditionsbelieved in a pantheon of deities (devas & devis) religious practices centered around the practice of sacrifice (yajna)  INDO-EUROPEANS nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle) w/ portable religious traditions believed in a pantheon of deities (devas & devis) religious practices centered around the practice of sacrifice (yajna) during which hymns (mantras) were chanted  INDO-EUROPEANS Nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle) w/ portable religious traditions believed in a pantheon of deities (devas & devis) religious practices centered around the practice of sacrifice (yajna) during which hymns (mantras) were chanted in praise of various gods (devas) & goddesses (devis)  INDO-EUROPEANS Nomadic pastoral people (kept grazing animals, cattle) w/ portable religious traditions believed in a pantheon of deities (devas & devis) religious practices centered around the practice of sacrifice (yajna) during which hymns (mantras) were chanted in praise of various gods (devas) & goddesses (devis) spoke Sanskrit language (-> see next slide)  INDO-EUROPEANS -> spoke Sanskrit language INDO-EUROPEANS Refer to themselves in the Sanskrit language as ‘Arya’ ‘noble’  'ARYAN' ? With what is this term most commonly associated today? -> What images come to mind...  TERM ARYAN Today, is most commonly assoc. w/ : Hitler's ideology  TERM ARYAN Today, is most commonly assoc. w/ : Fair complexioned pure race  TERM ARYAN Today, is most commonly assoc. w/ : Bigotry/discrimination  TERM ARYAN Today, is most commonly assoc. w/ : Neo-nazi movement  TERM ARYAN Today, is most commonly assoc. w/ : Hitler's ideology Fair complexioned pure race Bigotry/discrimination Neo-nazi movement  INDO-EUROPEANS How was Indo-European society structured?  INDO-EUROPEANS hierarchical social structure Social stratification Caste system (varnas)  INDO-EUROPEANS Caste system (varnas = “colour”) 1. Brahmins -> Priests 2. Kshatriyas -> Warriors & Rajanyas Rulers 3. Vaishyas -> Labourers, artisans, farmers, merchants, etc. 4. Shudras -> Servants  INDO-EUROPEANS Caste system (varnas = “colour”) Hierarchical social structure  INDO- EUROPEANS Caste system Kshatriyas (varnas = “colour”) Hierarchical social structure  INDO-EUROPEANS Hierarchical social structure Untouchables/Outcastes Do not even participate in the caste system. They stand outside of it & are subordinate to the castes. ‘Polluting occupations’: cobbler, street sweepers, latrine cleaners, etc.  INDO-EUROPEANS Does this hierarchical structure (caste system) still exist in Hinduism today? Yes, though discrimination based on caste has been outlawed by the Indian Constitution  INDO-EUROPEANS Hierarchical social structure Untouchables/Outcastes  INDO-EUROPEANS Hierarchical social structure Untouchables/Outcastes  INDO-EUROPEANS Hierarchical social structure Untouchables/Outcastes  On Untouchability… https://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/amp/world-asia- india-43807951  On Untouchability… k/news/amp/world-asia- india-43807951  On Untouchability https:// www.bbc.co.uk/ news/amp/world- asia-india-43807951  On Untouchability… https://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/amp/world-asia- india-43807951  VEDAS Four Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit term “Veda” derived fr. the verbal root vid = 'to know' So, Veda = 'knowledge'  VEDAS Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit: 4 Vedas (2500 BCE) 1) RigVeda (-> oldest) 2) Sama Veda 3) Yajur Veda 4) Atharva Veda  VEDAS Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit: 4 Vedas (2500 BCE) How are the Vedas perceived? What is believed about them?  VEDAS Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit: 4 Vedas (2500 BCE) uncreated self-existent  VEDAS Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit: 4 Vedas (2500 BCE) uncreated self-existent eternal  VEDAS Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit: 4 Vedas (2500 BCE) knowledge revealed to rishis (seers) fr. Sanskrit root 'drish’ = 'to see'  VEDAS Sacred 'scriptures' in Sanskrit: 4 Vedas (2500 BCE) uncreated self-existent eternal knowledge revealed to rishis (seers) fr. root 'drish’= 'to see'  PURUSHA SUKTA (cosmic man) (hymn) RigVeda (10.90): Creation Hymn Cosmic man (Purusha) sacrifices himself to produce the universe.  