The religious composition of the population of India. Religion of Ancient India (briefly)

12.10.2019

India is a religiously unique country. Such a quantity and variety of religions that we find in India, perhaps, we will not be able to meet in any other state. Almost all Indians are deeply religious. Religion and spirituality pervades their daily life and is an integral part of everyday life. Such a number of temples, ashrams, stupas, shrines, small and large shrines as in India, is probably difficult to meet anywhere else. Therefore, visiting various sacred places naturally becomes an integral part of any tour to India. Regardless of what the purpose of your tourist trip is initially, this side of Indian life will touch you one way or another.
All major world religions are represented in India: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism. You can also meet Zoroastrians, Jains and Sikhs here. India is the birthplace of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. During its history, India has given the world, perhaps, a record number of religious figures and spiritual mentors, such as Shakyamuni Buddha or Mahavira, religions founded by more than 2 and a half thousand years, and such, more modern, but probably , no less famous teachers like Osho, Sri Aurobindo, Sai Baba, Sri Chinmoy, Krishnamurti, Raman Maharshi, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and many others.
Another unique feature of India is its religious tolerance. Despite all the diversity of religions and minor beliefs represented in the country, major religious conflicts have never arisen in India. According to the constitution, India is a secular state and it is allowed to profess any religion.

80 percent of India's population is Hindu. Hinduism is one of ancient religions peace. It is believed that it developed around the middle of the 1st millennium BC, but in fact its roots go so far back centuries that it is rather difficult to speak with confidence about its origin during this period. Hinduism does not have any specific founder, nor any fundamental text that could be considered its main base (there are many such texts and they arose in different time: Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and many others).
In Hinduism, many elements of primitive beliefs have been preserved (worship of sacred animals, natural phenomena, the cult of ancestors, etc.). Hinduism is the religion that gave birth to the caste system of India, and strictly regulates all the rights and obligations of a person throughout his life. The central teaching in Hinduism is the teaching of the reincarnation of souls, which occurs according to the law of retribution for good or evil deeds during life. Depending on what kind of life a person leads in this incarnation, his future life is determined - what body he will acquire after death at a new birth, in what caste he will be born, if he is lucky enough to acquire a human body, whether he will be poor or rich, etc.
Hinduism is characterized by the idea of the universality and universality of the supreme deity. Each of the numerous Hindu gods carries one of the facets of the omnipresent God, for it is said: "Truth is one, but the sages call it by different names." For example, Brahma is the creator of the world, Vishnu is its keeper, and Shiva is the destroyer and at the same time the creator of the world. Hindu gods have multiple incarnations. And those incarnations that take place in the human world are called avatars. For example, Vishnu has many avatars and is often depicted as King Rama or the shepherd Krishna.
There are two main currents in Hinduism: Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Vaishnavism is distinguished by its ability to absorb various local beliefs and religions. So, for example, Buddha, along with Krishna and Rama, in Vishnuism began to be considered an avatar of Vishnu. Vishnu, being the guardian of the world, at different times took on different forms in order to save him. Vaishnavism is most prevalent in northern India.
The main tenet of Shaivism is the statement about the absence of anything permanent in the Universe, except for Shiva, who destroys and revives everything that exists. At the beginning of the cosmic cycle, Shiva creates the Universe and then destroys it himself. The cult of Shiva is inextricably linked with the cult of Shakti, the female creative energy principle. The cult of Shiva is widespread mainly in southern India.
Many Hindu temples (and there are a great many of them in India) are masterpieces of architecture and sculpture, and visiting them is an indispensable part of the program of most trips to India.

Despite the fact that India is the birthplace of Buddhism, at present the number of its followers in India is rather small. They make up only 0.7% of the total population of India. Buddhism originated in India in the 5th century BC. Having experienced its heyday in the first 5 centuries after its inception, Buddhism in India was assimilated by Hinduism. Later, Buddhist monks were persecuted by Muslims and most of the followers of Buddhism left India, moving to neighboring China, Tibet, Nepal and the countries of Southeast Asia. In our time, Buddhism in India is widespread, mainly in the Sri Lankan version of Theravada Buddhism. But there are also small Zen communities, and after the takeover of Tibet by China, many representatives of Tibetan Buddhism moved to India. Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) has become a place of pilgrimage for many followers of Buddhism from all over the world - there is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile; sometimes this city is called "little Lhasa".
For many centuries, not being a Buddhist country, India, however, attracts many Buddhists from all over the world. Among them, tours to India to visit holy Buddhist places are extremely popular: Bodhgaya - the place where Buddha gained enlightenment, is the main holy place of pilgrimage in Buddhism, Lumbini - the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, the future Buddha Gautama, Sarnath - the place where Buddha read his first, after reaching Nirvana, sermon, Kushinagar - the place where the Buddha went to Parinirvana. These places, like many others (there are a huge number of Buddhist temples and shrines in India), constantly attract a huge number of tourists from different countries, among which are not only followers of Buddhism.
Buddhism is based on the doctrine of Four Noble Truths: there is suffering, there is a cause of suffering, there is an end to suffering, and there is a path to the end of suffering. This path is the middle or Eightfold Path, associated with the three kinds of virtues: morality, concentration, and wisdom. A person who practices this Eightfold Path gradually frees himself from the three poisons: anger, envy and ignorance and gains access to a true understanding of reality, which gives him liberation from suffering and the opportunity to help free other living beings.
Buddhism does not recognize castes, asserting the absolute equality of all living beings: everyone, from the smallest worm to the greatest Brahmin, is equally endowed with Buddha nature and has the same chance of liberation.

Jainism

In the 6th century BC, Vardhamana, also known as Jina or Mahavira, created and spread the religious teachings of Jainism in India. Its basis is asceticism, abstinence and non-violence. The goal of the Jains is liberation from the chain of rebirth - a way out of samsara, which can be achieved with the help of strict austerity and adherence to the principle of ahimsa (doing no harm to living beings). Jains are known for wearing gauze bandages over their faces to avoid inhaling small living creatures, and sweeping the path in front of them to avoid accidentally crushing any insect. There are two main currents in Jainism: the Digambaras (“sky-clothed”), who believe that the ancient texts are lost and renounce all worldly temptations, including the need to wear clothes, and the Shvetambara (“clothed in white”), who try to restore the lost texts. and profess a less strict approach to life.
Now there are about 1 million Jains in India, who play an important role in Indian society, since the followers of Jainism belong to the most prosperous and educated sections of the Indian population. The Jain community in India is famous for the construction of many unique temples in terms of architecture and interior decoration, which attract the attention of numerous tourists.

Another religion that is native to India. Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in the 16th century, became a manifestation of the protest of small traders, artisans and peasants against feudal oppression and the caste system in India. Sikhism was directed against the fanaticism and intolerance of the Muslim rulers of the time, as well as against caste discrimination and the complex rituals of Hinduism. Nanak proclaims the whole world to be a manifestation of the supreme power of the one god. For several generations, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, the book "Granth Sahib", which was compiled by the fifth guru Arjun and included hymns of Hindu and Muslim saints, and the writings of Sikh gurus, mainly Guru Nanak, appeared. In the late 17th - early 18th century, the tenth guru, Govind Singh, turns the Sikh community into a military brotherhood and calls it Khalsa (pure). In order to stand out among Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs were required to strictly observe five rules: never cut their hair (kesh), comb it with a special comb (kangha), wear a special type of underwear (kachcha), wear a steel bracelet (kara) on the wrist, and always have with a dagger (kirpan). Nowadays, few Sikhs observe all these rules. In modern India, there are about 17 million followers of Sikhism. Sikh temples in in large numbers located in the northern regions of India. In Sikh temples there are no images of the gods, and the worship ceremony is reduced to the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. The main shrine of the Sikhs is the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

India has about 130 million Muslims and has the second largest Muslim population in the world. The majority of Indian Muslims are Sunnis, about 20 percent of India's Muslims are Shiites. There are also some separate sects (for example, Ahmadis), as well as established communities - Bohras, Ismailis, Kashmiri Muslims, Memons, Moplas, etc.

Christianity

According to legend, Christianity was brought to India by the Apostle Thomas, who is credited with the creation of the Syrian Christian Church in southern India. It is called "Syrian" because its worship uses the liturgy and scriptures in Aramaic, or Syriac, language. In the 16th century, the Portuguese colonialists began the forced conversion of the inhabitants of India to Christianity, which continued under the auspices of the papacy for several hundred years. Since the 18th century, the activities of Protestant missionaries from the USA and Europe have been developing in India. Now in India there are about 20 million Christians of all possible directions - Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, etc.

Zoroastrianism

During the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism was the main religion of Western Asia and, in the form of Mithraism, spread throughout the Roman Empire as far as Britain. After Iran was conquered by the Muslims, some Zoroastrians moved to India. Presumably, their first group landed in the area of the city of Diu in 766, and later they settled in the land of Sanjana (Gujarat). In memory of their Persian ancestors, the Zoroastrians in India began to call themselves Parsis. At present, their number throughout the world is no more than 130 thousand people. Of these, about 10 thousand live in Iran, and almost all the rest live in India, and most of them live in Mumbai. The Zoroastrians played an important role in turning the city of Mumbai into a major business center and port. Despite their small numbers, the Parsis occupy an important place in the trade and industry of the city.
Prases honor the 4 elements of the universe - water, fire, earth and air. A special rite of burial of the Parsis is connected with this: the bodies of the dead are placed on special towers (dakmas), which the Parsis call "towers of silence." There the corpses are eaten by vultures. Thus, the "pure" elements of the elements do not come into contact with the "impure" corpse. In Zoroastrian temples, an eternal flame is constantly maintained.

