Class SystemClass System

Do you think people should be judged in Do you think people should be judged in society by how much money they make? society by how much money they make? Why?Why?

Hinduism & the Caste Hinduism & the Caste SystemSystem

The Beginnings of HinduismThe Beginnings of Hinduism In about 1500 BC, when the In about 1500 BC, when the AryansAryans

invaded India, they brought with them invaded India, they brought with them parts of their cultureparts of their culture

Their language Their language SanskritSanskrit, which the , which the Aryans believed was a holy Aryans believed was a holy languagelanguage, , was spoken by the gods. was spoken by the gods.

The Aryans’ holiest books, the The Aryans’ holiest books, the VedasVedas are are written in Sanskrit.written in Sanskrit.

These These fourfour books describe the Aryan books describe the Aryan religion.religion.

HinduismHinduism

Hinduism is one of the Hinduism is one of the oldestoldest religions still religions still practiced today.practiced today.

They worship They worship three three main main gods, (gods, (polytheisticpolytheistic)) Brahma the CreatorBrahma the Creator Vishnu the Preserver Vishnu the Preserver Shiva the DestroyerShiva the Destroyer

Below these gods are Below these gods are many other lesser gods. many other lesser gods.

Brahma the CreatorBrahma the Creator

Creator of the Creator of the UniverseUniverse Hindu followers believe Hindu followers believe

all other gods originated all other gods originated from Brahma.from Brahma.

4 4 facesfaces to see the to see the 4 4 corners of the universecorners of the universe

Vishnu the PreserverVishnu the Preserver

PreservesPreserves the the universe. universe.

He is all powerful and He is all powerful and all knowingall knowing

Role is to maintain a Role is to maintain a balance between balance between goodgood and and evilevil powers. powers.

To do this he returns To do this he returns to Earth in many to Earth in many forms.forms.

Shiva the Destroyer or PurifierShiva the Destroyer or Purifier

Shiva is responsible Shiva is responsible for change both in the for change both in the form of form of deathdeath and and destruction.destruction.

Many forms but most Many forms but most famous is Lord of the famous is Lord of the Dance.Dance.

Hinduism TeachingsHinduism Teachings

Hinduism teaches that people live Hinduism teaches that people live manymany lives until they reach spiritual lives until they reach spiritual perfectionperfection

Belief in reincarnation, Belief in reincarnation, the soul lives on the soul lives on after death and returns to life in a new after death and returns to life in a new body.body.

Those who live Those who live goodgood lives will be reborn into lives will be reborn into a a higherhigher social caste social caste

Those who live Those who live badbad lives will return as lives will return as lowerlower caste, could be an animal or an insect.caste, could be an animal or an insect.

Teachings continuedTeachings continuedIn other words, a person’s life is measured by Karma.In other words, a person’s life is measured by Karma. Karma: Karma: Good or bad things you have done that will Good or bad things you have done that will

result in good or bad things happening to you.result in good or bad things happening to you. Good Karma will allow you to reincarnate to a higher caste, Good Karma will allow you to reincarnate to a higher caste,

bad karma will reincarnate you into a lower caste.bad karma will reincarnate you into a lower caste.

If you are in the Brahmin caste and earn good Karma, it If you are in the Brahmin caste and earn good Karma, it is said that you will achieve Moksha.is said that you will achieve Moksha.

MokshaMoksha:: like heaven, state of changeless bliss. like heaven, state of changeless bliss. Ultimate reward of Hinduism: Released from Ultimate reward of Hinduism: Released from reincarnation and united with the universe (Brahman).reincarnation and united with the universe (Brahman).

Caste SystemCaste System

The priests used the The priests used the Vedas and the belief in Vedas and the belief in reincarnation to give reincarnation to give orderorder to their society. to their society.

The Aryan The Aryan social social classesclasses are divided are divided into 4 castesinto 4 castes. .

PriestsPriests Soldiers and RulersSoldiers and Rulers Farmers and merchantsFarmers and merchants Common peopleCommon people

The CasteThe Caste

A person A person bornborn into one caste could never into one caste could never changechange castes or mix with members of castes or mix with members of another caste.another caste.

Caste members Caste members livelive, marry, and , marry, and workwork within their own group.within their own group.

The UntouchablesThe Untouchables

Below all the castes were Below all the castes were the the untouchablesuntouchables..

They did all the They did all the unpleasantunpleasant jobs of jobs of society, such as garbage, society, such as garbage, cleaning stable, or the cleaning stable, or the dead.dead.

Were though to be Were though to be impureimpure

They had to avoid all They had to avoid all contact with the rest of contact with the rest of society.society.

Accepting the Caste SystemAccepting the Caste System What made life under the caste system What made life under the caste system

bearable was bearable was reincarnation.reincarnation. Hindus believe that each person has a soul. Hindus believe that each person has a soul.

The soul is reborn, born again, in another The soul is reborn, born again, in another body. body.

They believe that even though life might be They believe that even though life might be hardhard, if you obey the rules of your caste, , if you obey the rules of your caste, there is hope that you will be reborn into the there is hope that you will be reborn into the nextnext life in a better caste. life in a better caste.

In Summary,In Summary,Why have the Caste System?Why have the Caste System?

It kept It kept order in societyorder in society.. People didn’t People didn’t disobey or rebeldisobey or rebel.. There was always the hope of good karma There was always the hope of good karma

leading to a higher caste leading to a higher caste in the next life.in the next life.

***This allowed Aryan priests to keep order in society for hundreds of years***