PURUSHA SUKTA (cosmic man) (hymn) RigVeda (10.90) 1. What do his feet become? Servants 2. What do his thighs become? Landowners, farmers, artisans, labourers, merchants 3. What do his arms become? Warriors & rulers (kings) 4. What does his mouth become? Priests  PURUSHA SUKTA (cosmic man) (hymn) RigVeda (10.90) Hymn which explains origin/ creation of caste system  PURUSHA SUKTA (cosmic man) (hymn) Hymn fr. Vedas chanted in Sanskrit RigVeda (10.90) http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_ikKPiCK53s or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U- NHJffUIIo (Begin at 3:45 mark)  More than one account of creation in RV Nasadiya Sukta RV 10.129 Another accepted creation hymn found in the RigVeda that has been compared to the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe (see next slide)  RIG VEDA 10.129 (BOOK 10, HYMN 129) Nasadiya Sukta -Creation Hymn 1. THEN was not non-existent nor existent: there was no realm of air, no sky beyond it. What covered in, and where? and what gave shelter? Was water there, unfathomed depth of water? 2 Death was not then, nor was there aught (anything) immortal: no sign was there, the day's and night's divider. That One Thing, breathless, breathed by its own nature: apart from it was nothing whatsoever. 3 Darkness there was: at first concealed in darknew this All was indiscriminated chaos. All that existed then was void and formless: by the great power of Warmth was born that Unit.  RIG VEDA 10.129 (BOOK 10, HYMN 129) Nasadiya Sukta -Creation Hymn 4 Thereafter rose Desire in the beginning, Desire, the primal seed and germ of Spirit. Sages who searched with their heart's thought discovered the existent's kinship in the non-existent. 5 Transversely was their severing line extended: what was above it then, and what below it? There were begetters, there were mighty forces, free action here and energy up yonder. 6 Who verily knows and who can here declare it, whence it was born and whence comes this creation? The Gods are later than this world's production. Who knows then whence it first came into being? 7 He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it, Whose eye controls this world in highest heaven, he verily knows it, or perhaps he knows not.  Parallels/similarities between two creation hymns? Purusha Sukta (RV 10.90) & Nasadiya Sukta (RV 10.129) Both hymns showcase all of creation emanating fr. ONE source, or all of creation being traced back to only ONE source. Is this polytheism? Is this monotheism?  Parallels/similarities between two creation hymns? Purusha Sukta (RV 10.90) & Nasadiya Sukta (RV 10.129) In other words, both hymns feature/ express monism The doctrine that only one supreme being/entity exists.  RIGVEDA Collection of hymns (mantras) chanted during fire sacrifice (yajna) in praise of gods (devas/devis), who are personifications of the forces of nature , to obtain boons (favours from the gods). Mantras revealed to Seers (rishis) who intuited them via mystical experiences. So, Rigvedic mantras were revealed to religious specialists (rishis), who did not compose/author them. RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? GOD OF WIND VAYU  RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? GOD OF THUNDERSTORMS INDRA  RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? SUN GOD SURYA (Also known by other names) RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? FIRE GOD AGNI  RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? RIVER GODDESSES e.g. SARASVATI  RIGVEDIC GODS/GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? Wind - VAYU Thunderstorms - INDRA Sun - SURYA (among others) Fire - AGNI River – SARASVATI (other rivers personified as goddesses as well) Etc...  RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? Let's add 2 more gods: YAMA God of the underworld/death  RIGVEDIC GODS & GODDESSES What forces of nature do they personify? Let's add 2 more gods: SOMA God that represents the hallucinogenic juice (extracted fr. the soma plant) consumed by religious specialists.  RIGVEDA What BOONS (gifts/requests/favours) did the Aryans requests fr. their gods & goddesses?  RIGVEDA BOONS (gifts/requests) FR. THE DEVAS: - shower of rain - -  RIGVEDA BOONS/GIFTS FR. THE DEVAS (GODS): - shower of rain - healthy cattle -  RIGVEDA BOONS/GIFTS FR. THE DEVAS (GODS): - shower of rain - healthy cattle - birth of sons  RIGVEDA BOONS/GIFTS FROM THE DEVAS (GODS): - shower of rain - healthy cattle - birth of sons Of what order/type are these boons (boons = favours or requests) fr. the Vedic gods & goddesses? What sort/type of requests are they? -> Other-wordly? Or worldy (of this world)?  RIGVEDA BOONS/GIFTS FROM THE DEVAS (GODS): - shower of rain - healthy cattle - birth of sons * All mundane boons, reflecting earthly / this-wordly concerns. Mundane (adj.) : of this earthly world, rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.  