What religion does India belong to? The role of brahmanas in society

What is the religion in India? Whether there is a Orthodox churches? How religious are the people of India?

There are many questions, but not many answers.

If you ask a tourist what religion is in India, then most likely they will answer you that Buddhism.

This is not always the case, though. All world confessions are represented here - Buddhism, Christianity, Islam.

Also, the people of India are Indians, not Hindus.

A Hindu is a follower of Hinduism.

Indian - a resident of the country India.

A Buddhist may be Indian, but he cannot be Indian.

In addition, India hasSikhs and Jains that few have heard of. As for churches and temples, there is a great variety in India. And this, of course, was influenced by Portuguese colonization.

Take Kerala State, for example.

It has both traditional Indian temples and the Church of St. Francis, as well as a whole Jewish district with a synagogue and a Muslim mosque.

As far as the religiosity of Indians is concerned, with a population of more than a billion people, only less than one percent do not associate themselves with religions. At the same time, religion for an Indian is a natural feeling, and not a duty imposed by tradition. In addition to Hinduism, there are other national religions, for example, Jainism and Sikhism.

Parsis also live here - this is the name of the descendants of the Zoroastrians who came to India from Iran about a thousand years ago and settled in the region of modern Gujarat.

There is also a Jewish community in India, formed as a result of several waves of emigration. Archaic tribal cults are still alive in remote, remote from cities rural areas.

In general, in Indian languages ​​there is no word religion in the usual sense, that is, as something that connects a person with God, and the concept of God is also far from always present or coincides with ours.

The Western concept of religion corresponds to the Sanskrit term dharma, which comes from the Indo-European root dhar meaning "to support". Thus, dharma is what supports the world, society, a person, what gives support in life.

Depending on the context dharma is usually translated as "rule, norm, religious duty, law, duty, foundations, truth" and so on. Most often, dharma means a set of rules, primarily ritual, the strict observance of which is the main condition for maintaining the necessary order. Important for this religion is the concept karma, which is usually interpreted as the law of moral retribution - retribution or the law of causation. A person who does not observe the dharma deserves the worst rebirth according to the law of karma, and the one who accumulates dharma as a religious virtue ensures himself a better rebirth in the future.

Another important concept, samsara- this is the mortal world of the finite and transient, the wheel of alternating births and deaths, in which we rotate like a squirrel until we get rid of the burdens of worldly existence and achieve spiritual liberation - moksha or nirvana, that is, the final exit from this addictive cycle. Complete spiritual liberation is proclaimed as the highest human ideal.

Here is such a diverse India ...

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Publication 2017-09-18 Liked 14 Views 5310

Geography of Indian religions

India is a very religious country. According to the most recent census, less than 0.1% of the population identified themselves as atheists or undecided. The rest of the residents respect, honor and abide by the laws of the most different religions in India.

The majority of the population of India are believers and belong to some kind of religion

Religion in India today

In India on the given time profess such religions:

• Hinduism;
• Islam;
• Christianity;
• Sikhism;
• Buddhism;
• Jainism.

Four of these religions originated in India itself: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.

In this table we see the percentage by the number of believers in each of the religions of India

The main religion in India is Hinduism. It is practiced by 80% of the country's population, more than 800 million people. Islam is in second place - 13% or more than 130 million people. Further, Christianity - 2%, 24 million Indians. Representatives of the Sikh religion in India - 1.9%, Buddhism - 0.8%, Jainism - 0.4%.

This map shows the predominance of religions depending on the state of India

The Indian Constitution is loyal to the religious feelings of Indians and all religions are officially recognized in India. This wise political move avoids sectarian strife. As a result, Indians for the most part respect the faith of others, and rarely impose their own beliefs.

In India, they are loyal to any religion, so they have a lot of very different beautiful temples.

This also applies to Buddhism. In the postulates of this religion of India, it is said not to propagate and not to impose faith. And so it happens: you can see an image or a statue of Buddha, but you are unlikely to see a Buddhist procession along the main street of the city. In Hinduism, it is different: Indians regularly observe religious holidays and perform with great diligence and pleasure. Often these events turn into grand celebrations.

