Since many artifacts of the material culture of Ancient India were formed, more than four millennia have passed. And yet, one tiny sculpture made by an unknown artist still seems particularly relevant. The print depicts a figure sitting on a low platform in a pose that is familiar to modern devotees of yoga and meditation: the knees are apart, the feet touch each other, and the arms extend from the body with the tips of the fingers resting on the knees. Forming a symmetrical and balanced shape of a triangle, the adherent's body located in this way can withstand prolonged yoga and meditation sessions without the need for a change of pose.
Harmony with the Universe
The word "yoga" means "unity", and ancient yoga was intended to prepare the body for meditation, with which man sought to understand his unity with the totality of the universe. After gaining this understanding, people could no longer hurt another living being except themselves. Today, this practice is regularly used to supplement Western medical and psychotherapeutic procedures. Among the documented benefits of yoga and its companion, meditation, is a reduction in blood pressure, increased mental clarity and reduced stress.
However, for the ancient Indians who developed and improved these complex mental-physical methods, yoga and meditation were tools for finding the inner world and harmonious existence. If you look closely, you can find much more evidence of a non-violent, peaceful nature of the early peoples of this region. In short, the most important and interesting thing in the culture of Ancient India during its heyday from 2300-1750. BC e. - this is the lack of evidence of internal dissent, crime, or even the threat of war and external conflict. There are no fortifications and no signs of assault or robbery.
Civil society
In this early period, emphasis is also placed on civil society, and not on the ruling elite. Indeed, archaeological evidence suggests that at that time there really was no hereditary ruler, such as a king or other monarch, who would accumulate and control the wealth of society. Thus, unlike other ancient civilizations of the world, whose extensive architectural and artistic endeavors, such as tombs and large-scale sculptures, served as rich and powerful, the culture of Ancient India did not leave such monuments. Instead, government programs and financial resources seemed to be directed toward organizing a society that would benefit its citizens.
Woman role
Another feature that separates the history and culture of Ancient India from other early civilizations is the prominent role of women. Among the artifacts that have been excavated are thousands of ceramic sculptures, sometimes representing them in the role of the goddess, in particular the mother goddess. This is a key element of the religion and culture of ancient India. They are filled with goddesses - the highest and those whose role is to complement the male deities who would otherwise be incomplete or even powerless. Therefore, it is not surprising that the symbol chosen for the movement for national independence at the beginning of the twentieth century and the emergence of modern democracy in India was Bharat Mata, that is, Mother India.
Harrap civilization
The first culture of ancient India, the Indian or Harappan civilization, during its heyday occupied the region in the northwestern part of South Asia, which is now Pakistan. It stretched south for one and a half thousand kilometers along the western coastal regions of Hindustan.
In the end, the Harappan civilization disappeared around 1750 BC. e. due to a combination of adverse natural and human factors. The earthquakes in the upper Himalayas may have altered the course of rivers that provided vital agricultural irrigation, which led to the abandonment of cities and settlements and relocation to other places. In addition, the ancient inhabitants, not realizing the need for planting trees after cutting them for use in construction and as fuel, deprived the region of forests, thereby contributing to its transformation into today's desert.
Indian civilization left the cities built of bricks, the drainage system of roads, multi-story buildings, evidence of working with metals, the manufacture of tools, and had its own writing system. In total, 1022 cities and towns were found.
Vedic period
The period following the Harappan civilization from 1750 to III century. BC e., left jerky evidence. However, it is known that at this time part of the most important cultural principles of the ancient civilization of India was formed. Some of them come from Indian culture, but other ideas entered the country from outside, for example, with nomadic Indo-European Arians from Central Asia, who brought with them a caste system and changed the social structure of ancient Indian society.
Aryans roamed tribes and settled in different parts of northwestern India. Each tribe was led by a leader, whose authority after death passed to his immediate family. As a rule, she was passed on to her son.
Over time, the Aryan people assimilated with indigenous tribes and became part of Indian society. Since Aryans migrated from the north and settled in the northern regions, many Indians living there today have a lighter skin color than those living in the south, where the Aryans did not dominate in ancient times.