RIGVEDA BOONS/GIFTS FROM THE DEVAS (GODS): -shower of rain -healthy cattle -birth of sons * All mundane, this-worldly requests/concerns * Also, concept of heaven, but NOT of reincarnation, b/c another boon requested in the RgVedic mantras (hymns) is also: - rebirth in heaven  RIGVEDA Another boon requested in the RigVedic mantras (hymns) is also: rebirth in heaven. However, not much information is provided in RigVeda about the RigVedic conception of heaven.  RIGVEDA BOONS/GIFTS FROM THE DEVAS (GODS): - shower of rain - good weather - good crops - good health - healthy cattle - happiness of any kind - birth of sons * Mostly mundane, this-worldly requests/ concerns concept of heaven, but NOT yet of reincarnation * Also, belief in realm of death/ underworld over which deva/god YAMA presided. Yama => God of death  Sacrificial Ritual For Vedic Aryans, sacrifice, accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras -> primary ritual activity Why is it performed? To instill cosmic order* in, & to sustain, the entire universe; i.e., to ensure the proper functioning of the universe. * cosmic order => 'rita' in Sanskrit  Sacrificial Ritual W/out proper performance of sacrifice, would: the sun rise?  Sacrificial Ritual W/out proper performance of sacrifice, would: the sun rise? the crops grow?  Sacrificial Ritual W/out proper performance of sacrifice, would: the sun rise? the crops grow? & cattle be healthy & multiply?  Sacrificial Ritual W/out proper performance of sacrifice, would: the sun rise? the crops grow? & cattle be healthy & multiply? Would Aryans live prosperous, long, healthy & happy lives?  Sacrificial Ritual W/out proper performance of sacrifice, would: the sun rise? the crops grow? & cattle be healthy & multiply? Would Aryans live prosperous, long, healthy & happy lives? -> It was a vital/essential ritual activity for early Vedic civilization. Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice?  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - fire-pit in which the sacrificial fire (agni) burns various offerings  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - wooden sticks in order to help kindle the sacred fire by friction  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - wooden logs used as fuel  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - offering spoon as sacrificial instrument/ utensil http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/sculptures/homa- spoon-for-vedic-sacrifices-yajna-ZAJ48/  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - pressing-stone of soma stalks  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - sacred grass (kusha) on which water was sprinkled according to specific rules  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - sacrificial vessel holding soma & food offerings  Objects used in Vedic Sacrifice What objects were used during the performance of Vedic sacrifice? - fire-pit in which the sacrificial fire (agni) burns various offerings - wooden sticks in order to help kindle the sacred fire by friction - wooden logs used as fuel - offering spoon as sacrificial instrument/ utensil - pressing-stone of soma stalks - sacred grass (kusha) on which water was sprinkled according to specific rules - sacrificial vessel holding soma & food offerings Vedic Sacrificial Offerings What offerings were made during the performance of sacrifice?  Vedic Sacrificial Offerings What offerings were made during the performance of sacrifice? - ghee (clarified butter) - milk - cereals - fruits - vegetables - various powders - flowers, etc.  Vedic Sacrificial Offerings What offerings were made during the performance of sacrifice? - animals RIGVEDIC SACRIFICE Different Vedic gods or goddesses were beckoned/ praised depending on what was sought/asked for.  RIGVEDIC SACRIFICE Belief in many Vedic gods or goddesses/ a pantheon of gods & goddesses pantheon |ˈpanTHēˌän, -THēən| noun The entire collection of gods of a culture or religion. the deities of the Hindu pantheon.  RIGVEDIC SACRIFICE Belief in many Vedic gods or goddesses/ a pantheon of gods & goddesses - Is this monotheism?  RIGVEDIC SACRIFICE Belief in many Vedic gods or goddesses/ a pantheon of gods & goddesses - Is this polytheism? What did Max Müller have to say about it?  RIGVEDIC SACRIFICE Belief in many Vedic gods or goddesses/ a pantheon of gods & goddesses -> Who was Max Müller? Friedrich Max Müller (1823-1900) German Orientalist A founder of Indian Studies & Comparative Religion & Philosophy  RIGVEDIC SACRIFICE Belief in many Vedic gods or goddesses/ a pantheon of gods & goddesses What did Max Müller have to say about it? HENOTHEISM  RIGVEDIC PRACTICE HENOTHEISM: (term coined by Müller) ORIGIN mid-19th cent. Fr. Greek heno- + theos + -ism ‘one’ + ‘god’ + -ism Henotheism: Worshipping a single god while accepting the existence of other deities.  