PSYCO239 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Vaishya
20 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Was used to identify those who lived around the indu river. Term was adopted by current government of india to classify everyone except muslims, Problem with this is that sikhs, buddhists etc. are all considered to be hindus. Dharma = righteousness, justice, fait, duty, social obligation. Vedas = 4 collections that date from 1500-600 bce. Handed down by the brahmins - they are responsible for preserving and. Vedas consist of: hymns, ritual texts (descriptions), upanishads upholding (philosophical treaties) texts. Upanishads comment/explain issues/topics in the hymns and ritual. Hymns and ritual texts are thought to be older than the upanishads. Which is why the upanishads make comments on the latter. Karma = system of rewards and punishments ( what comes around goes. Samsara = reincarnation (the working out of one"s karma) Sort of hierarchical system of classifying people"s status. Generally just focuses on the upper castes.