Caste system
Vedic civilization is one of the main stages of the culture of ancient India. The Aryans introduced a new caste-based social structure. In this system, social status directly determined what responsibilities a person should fulfill in his society.
The priests, or brahmanas, belonged to the upper class and did not work. They were considered religious leaders. Kshatriyas were noble warriors who defended the state. Vaishya was considered a class of servants and worked in agriculture or served members of a higher caste. The sudras were a lower caste. They did the most dirty work - they removed garbage and cleaned other people's things.
Literature and Art
In the Vedic period, Indian art developed multifaceted. Images of animals, such as bulls, cows and goats, were widespread and were considered important. In Sanskrit, sacred hymns were written, which were performed as prayers. They became the beginning of Indian music.
In this era, some key writings were created. Many religious poems and sacred hymns have appeared. The Brahmins wrote them to form the beliefs and values ​​of the people.
In short, the most important thing in the culture of Ancient India of the Vedic period is the emergence of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. The latter religion originated in the form of a religion known as Brahmanism. Priests developed Sanskrit and used it to create around 1500 BC. e. 4 parts of the Vedas (the word “Veda” means “knowledge”) - collections of hymns, magic formulas, spells, stories, predictions and conspiracies, which are still highly valued today. These include the scriptures known as the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharva Veda. These works played such an important role in the ancient culture of India that the era of that time was called the Vedic period.
Around 1000 BC Aryans began to compose 2 important epics, “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata”. To the modern reader, these works provide an understanding of everyday life in ancient India. They tell of the Aryans, Vedic life, wars and achievements.
Music and dancing developed throughout the ancient history of India. Tools were invented to keep the rhythm of the songs. Dancers wore elaborate costumes, exotic makeup and jewelry, and they often performed in temples and courtyards of the Rajas.
Buddhism
Perhaps the most important cultural figure of the Ancient East and India that appeared in the Vedic period was Buddha, born in the VI century. BC e. under the name of Siddhartha Gautama in the Ganges River area in the northern part of Hindustan. Having attained perfect knowledge at the age of 36 after a spiritual search in which ascetic and meditative practices were used, the Buddha taught what was called the “middle path”. He advocated the rejection of extreme asceticism and extreme luxury. Buddha also taught that all living beings are able to transform from an ignorant, egocentric state into a person who embodies unconditional goodwill and generosity. Enlightenment was a matter of personal responsibility: each person had to develop in himself compassion for all living beings together with a perfect knowledge of his role in the Universe.
It is important to note that the historical Buddha is not considered a deity, and his followers do not worship him. Rather, they honor and honor it through their practice. In art, he is shown as a person, not a superhuman being. Since there is no omnipotent central deity in Buddhism, religion is easily compatible with other traditions, and today many people around the world combine Buddhism with a different faith.
Jainism and Hinduism
A contemporary of the Buddha was Mahavira, the 24th in the line of perfect people known as genies or conquerors, and a large figure in the Jain religion. Like Buddha, Mahavira is not considered a god, but an example for his followers. In art, he and the other 24 genies appear as highly accomplished people.
Unlike Buddhism and Jainism, the third major indigenous religion of India, Hinduism, did not have a teacher person to whom beliefs and traditions could be traced. Instead, it is centered around devotion to specific deities, both higher and secondary, which are part of the vast pantheon of gods and goddesses. Shiva destroys the Universe with his cosmic dance when it deteriorates to such an extent that it needs to be revived. Vishnu is the protector and guardian of the world, as he fights to maintain the status quo. Archaeological evidence of Hinduism appears later than Buddhism and Jainism, and stone and metal artifacts depicting many deities, up to the V century. are rare.
Samsara
All three Indian religions share the belief that every living creature is subject to a cycle of birth and rebirth during countless eons. Known as samsara, this relocation cycle is not limited to humans, but includes all sentient beings. The form that everyone will take in a future birth is determined by karma. This term in modern language has come to mean luck, but the original use of the word refers to actions performed as a result of choice, not chance. The escape from samsara, called “nirvana” by Buddhists and “moksha” Hindus and Jains, is the ultimate goal of each of the three religious traditions, and all human activity should ideally be aimed at improving karma to achieve this goal.
