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Aryan Invaders
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Around 1500 B.C.E., a
group of people known as the Aryans invaded the lands belonging to
the people of the Indus River Valley. Soon after invading, the
Aryans conquered India and their religion combined with that of the
original inhabitants, forming an even more advanced beginning of
what is today known as Hinduism.
In order to understand how this religion
changed into its modern state, one must first know what the Aryan
religion was like. It is believed that the Aryan gods were explained in mythology. The stories
of their gods and goddesses gave reasons for the existence of
elements.
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Aryans, according to
the few existing written records, were a nomadic people. They
relied on raising grazing herds, and often, during religious
ceremonies, they would make an animal sacrifice to their gods.
Aryans believed that this had to be performed, or the consequence
of the gods'’ wrath would befall them. Because of this, the
power of their priests was heightened.
As you have learned, or will learn in a
different workshop, the Vedas is one of the major scripts
for the Hindu population. However, it was the Aryans who created
this compilation of sacred hymns.
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