The first contacts of the inhabitants of India with the followers of Judaism date back to 973 BC. These were the merchants of King Solomon, who bought spices and other goods from the Hindus. In 586, Judea was captured by the Babylonians and some Jews migrated at that time to India on the Malabar coast. Currently, in India, Judaism is prevalent mainly in the states of Kerala and Maharashtra, although representatives of this religion can be found in other parts of the country.

What is the article about:

— What faith is professed in India as a percentage. Features of the Hindu faith. What kind common features Hindu and world religions. Vaishnavism and Shaivism are the main faiths of India. The process of creation of the universes. Jesus Christ about the transmigration of souls (reincarnation) in the faith of the Hindus in India. Vegetarianism in the faith of India. Fundamentals, essence, description. L

In India, 80% of Hindus profess Hinduism. The second major religion is Islam with about 13% followers. In India originated and exist Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism . 2% of the population profess Christianity. Also associated with India Judaism and Zoroastrianism ; in the country, these religions have several tens of thousands of followers.

(Data from Wikipedia).

Table of creeds in India as a percentage for 2001

Religion	Population	Percent %
Everything	1,028,610,328	100,00 %
Hinduism	827,578,868	80,456 %
Islam	138,188,240	13,434 %
Christianity	24,080,016	2,341 %
Sikhism	19,215,730	1,868 %
Buddhism	7,955,207	0,773 %
Jainism	4,225,053	0,411 %
Other	6,639,626	0,645 %
outside of religion	727,588	0,07 %

Faith in India.

Faith in India among the Hindus occupies a special position. In total - less than 0.07% of the population of India, do not have faith. This is just - 720 thousand people from - more than a billion people in India (according to 2001 data). The population of India in 2017 is about 1 billion 340 million 540 thousand people.

Hindu religion

According to 2001 data, the majority of Hindus in India profess - Hinduism: 827 578 868 people. This makes up over 80 percent of the entire population of India. The vast majority of Hindus in India are sectarian Vaishnavism and Shaivism (will be discussed in more detail below) .

What are the faiths of the Hindus, features, differences.

After getting acquainted with the culture and faith of India, the Western world became aware of such methods of self-knowledge as meditation, special breathing exercises, yogic asanas. All this is - part of the path of spiritual development, and is intended for - calming the mind, controlling the senses. And yoga exercises are also to maintain physical health. But all this is just the first step on the path of spiritual development. Meditation is intended for - perfect comprehension of one's spiritual "I" (spiritual essence). Which ultimately allows the yogi to achieve an exit from his physical body - without waiting for natural death, and subsequent transfer to - other spheres of being, or merging with the impersonal radiance of the Supreme (Brahman). Or - by transferring to the material - "heavenly" planetary systems of our universe, with a highly developed civilization, and incarnating there in a new physical body. (More details about the "hell" planets, the material "paradise" planets, are described in the website article:

This is a hard-to-realize line of faith in India, which is called Jainism. The path of spiritual development is called "jnana yoga" (or it is "jnana yoga"). This is the philosophical path of cognition of the all-pervading Brahman - the energy of the Supreme. Successful engagement in this type of spiritual development provides for complete renunciation of material sensual pleasures, a renounced way of life, and constant engagement in meditative knowledge of eternal spiritual existence. For a person who lives in modern society, such a way of advancement in spiritual self-knowledge is impossible. And yet, following the modern fashion for oriental novelties, many people are engaged in meditation and yoga, not even understanding the ultimate essence. this lesson. The maximum effect of such activities (without complete renunciation of the world and everything “worldly”) will only be calming the mind, and relative control of one’s emotions.

By the way, the “jnains” are also mentioned in the scripture about the journey of Jesus Christ in
And this apocrypha, which was not included in the canonical writings, tells about the journey of Jesus Christ to India and Tibet:

«… At the age of fourteen, young Issa, blessed by God, crossed over to the other side of the Indus and settled with the Aryans, in a country blessed by God.
2. The fame of the miraculous youth spread into the depths of the northern Indus; when he traveled through the country of the Punjab and Rajputana, the worshipers of the god Jain asked him to settle with them.
3. But he left the deluded worshipers of Jain and stopped at Juggernath, in the land of Orsis, where the mortal remains of Viassa-Krishna rest, and there the white priests of Brahma gave him a hearty welcome.

Here is an episode of the scriptures of ancient India:

The Supreme Lord said: "... Gyana yoga (in a different way" jnana yoga") - the path of philosophical reflection - is intended for those who have an aversion to material life, and therefore are not attached to ordinary activities performed for the sake of enjoying its fruits. Those who are not averse to material life and who still have many material desires should advance to perfection through karma yoga.

Those who are fortunate enough to have faith in hearing about Me (the Supreme) and chanting My glories, who have neither aversion nor attraction to material life, should follow the path of love and devotion to Me and thus achieve perfection. Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.20.6-8 ( recommended to study after reading -)

What is the main religion in India?

According to 2001 data, the majority of Hindus in India profess - Hinduism: 827,578,868 people. This makes up over eighty percent of the total population of India. The vast majority of Hindus in India are sectarian Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

Vaishnavism and Shaivism it is that faith of the Hindus in India which is an attainment in consciousness— constant loving devotion to the Supreme.

The difference between Vaishnavism and Shaivism is the form in which God is worshiped. Vaishnavas ("Vaishnavism") and - Shaivites ("Shaivism").

“In the worldview of Shaivite ascetics, the key role is played by complete rejection of the world and dedication to achieving liberation from the cycle of samsara (rebirth in a material body). While Vaishnavas prefer to remain involved in the society of non-sadhus, performing service to society out of compassion« (Wikipedia).

This should be dealt with from the moment of creation of the material universe and the entire material world. In the Vedic scriptures, creation is described in the most detailed way.

At the very beginning of the creation of the material world, the Almighty ( "Vishnu") takes the form Karanodakashayi Vishnu, or - "MAHA VISNU" ("Chief Vishnu"). All universes emanate from this form of the Supreme.

Then, the Supreme takes - many forms Garbhodakasayi Vishnu. In these forms, the Supreme enters into every universe.

Then, this form of the Supreme Garbhodakasayi Vishnu - generates— Brahma. Brahma it is the first powerful being in the universe. He is engaged in the secondary creation of the universe. Brahma is the direct creator of the universe. When Vishnu does not have a suitable jiva (soul) for such a responsible post, then Vishnu (the Supreme) Himself fulfills the role of Brahma.

Brahma gives birth Shiva ("Siva" - among the ancient Slavs). Another of several names Shiva - "Rudra".

If Brahma is the secondary creator of the universe, Vishnu supports the entire universe with His all-pervading energy, then Shiva, when the time comes, destroys the universe. And after a certain period, the creation of the universe takes place - anew.

In fact, Vishnu and Shiva are two manifestations of the Supreme. It is difficult for you and me, with the human way of thinking, to understand how the Supreme Personality of Godhead can simultaneously enter into every universe and manifest Himself in different forms- simultaneously. The analogy with fire can help in understanding the almighty expansion of the Supreme in many forms. From one source of fire (for example, candles) you can light - many different sources of fire. And the fire remains the same - fire. Its properties and qualities during its distribution in different sources do not change. If fire has this kind of property of immutability, then the Almighty Supreme Being can even more so preserve His omnipotent qualities, expanding Himself in several forms of manifestation.

The Supreme must be thought of as the Almighty Supreme Being, the Supreme Mind. And to accept knowledge about Him as it is, without trying to analyze it with our imperfect “three-dimensional” thinking. Therefore, for successful advancement along the path of spiritual development, the faith and religion of India provides for a more definite focus on one of the forms of manifestation of the Almighty: among Shaivites, on the form of manifestation - Shiva, and among the Vaishnavas (“Vishnuism”), respectively, on the form - Vishnu ("The Supreme" in the Vedic Slavic culture (faith), later - the Almighty).

In the scriptures there is a description of Vishnu and Shiva. In particular, there is a special yogi practice where the yogi meditates on the form of Vishnu residing in his heart (as in the heart of every living being). With a sufficiently long and successful meditation, such a yogi acquires superhuman abilities. But in order to engage in such spiritual practice, you need - complete renunciation of material things, pleasures, accept - celibacy (celibacy), and only then, you will have a chance to achieve certain results.

For a person who lives in modern society and is not going to spend his life in complete renunciation of the material world, the path of devotional loving service to the Supreme will be suitable for successful spiritual development. At the final level of this principle, a person does everything for the sake of serving the Almighty (in various options possible for him). This path of spiritual development is realized in their spiritual practice by Vaishnavas, or devotees of Vishnu (the Supreme). This spiritual practice is called “bhakti yoga” (“devotional loving service to the Supreme”). This kind of faith and related spiritual practice is practiced not only in India, and not only by Hindus. Over the past few decades, this direction has gained great development in Western countries, better known as “Krishnaites”. Krishna is one of the names of the Almighty (God).