Although these religious traditions are now called differently, in many ways they are considered different paths or margins for the same purpose. In the culture of the individual and even in families, people were free to choose their own path, and today there is no evidence of a religious conflict between these traditions.
External contacts
Around the III century. BC e. the combination of the internal evolution of the culture of ancient India and a stimulating contact with West Asia and the Mediterranean worlds led to changes in the Indian regions. The arrival of Alexander the Great in the northwestern region of South Asia in 327 BC and the collapse of the Persian Empire brought new ideas, including the concept of the monarchy and technologies such as tools, knowledge and large-scale stone carving. If Alexander the Great had succeeded in the conquest of Hindustan (the rebellion and fatigue of his troops became the reason for his retreat), we can only guess how the history of India could have developed. Be that as it may, his legacy is largely cultural, not political, as the routes through western Asia he laid out remained open to trade and economic exchange for centuries after his death.
The Greeks remained in Bactria, located northwest of India. They were the only representatives of Western civilization who adopted Buddhism. The Greeks participated in the spread of this religion, becoming intermediaries between the cultures of Ancient India and China.
Empire of Mauriev
The monarchical system of government came along the path established by the Greeks. It spread to the north of India in rich lands, fertilized by the life-giving Ganges River. The most famous of the first kings of the country was Ashoka. He is even admired today by the country's leaders as an example of a benevolent ruler. After several years of wars that he waged to create his empire, Ashoka, seeing that 150 thousand people were captured, another 100 thousand were killed and even more died after his last conquest, was struck by the suffering caused by him. Turning to Buddhism, Ashoka devoted the rest of his life to righteous, peaceful affairs. His merciful rule became a model for all of Asia, as Buddhism went beyond its homeland. Unfortunately, after his death, the Mauriev empire was divided between his descendants and India again turned into a country of many small feudal states.
Unparalleled Continuity
The surviving artifacts and what we know about the religious and philosophical convictions of people suggests that in the period from 2500 BC. e. 500 g. e. the culture of ancient India, in short, has reached an extraordinary rise, accompanied by innovations and the formation of traditions that are still traced in the modern world. In addition, the continuity between the past and present of the country is unparalleled in other regions of the world. Modern societies in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, America and China are for the most part not very similar to their predecessors. It is striking that from the early stages of the long and rich development of the culture of Ancient India, many of the material evidence that came up had a constant and lasting impact on Indian society and the whole world.
Science and math
The achievements of the culture of Ancient India in the field of science and mathematics are significant. Mathematics was necessary for the planning of religious buildings and the philosophical understanding of space. In the V century. n e. The astronomer and mathematician Ariabhata supposedly created a modern decimal number system, which is based on an understanding of the concept of zero. Evidence of the Indian origin of the idea of ​​zero, including the use of a small circle to indicate numbers, can be found in Sanskrit texts and inscriptions.
Ayurveda
Another feature of the culture of ancient India is the branch of medicine known as Ayurveda, which is still widely practiced in this country. She also gained popularity in the Western world as a “complementary” medicine. Literally, this word translates as "science of life." The medical culture of ancient India, in short, in Ayurveda defines the basic principles of human health, indicates physical and mental balance as a means of achieving good health and well-being.
Politics and the principle of non-violence
In short, the most important and interesting thing in the culture of ancient India is the belief in the integrity of living beings, which is a central part of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. It was transformed into passive resistance, defended by Mahatma Gandhi during the country's struggle for independence from British rule in the early twentieth century. After Gandhi, many other modern leaders in their quest for social justice were guided by the principle of non-violence, the most famous of which was Rev. Martin Luther King, who led the struggle for racial equality in the United States in the 1960s.
In his autobiography, King wrote that Gandhi was the main source of his technique of non-violent social change during the bus boycott in 1956, which completed racial segregation in Alabama city buses. John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama also expressed their admiration for Mahatma Gandhi and the ancient Indian principle of non-violence, and the individual's sympathy for all living beings and the corresponding non-violent position were adopted by groups advocating for vegetarianism, animal welfare and the environment.
Perhaps there is no greater compliment that could be given to the ancient culture of India than the fact that today its complex belief system and respect for life can serve as guides for the whole world.