Indian Religions - The way of peace
Indian Religions - The way of peace
Hinduism
How old is Hinduism ?
Possibly the world's oldest religion. (Origin : 6000+ years ago). It is practiced by a large section of the populace in India. (However, Nepal, the mountain kingdom adjoining India to its north, is the only Hindu country in the world).
Click On => Amazing Facts Of Hinduism
How many Gods does Hinduism have ?
Because of the many forms in which God is worshipped, it appears to be polytheistic. But, Hinduism has only one God. Hinduism is, therefore, essentially monotheistic. Emphasized by the teachings in Bhagvadgita : - One who sees Me everywhere, sees all things in Me; I am not lost to him and he is not lost to Me.
|
* Important Mantras For A Great Day! , * Hanuman Chalisa & English Meaning Of Each Verse |
|
Christianity
By tradition, Christianity is said to have arrived in India with Saint Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, who spent some years in South India and possibly died there. However, others believe that the first missionary to arrive in the country was Saint Bartholomew. Historically, Christian missionary activity started with the advent of Saint Francis Xavier in 1544. He was followed by Portuguese missionaries at first and eventually by missionaries from other countries like Denmark, Holland, Germany and Great Britain. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Catholic as well as Protestant missionaries preached Christian doctrines in India and also made important contributions to social improvement and education in India.
Much of the modern influences in the Indian society can be attributed to the role of Christianity in India. Christian missionaries helped in setting up schools and colleges all over India and also spread the message of faith and goodwill in the country. Christianity and its teachings influenced a number of intellectuals and thinkers in India, including Mahatma Gandhi.
Today, the Christians in India number about 30 million and consist of people from every denomination of Christianity.
The
Memorae * Syro-Malankara
Catholic Church -
Maintained By Antoney
Mathai * A
Special Prayer To The Holy
Spirit ,
* Catholic
Tradition Site
Muslim
The Muslims entered Sind, India, in 711 C.E., the same year they entered Spain. Their entry in India was prompted by an attempt to free the civilian Muslim hostages whose ship was taken by sea pirates in the territory of Raja Dahir, King of Sind. Muslims were a minority when they ruled major parts of India for nearly a thousand years. They were well liked generally as rulers for their justice, social and cultural values, respect for freedom to practice religion as prescribed by the religion of various communities, freedom of speech, legal system in accordance with the dictates and established norms of each religious community, public works and for establishing educational institutions. In their days as rulers, the Muslims constituted about twenty percent of India's population. Today, Indian Muslims constitute about fifteen percent of India's population, about 150 million, and they are the second largest Muslim community in the world.
|
* Embrasing Islam ?? Answers to all your Doubts & Questions! |
|
Budhism
Although born and peaked in India, today (1999) Buddhism is more popular outside India than within. We know very little of history of Buddhism till the reign of emperor Ashoka, who transformed Buddhism into a great world religion.
The contribution of Buddhist teachings on the Hinduism (sixth century B.C. onwards) was great and led to several reforms of Hinduism. Some Hindus believe that Buddha was one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu himself. The contribution of arts inspired by Buddha was also great and can be seen in the caves of Ajanta and many other edicts spread across India. Indeed, the lions of Sarnath became the emblem of free India.
There are strong lines of similarity between
Buddhism and the basic teachings of Hinduism. Buddhism is based on
the principle or the law of impermanence. According to this,
everything is subject to change, although some things may last longer
than others. The other basic principle of Buddhism is the law of
causation, according to which nothing occurs due to pure chance.
Besides natural forces, it is the karma which leads to the occurrence
of all events. The popular notions of the indestructible soul and the
cycle of rebirth emerge from these two basic philosophies.
* Buddhism
Jainism
Jainism is nature in the purest and truest form. Jainism is as old as nature, which has neither beginning nor any end. The mission of Jainism is the mission of nature, which is to work for the welfare of one and all, to rise from the pitfall of ignorance and inaction to the spiritual climax of infinite bliss and perfect knowledge. i.e. absolute freedom.
Jainism is a religion based on cosmic
principles, eternal principles on which this colossal machinery runs
without any mistake or even a single momentary halt. The principles
of modern science are true and temporary in particular context of
space and time only, but the principles of Jainism are true for all
time, for all space, for everybody and everything. Jainism throws
light on the colossal structure of universe, its shape, size, origin,
purpose and mechanism. It deals in perfect details with six reals out
of which the universe is made. Everything that happens in the
universe is according to the fixed pattern of eternal laws, which are
unshakable and infallible.
* All
About Jainism - Including Images, Significance, Spiritual
Benefits
Sikhism
About 2% of India's population are Sikhs. Even so they because of their unique appearance, sometimes stand for India. Normally the men keep their hair and do not shave their beard or moustache. They gather their head hair in a turban. Sikhism is comparatively a new religion in India. This religion was established by Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak was a Hindu and he loved to travel and learn. He developed a new religion, which included in it what he thought were the good beliefs of the two dominant religions in the Punjab region, Hinduism and Islam. And Sikhism indeed has beliefs from these two religions. From Islam it adopted the belief in the existence of one invisible God. From Hinduism it adopted the belief of reincarnation. The Sikhs also cremate their dead ones as is done in Hinduism.
Sikhism creators tried to abolish some
Indian customs like the caste system. In Sikhism everyone has equal
rights irrespective of caste, creed, color, race, sex or religion.
Sikh have a few holy sites, of which, the holiest site is the 'Golden
Temple' in Amritsar in Punjab. Guru Nanak who establish Sikhism was
its first Guru. After him there were nine more Gurus who were the
highest religious authority. The last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh,
proclaimed that after him the Guru of the Sikhs will be the holy book
of Sikhism, Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh is also the Guru
behind the unique appearance of Sikh men.
