Essentials of Hindu Dharma

Introduction Overall Hindu Dharma Syllabus Three segments 1. History of Hindu Religion (First 12 Lectures) 2. Hindu Scriptures and Philosophy 3. Core Concepts and Misconceptions ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 1 List of 12 Lectures-Segment 1 History of Hindu Religion 1. Ancient Civilization 2. Origin of Aryans 3. Vedic Period (Rishis and revelations) 4. Vedas (Content) ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 2 List of 12 Lectures-Segment 1 History of Hindu Religion 5. Period of Epics and Puranas 6. Buddhism and Jainism 7. Shankara and his Vedantic teachings 8. Ramanuja, Madhva, and their teachings ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 3 List of 12 Lectures-Segment 1 History of Hindu Religion 9. Bhakti Movement 10. Saints of India 15-16th Century 11. Influential religious leaders 17-18th Century 12. Contemporary religious leaders 19th C to present ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 4 Introduction History of Hindu Religion History lets us understand: • Development of Hindu Religion – Evolution of various religious practices – Transitions over time ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 5 Lecture 1 Three Topics • Indus Valley Civilization- Earlier Excavations Kishin Kripalani • Ancient Indian Civilization-Recent Excavations Satish Talekar • Sarasvati River Valley Civilization Bandaru Rajarao 6 ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani Indus Valley Civilization (Indo-Saraswati Civilization) • Earliest known civilization of South Asia • Historical Context – 3300-1700 BCE • Mature period 2600-1900 BCE – Coincides with Bronze Age ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 7 Indus Valley Civilization • Contemporary civilizations: – Egypt – Mesopotamia – Crete (modern SE Greece) • IVC was the largest ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 8 Historical Reference Sumerian Texts • Two prominent seafaring trading partners in South Asia – Magan – Meluhha • Considerd to be Indus Civilization: • IVC objects found in Mesopotamia ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 9 Geographic Area Indus River Civilization ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 10 Geography Iran Afghanistan ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 11 Geographic Area Settlement Areas: • Along Indus River Valley (Pakistan) – Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan • Along Oxus River – Afghanistan • Westward along the coast – Up to Iranian border Cont’d ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 12 Geographic Area • India’s Northwestern states – Punjab, Haryana, up to New Delhi • Southwards – up to Rajasthan and Gujarat ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 13 Identified Sites of IVC •500 IVC Sites •100 Along Sindhu ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 14 Discovery of IVC • 1842: Described by Charles Masson – Locals talked of an ancient city • 1856: British engineers – Used bricks for railroad construction • 1872-1922: Some seals were discovered • 1912: More seals were discovered ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 15 Excavations History Starting in 1921 • Harappa – John Marshall – Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahini – Madho Sarup • Mohenjo-Daro – John Marshall – R.B. Banerjee – Others contd ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 16 Excavations History • 1945: Further excavations of Mohenjo-Daro, sites in Baluchistan and Afghanistan – Mortimer Wheeler – Ahmad Hasan Dani Cont’d ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 17 Excavations History Pakistan • 1964-65: Last major excavations • 1980’s: Surface surveys and soft techniques – German and Italian survey groups • !986 onwards – Joint project with US India – Ongoing since 1950’s ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 18 Mohenjo-Daro Eastern Mound ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 19 Mohenjo-Daro ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 20 Mohenjo-Daro ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 21 Great Bath22 of Mohenjo-Daro 23 x 40 Ft; 8 Ft deep Earliest public water tank in ancient world ARSHA BODHA CENTER 22 Kishin Kripalani Mohenjo-Daro Western Mound-Lower Town ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 23 Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro • Large urban cities • Divided into 2 parts: – Citadel – Lower town • Mud-brick buildings • Well planned city blocks • Wide streets ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 24 Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro • 2-Storied houses – About same standards – Low wealth concentration Public buildings • Administrative Centers (?) • Trade Centers • Well developed drainage system ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 25 Mohenjo-Daro A wide Street ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 26 Harappa ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 27 Granery-Harappa ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 28 Harappa Conception ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 29 Wells at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 30 Artifacts Arts & Culture • • • • Gold, silver, and bronze ornaments Seals: showing animals and some script Ceramic toys Games ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 31 Artifacts Arts & Culture • Etched Carnelian beads • Make-up and toiletry items • Figurines: dancing; yoga • Music: Harp • Pottery (distinctive black-on-red) ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 32 ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 33 Priest King 17.5 cm high ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 34 Dancing Girl 11-cm high ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 35 About Dancing Girl Mortimer Wheeler: "There is her little Baluchi-style face with pouting lips and insolent look in the eye. She's about fifteen years old I should think, not more, but she stands there with bangles all the way up her arm and nothing else on. A girl perfectly, for the moment, perfectly confident of herself and the world. There's nothing like her, I think, in the world.“ ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 36 About Dancing Girl John Marshall: “A vivid impression of the young girl, her hand on her hip in a half-impudent posture, and legs slightly forward as she beats time to the music with her legs and feet” ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 37 IVC Ornaments ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 38 Beads ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 39 Terracotta Artifacts ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 40 Seals with Script ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 41 Seals: Animals and Script ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 42 Yoga Seal ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 43 Seal Elephant and Tiger ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 44 Cultural Glimpses ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 45 Narrative Seal ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 46 Trade & Transportation • • • • Trade-based economy Bullock carts Boats Maritime trade – Iran, Turkmenistan – Mesopotamian civilization • Caravan trade – Central Asia ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 47 Bullock Cart ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 48 Writings on Seals ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 49 IVC Writing Does not seem highly evolved compared to other civilization of the time ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 50 Weights ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 51 Religion • Worship of a mother Goddess – Fertilty? • Shiva lingam type symbols found • Figure seated in Lotus Position surrounded by animals – Pashupati • Earlier culture: Burial of the dead • Later culture: Cremation ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 52 Decline of IVC • Starting around 1700 BCE • Ecological changes – Floods – Climate change: Drier, colder – Weaker monsoons – Rivers drying up ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 53 Replica ARSHA BODHA CENTER Kishin Kripalani 54