3: Religious and Social Diversity: 1,000 B.C.E.-700 C.E.
This week, we continue to explore the earlier civilisations and religious
communities of this subcontinent. Last week, we began in 180,000 B.C.E..
This week, we are going to fast forward over 170,000 B.C.E. and look at this
region between 1,000 B.C.E. to 700 C.E. (Common Era).
As we start to move forward in time, we know more and more about these
settlements and how they lived. This is the start of a religiously diverse
landscape. We will look at how three religions, in their early forms, co-
existed: Vedic Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. This is also the start of
dynasties that are ruled by kings. We will explore how these people lived,
the struggles that they faced, and perhaps most importantly, how their
accomplishments and religious outlooks continue to affect modern day
residents of this subcontinent.
Why Do We Spend So Much Time On the Early Periods?
Remember we ended last week’s lectures with the question of why does this
course start at the very beginning of the history of this subcontinent? What
are your thoughts?
I will share mine with you. First, as historians (sorry, you became one when
you signed-up for this course!), we look at how people, places, and things
change over time. In order to under stand how the subcontinent had grown
or changed in the twentieth century, we have to understand what it was
before that.
The second reason is that the arrival of British colonialism is a key moment
in the history of this subcontinent. We will spend the second half of this
course understanding its impact. In order to assess how colonialism altered
this region, we need to know about its indigenous civilisations,
achievements, and issues.
Thirdly, I hope to show-case how impressive some of these early
achievements were. The Harappan drainage system, for example, still stand
out for me.
Let’s turn our attention to this region’s changing religious practices,
dynasties, and social structures from 1,000 B.C.E. to 700 C.E..
Religious Diversity: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism
Hold on to your seatbelts because we are going to briefly cover three of the
world’s oldest and most interesting religions. While there are much more
details in the textbook, this overview will help you understand the basics of
these religions.
One of the most remarkable characteristics of this early period was the co–
existence of these three religions. While Hinduism was the most dominant
religion, the other two attracted many followers and flourished as well.
Please remember that we are examining these religions during this early
period. While some aspects may have continued to today, these early
religions are not identical to their modern forms. The ability of religions to
adapt, change, and evolve is one story that we will follow in this course.
Hinduism:
Some of the key concepts of modern Hinduism were developed during this
time. These ideas include reincarnation, karma, and the four varnas. Let’s
see how these ideas work together.
At the heart of Hinduism is the Law of Karma. The idea is that every action,
whether it is good or evil, has repercussions at some point in the future. Our
past karma (action) determines our present life and whether we are born in
a desirable caste or not, as a human or animal. Only our karma will
determine how many lives we will have to live and how long we will have to
suffer as mortal beings before we are released from this suffering and
achieve nirvana, a state of perfect peace and enlightenment.
Based on our karma, individual beings will be reborn (reincarnated) into
different beings. If you had awful karma, you might be reincarnated as a
sick frog that gets stepped upon. If you had great karma, you might be born
as an esteemed Hindu leader.
In particular, these ideas of karma and reincarnation were linked to the four
“varnas” or classes. Eventually, these ideas would form the basis of a caste
system. (Prior to this period, there were only three separate “varnas.”)
This system was a hierarchical one that was also based on occupations. At
the very top were the Brahmans who performed the ritual sacrifices that
were central to Hinduism during this age. They had the closest relationship
to the sacred religious texts and served as teachers, scribes, and readers.
Below them were the Kshatriyas. These were the warriors and kings who
protected the others. One step below them were the Vaishyas, or the
farmers and merchants. At the very bottom were the Shudras or the
servants.
The idea was that rebirth into a higher class was a desirable thing. Being a
member of a higher class also meant that someone had good karma from a
previous life. However, a higher class person who performed evil deeds
would theoretically be born into a lower class in the next life. Those who had
been truly evil, as mentioned before, would be born as animals.
Jainism
Another influential religion at this time was Jainism. It is known as a
heterodox (not the orthodox) religion because Hinduism was seen as the
dominant and orthodox religion.
Like Hinduism, followers of Jainism too believed in the power karma and
desired to be freed from the endless cycles of reincarnation to achieve
eternal peace.
However, there were some key differences (obviously). Jainism taught that
each and every object contained an imprisoned soul (jiva). Our daily actions
create more and more layers around these souls, causing these souls to be
trapped in the rebirthing process and to be continuously reborn as material
beings. (Remember, the goal is to stop this reincarnation process).
According to Jainism, how does one stop this process? The only way is to
take a vow of nonviolence (ahimsa). This and staying away from action was
the only way to stop undesirable matter from sticking to the imprisoned
soul, bring about its release, and attain “moksha” or eternal salvation.
What is unique to Jainism is that its followers believe that all living beings,