Kumbh Mela - one of the most massive religious festivals in India

The legendary Maha Kumbha Mela festival, which took place in 2013 in Allahabad, was attended by 70 million people. Taking a religious bath in the sacred waters of the Ganges on this festival is tantamount to reuniting with the absolute spirit, Brahman.

What religion was in ancient India

The religion that preceded Hinduism and dominated ancient India is Vedism. This is the first form of Hinduism, some of the rituals and laws of which were adopted modern religion India. Vedism is a system of worship, or rather a collection of practices that came from ancient scriptures. Despite the absence of a formed hierarchy of gods, their pantheon survived and was adopted by Hinduism. Here it was structured, and Vedism was transformed into Brahmanism. So he became the progenitor of the present religion of India.

In the religion of Ancient India there was a large pantheon of gods, it has survived to this day

Hinduism has many currents, the main of which are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism. The great trinity of gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are considered the dominant gods, the creators of the world. However, the guardian of the world Vishnu and the destroyer Shiva are worshiped, but the creator Brahma is not. An ancient legend says that one day Brahma decided to find the beginning and end of the sacred Lingam, for which he was cursed by Shiva. Since then, no one has worshiped him, and throughout India there are no more than a few temples dedicated to Brahma.

Geography of religions in India

During the Arab conquests, Islam penetrated the territory of India and was firmly entrenched here. Most Muslims live in the state of Kashmir, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Islam as a religion is very widespread in India

Christianity is widespread in South India. Goa is dotted with Catholic churches, crucifixes and icons Mother of God... This religion in India was entrenched thanks to two events: the arrival of the Apostle Thomas in the 1st century AD. and Portuguese colonization in the 15th century. The state of Goa resembles Portuguese resort towns. Among Indian Christians most of- Catholics, the rest are Protestants.

The religion of Christianity is spread mainly in the south of the country.

India's Sikh religion is popular in Punjab, Haryana and the northwestern part of the country. Sikhs believe in One God, in Love, as the goal and reason for the creation of all things. For them, there is no concept of heaven, hell, karma or sins. This religion of India calls to love everything, treats all living beings with kindness and see God in the most ordinary things. Then happiness comes and excitement goes away.

Sikhism is a religion of love, despite the fact that sikhki are a caste of warriors

Siddhartha Gautama was born in India. In Bodhgaya (India) he attained enlightenment and became a Buddha. In the present city of Varanasi, he gave his first lecture, after which he went to preach along the Ganges River.

Buddhism, as a religion, also originated in India

Consequently, Buddhism originated in India, but there are not so many followers of this religion within the country as outside it. Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the leaders in terms of the number of Buddhists.

Hinduism - a complex riddle or a simple fairy tale?

The religion of India has no common creed. There is no information about its founder. What our teachers called the strange and reprehensible word "paganism", that is, polytheism, is the basis of the religion of India. Then no one told us that there are more than a billion people on the earth of these very pagans.

Hinduism is a vibrant polytheistic religion with a whole host of gods and goddesses

At first glance, Indian religion may seem mystical, exotic, and even barbaric. But no one will argue that there is no more diverse, unusual, colorful, rich history and legends than the religion of India in the world. Reproduction of the images of deities, in an understandable and simple way for Indians, has become a cultural heritage of the whole world. And the philosophy of reincarnation was increasingly adopted by new religious and esoteric schools. If 30-50 years ago the phrase “in past life”Was pronounced sarcastically, today nobody is laughing at her.

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

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Hinduism- the oldest national religion of India. Its origins usually date back to the time of the existence of the Proto-Indian (Harappan) civilization, i.e. to II-III millennium BC Therefore, to the border new era it has 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 in the world, except India. At the same time, Hinduism, to this day, retains the laws and foundations of life established since ancient times, extending into modern times the traditions of culture that originated at the dawn of history.

By the number of adherents (there are over 700 million), Hinduism- one of the most widespread religions in the world. Its followers 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 crossed national borders and became popular in several countries in Europe and America, claiming to be recognized as one of the world religions.

Most Indian Muslims are Sunnis concentrated in West Bengal, Kashmir, Assam and Kerala. Shiites are located locally: in Lucknow, Mumbai (Bombay), Hyderabad and several districts of Gujarat. In South India, Muslims gravitate towards cities where they engage in trade and handicraft production.

