Post by ~*~Kit_The_Kat~*~ on Nov 18, 2003 21:17:17 GMT -5
Hinduism is the oldest and most complex of all religious systems. Providing an adequate history for the development of Hinduism is difficult, since it has no specific founder or theology and originated in the religious practices of Aryan tribes who moved to India from central Asia more than three thousand years ago. The Aryans attacked the Harappan people who lived in modern day India around 1500 BC. Eventually, through adaptation to the religious beliefs of the other, both groups developed similar religious belief systems, founded on the polytheism of the Aryans and the sanctity of fertility of the Harappans.
Soon, the predominantly Aryan society developed the caste system, which ranked society according to occupational class. The caste system is as follows:
Brahmins priests
Kshatriyas soldiers, king-warrior class
Vaishyas merchants, farmers, Sutras laborers, craftspeople
Harijahns "untouchables"- those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal people-extremely poor and discriminated against
The higher a person's caste, the more that person is blessed with the benefits and luxuries life has to offer. Although the caste system was outlawed in 1948, it is still important to the Hindu people of India and is still recognized as the proper way to stratify society.
Since the early days of Hinduism, it has branched and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and religious organizations. Not only is it the primary religion of the region around India, but portions of Hindu beliefs have found their way across oceans to other countries and have been influential in the foundations of other religions, such as Transcendental Meditation and Buddhism.
Soon, the predominantly Aryan society developed the caste system, which ranked society according to occupational class. The caste system is as follows:
Brahmins priests
Kshatriyas soldiers, king-warrior class
Vaishyas merchants, farmers, Sutras laborers, craftspeople
Harijahns "untouchables"- those thought to be descended from the Harappan aboriginal people-extremely poor and discriminated against
The higher a person's caste, the more that person is blessed with the benefits and luxuries life has to offer. Although the caste system was outlawed in 1948, it is still important to the Hindu people of India and is still recognized as the proper way to stratify society.
Since the early days of Hinduism, it has branched and now encompasses a wide variety of religious beliefs and religious organizations. Not only is it the primary religion of the region around India, but portions of Hindu beliefs have found their way across oceans to other countries and have been influential in the foundations of other religions, such as Transcendental Meditation and Buddhism.