RIGVEDIC PRACTICE HENOTHEISM: Worshipping a single god while accepting the existence of other deities. * The henotheist may worship any deity w/in the pantheon, depending on circumstances (on what boons were sought, for ex.)  Development of Vedic Thought Besides the 4 Vedas already discussed, we find 4 types of material found in the Vedas. So the term Veda can either refer to: the 4 Vedas RigVeda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda or the 4 types/categories of material contained in the Vedas.  Development of Vedic Thought 4 types of material in Vedas: -> Mantras/hymns -> Brahmanas -> Aranyakas -> Upanishads  Development of Vedic Thought Earliest portion of the Veda Hymns chanted during Vedic fire sacrifice to please gods to receive boons & maintain cosmic order (rita) Later portions of the Veda: Sac. become more & more elaborate, requiring a variety of materials & several priests. If sac. properly performed down to its minutest detail, then did not matter if gods were pleased or displeased, boons would automatically be granted.  Development of Vedic Thought Brahmanas In RV hymns: Aim: trying to please gods to receive boons & maintain cosmic order (rita) In Brahmanas: If sac. properly performed down to its minutest detail, then did not matter if gods were pleased or displeased, boons would automatically be granted. Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest  Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Prob. composed for forest dwellers/sages who had retired to the forest, thus unable to perform elaborate sacrifices requiring many accessories & articles not available in forest. Development of Vedic Thought In even later parts of the Veda Intellectualization of sacrifice  Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Intellectualization of sacrifice Meditation on certain symbols begins to replace actual performance of sac. Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Devaluation of actual performance of sac. ↓ in favour of substitution- meditation Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Intellectualization of sacrifice considered to be superior to the actual performance of sacrifice. Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Ex. of this intellectualization of sacrifice (substitution-meditation) can be found in a passage fr. the Brihad Aranyaka: Reinterpretation of horse sacrifice originally found in RV. Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Ex. of this intellectualization of sacrifice via substitution-meditation: Horse Sacrifice  Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Horse Sacrifice gets reinterpreted where horse is the object of meditation, instead of actually killing a horse.  Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Horse Sac. in the Brihad Aranyaka - Description of a symbolic meditation on the Ashvamedha/Horse Sacrifice fr. the Vedas & the Brāhmanas. - Converts every external activity into an internal contemplation.  Development of Vedic Thought Aranyakas: Books of the Forest Horse Sac. in the Brihad Aranyaka Horse Sacrifice-> a symbol for cosmic meditation, comparing the universe to a horse & the limbs & bodily structure of the horse to the various structural patterns of the universe; mentally performing the sacrifice & conceiving the sacrifice as, ultimately, a contemplation of the universal harmony of things rather than laying too much emphasis on the external performance of it by means of physical objects & oblations, etc., in a literal sacrifice.  Development of Vedic Thought: Upanishads Early Upanishads -> 600 BCE Term 'Upanishads' = Upa + ni + shad Near by devotedly sitting “sitting near by devotedly” Development of Vedic Thought: Upanishads “sitting near by devotedly” Meaning??? Development of Vedic Thought: Upanishads  Development of Vedic Thought: Upanishads Term 'Upanishads' = “Sitting near by devotedly” Meaning of the term: 1) reveals secret/esoteric nature of teachings of the Upanishads 2) teachings of the Upanishads are learnt fr. a guru (i.e. sitting at the feet of a master) & are reserved for the initiated  Development of Vedic Thought: Upanishads What literary form do the Upa. take? -> Dialogues -> About what? Development of Vedic Thought: Upanishads Dialogues about the nature of ultimate/ unconditioned reality, among other matters. Upanishad Teachings You should know how to explain each of these Upanishadic concepts, if asked to do so.  Development of Vedic Thought In the final portion of the Veda: Upanishads Devaluation of fire sacrifice & devas Shift fr. worldly to spiritual concerns Eternal soul/self -> atman Monism -> Brahman (Ultimate Reality) Reincarnation (Cycle of samsara) Liberation (moksha) Meditation Atman = Brahman (Identity of Atman & Brahman)