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

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

The Buddhist community has grown in recent decades thanks in part to the conversion in 1956 to Buddhism by the leader of the untouchables, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, whom many of his followers have followed suit. This religion has long taken deep roots in Ladakh (Kashmir) and several regions of West Bengal.

Jains concentrated in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Small groups of them are scattered throughout the cities of the state of Karnataka. Jains are followers of Mahavira's teachings and followers of the most peaceful religion on earth, preaching non-harm to living beings. To the extent that they wear bandages on their mouths so as not to accidentally swallow a flying insect and thereby not take its life. Moving on foot, the Jains sweep the road dust in front of them to the right and left, 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 following all the rules by which a true devotee of Mahavira lives.

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

Religion of Ancient India

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

The millennial cultural tradition of India has developed in close connection with the development of the religious beliefs of its people. The main religious movement was Hinduism (it is now followed by more than 80% of the population of India). The roots of this religion go back to antiquity.

§ 1. Vedism

The religious and mythological ideas of the 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 common Indian religion, but flourished only in East Punjab and Uttar. Prodesh which were settled by a group of Indo-Aryan tribes. It was she who was the creator of the Rig Veda and other Vedic collections (samhit).

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 is the god of fire and home; Soma is the god of the sacred drink. In total, 33 gods are considered to be the highest Vedic deities. The Indians of the Vedic era divided the whole world into 3 spheres - heaven, earth, antarizhna (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 people 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 Vedians believed that after death the soul of the saint goes to heaven, and the sinner to the land of Yama. Gods, like people, were able to die.

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

§ 2. Hinduism.

In Hinduism, the creator god is brought to the fore, and 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 on earth social laws(tharm), division into varnas; he is the punisher of the unfaithful and sinners. Vishnu is the guardian god; Shiva is the destroyer god. The growing special role of the last two gods led to the emergence of two directions in Hinduism - Vishnuism and Shaivism. A similar design was enshrined 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 Ovatars (descent) of Vishnu. In the eighth of them, he appears in the guise of Krishna, the hero of the Yadav tribe. This ovatara has become a favorite subject, and her hero is a character in numerous works. The cult of Krishna is so popular that the direction of the same name emerged from Vishnaism. The ninth avatar, where Vishnu appears in the form of a Buddha, is the result of the inclusion of Buddhist ideas in Hinduism.

The cult of Shiva became very popular very early, which in the triad of the main gods personified destruction. In mythology, Shiva is associated with different qualities - he is an ascetic deity of fertility, a patron of cattle, and a shaman dancer. This suggests that local beliefs have been mixed into the orthodox cult of Shiva.

The Indians believed that one cannot become a Hindu; one can only be born; that varna is a social role predetermined forever and changing it is a sin. Special strength Hinduism gained 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 the love of God and through this is the path of 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 Lumbina into 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 of the appearance of his teachings, 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 is possible to achieve it only by following certain commandments. Life is suffering that arises in connection with desire, striving for earthly existence and its joys. Therefore, one should give up desires and follow the "Eightfold Path" - righteous attitudes, righteous behavior, righteous efforts, righteous speech, righteous mindset, righteous memory, 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 seek outside help. Buddhism did not recognize the existence of a creator god on whom everything in the world depends, including human life. The cause of all man's earthly suffering lies in his own blinding; inability to give up worldly desires. Nirvana can be achieved only by extinguishing all reactions to the world, by destroying one's own “I”.

By the Mauryan period, two directions took shape in Buddhism: sthaviravadins and mahasangikas. The latter teaching formed the basis of the Mahayana. The oldest Mahayana 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 bothisattva being capable of becoming a buddha, approaching the achievement of nirvana, but not entering it out of compassion for people. Buddha was considered not a real person, but the supreme absolute being. Both buddha and bothisattva are objects of worship. According to the Mahayana, the attainment of nirvana occurs through the bothisattvas, and because of this, in the first century AD, the monasteries received generous offerings from the powerful.

