MMW 11 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Sannyasa, Vedic Period, Vedas

• School: UCSD
• Department: Making of the Modern World
• Course: MMW 11
• Professor: Matthew Herbst

Document Summary

Not like in china when there were historians. The vedas were supposedly heard and then recited. They were spoken to people by the universe. Part of the reason that they were spoken for so long instead of written down. Vedas not meant to be read, but heard. According to the vedas, a sacrifice created the class system. Killed a demon that took the water. Judges us when we lie and act immorally (takes note) Intermediary between the brahmin and the gods to help them help us (first 3 are twice born groups) No real concept of a heaven that you have to gain access to like in other places. You still have to live well, though, otherwise you"ll be reincarnated in a lower caste. Some questioning of rituals in the 1st millennium bc. Basically like if the rituals described in the vedas work and what the goal of life is. Also known as the sruti and the vedanta.