« The President of India congratulates believers on the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the Spiritual Master
Srila Prabhupada in Moscow:

Holy Scripture published on our website ("Song of God"). This scripture describes all the main ways of spiritual development. If someone aspires, or is simply interested in eternal spiritual knowledge, I highly recommend reading. Actually, this article and this entire site appeared only because its creator had a lot of luck a few years ago - to read , WHICH IS RECOGNIZED AS THE QUINTESSENCE, THE ESSENCE OF ALL VEDIC WISDOM!

Here's what he said about world famous writer Leo Tolstoy:

I firmly believe in the basic principle of the Bhagavad-gita, always try to remember it and be guided by it in my actions, as well as speak about it to those who ask my opinion, and reflect it in my writings. (Lev Tolstoy).

More details about the spiritual direction - "Vaishnavism" can be found in the article:

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Features of the Hindu faith. Common beliefs of India with world religions.

Faith in India is different in that the scriptures that underlie the religions of the Hindus give the most information about the creation of the universe, about life on other planets. The scriptures of India describe the forms and incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The ancient Vedas give information about the size of atoms, about the time of occurrence, structure and time of destruction of our universe. The process of formation of the human fetus in the womb during its development is accurately described. Indian Vedas are sacred scriptures — « Apaurusheya, i.e., scriptures in which the source of knowledge has - not of earthly origin. And the information that is presented in them confirms this.

Thus, the Hindu faith is based on - knowledge in a variety of material and transcendental (spiritual) areas.

The faith of the Hindus in India is based on the recognition (belief) in - One God - the Most High, or "Vishnu", ("Supreme" - in Old Slavonic). The belief of the Hindus in many gods is based on the knowledge and understanding of the existence of powerful beings of our universe who live on other planets (planetary systems). But - God Himself - the Primary Source of all things, in the faith of the Hindus is recognized - as One, as in other monotheistic religions and faiths.

The sacred writings of India are presented in the ancient language - Sanskrit. More than 90% of modern languages originated from Sanskrit. For example: English word "man"- human. According to Indian scriptures, the progenitor of mankind is − Manu. "Smayanti" (Skt.) - smile (English) - smile; matta (Skt.) - mad (English) - crazy. And these are just a few of the many similar words.

But most of all there are similarities between the ancient Sanskrit and the Russian language. Brother(Russian) - bratri (Sanskrit); alive- jiva; a door- dwara; mother- mothers; winter- chema; snow- snow; to swim- swimming; darkness- tama; father-in-law- svakar; uncle- Yes Yes; fool- durra; honey- madhu; bear- madhuveda; nice- priyah; shastra, astra(Sanskrit) - sharp, weapon (Russian). By the way, the very word "FAITH" also comes from Sanskrit words: "BE" — "to know", to know, And "RA" — "radiate", or "radiating knowledge" (source).

The similarity of the ancient Sanskrit language with the Russian language is explained by the fact that on the territory of Eurasia, for many millennia, there was a Vedic civilization.

In the faith of the Hindus in India, the Supreme One God has many names.

From one of the names of God: "Vishnu" comes - "The Most High" ("The Most High" in ancient Slavic). From one of the names of God - "Bhagavan", came the word - "God". Another Hindu name for the Supreme God is Govinda. "GO" - "cow". The "patron of cows", since the cow is considered among the Indians in India - a sacred animal, in fact - the second mother, because it feeds a person with its milk. On behalf of the Almighty God Go winda ”(“ Patron of cows ”) there is a single-root word -“ go d ", and the word -" Go Lord (God). The modern word "beef" - also comes from the name of the Almighty - "Govinda" — "Patron of Cows" .

This is how we disposed of our ancient Vedic heritage, calling in the name of the Almighty- a piece of the corpse of an animal, which is patronized by the Almighty Himself!

There are a lot of place names from the Sanskrit language: Varna (city in Bulgaria); Kama; Kryshnev; Hareva; catfish; Kalka; Moksha; Nara - rivers in Russia; Arya- cities in the Nizhny Novgorod and Yekaterinburg regions. Chita , the exact translation from Sanskrit is “to comprehend, understand, know”.

All this confirms the established fact that for many millennia there was a Vedic civilization in most of the territory of modern Eurasia. By the way, the ancient Slavic Vedas reflect the same knowledge as the Vedas of ancient India. And this emphasizes one culture and faith that was on the mainland.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a sacred scripture was discovered in one of the Tibetan monasteries, which, after its translation, was called "TIBETAN GOSPEL". It told about the journey of the young Issa at the age of 14 from Judea traveled to India. IN "TIBETAN GOSPEL" the life of Saint Issa is told up to - 29 years old (just the period that was not covered in the canonical Christian writings). Here are some excerpts from this scripture:

....he left the misguided worshipers of Jain and stopped at Juggernath, in the land of Orsis, where the mortal remains of Viassa-Krishna lie (-sage, author and editor-compiler of many deeply ancient and extensive monuments - the Vedas, Puranas, philosophical system Vedanta as well as the famous epic Mahabharata. The Mahabharata is one of the most important books of Hinduism., , which is recognized as the essence of all Vedic wisdom! Published on our website P Rome. admin),

... and there the white priests of Brahma gave him a warm welcome. They taught him to read and understand the Vedas, to heal with prayers, to teach and explain the Holy Scriptures to the people, to expel from the human body evil spirit and return him to a human form.

After a fifteen-year journey through India and Tibet, at the age of 29, Saint Issa returned to Judea, where he was executed by crucifixion.

..….10. And the disciples of Saint Issa left the country of Israel and dispersed to all countries among the pagans, preaching that they need to leave gross errors and think about the salvation of their souls and the complete bliss that awaits people in an immaterial and full of brilliance world, where in peace and in all His In purity dwells in perfect majesty the great Creator.

The full text of the scripture can be read by clicking on the link: (The page will open in a new WINDOW).

Jesus Christ did not agree with some aspects of the doctrine of the transmigration of souls in the faith of the Hindus. He did NOT agree that the soul of a person after the death of the physical body can move into the body - the animal.

... “As a father would have done with his children, so God Himself will judge people, after their death, according to His gracious laws. He will never humiliate His child, forcing his soul to move, as in purgatory, into the body of an animal.

The very same knowledge of the transmigration of souls (reincarnation) - does not apply specifically to the faith of India. The transmigration of souls into a new body (according to their past deeds) was known everywhere, up to the 3rd-4th century AD.

You can even take a passage from the Bible:

1. “And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him: Rabbi! who sinned, he or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:1-3).

A natural question arises: when could he have sinned before he was born blind? The answer is unequivocal: only in his past life.

Another episode: 3. Jesus Christ says: (Matthew ch. 11 v. 14)

"And if you want to receive, he is Elijah, who must come."
4. His disciples ask Him: "How can the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus said to them in response: “True, Elijah must come first and arrange everything, but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him as they wished.” Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10-13).

In 553 AD, the 2nd Council of Constantinople was convened. At this council, some of the teachings of such theologians as Theodore of Mopsueta, Theodoret and Yves were rejected. Fifteen anathematisms were read out. Most of all, the discussion of the transmigration of the soul found interest in these anathemisms. The same topics were discussed at the last local council in 543. Pythagoras, Plato, Plotinus and their followers all spoke together about the transmigration of souls, the same was said by Origen. The opinion of the church was as follows: the soul is born at the same time as the body. The Roman Church did not accept the decision of this council until the very end of the sixth century.

That's it. By the decision of the Council of Constantinople, the knowledge of the transmigration of the soul was - "cancelled" .

Vegetarianism in the faith of the Hindus in India is not some feature of the Hindu faith. As we mentioned a little earlier, the ancient Slavs also had a Vedic culture. And they also had their own - direct commandments:

“Do not bring bloody sacrifices to Alatyr, do not anger your Gods, for it is disgusting for Them to accept innocent blood from the creatures of God.”

“Do not eat food with blood, for you will be like wild beasts, and many diseases will settle in you. You eat clean food that grows in your fields, in your forests and gardens, then you will gain many powers, powers of light, so that illnesses and torments with suffering will not overtake you.

Some, allegedly “followers” of the ancient Slavic culture, want to interpret the words: “ Do not eat food with blood" in such a way that the meat, before being eaten, must be bled. This is what the Jews do in their tradition. But then it will not make sense - what is said further in the commandment: " Eat pure food that grows in your fields, in your woods and in your gardens.”

That is, in plain text:"... food that - GROWS IN the fields and in the forests."

Refusal to use animal corpses is the rule not only of the Vedic culture of the ancient Slavs and India. Here is what Jesus Christ said about this:

469. And therefore he who kills, kills his brother.
470. And the Earthly Mother will turn away from him and take away her life-giving breast.
471. And her angels will shun him, but Satan will find his abode in his body.
472. And the flesh of the slain animals in his body will become his own grave.
473. For I tell you truly, whoever kills, kills himself, and whoever eats the flesh of slain animals, eats the bodies of death.
474. For in his blood every drop of their blood turns into poison, in his breath their breath turns into stench, in his flesh their flesh into festering wounds, in his bones their bones into lime, in his entrails their entrails into putrefaction. , in his eyes their eyes are in a veil, in his ears their ears are in a sulfur plug.
475. And their death will be his death.