The attitude to the world in Indo-Buddhist culture is contradictory. In the doctrine of samsara, he is portrayed as terrible, full of suffering and pain. Wherever you look, there are always aspirations 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 focus on the combination of the four ethical standards... Tharma is the most important part of the basic moral law that directs the life of the universe, determines the duty and duties of people of different castes; Artha - norms of practical behavior; Kama - values ​​of gratification of sensual impulses; Moksha is a teaching on how to get rid of samsara. Do not answer evil for evil, do good, be patient - these are the moral guidelines of ancient India.

The bulk of the population (about 80 percent) professes Hinduism. However, this is far from the only religion in India. The second largest religious movement is Islam. Also in India there are those who practice Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. The Indian Constitution permits the practice of any faith.

Main 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

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

The caste system in India originated from the rise of Brahmanism and the story of the Purusha. Purusha 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 worshiping God Shiva. This current is more popular in the south and east of India. Shiva is an exemplary husband, his son God Ganesha (the patron saint of writers and God who helps to cope with obstacles) and the wife of Parvati, she is also Durga and Kali. The authority of the Brahmans and priests in India is unrealistically great. Shamans meet in villages and small towns. Among Hindus, chanting of mantras, which have supernatural power, is considered common in everyday life.

Religion in India has numerous holidays, many adherents of various trends take part in them. For example, New Year they celebrate there more than once a year and absolutely everyone considers it normal. They light bonfires, chant mantras, and together with the smoke from the fire, all worries and sorrows dissipate, everyone rejoices in the reigning peace.

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

10 most interesting temples in India

1. Ellora cave temples
2. Kandarya Mahadeva, Khajuraho temple complex
3. Somnath Temple
4. Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)
5. Jagannath Temple in Puri
6. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
7. Meenakshi Temple
8. Kedarnath temple
9. Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Golden Temple)
10. Lotus Temple

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India is a religiously unique country. Such a number and variety of religions that we find in India, perhaps, we will not be able to meet in any other state. Almost all people in India are deeply religious. Religion and spirituality permeates their daily life and is an integral part of everyday life. Such a number of temples, ashrams, stupas, sanctuaries, small and large shrines as in India is probably difficult to find anywhere else. Therefore, visiting various sacred places naturally becomes an integral part of any tours to India.

Religion in India and its role in the modern life of Hindus

Regardless of what the initial purpose of your tourist trip is, this side of life in India will definitely touch you in one way or another.
All major world religions are represented in India: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism. Also here you can meet Zoroastrians, Jains and Sikhs. India is home to Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. Throughout its history, India has given the world, perhaps, a record number of religious leaders and spiritual mentors, such as Buddha Shakyamuni or Mahavira, religions founded by which are more than 2 and a half thousand years old, and such more modern, but probably , no less famous teachers like Osho, Sri Aurobindo, Sai Baba, Sri Chinmoy, Krishnamurti, Raman Maharishi, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and many others.
Another unique feature of India is its religious tolerance. Despite all the diversity of religions and small beliefs represented in the country, there have never been major religious conflicts in India. According to the constitution, India is a secular state and it is allowed to practice 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 back so far back in the 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 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 rise 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 with a new birth, in what caste he will be born, if he is lucky enough to find 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 many Hindu gods carries one of the facets of the omnipresent God, for it is said: 'The 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 several 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 Krishna the shepherd.
Currently, there are two main streams in Hinduism: Vishnuism and Shaivism. Vishnuism 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 keeper of the world, at different times took on different forms in order to save him. Vishnuism is most widespread in the north of India.
The main dogma of Shaivism is the assertion that there is nothing 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 and energetic principle. The Shiva cult is widespread mainly in southern India.
Many Hindu temples (and there are a great many in India) are masterpieces of architecture and sculpture and visiting them is an irreplaceable part of the program of most trips to India.

