This document provides an overview of important religious texts, epics, and concepts in Hinduism. It summarizes the Rig Veda as the most important Hindu scripture containing over 1000 hymns, and the Upanishads as philosophical texts discussing concepts like Brahman. Two major Indian epics are also outlined - the Ramayana about Rama and the Mahabharata, said to be the world's longest epic. Key Hindu gods like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva forming the trinity are defined. Brief histories of important places and cultural contributions of India like yoga, martial arts, and its ancient university are presented.
3. The Rig Veda
-for Hindus, the source of
all truth and the basis of all
religious beliefs.
• Compiled around
B.C.
1400
• Contains more than 1000
hymns by different authors
• Subject of poems: the
praise of god, the origin of
the universe
4. Upanishad
-Sanskrit texts that contain
Indian philosophy
• Written from 1000 – 600
B.C.
• Treat complicated subjects –
such as the nature of reality –
in dialogues between teachers
and students
• It diminish the importance
of individual gods.
• It emphasize a single
principle
underlying
all
5. Panchatantra
- Ancient Indian text
that teaches young
princes how to govern
a kingdom and conduct
their lives.
•Written between 200
B.C. and 500 A.D.
Read: “Numskull and the
Rabbit” (Animal Fable)
6. The Great Indian Epics
Ramayan
The first Indian epic
a
Mahabhara
Longest Epic in world
ta
literature with
100,000 two-line
13. Indus Valley Civilization- one of the
world’s first great urban
civilizations.
Harappa Civilization- 2700BC
14. World’s first university in Takshila –700
B.C
Ayurveda- earliest school of medicine known
to humans
Sanskrit Language –most suitable for
computer software
15. Yoga - Made in India
•
Origin –5000 BC
Documented by
200 BC – 300 AD
35. “India is the cradle of the human race,
the birthplace of human speech, the
mother of history, the grandmother of
legend, and the great grand mother of
tradition. Our most valuable and most
instructive materials in the history of
man are treasured up in India only.”
-Mark Twain
“We owe a lot to the Indians, who
taught us how to count, without
which no worthwhile scientific
discovery could have been made.”
-Albert Einstein