The bulk of the population (about 80 percent) profess Hinduism. However, this is far from the only religion in India. The second religion in terms of adherents is Islam. Also in India there are those who profess Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. The constitution in India permits the practice of any faith.

Major Gods in Hinduism

Brahma

Vishnu

Indra

Surya

Varuna

Kubera

Ayyappa

Ganesha

Durga

Lakshmi

Parvati

Saraswati

Skanda

Hanuman

The specificity of religions in India is built in such a way that representatives of various religious movements live peacefully in the neighborhood. In the second millennium BC. e. In India, the teachings of the ancient Aryans appeared. They deified animals, plants, and various natural phenomena. They made sacrifices, sometimes people became victims.

The caste system in India was born thanks to the development of Brahmanism and the story of Purushu. Purushu is the first man, he laid the foundation for life on earth.

The main religion in India is Hinduism, its basis is Trimurti (three main deities) - these are Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Brahma is the God who created the world, Vishnu is the keeper of the world, and Shiva destroys the world at the end of a certain life stage.

Shaivism involves the worship of Lord Shiva. This current is more popular in the south and east of India. Shiva is an exemplary husband, his son is God Ganesha (the patron of writers and the God who helps to cope with obstacles) and his wife Parvati, she is also Durga and Kali. The authority of the Brahmins and priests in India is unrealistically great. There are shamans in villages and small towns. Among Hindus, it is considered common to chant mantras that have supernatural powers.

Religion in India has numerous holidays, many adherents of various movements take part in them. For example, the New Year is celebrated there more than once a year and absolutely everyone considers it normal. They light bonfires, sing mantras, and along with the smoke from the fire, all anxieties and sorrows dissipate, everyone rejoices in the reigning peace.

Maha Shivaratri is the main festival of the main religion in India (the Great Night of Lord Shiva). On this sleepless night, millions of people glorify God the destroyer. Celebrations are held all over India.

10 most interesting temples in India

Cave temples of Ellora
Kandarya Mahadeva, Khajuraho temple complex
Somnath temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)
Jagannath Temple in Puri
Temple of Tirumala Venkateswara
Meenakshi Temple
Temple of Kedarnath
Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Golden Temple)
Lotus Temple

One of the first ancient civilizations appeared on the Hindustan Peninsula. India got its name from one of the largest rivers - the Indus, on the banks of which agriculture began to develop intensively. The climatic features of the peninsula also determined the development of spiritual culture, which for a long time developed in isolation from the influence of other nationalities and cultures.

Vedism is the oldest religion in India.

It is believed that the basis of the ancient Indian religion was laid by the tribes of the ancient Aryans, who passed through the mainland from West to East in the 2nd millennium BC. Until now, scientists cannot say with certainty where these tribes came from and where they went, but it is well known that they influenced the formation of some ancient civilizations. The Aryans were fair-haired and blue-eyed, mixing with the local almost black tribes, they gave rise to new local tribes.

The religion of the ancient Aryans had a rather complex structure: they deified all natural phenomena, animals, plants, and even trees and stones. The main rite in their religion was sacrifice, including human sacrifice.

The Arias left as a legacy collections of sacred hymns and songs - which consist of four canonical parts.

Much later, the Vedas were supplemented by the Brahmins, who diligently explained and interpreted the laws of the universe and the rules of conduct for each caste separately.

The pantheon of gods in Vedism was very extensive. Since the ancient Aryans were a nomadic people, and it was cattle breeding that gave them opportunities for existence, then the main god was Indra, the god of thunder and rain, it was he who established the existing order.

In addition, the Aryans had a well-developed cult of ancestors, but at the same time, the deification took place precisely of the people who existed before, who by their deeds gave reason for pride and served as a kind of ideal for subsequent generations.

Brahmanism

It was Brahmanism that provided the basis for the emergence and interpretation of the castes of Ancient India. The legend about a certain cosmic man Purushu, who himself sacrificed himself in order to populate the earth, secured a certain place in society once and for all for each person.

Castes are unequal in themselves, since different scraps of ancient Indian society originated from different parts of the body of Purushu. The Brahmins, the highest caste, originated from the mouth and ears of God, therefore they are given the honor to hear and speak with the Gods and convey their will to people. Even a child from the Brahmin caste can expect more respect than an old man from any other caste.

Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers) originated from the shoulders and hands of God, so they can govern people, be judges and commanders, vaishyas (craftsmen and farmers) originated from the thighs and feet of God, so they must constantly work in the sweat of their brow to provide food not only themselves, but also the upper castes.

Sudras - servants, slaves, completely dependent people - originated from the feet, they are only fit to serve. And finally, the untouchables - they came from the mud under the feet of God, so any person who touches them will get dirty. To prevent this from happening, only the born children of this caste were carved on their foreheads with a small star and dyed it blue with indelible vegetable paint.

It is Brahmanism that gives the interpretation of the correct behavior of a person at various periods of his life.

One of the symbols of Brahmanism is - Samsara - the wheel of eternal life, which constantly at least at one of its points comes into contact with the sinful earth and how a person behaves on earth, so he will be rewarded or punished according to the law of universal justice - Karma.

At the same time, the doctrine of incarnation arose - the reincarnation of the soul into various bodies. That is, the soul is eternal and immortal, and we, reincarnating from body to body, try to achieve the ideal, but it is extremely difficult to achieve it, because any person is tormented by passions and unsatisfied desires.

It was in Brahminism that the doctrine appeared - yoga - which helps to subdue physical body spiritual strength.

But the too severe caste division in Brahmanism gave rise to new directions in this religion, which was more democratic and therefore attracted more adherents.

Jainism

The basis of this religious direction was made up of monks - james, who left the world and led a life full of renunciations. They did not have any property, did not have the right to live in the same place for a long time, did not eat meat and generally could not eat more than 2 times a day in a very limited amount, carefully monitored so as not to harm anything living, etc. .d. Preaching the principles of austerity, the Jains went to extremes: they were silent for several years, brought themselves to exhaustion, and so on.

Jains split into two factions : dressed in light and dressed in white , It was only on this point that they disagreed. Since those dressed in white could cover their body and face, and especially their mouths, so as not to accidentally swallow any insect, with a cloth, and those dressed in light went absolutely ours, they were clothed by the light of the Sun.

Therefore, not everyone could withstand such strict requirements and achieve Moisha - the spiritual ideal.

As a result of such harsh demands on initiates, Jainism has never had many followers.

Briefly about the Ancient religion of India - Hinduism

Hinduism is not only a religion, but a whole philosophy that defines the rules of conduct, norms of morality and ethics, etc. But this religion was based on concepts that came from Vedism and Brahmanism, while the caste system is also the basis for Hinduism.

The Supreme Gods are Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Brahma - the supreme creator of the world, Shiva - protects the world and everything created by Brahma, Vishnu - God - the destroyer, he destroys the world after the tasks assigned to him are completed.

Of course, no religion is complete without female ideal. In Hinduism, this is the goddess Lakshmi, she bestows good luck, monitors family happiness, keeps the hearth and patronizes farmers and pastoralists.

One of the most widespread branches of Hinduism around the world is the worship of the god Krishna. In this religion, we observe much from Brahminism, but there are no such strict requirements for asceticism, renunciation of earthly pleasures and authoritarian caste division. Perhaps that is why this religion has received a huge number of adherents around the world.

Shaivism

Shaivism can be considered one of the directions of Hinduism, which implies the worship of God - the destroyer Shiva. Shiva is the god of thunder, rain and lightning, he inspires panic in people. He can destroy an entire city in a matter of minutes and send various diseases and misfortunes to the guilty.

Shiva personified in ancient times the destructive power of nature, which suddenly turned from good into cruel and destroyed everything created by people.

With all his cruelty, Shiva loves and protects his family. His wife, the goddess Parvati, patronizes fertility and female fertility. Women who dream of children go to the numerous temples of Parvati and bring her gifts - fruits and vegetables, as well as sheaves of crops.

Shiva and Parvati have sons - Ganesha - the patron of wealth, glory and good strength and Skanda, the patron of warriors. It is believed that the many-armed goddess Kali is one of the manifestations of Parvati, closely associated with the masculine principle and patronizing the sexual energy of both men and women, as well as witchcraft and any deeds we do under the cover of night.

The role of brahmins in society

As we have already mentioned, Brahmins are the highest caste in India and enjoy great respect in society. Brahmins do not have their own dwelling, they live, for the most part, in temples where they perform rituals, but they have the right to take advantage of the hospitality of any person. At the same time, no one can refuse to shelter a Brahmin, feed and water him in his house until he himself wants to leave.

Along with the Brahmins, there are also sorcerers who can perform rituals that solve various problems, and chant mantras - special chants that have magical powers and help to find what they want.

A variety of folk holidays give a special charm to Hinduism. Usually a huge number of initiates take part in these holidays, everything is accompanied by original national songs and dances.