Despite the fact that India is the birthplace of Buddhism, currently the number of its followers in India is quite 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 conquest 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 nevertheless attracts many Buddhists from all over the world. Among them, tours to India for visiting holy Buddhist places are extremely popular: Bodhgaya - the place where Buddha found 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 sermon after reaching Nirvana, Kushinagar - the place of Buddha's departure to Parinirvana. These places, like many others (in India, there are a huge number of Buddhist temples and shrines), constantly attract a huge number of tourists from different countries, among whom are not only followers of Buddhism.
Buddhism is based on the teaching of the Four Noble Truths: there is suffering, there is a cause of suffering, there is an end to suffering and there is a way to end suffering. This path is the middle or Eightfold Path associated with three kinds of virtues: morality, concentration, and wisdom. A person who practices this Eightfold Path is gradually freed from three poisons: anger, envy and ignorance and gains access to a true understanding of reality, which gives him liberation from suffering and the ability 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 brahmana, is equally endowed with Buddha nature and have the same chance of liberation.

Jainism

In the 6th century BC, Vardhamana, who is also Jina or Mahavira, created and spread the religious teaching of Jainism in India.

It is based on asceticism, abstinence and non-violence. The goal of the Jains is liberation from the chain of rebirth - an exit from samsara, which can be achieved through strict austerity and adherence to the principle of ahimsa (not harming living beings). Jains are known to wear gauze bandages on their faces to avoid inhaling small living things, and to sweep a path in front of them so as not to accidentally crush any insect. In Jainism, there are two main streams: the Digambaras ("dressed in the sky"), who believe that the ancient texts are lost, and abandon all worldly temptations, including the need to wear clothes, and the Shvetambaras ("dressed in white"), who try to restore the lost texts and practice a less strict approach to life.
Now in India there are about 1 million Jains who play an important role in Indian society, since the followers of Jainism belong to the most prosperous and educated strata of the population of India. The Jain community in India is famous for the construction of many temples, unique in architecture and interior decoration, attracting the attention of numerous tourists.

Another religion native to India.

Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in the 16th century, was a manifestation of the protest of small traders, artisans and peasants against feudal oppression and 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 complex rituals of Hinduism. Nanak proclaims the whole world to be a manifestation higher power one god. The scripture of the Skikhs appeared for several generations, the book "Granth Sahib", which was compiled by the fifth guru Arjun and included the hymns of Hindu and Muslim saints, and the writings of Sikh gurus, mainly Guru Nanak. 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). To stand out among Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs were required to strictly observe five rules: never cut their hair (kesh), comb them with a special comb (kangha), wear a special type of underwear (kachha), wear a steel bracelet (kara) on the wrist, and always have with a dagger (kirpan). Nowadays, few Sikhs follow 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 gods, and the ceremony of worship is reduced to the reading of the "Guru Granth Sahiba". 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, the Ahmadis), as well as established communities - Bohra, Ismailis, Kashmir Muslims, Memon, Mopla, 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 the south of India. It is called “Syrian” because it uses liturgy and scriptures in Aramaic, or Syriac, in its worship. In the 16th century, the Portuguese colonialists began the forcible 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 India is home to 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 up to Britain. After Iran was conquered by the Muslims, some Zoroastrians migrated 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 Sanjan (Gujarat state). In memory of their Persian ancestors, Zoroastrians in India began to call themselves Parsis. At present, their number all over the world is no more than 130 thousand people. Of these, about 10 thousand live in Iran, while almost all the rest live in India, most of them in Mumbai. The Zoroastrians were instrumental in transforming 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 worship 4 elements of the Universe - water, fire, earth and air. A special burial ceremony for 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 "unclean" 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 moved to India at that time on the Malabar coast. Currently, in India, Judaism is spread mainly in the states of Kerala and Maharashtra, although representatives of this religion can be found in other parts of the country.

Features of Brahmanism, Hinduism, Buddhism

Brahmanism and Hinduism

At the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. NS. Settlement for the Indo-Aryans has become an everyday 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 brahmana priests increased. The composition and nature of the pantheon of gods have changed. And although the attitudes of the Vedic religion, its gods and traditions did not undergo drastic changes, the numerous religious teachings of the early slave society in India in the first centuries BC. NS. constituted a religious trend - Brahmanism, 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 huge ocean. The power of his thought divides the egg into two parts - heaven and earth. In the process of subsequent creation, the elements are formed (water, fire, earth, air, ether), gods, stars, time, relief, etc. People, masculine and feminine principles, opposites (heat - cold, light - darkness, etc.) are created. ), flora and fauna.

