Hinduism
Indian Religions
Name
Origins of Hinduism: The Indus Valley Civilization
Hinduism, unlike most major religions, does not have a central figure upon whom it is founded
Rather, it is a complex faith with roots stemming back five thousand years to the people of the Indus
Valley, now part of Pakistan. When the Aryan tribes of Persia invaded the Indus Valley around 1700
BCE, the groups' beliefs merged and Hinduism began to form.
Most of what we know of the Indus people (also called Dravidians) comes from archaeological find-
ings. Artifacts and relics dating back as early as 2000 BCE tell the story of a civilization flourishing
with craftsmanship, agriculture, and religious life. As we will see, many of these early practices and
beliefs still shape Hinduism.
For example, the Indus put great importance on cleanliness or ritual bathing. MohenjoDaro one of the
major Indus cities, contained a huge water tank for public bathing. Today, many Hindu temples feature
such tanks.
Another lasting legacy of Hinduism is found in the abundance of terra-cotta figurines unearthed in the
Indus Valley. Popular among these small ceramic statuettes were depictions of pregnant women
"mother goddesses." The fertility and strength of the goddess and the rebirth and continuity she pro-
vides remain central to the Hindu faith.
Ceramic seals also provide insight into the Indus' religious beliefs. Among the most common design
was that of the bull. It represented virility, or sexual force, which is still considered sacred to the
Hindus. Shiva, among the most revered Hindu gods, is associated with the bull.
The Indus were an agricultural people, growing crops and raising animals. Living on the banks of the
Indus River, dependent on its nourishment and renewal, there was deep reverence for water Water still
remains sacred to Hindus.
Questions:
1. How did researchers discover most of the information about the Indus people?
2. List three findings and briefly explain their links to Hinduism.
3. How did the Indus people survive? How does it relate to their religious worship?
©7995 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.729#624 Interdisciplinary Unit-World Religions

    Hinduism
Indian Religions
    Name_________________
Origins of Hinduism:
The Aryan Invasion and the Vedas
The Aryan Invasion

Although there is evidence that me Indus vallev civilization may already have been struggling its
collapse began with the invasion of the Aryan tribes around 1700 BCE. The Aryans a powerful race
traveled through Europe and Asia, conquering whomever they encountered.  When they descended
from the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas into the Indus Valley, they brought with them a very different
belief system and way of life. 
To begin with, the Aryans were not agricultural people. Rather than fertility symbols they Grafted
beautify bronze weaponry. Another major contrast was their religious focus. The Aryans were
patriarchal. worshipping only male gods. Their central god was a "sky father," probably an influence of
the Greek and Roman gods' zeus and Jupiter. Their principal deities, such as Agni and Indra,  were
associated with the sun. Aryan priests composed verses to these gods which were recited during fire
sacrifices.
The Aryans settled the lush Indus Valley and maintained their rituals. However, much of the Indus'
religious culture remained alive in villages and was adopted by the Aryans. From this mixture of
beliefs and practices, Hinduism was born.

The Vedas

With the Aryans arrived the bedrock of the Hindu thought system, the vedas. Considered the world's
Oldest writings, these.scriptures originated before the Aryans migrated to the Indus Valley, later
evolving into four scriptures: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur Veda, the Sama-Veda, and the Athrva- Veda. The
oldest and most popular of these is the Rig Veda,  a collection of hymns which may date back as early as
5000 BCE t is important to note. however, that the historical sweep of Vedic writing reflects deep
shifts in spiritual interest and ways of worship.                                    g          ep

Interestingly, for centuries the Vedas were only transmitted orally, through memorization and recital.  Eventually, however, they were transcribed into Sanskrit, the sacred Hindu language developed by the Aryans of the Indus Valley.
The Rig-Veda tells of thirty three-three gods, all of whom are born of one creator. Brahman. Complementing
Brahman are Vishnu and Shiva. These three gods form the Hindu trinity. The principal goddesses,
Lakshmi, Sarasvati, and Kali are also part of the Rig-Veda. This variety of deities -many of whom
take on different personalities and names- are very much alive in everyday Hindu life.
Response:
Describe three major differences between the Aryan and Indus people.
©7995 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.                   131                                   #624 Interdisciplinary Unit—World Religions

Indian Religions                                                                   Hinduism
Name________________________________
Origins of Hinduism:
The Ascetics and The Upanishads
|The Ascetic
By the 7th century BCE, Aryans, along with people of the Indus Valley, had migrated across India to
the Ganges Valley, settling among the native population. Wherever they lived, the Aryans represented
the elite of society, and the most elite were the Brahmins, priests. These priests determined a class
order, or caste system, which they included as a Vedic hymn. To this day, the caste system helps shape
Hindu society. (See page 155.)
Although the Brahmins were revered in the early Hindu periods, slowly their role began to be
questioned. The Brahmins assumed spiritual authority, overseeing the writings of the Vedas and
demanding complicated rituals. These rituals centered around the Brahmins and excluded those from
lower classes. As disillusionment rose, a more individualized way of religious life was bom, the life of
the ascetic.
The ascetic was a person dedicated to a life of spiritual austerity and self-discipline. Untouched by the
social system, ascetics often chose a hermitage in the forest or gathered with others to live lives of
intense devotion and meditation. By example, these individuals inspired people away from dependence
on priests, creating a revolution of spiritual thought and practice.
|The Upanishads
From this revolution were born. The Upanishads, authored by ascetics between 700-500 BCE. As the
final part of the Vedas, The Upanishads contain almost exclusively dialogues of a guru, spiritual master.
In fact, "Upanishad" literally means "sitting beside" a guru. These texts differ from earlier Vedic
writings in that they are intended to inspire and welcome anyone, regardless of status or caste.
Although The Upansihads, like much of the Vedic writings, are difficult to absorb, what matters is the
seeker's depth of sincerity and character.
It follows, then, that the fire rituals so common among Vedic priests were replaced by the deep internal
searching of the ascetics. To the students of The Upanishads, the fire of understanding bums within.
The fire rituals are metaphors for an inner revelation.
Central to Upanishadic belief is that of the atman, higher self. The atman is a person's soul which must
return to Brahman, the universal soul. Through meditation and self-sacrifice, an individual may come
to realize fully that he is not separate from the universal soul, he is not a body or an isolated identity.
Response:
Briefly explain the importance of the ascetics in Hindu life.
#624 Interdisciplinary Unit—World Religions             132                  ©1995 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.