In Brahminism, the bodies of the dead are burned, and the ashes are usually scattered over sacred river- Gangom, after which the family observes strict mourning for ten days, and the wife of the deceased performs the custom - sati - ascends to the funeral pyre of her husband to leave the world with him.

Of course, today many old customs have long been forgotten, but the caste system still plays a big role in society.

According to the constitution, India is a secular state. Hindus make up a clear majority in the country (80%), followed by Muslims (14%), Protestant and Catholic Christians (2.4%), Sikhs (2%), Buddhists (0.7%), Jains (0. 5%) and others (0.4%) are Parsis (Zoroastrians), Jews and animists. Despite the fact that many religions are represented in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and other religions coexist peacefully in India.

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Hinduism is the oldest national religion of India. Its origins are usually traced back to the time of the existence of the Proto-Indian (Harappan) civilization, i.e. to II-III millennium BC Therefore, towards the edge new era it already counted more than one millennium of its existence. We will not see such a long and full-blooded existence of religion in any other place. the globe except India. At the same time, Hinduism still preserves the laws and foundations of life established since ancient times, stretching into modernity the traditions of culture that originated at the dawn of history.

According to the number of adherents (there are over 700 million), Hinduism is one of the most widespread religions in the world. Its adherents make up about 80 percent of the population of India. Followers of Hinduism also live in other countries of South and Southeast Asia: in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangla Desh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, South Africa and other places. By the end of this century, Hinduism has crossed national borders and become popular in a number of countries in Europe and America, claiming to be recognized as one of the world's religions.

The majority of Indian Muslims are Sunnis concentrated in West Bengal, Kashmir, Assam and Kerala. Shiites are located locally: in Lucknow, Mumbai (Bombay), Hyderabad and a number of regions of Gujarat. In South India, Muslims gravitate towards cities where they engage in trade and handicrafts.

Christians in India divided into several denominations, about two-thirds are Catholics, a large proportion of Protestants.

Most Sikhs live in Punjab, the rest live in Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai (Bombay) and others. major cities. In Punjab, Sikhs are mainly engaged in peasant labor, in cities they work mainly in industrial enterprises and in trade, are in the public service, and form an influential layer in the armed forces. After 1947, thousands of Sikhs emigrated to Britain, Canada, the USA and Australia.

The Buddhist community has grown in recent decades in part due to the leader's conversion to Buddhism in 1956. untouchable dr B. R. Ambedkar, whose example was followed by many of his supporters. This religion has long since taken deep roots in Ladakh (Kashmir) and a number of regions of West Bengal.

Jains concentrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Small groups of them are scattered throughout the cities of Karnataka. Jains are supporters of the teachings of Mahavira and followers of the most peaceful religion on earth, preaching non-infliction of harm to living beings. Up to the point that they wear bandages on their mouths so as not to accidentally swallow a flying insect and thereby take its life. Moving on foot, the Jains sweep the dust of the road right and left in front of them so as not to crush anyone to death. For this reason, they are not allowed to use any form of transport. It is not difficult to become a Jain - from a certain day you just need to start fulfilling all the rules by which a true worshiper of Mahavira lives.

Zoroastrians, who are called in India parsis, form a small denomination tied to Bombay. The Baha'i community has approx. 1 million believers. The main centers of accommodation for Jews are the former principality of Cochin in Kerala, Mumbai and Calcutta. Cochin Jews immigrated to the country several centuries ago, but by now have mostly returned to Israel.

Religion of ancient India

One of the most majestic and original cultures that existed on our planet is the Indo-Buddhist philosophy, which was formed mainly in India. The achievements of the ancient Indians in various fields - literature, art, science, philosophy entered the golden fund of world civilization, had a significant impact on the further development of culture not only in India itself, but also in a number of other countries. Especially significant was the Indian influence in Southeast, Central Asia and the Far East.

The thousand-year-old cultural tradition of India has developed in close connection with the development of the religious ideas of its people. The main religious trend was Hinduism (it is now followed by more than 80% of the population of India), the roots of this religion go back to ancient times.

§ 1. Vedism

about religious and mythological representations tribes of the Vedic era can be judged by the monuments of that period - the Vedas. containing rich material on mythology, religion, ritual. Vedic hymns were considered and are considered sacred texts in India, they were passed down orally from generation to generation, carefully preserved. The combination of these beliefs is called Vedism. Vedism was not a pan-Indian religion, but flourished only in East Punjab and Uttar. Prodesh inhabited by a group of Indo-Aryan tribes. It was she who was the creator of the Rigveda and other Vedic collections (samhitas).

For Vedism, the deification of nature as a whole (by the community of celestial gods) and individual natural and social phenomena was characteristic: So Indra is the god of thunder and powerful will; Varuna is the god of world order and justice; Agni god of fire and hearth; Soma is the god of the sacred drink. In total, 33 gods are usually attributed to the highest Vedic deities. The Indians of the Vedic era divided the whole world into 3 spheres - heaven, earth, antarijna (the space between them), and certain deities were associated with each of these spheres. Varuna belonged to the gods of the sky; to the gods of the earth - Agni and Soma. There was no strict hierarchy of gods; referring to a specific god, the Vedic endowed him with the characteristics of many gods. The creator of everything: gods, people, earth, sky, sun - was some abstract deity Purusha. Everything around - plants, mountains, rivers - was considered divine, a little later the doctrine of the transmigration of souls appeared. The Vedics believed that after death the soul of a saint goes to heaven, and of a sinner to the land of Yama. Gods, like people, were capable of dying.

Many features of Vedism entered Hinduism, it was a new stage in the development of spiritual life, that is, the appearance of the first religion.

§ 2. Hinduism.

In Hinduism, the creator god comes to the fore, a strict hierarchy of gods is established. The Trimurti (trinity) of the gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu appears. Brahma is the ruler and creator of the world, he owned the establishment of social laws (tharms) on earth, the division into varnas; he is the punisher of infidels and sinners. Vishnu is the guardian god; Shiva is the destroyer god. The increase in the special role of the last two gods led to the emergence of two directions in Hinduism - Vishnuism and Shaivism. A similar design was fixed in the texts of the Puranas, the main monuments of Hindu thought that developed in the first century AD.

Early Hindu texts speak of ten avatars (descents) of Vishnu. In the eighth of them, he appears in the guise of Krishna, the hero of the Yadava tribe. This avatar has become a favorite plot, and its hero is a character in numerous works. The cult of Krishna is so popular that a trend of the same name emerged from Vishnaism. The ninth avatar, where Vishnu appears as a Buddha, is the result of the inclusion of Buddhist ideas in Hinduism.

The cult of Shiva, who in the triad of the main gods personified destruction, gained great popularity very early. In mythology, Shiva is associated with various qualities - he is an ascetic fertility deity, a patron of cattle, and a shaman dancer. This suggests that local beliefs were mixed into the orthodox cult of Shiva.

The Indians believed that one cannot become a Hindu; one can only be born; that varna- social role predetermined forever and changing it is a sin. Hinduism gained particular strength in the Middle Ages, becoming the main religion of the population. The "book of books" of Hinduism was and remains the "Bhagavad Gita" part of the ethical poem "Mahamharata", in the center of which is love for God and through this - the path to religious liberation.

§ 3.
Religion of Ancient India (briefly)

Much later than the Vedism of India, Buddhism developed. The creator of this teaching, Sidgartha Shanyamuni, was born in 563 in Lumbin in a Kshatriya family. By the age of 40, he achieved enlightenment and began to be called the Buddha. It is impossible to tell more precisely about the time when his teaching appeared, but the fact that the Buddha is a real historical person is a fact.

Like any religion, Buddhism contained the idea of salvation - in Buddhism it is called "nirvana".

It can only be achieved by following certain precepts. Life is suffering that arises in connection with desire, the desire for earthly existence and its joys. Therefore, one should give up desires and follow the "eightfold path" - righteous views, righteous behavior, righteous efforts, righteous speech, a righteous mindset, a righteous memory, a righteous lifestyle, and self-deepening. In Buddhism, the ethical side played a huge role. Following the "eightfold path" a person should rely on himself, and not look for help from outside. Buddhism did not recognize the existence of a creator god on whom everything in the world depends, including human life. The cause of all earthly suffering of man lies in his personal blindness; inability to give up worldly desires. Only by extinguishing any reactions to the world, by destroying one's own "I" one can achieve nirvana.

By the Mauryan period, Buddhism developed into two schools: the Sthaviravadins and the Mahasangikas. The latter teaching formed the basis of the Mahayana. The oldest Mahayan texts appear as early as the first century BC. one of the most important in the doctrine of the Mahayama is the doctrine of a bodhisattva, a being capable of becoming a Buddha, approaching the achievement of nirvana, but out of compassion for people, does not enter it. Buddha was considered not a real person, but the highest absolute being. Both the buddha and the bodhisattva are objects of reverence. According to the Mahayana, the achievement of nirvana occurs through the bodhisattvas and because of this, in the first century AD, monasteries received generous offerings from the powers that be.