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

Illuminating social inequality, Brahmanism declared the suffering and misery of people to be insignificant, since the whole world of phenomena is only an illusion. The only real thing is the existence of the world spirit. The most important key element of Brahmanism 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. A person 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 the deeds of a person, determines the nature of his new birth. A person has the right to commit or not to commit certain actions, but at the same time he must know that in any case he determines his own karma, his own destiny. The doctrine of karma presupposes a person's personal responsibility.

Karma (from Skt. - deed, deed) - the chain of a person's actions, which determines his new birth.

Karma, although predetermined from above, can be corrected by a person's actions. His high spirituality and virtue, self-discipline, rejection of hatred, suppression of envy, study of the Vedas, veneration of brahmanas, etc. can lead in the chain of rebirths to a high position in society, and in the future they open up prospects for further improvement. In turn, unworthy behavior is fraught with serious consequences: the incarnation of a drunkard into a mole, a killer into a predatory animal, a thief into a rat, etc.

The Vedic religion and Brahmanism were further developed in Hinduism, which was formed in the 1st millennium 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 Brahmanism and Buddhism, in new conditions (in particular, the formation of a caste system, not recognized by Buddhism, etc.) a set of religious beliefs commonly referred to as Hinduism.

The unifying principle of Hinduism, professed by the inhabitants of India to this day, are: 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 ( god-creator, creator of the universe),

Vishnu (the keeper of the world order, capable of incarnation into earthly mortal beings),

· Shiva (the embodiment of cosmic energy, sometimes the destructive 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, endow 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 assistant to people, informs them the truth, protects them from danger and evil. Shiva is very contradictory - a harsh and rather tough creature, a destructive god. Three eyes, skulls around the neck, snakes along the body complement its unusual appearance. Acting at times the patron of love pleasures and riotous life, he at the same time patronizes art and scholarship. The 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. This is a kind of religion for everyday life. 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. The religious and philosophical concept is based on the idea of ​​a human microcosm and the idea of ​​male and female energetic principles.

Tantra (from saknskr. - weaving, intricacy) - collections of the sacred text of admirers of the female incarnation of Trimurti - the wife of Shiva.

The philosophical school of Tantrism proclaims love as a creative principle of being. According to Tantrism, human anatomy reflects the anatomy of the cosmos. This school developed during 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, which originated in the VI century. BC e., offered a "middle way." This was a more successful attempt to overcome the varna-caste division in the system of Brahmanism (where the path to salvation was open only for the brahmanas - priests).

In India in the VI century. BC NS. cities are growing rapidly, people's lives are changing rapidly. Representatives of the lower caste - sudras, become financially secure and occupy higher positions, gaining more and more weight in the state. In this regard, the society is losing the traditional idea of ​​natural and true life according to the Vedas, since the values ​​of the lower varna become prevailing. Human qualities are depreciated, 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 outlived their usefulness, they did not fit into the urban life. But it was also obvious that the aspiration of uneducated and uncultured, but possessing and ambitious people to occupy higher positions, to become brahmanas is evil. To all this, the Buddha opposed his teaching about the true values ​​that 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 - the earliest in time of appearance world religion, which is now followed by about 700 million people. The flourishing of this religion in India fell on the 5th century. BC NS. - beginning of the present.

Religions of India - briefly about their origin and formation

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

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 once, 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 excursions, he saw people who were far from 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, achieves nirvana. He becomes Buddha. For more than 40 years of preaching his doctrine, he gained many disciples and followers.

Buddha condemned Brahmanism for its addiction to a rich and secure life, the predominance of external forms of religiosity; jainism - for cruel austerities; and spoke in favor of the "middle way." From the ancient Lendish tribal religions, he inherited the animistic idea of ​​the animate nature of all living things in nature and the idea of ​​the transmigration of the soul. The central principles in the Buddha's teachings are: "four noble truths", the theory of causality; impermanence of elements; "Middle way"; "Eightfold path".

How are these basic principles of Buddhism to be understood?

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, which presuppose 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 enlightenment - 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 actions and deeds in the world that would not have consequences.

The impermanence of the elements - there is nothing permanent in the world 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"- Buddha called for moderation, for avoiding extremes.

