RLG205H5 Lecture : lecture 3
Document Summary
Week 3 late ved ic socie ty: t he caste system, t he ends of l i fe, Renunciation was domesticated within the late vedic period. Dravidian is used to describe indigenous non-aryan indians. Late vedic period contains elements that are central to the south asian religions. Theory 1: dravidian hypothesis: incorporation of indigenous (from indus valley civilization) elements into aryan religion. Theory 2: internal evolution of vedic aryan civilization. Renunciation (give something up) is related to asceticism (self-discipline). Renunciation and asceticism are opposed to the vedic ideas! Renunciation asks people to give up the fire. Buddha: c. 566 -> 486 bce, c. 448 -> 368 bce (probably more accurate) Above times are nodal points for many transformations. Buddha totally rejected the vedic r itual practices and the householder ideal because the good things in life end. Renouncer traditions (shramana traditions): contains buddhists and jains (both atheists). Even within the vedic traditions there were renouncer traditions!