The attitude to the world in Hindu-Buddhist culture is contradictory. In the teachings of samsara, he is portrayed as terrible, full of suffering and pain. Everywhere you look there are strivings and passions, emptiness and heat of destructive desires. »The world is full of connection and change. All this is samsara." A person living in the world of samsara should be guided by a combination of four ethical standards. Tharma is the most important part of the basic moral law that guides the life of the universe, determines the duty and duties of people of various castes; Artha - norms of practical behavior; Kama - values of satisfaction of sensual impulses; Moksha is the teaching on how to get rid of samsara. Do not return evil for evil, do good, be patient - these are the moral guidelines of ancient India.

Major Gods in Hinduism

The specificity of religions in India is built in such a way that representatives of various religious movements live peacefully in the neighborhood. In the second millennium BC.

Indian religions

e. In India, the teachings of the ancient Aryans appeared. They deified animals, plants, and various natural phenomena. They made sacrifices, sometimes people became victims.

The caste system in India was born thanks to the development of Brahmanism and the story of Purushu. Purushu is the first man, he laid the foundation for life on earth.

Shaivism involves the worship of Lord Shiva. This current is more popular in the south and east of India. Shiva is an exemplary husband, his son is God Ganesha (the patron of writers and the God who helps to cope with obstacles) and his wife Parvati, she is also Durga and Kali. The authority of the Brahmins and priests in India is unrealistically great. There are shamans in villages and small towns. Among Hindus, it is common to chant mantras in everyday life, which have supernatural powers.

10 most interesting temples in India

Cave temples of Ellora
Kandarya Mahadeva, Khajuraho temple complex
Somnath temple
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)
Jagannath Temple in Puri
Temple of Tirumala Venkateswara
Meenakshi Temple
Temple of Kedarnath
Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Golden Temple)
Lotus Temple

Religion in India and its role in modern Hindu life

Regardless of what the purpose of your tourist trip is initially, this side of Indian life will touch you one way or another.
All major world religions are represented in India: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism. You can also meet Zoroastrians, Jains and Sikhs here. India is the birthplace of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. During its history, India has given the world, perhaps, a record number of religious figures and spiritual mentors, such as Shakyamuni Buddha or Mahavira, religions founded by more than 2 and a half thousand years, and such, more modern, but probably , no less famous teachers like Osho, Sri Aurobindo, Sai Baba, Sri Chinmoy, Krishnamurti, Raman Maharshi, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and many others.
Another unique feature of India is its religious tolerance. Despite all the diversity of religions and minor beliefs represented in the country, major religious conflicts have never arisen in India. According to the constitution, India is a secular state and it is allowed to profess any religion.

80 percent of India's population is Hindu. Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It is believed that it developed around the middle of the 1st millennium BC, but in fact its roots go so far back centuries that it is rather difficult to speak with confidence about its origin during this period. Hinduism has neither a specific founder, nor any fundamental text that could be considered its main base (there are many such texts and they appeared at different times: the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and many others).
In Hinduism, many elements of primitive beliefs have been preserved (worship of sacred animals, natural phenomena, the cult of ancestors, etc.). Hinduism is the religion that gave birth to the caste system of India, and strictly regulates all the rights and obligations of a person throughout his life. The central teaching in Hinduism is the teaching of the reincarnation of souls, which occurs according to the law of retribution for good or evil deeds during life. Depending on what kind of life a person leads in this incarnation, his future life is determined - what body he will acquire after death at a new birth, in what caste he will be born, if he is lucky enough to acquire a human body, whether he will be poor or rich, etc.
Hinduism is characterized by the idea of the universality and universality of the supreme deity. Each of the numerous Hindu gods carries one of the facets of the omnipresent God, for it is said: ‘Truth is one, but the sages call it by different names’. For example, Brahma is the creator of the world, Vishnu is its keeper, and Shiva is the destroyer and at the same time the creator of the world. Hindu gods have multiple incarnations. And those incarnations that take place in the human world are called avatars. For example, Vishnu has many avatars and is often depicted as King Rama or the shepherd Krishna.
There are two main currents in Hinduism: Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Vaishnavism is distinguished by its ability to absorb various local beliefs and religions. So, for example, Buddha, along with Krishna and Rama, in Vishnuism began to be considered an avatar of Vishnu. Vishnu, being the guardian of the world, at different times took on different forms in order to save him. Vaishnavism is most prevalent in northern India.
The main tenet of Shaivism is the statement about the absence of anything permanent in the Universe, except for Shiva, who destroys and revives everything that exists. At the beginning of the cosmic cycle, Shiva creates the Universe and then destroys it himself. The cult of Shiva is inextricably linked with the cult of Shakti, the female creative energy principle. The cult of Shiva is widespread mainly in southern India.
Many Hindu temples (and there are a great many of them in India) are masterpieces of architecture and sculpture, and visiting them is an indispensable part of the program of most trips to India.

Despite the fact that India is the birthplace of Buddhism, at present the number of its followers in India is rather small.

They make up only 0.7% of the total population of India. Buddhism originated in India in the 5th century BC. Having experienced its heyday in the first 5 centuries after its inception, Buddhism in India was assimilated by Hinduism. Later, Buddhist monks were persecuted by Muslims and most of the followers of Buddhism left India, moving to neighboring China, Tibet, Nepal and the countries of Southeast Asia. In our time, Buddhism in India is widespread, mainly in the Sri Lankan version of Theravada Buddhism. But there are also small Zen communities, and after the takeover of Tibet by China, many representatives of Tibetan Buddhism moved to India. Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) has become a place of pilgrimage for many followers of Buddhism from all over the world - there is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile; sometimes this city is called ‘little Lhasa’.
For many centuries, not being a Buddhist country, India, however, attracts many Buddhists from all over the world. Among them, tours to India to visit holy Buddhist places are extremely popular: Bodhgaya - the place where Buddha gained enlightenment, is the main holy place of pilgrimage in Buddhism, Lumbini - the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, the future Buddha Gautama, Sarnath - the place where Buddha read his first, after reaching Nirvana, sermon, Kushinagar - the place where the Buddha went to Parinirvana. These places, like many others (there are a huge number of Buddhist temples and shrines in India), constantly attract a huge number of tourists from different countries, among which are not only followers of Buddhism.
Buddhism is based on the doctrine of the Four Noble Truths: there is suffering, there is a cause of suffering, there is an end to suffering, and there is a path to the end of suffering. This path is the middle or Eightfold Path, associated with the three kinds of virtues: morality, concentration, and wisdom. A person who practices this Eightfold Path gradually frees himself from the three poisons: anger, envy and ignorance and gains access to a true understanding of reality, which gives him liberation from suffering and the opportunity to help free other living beings.
Buddhism does not recognize castes, asserting the absolute equality of all living beings: everyone, from the smallest worm to the greatest Brahmin, is equally endowed with Buddha nature and has the same chance of liberation.

Jainism

In the 6th century BC, Vardhamana, also known as Jina or Mahavira, created and spread the religious teachings of Jainism in India.

Its basis is asceticism, abstinence and non-violence. The goal of the Jains is liberation from the chain of rebirths - an exit from samsara, which can be achieved with the help of strict austerity and adherence to the principle of ahimsa (doing no harm to living beings). Jains are known for wearing gauze bandages over their faces to avoid inhaling small living creatures, and sweeping the path in front of them to avoid accidentally crushing any insect. There are two main currents in Jainism: the Digambaras (“sky-clothed”), who believe that the ancient texts are lost and renounce all worldly temptations, including the need to wear clothes, and the Shvetambara (“clothed in white”), who try to restore the lost texts. and profess a less strict approach to life.
Now there are about 1 million Jains in India, who play an important role in Indian society, since the followers of Jainism belong to the most prosperous and educated sections of the Indian population. The Jain community in India is famous for the construction of many unique temples in terms of architecture and interior decoration, which attract the attention of numerous tourists.

Another religion that is native to India.

Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in the 16th century, became a manifestation of the protest of small traders, artisans and peasants against feudal oppression and the caste system in India. Sikhism was directed against the fanaticism and intolerance of the Muslim rulers of the time, as well as against caste discrimination and the complex rituals of Hinduism. Nanak proclaims the whole world to be a manifestation of the supreme power of the one god. For several generations, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, the book "Granth Sahib", which was compiled by the fifth guru Arjun and included hymns of Hindu and Muslim saints, and the writings of Sikh gurus, mainly Guru Nanak, appeared. In the late 17th - early 18th century, the tenth guru, Govind Singh, turns the Sikh community into a military brotherhood and calls it Khalsa (pure). In order to stand out among Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs were required to strictly observe five rules: never cut their hair (kesh), comb it with a special comb (kangha), wear a special type of underwear (kachcha), wear a steel bracelet (kara) on the wrist, and always have with a dagger (kirpan). Nowadays, few Sikhs observe all these rules. In modern India, there are about 17 million followers of Sikhism. Sikh temples are located in large numbers in the northern regions of India. In Sikh temples there are no images of the gods, and the worship ceremony is reduced to the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib. The main shrine of the Sikhs is the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Christianity

Zoroastrianism

During the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism was the main religion of Western Asia and, in the form of Mithraism, spread throughout the Roman Empire as far as Britain. After Iran was conquered by the Muslims, some Zoroastrians moved to India. Presumably, their first group landed in the area of the city of Diu in 766, and later they settled in the land of Sanjana (Gujarat). In memory of their Persian ancestors, the Zoroastrians in India began to call themselves Parsis. At present, their number throughout the world is no more than 130 thousand people. Of these, about 10 thousand live in Iran, and then almost all the rest live in India, with the majority in Mumbai. The Zoroastrians played an important role in turning the city of Mumbai into a major business center and port. Despite their small numbers, the Parsis occupy an important place in the trade and industry of the city.
Prases honor the 4 elements of the universe - water, fire, earth and air. A special rite of burial of the Parsis is connected with this: the bodies of the dead are placed on special towers (dakmas), which the Parsis call "towers of silence." There the corpses are eaten by vultures. Thus, the "pure" elements of the elements do not come into contact with the "impure" corpse. In Zoroastrian temples, an eternal flame is constantly maintained.