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) correct striving (achieving nirvana);

3) correct speech (avoid lying);

4) correct behavior;

5) correct lifestyle;

6) correct aspirations;

7) correct thoughts (freedom from self-interest);

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

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

Buddha, having achieved nirvana, preached his teachings 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 into his life. Not a struggle with others for a place in the sun, a struggle with another, with someone who is alien in oneself. According to the Buddha's teachings, people are equal by birth. But people are equal in the face of the fact of death. Equality is an innate property of people that 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 for 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 walked into the world, you cried bitterly, and everyone around you laughed with joy. Make life such that when you leave the world, you laugh happily, and everyone around you cries. "

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

In the Middle Ages, Buddhism became one of the world religions, becoming widespread, but mainly outside 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. Two of the most influential schools of Buddhism are distinguished here - Rinzai and Soto. There was a saying that reflected the specialization of schools: "Rinzai is for samurai, Soto is for commoners."

Hindi religion

The one 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 debates, 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. I in no way deny the huge role of religion as such at a certain stage of human development 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 totally against teaching any religion in a secular school, and I will try to explain why.

Unfortunately, I was not able to get acquainted with the textbook "Foundations of Orthodox Culture" or any other (after all, they will still teach Islam, Judaism, etc.), but I think this textbook would not change my position. Officials said that in the tasks of this training course and the textbooks by which it will be taught does not include "missionary activity", i.e. instilling in a fragile children's mind and heart (since fourth grade students will begin to teach, I am sure that their minds are fragile) faith in God. In the lessons on the "foundations of world religions" children will be taught kindness, mercy, responsibility, morality and, probably, others positive qualities with examples from the Bible, Koran, 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 instances of kindness, self-sacrifice, compassion, responsibility, and mercy? The entire Russian history is filled with such examples. In addition, I was struck by the opinion of the compiler of the textbook "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture", in the message of one of the news agencies. I will cite this paragraph in full: “The author of the textbook on the basics of Orthodox culture, the famous missionary Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev, in turn, believes that the task of the experiment on introducing the foundations of religious culture in school is to assimilate the basic values ​​of a particular religion by children, and not to expand the horizons of art and fostering tolerance, as officials want it. " 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 normally brought up. It was just by expanding the art criticism (and, I would add, culturological) outlook and the education of tolerance that it was possible to somehow justify the introduction of such lessons. Apparently, the author of the textbook considers these goals unimportant, and I doubt that in his textbook he went against his own beliefs. I am sure that the sole purpose of the experiment for the clergy is to increase the number of parishioners. This can be judged by the statement of Archbishop Mark of Berlin-German and Great Britain: “In these lessons, you can lead young people to church issues, even those young people who are far from the Church due to their home upbringing. The schoolchildren will simply refuse the subject "God's Law" or they will not be allowed there from the very beginning, their parents will not encourage it. Meanwhile, in the classroom for the course "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" there is an opportunity for a wider missionary activity. " The archbishop also claims that secular ethics (chosen by the majority of 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."

I was simply amazed at the last statement. Ethics is useless, and if you do not believe in God, you 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 introducing religious education in Russian schools (cited mainly by the spiritual leaders of Muslims) is that it is precisely the wrong, perverse interpretation of Islam that allows extremists to train terrorists, deliberately misleading them, and high-quality spiritual and religious education must solve this problem. The first thing that catches your eye in this logic is that in the republics North Caucasus religious education is widespread almost everywhere, and it is from there that the majority of Russian terrorists.

I would draw the opposite conclusion - a person who does not believe in God has no reason for religious enmity, intolerance or extremism. There was no religion in the Soviet Union and, as a result, there was no religious extremism. An educational experiment conducted in the country may lead to the formation of religious worldview at huge amount children, who will subsequently be guided by their spiritual leaders.

Now about the very concept of "experiment". An experiment involves the study of a 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 assessed. I would very much like to know how and when the “level” of kindness, morality or spirituality was measured in the 4th grade students?

