Religions
HINDUISM
The Hindu religion had its origin in the concepts of the early Aryans who
came to India more than 4,000 years ago. It is not merely a religion but also
philosophy and a way of life. Hinduism does not originate in the teachings
of any one prophet or holy book. It respects other religions and does not
attempt to seek converts. It teaches the immortality of the human soul and
three principal paths to ultimate union of the individual soul with the all-pervasive
spirit. The essence of Hindu faith is embodied in the Lord's Song, the Bhagavad
Gita: "He who considers this (self) as a slayer or lie who thinks that
this (self) is slain, neither knows the Truth. For it does not slay, nor is
it slain. This (self) is unborn, eternal, changeless, ancient, it is never
destroyed even when the body is destroyed".
JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
In the sixth century before Christ, Mahavira propagated Jainism. Its message
was asceticism, austerity and non-violence. At about the same time, Buddhism
came into being Gautama Buddha, a prince, renounced the world and gained enlightenment.
He preached that 'Nirvana' was to be attained through the conquest of self.
Buddha's teachings in time spread to China and some other countries of South-East
Asia.
ISLAM
Arab traders brought Islam to South India in the seventh century. After them
came the Afghan the seventh century. After them came the Afghans and the Moghuls,
among whom the most enlightens was the Emperor Akbar. Akbar almost succeeded
in founding a new religion Din-e-Elahi, based on both Hinduism and Islam,
but it found few adherents. Islam has flourished in India through the centuries.
Muslim citizens have occupied some of the highest positions in the country
since independence in 1947.
SIKHISM
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism in the 15-century, stressed the unity of
God and the The Sisganj Gurudwara in Delhi, an important Sikh shrine brotherhood
of man. Sikhism, with its affirmation of as the one supreme truth and its
ideals of discipline and spiritual striving, soon won many followers. It was
perhaps possible only in this hospitable land that two religions as diverse
as Hinduism and Islam could come could come together in a third, namely Sikhism.
CHRISTIANITY
Christianity reached India not long after Christ's own lifetime, with the
arrival of St. Thomas, the Apostle. The Syrian Christian Church in the south
traces its roots to the visit of St. Thomas. With the arrival of St. Francis
Xavier in 1542 the Roman Catholic faith was established in India. Today Christians
of several denominations practice their faith freely.
ZOROASTRIANISM
In the days of the old Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion
in West Asia, and in the form of Mithraisn it spread over vast areas of the
Roman Empire, as far as Britain. After the Islamic conquest of Iran, a few
intrepid Zoroastrians left their homeland and sought refuge in India. The
first group is said to have reached Diu in about 766 A.D. The total number
of Zoroastrians probably does not exceed 130,000. With the exception of some
10,000 in Iran, almost all of them live in India, the vast majority concentrated
in Mumbai. The Parsees excel in industry and commerce, and contribute richly
to the intellectual and artistic life of the nation.
JUDAISM
Jewish contact with the Malabar Coast in Kerala dates back to 973 BC when
King Solomon's merchant fleet began trading for spices and other fabled treasures.
Scholars say that the Jews first settled in Cranganore, soon after the Babylonian
onquest of Judea in 586 BC. The immigrants were well received and a Hindu
king granted to Joseph Rabban, a Jewish leader, a title and a principality.
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