Features of Brahmanism, Hinduism, Buddhism

Brahmanism and Hinduism

At the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. settled life for the Indo-Aryans became a daily way of life. Numerous principalities were formed, often at war with each other. With the gradual complication of the cult of the Vedic religion, the role and authority of the Brahmin priests increased. The composition and character of the pantheon of gods have changed. And although the settings of the Vedic religion, its gods and traditions did not undergo drastic changes, numerous religious teachings of the early slave society in India in the first centuries BC. e. constituted a religious trend - Brahminism, which illuminated tribal fragmentation and exclusivity.

According to the new cosmogonic theory, the creator of the universe, Brahma, is born from a golden egg floating in a vast ocean. The power of his thought divides the egg into two parts - heaven and earth. In the process of subsequent creation, the elements (water, fire, earth, air, ether), gods, stars, time, relief, etc. are formed. People, male and female principles, opposites (heat - cold, light - darkness, etc.) ), flora and fauna.

The transition to Brahmanism has not yet revealed a single hierarchy of gods. Each locality had its own supreme deity. God Shiva, in whose cult religious beliefs of various nature were combined, was considered the embodiment of the destructive forces of nature and a symbol of fertility. The god Vishnu acted as the god - the guardian of all that exists. A significant role was assigned to animistic ideas and the cult of ancestors.

Highlighting social inequality, Brahmanism declared the suffering and misfortune of people to be insignificant, since the whole world of phenomena is just an illusion. The only real thing is the existence of the world spirit. The most important key element of Brahminism, preserved in Indian religion and philosophy, is samsara (Skt. wandering, transition, reincarnation of the soul or personality) - the theory of rebirth; according to this teaching, with the death of a person, his soul moves into a new being (human, animal, plant, God). This chain of incarnations is endless and depends on human destiny - karma. Man is a prisoner of the visible, sensible world, he must strive for liberation, which is impossible without moral effort. Going through the chain of births and deaths, a person performs actions and acquires his own value, or karma. Karma, representing the moral result of all human deeds, determines the nature of his new birth. A person has the right to commit or not to perform certain actions, but at the same time he must know that in any case he determines his own karma, his own lot. The doctrine of karma presupposes the personal responsibility of man.

Karma (from Sanskrit - deed, deed) - a chain of human deeds that determines his new birth.

Karma, although predetermined from above, can be corrected by a person's actions. His high spirituality and virtue, self-discipline, renunciation of hatred, suppression of envy, study of the Vedas, reverence for the brahmins, etc., can lead to a high position in society in the chain of rebirth, and in the future open up the prospect for further improvement. In turn, unworthy behavior is fraught with serious consequences: the embodiment of a drunkard into a moth, a murderer into a predatory animal, a thief into a rat, etc.

The Vedic religion and Brahmanism were further developed in Hinduism, which was formed in 1000 AD.

Already under the Guptas, in the 4th-5th centuries, when even the kings themselves did not adhere to Buddhism, local religions, which absorbed numerous elements of Brahminism and Buddhism, under new conditions (in particular, the formation of a caste system that was not recognized by Buddhism, etc.) amounted to a set of religious beliefs commonly referred to as Hinduism.

The unifying principle of Hinduism, professed by the inhabitants of India to this day, is: the recognition of the Vedas, the doctrine of karma, samsara and castes (varnas). The central place in the pantheon is occupied by the “trimurti”, or triune image (“trinity”), symbolizing the creation of the world, its existence and death:

Brahma (creator god, creator of the universe),

Vishnu (guardian of the world order, capable of incarnation in earthly mortal beings),

Shiva (the embodiment of cosmic energy, sometimes the destroyer god).

Cementing religion with the cult of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva, creating a kind of synthesis of an abstract idea of the absolute spirit and local gods of peasant communities, Hinduism allowed people to bring these gods closer to their earthly conditions, endowing them with specific qualities and abilities to participate in earthly events.

"Three-faced" in Hindu iconography: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

So, Vishnu, capable of reincarnation, is an active helper to people, tells them the truth, protects them from danger and evil. Shiva is very contradictory - a harsh and rather tough creature, a destroyer god. Three eyes, skulls around the neck, snakes along the body complement its unusual appearance. Acting at times as the patron of love pleasures and wild life, he at the same time patronizes art and learning. Sculptors in the image of Shiva brought the personification of the creative principle of the universe, a physically perfect person, full of vitality and energy.

Hinduism as a faith is tolerant, vague, amorphous, everyone is free to understand it in their own way. It is a kind of everyday religion. Jawaharlal Nehru, believed that its meaning can be expressed as follows: "Live and let others live."

One of the schools of Hinduism is the school of Tantrism, which adopted the methods of yoga and developed a system of esoteric practice. At the heart of the religious and philosophical concept is the idea of a human-microcosm and the idea of a male and female energy principle.

Tantra (from Saqnskr. - weaving, intricacies) - collections of sacred texts of worshipers of the female form of Trimurti - the wife of Shiva.

The philosophical school of Tantrism proclaims love as the creative principle of being. According to Tantrism, human anatomy reflects the anatomy of the cosmos. This school was developed in the Middle Ages. The essence of the school was expressed in the worship of the great mother goddess in the form of Shiva's wife Parvati (Shakti).

Buddhism

The first movement to question Vedic values was Jainism (4th century BC). Jainism categorically rejected the Brahmanist pantheon of gods, priesthood and sacrifice, and the religious consecration of varnas. The prevailing idea of Jainism was asceticism as a true religious feat. Buddhism originated in the 6th century. BC e., proposed a "middle way". It was a more successful attempt to overcome the varno-caste division in the system of Brahmanism (where the path to salvation was open only to Brahmins - priests).

India in the 6th century BC e. cities are growing rapidly, people's lives are changing rapidly. Representatives of the lower caste - the Shudras become financially secure and occupy the highest positions, gaining more and more weight in the state. In this regard, the traditional idea of natural and true life according to the Vedas is lost in society, since the values of the lower varna become predominant. Human qualities are depreciating, their place is taken by material, property values, violence is growing and morality is falling. All this brought confusion to society. It was obvious that the Varnas had become obsolete, they did not fit into the urban way of life. But it was also obvious that the desire of uneducated and uncultured, but wealthy and ambitious people to occupy the highest positions, to become brahmins, is evil. To all this, the Buddha opposed his teaching about true values, which are contained in the person himself and do not depend on wealth and nobility.

Buddha - enlightened, overshadowed by the truth) - awakened to a new life.

Buddhism is the earliest world religion in terms of time, which is now followed by about 700 million people. This religion flourished in India in the 5th century. BC e. - beginning n.

Religions of India - briefly about their origin and formation

e. The founder of Buddhism is considered a real historical person - Siddhartha Gautama (623-544 BC according to the Buddhist tradition, 563/560 - 483/480 BC - according to historians). He came, according to legend, from the royal family of the Shakya tribe (one of the names of the Buddha - Shakyamuni - "hermit from Shakya").

The father wanted to protect his son from the hustle and bustle of life.

From childhood, he amazed with his abilities. Surrounded by luxury and splendor, he spent his life in beautiful palaces, defeated rivals in knightly tournaments. A beautiful wife and beloved son completed the prince's happy and trouble-free life. But one day, when he was 29 years old, for the first time life turned its cruel and prosaic side, previously unknown to him. On one of his pleasure walks, he saw people who were far from being so happy: a decrepit old man, a man with leprosy, a hermit monk and a dead man. The shock was so great that, leaving everything, he went on a seven-year journey. He studies the Vedas, indulges in severe asceticism, learns the causes of evil, reaches nirvana. He becomes a Buddha. For more than 40 years of preaching his doctrine, he has gained many disciples and followers.

The Buddha condemned Brahminism for its predilection for a rich and secure life, the predominance of external forms of religiosity; Jainism - for cruel austerity; but spoke in favor of the "middle way". From the ancient tribal religions, he inherited the animistic idea of the animation of all living things in nature and the idea of the transmigration of the soul. The central principles in the teachings of the Buddha are: "four noble truths", the theory of causality; inconstancy of elements; "middle way"; "The Eightfold Path"

How to understand these main principles of Buddhism?

"Four Noble Truths":

1) life is suffering;

2) the cause of suffering is endless desires and aspirations for pleasures and pleasures;

3) the destruction of desires, the path to which lies through the implementation of a number of conditions and norms of behavior that involve the prevention and suppression of evil, contributing to the emergence and maintenance of good.

