LESSON 6.8 What was the social structure of ancient India?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • identify the beliefs and traditions of Indian religions • explain the role of different groups in the social hierarchy of ancient Indian society • describe ceremonies and customs that signify important moments in the lives of Indian people.
Tune in The status and rights of women vary in different cultures and different time periods. 1. Consider the rights that women have in most Western contemporary societies. 2. Discuss what rights and opportunities you think women have now that they didn’t have in ancient India. 3. Revisit your discussion at the end of this lesson and evaluate the accuracy of your answer.
SOURCE1 What has changed for women in India over time?
6.8.1 Hinduism and the natural world India’s fertile geography, shaped by rivers like the Ganges, supported civilisations and inþuenced religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Hinduism is practised by nearly 80 per cent of Indians and is named after the Sanskrit word Sindh , meaning river. Ancient texts like the Vedas and Mahabharata regard nature as sacred, teaching harmony through dharma . Dharma can be described as a person’s responsibility to follow religious and cultural teachings and laws.
SOURCE2 An excerpt from the Sanskrit verse Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurna (2.2.41)
Ether, air, ýre, water, earth, planets, all creatures, directions, trees and plants, rivers and seas — they all are organs of God’s body. Remembering this, a devotee respects all species.
Hinduism explained Hinduism is both a pantheistic and polytheistic religion. The ýrst term describes religions that see the entire universe as being divine. Pantheists do not believe in a single god-like being, but rather see god in all aspects of the natural world. This means that Hindus are also polytheists because they worship the natural world through a variety of divine beings.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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