HIST 11051 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Middle Kingdoms Of India, Vedic Period, Upanishads
28 Apr 2019
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The vedic age: 1500 500 bce. Aryans pushed into ganges, up to deccan. Ganges republics (mahajanapadas): 900 500 bce. Generally 16 larger states dominated indus-ganges region. States vied for power constantly with each other. Within states, kshatriyans vied for power with rulers. Magahda was one of the most dominant of the states. Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of incarnation. His disciples began to lead a monastic life. Mahavira became jina, the "conqueror," and followers, jains. Everything in the universe possessed a soul. Striving to purify one"s selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss. The principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things. Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind. Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmins. Social implication: individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality. The jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati. Became attractive to members of lower castes.