4) in order to suppress desires and get rid of suffering, a person must follow the path of moral perfection indicated by the Buddha.

At the end of this path comes complete freedom and insight - nirvana, a kind of passive, from the point of view of Christian culture, ethics, as it calls for tolerance and dispassion, indifference to everything, both good and evil.

Causality theory - everything in the world is interconnected and has its own reason.

There are no deeds and deeds in the world that would not have consequences.

Impermanence of elements - Nothing in the world is permanent and everything changes. This means that nothing in the world can serve as a guarantee of well-being, deliverance of a person from suffering. Man himself is the cause of this suffering.

"Middle Way"— The Buddha called for moderation, for avoiding extremes.

"The Eightfold Path" this path leads to the goal, represents a gradual transformation of the consciousness and life of a person, his rebirth or birth in a state of nirvana. It involves the formation of:

1) correct views;

2) right aspiration (achievement of nirvana);

3) correct speech (avoid lying);

4) correct behavior;

5) the right way of life;

6) right aspirations;

7) right thoughts (freedom from selfishness);

8) correct contemplation, getting rid of desires. Nirvana is a different dimension of being, it is the extinction of false desires and passions.

Nirvana (from Sanskrit - extinction) - this is the highest state of spiritual activity and energy, which is free from base attachments.

Buddha, having reached nirvana, preached his teaching for many more years. His teaching was not a preaching of passivity and pessimism. On the contrary, he called for activity and for directing this activity to your life. Not a struggle with others for a place under the sun, a struggle with another, with something alien in oneself. According to the teachings of the Buddha, people are equal by birth. But people are equal before the fact of death. Equality is an innate property of people, which they lose during their lifetime. Life is a kind of battlefield where people rise and fall, where the laws of power reign, and not the laws of justice and equality. Is it possible to achieve equality of people during life? Buddha says yes! This state is nirvana. It is not being, on the contrary, nirvana is the fullness of being, where a person does not cling to the minutes of life out of fear of death, his existence is full of joy and perfection. The wishes of the poet and playwright Kalidasa correspond to the state of nirvana. He wrote: “When you went into the world, you wept bitterly, and everyone around you laughed joyfully. Make life such that when you leave the world, you laugh joyfully, and everyone around you weeps.

In India, Buddhism spread gradually. In the III century. BC e. Buddhism was adopted as the state religion by the legendary king Ashoka. The king devoted all his strength to spreading it by peaceful means. In the 1st century BC e. Buddhism split into Hinayana (small right hand), intended for an enlightened minority, and Mahayana (great vehicle), which was a vulgarized teaching of the Buddha, addressed to those who were inaccessible to an impersonal god.

In the Middle Ages, Buddhism becomes one of the world's religions, becoming widespread, but mainly outside of India, India itself by the 13th century. Buddhist communities have largely ceased to exist.

At the end of the XII century. Mahayana spread to Japan, where it became known as Zen Buddhism. There are two most influential schools of Buddhism - Rinzai and Soto. There was a saying that reflected the specialization of schools: "Rinzai is for samurai, Soto is for commoners."

hindi religion

He who loves God can no longer love man, he has lost the understanding of the human; but also vice versa: if someone loves a person, truly loves with all his heart, he can no longer love God.

With the beginning of the 4th quarter, a new educational course "Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics" will begin to be taught in Russian schools. This event was preceded by heated debate, which, I think, will not subside for a long time. Personally, I perceive this event as a defeat of common sense in the fight against the active imposition of the interests of certain groups of citizens. By no means do I deny the enormous role of religion as such at a certain stage in the development of mankind and recognize the need for its existence at this stage. Moreover, I have nothing against people believing in god Hindi religion. If someone believes or wants to believe, that is his business. But I am categorically against the teaching of any religion in a secular school, and I will try to explain why.

Unfortunately, I did not manage to get acquainted with the textbook "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" or any other (after all, they will also teach Islam, Judaism, etc.), but I think this textbook would not change my position. Officials said that the tasks of this training course and textbooks, according to which it will be taught, does not include "missionary work", i.e. instilling in a fragile children's mind and heart (because fourth-grade students will begin to teach, I'm sure that their minds are not strong) faith in God. In the lessons on the “foundations of world religions”, children will be taught kindness, mercy, responsibility, morality and, probably, other positive qualities, using examples from the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud and other sacred books. I have a question: is there really a shortage of such examples in the history of Russia (and of all mankind as a whole)? Such a scarcity that it is necessary to study the Bible to learn about acts of kindness, self-sacrifice, empathy, responsibility, and mercy? All Russian history filled with such examples. In addition, I was struck by the opinion of the compiler of the textbook "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture", in the report of one of the news agencies. I will quote this paragraph in full: “The author of the textbook on the basics of Orthodox culture, the famous missionary Archdeacon Andrey Kuraev, in turn, believes that the task of the experiment to introduce the basics of religious culture at school is to assimilate the basic values of a particular religion by children, and not to expand the art history horizons and fostering tolerance, as the officials want.” As far as I understand, the basic values of the entire civilized world community are the same, and in order to assimilate them, one does not need to be a religious person. It is enough to be well-educated. Just by expanding the art history (and, I will add, culturological) horizons and the education of tolerance, it was possible to somehow justify the introduction of such lessons. Apparently, the author of the textbook considers these goals insignificant, and I doubt that in his textbook he went against his own convictions. I am sure that the sole purpose of the experiment for the clergy is to increase the number of parishioners. This can be judged from the statement of Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain: “In these lessons, youth can be brought to church issues, even those youth who, due to their home education, stand far from the Church. Schoolchildren will simply refuse the subject “Law of God”, or they will not be allowed to go there from the very beginning, their parents will not encourage this. Meanwhile, in the classes on the course "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" there is an opportunity for a broader missionary activity. The archbishop also claims that secular ethics (chosen by most parents for their children) will not give them anything, and that a person “needs the foundations of Orthodox culture, because he cannot otherwise understand, for example, Dostoevsky or Gogol, and indeed all Russian literature.”

The last statement I was just amazed. Ethics is useless, and without believing in God, one cannot understand the meaning of "Dead Souls", "The Gambler" and everything else (I wonder if at least Soviet writers remained accessible to the understanding of an atheist?). One of the arguments in favor of the introduction of religious education in Russian schools (given mainly by Muslim spiritual leaders) is that it is the wrong, perverted interpretation of Islam that allows extremists to train terrorists, deliberately misleading them, and high-quality spiritual and religious education should solve this problem. The first thing that catches the eye in this logic is that in the republics of the North Caucasus, religious education is spread almost everywhere, and it is from there that most Russian terrorists originate.

I would draw the opposite conclusion - a person who does not believe in God has no reason for religious hatred, intolerance or extremism. There was no religion in the Soviet Union and, as a result, there was no religious extremism. The educational experiment being carried out in the country can lead to the formation of a religious worldview in a huge number of children, who will subsequently be led by their spiritual leaders.

Now about the very concept of "experiment". An experiment involves the study of some parameter or indicator. First, a quantitative or qualitative (or some other) assessment of the indicator under study is made, then the conditions affecting the indicator are changed, and then the change in the indicator is evaluated. I would really like to know how and when the “level” of kindness, morality or spirituality was measured among 4th graders?

On the basis of what data will a conclusion be drawn in a couple of years about the success or failure of the experiment and whether it is worth extending it to the whole country? Is it really possible to draw a conclusion from a child of 10-15 years old about how moral and spiritual a person he will be at 25? As far as I know, the conclusion about the success of the experiment will be based on a survey of students and their parents. Researchers will find out whether the children were interested in these lessons and whether they want to attend them further. The criterion is highly controversial. Not everything that is interesting is useful and vice versa. The conclusion about the expediency of teaching a particular subject should be made based on the benefits it brings. Hindi Religion Trying to prove to believers that teaching religion in school is not worth it on the grounds that there is no proof of the very existence of God is useless. For believers, this is not an argument. That's why I mentioned benefits. Why do schools and other educational institutions exist at all? To pass on reliable knowledge to the next generation, on the basis of which it will further develop science, technology and the social sphere. It was the continuity of knowledge that allowed mankind to reach such heights of development.

And the knowledge given at school (especially in elementary school) lays the foundation for the rest of the perception of information. What should be taught in school is what has already been proven absolutely exactly and is not subject to doubt. Religious leaders themselves admit that religion does not belong to the scientific sphere. Religion is something from the field of supersensible knowledge, it does not require proof. She demands to believe. The school should not teach to believe, it has a different function. The school should teach to know and understand. Religions have no place in schools. It is impossible to simultaneously cover Darwin's theory of evolution and the creation of man and animals by God. These opinions contradict each other, but one of them is proven, and the other is simply offered to be believed. There are a lot of similar contradictions that will arise when teaching religion at school. Not every child will be able to draw a conclusion about where the religious myth is and where the scientific truth is (adults, not all of them could). Therefore, I hope that high-ranking officials will save children from having to do it, and parents from having to check whether their child has been made into a religious fanatic in an institution created for his mental development. hindi religion

Passions are the enemies of peace, but without them there would be neither art nor science in this world, and everyone would doze off naked on a heap of his own dung.