On the basis of what data, in a couple of years, will a conclusion be drawn about the success or failure of the experiment and whether it is worth expanding it throughout the country? Is it possible for a child of 10-15 years old to draw a conclusion 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 made based on a survey of students and their parents. The researchers will find out if the children were interested in these lessons, and if they want to attend them further. The criterion is very controversial. Not everything that is interesting is useful and vice versa. The conclusion about the expediency of teaching this or that subject should be made on the basis of 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 evidence of the very existence of God is useless. For believers, this is not an argument. That's why I mentioned the 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 social sphere... It is the continuity of knowledge that has allowed humanity to reach such heights of development.

And the knowledge given in school (especially in primary school) lays the foundation for the rest of the perception of information. The school must teach what has already been proven absolutely precisely and beyond doubt. Religious leaders themselves admit that religion does not belong to the scientific sphere. Religion is something from the realm 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 must teach to know and understand. Religion has no place in school. It is impossible to simultaneously illuminate 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 many such contradictions that will arise when teaching religion at school. Not every child will be able to draw a conclusion about where is the religious myth, and where is the scientific truth (adults, then, not everyone could). Therefore, I hope that high-ranking officials will relieve children of the need to do it, and parents from the need to check whether their child has not been turned into a religious fanatic in an institution created for him. mental development... Hindi religion

Passions are the enemies of peace, but without them there would be no art or sciences in this world, and each would doze naked on a heap of his own dung.

India is a multi-confessional country. This is a treasure trove of not only traditional views on faith, but also exotic beliefs, funny beliefs. If we briefly present the religion of India in numbers, the picture is as follows:

• Hinduism - 80%;
• Islam - 13%;
• Christianity - 2%;
• Sikhism - 1.9%;
• Buddhism - 0.8.

There are also Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism. Traditionally, India is associated with Hinduism and Buddhism. However, statistics clearly show how differently the percentage of these religions looks.

Hinduism

To begin with, a little information: the inhabitants of India, regardless of their religious views, are Indians, not Hindus, as they are often mistakenly called. Hindus (Hindus) are adherents of the main religion in India - Hinduism. Hinduism includes terms that intrigue Western people - karma, reincarnation, samsara, dharma.

The religion is based on Vedism, which prevailed in ancient India. The scriptures of the Vedas have preserved the pantheon of gods, which became the basis different currents Hinduism, but religion has no common creed. This gives rise to many legends unusual stories, funny situations for Europeans.

Marijuana in India is allowed for religious rituals associated with one of the dominant gods - Shiva. It is believed that smoking the "herb of wisdom" immerses one in meditation, helps to enlighten the mind, contemplating the "highest truth."

Buddhism

The number of Buddhists in India breaks European stereotypes about the religious basis of Indians - Buddhism is less popular than Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism. However, it was in India, according to legend, that Buddha attained enlightenment. The memory of this is kept by the main shrine of Buddhism - Bodh Gaya - a picturesque place that has gathered on its territory many temples and pilgrims from all over the world.

Indian temples - keepers of the faith

Mysticism, exoticism and even barbarism accompany the host of Indian gods and goddesses. Temples and sacred relics are located in the north and south of the country. Group tours to India help you immerse yourself in incredible religious interweaving, touch the innermost Asian secrets.

Unique travels to places of particular importance in Hinduism are made from Goa. One of these excursions is to Murdeshwar, Gokarna. These are sacred places of power and pilgrimage, charging with energy.

Here are just some of what awaits pilgrims in Murdeshwar:

• the temple complex, headed by the Murdeshwar temple;
• a giant statue of Shiva - in the rays of the sun, golden paint appears to be shining and delight;
• a 500-year-old granite Shiva temple with two full-size elephant statues;
• the golden chariot on which the god Krishna sits;
• 18-storey tower-gorupa - a stunning view of the coast opens from its observation deck.

Gokarna (Karnataka State) is the border between Goa and the rest of India. According to legend, in this village of Brahmins, Shiva emerged from the sacred lake. An atmosphere of unity with the gods reigns here. Every ancient stone in narrow streets and in ancient temples is impregnated with spirituality. According to legend, Holy place clears the karma not only of Shiva's worshipers, but also of any person who has made a pilgrimage.

Visiting unique places of power, charging with light energy, is available as part of tour packages

Deeply religious. Faith determines the special everyday life of the citizens of the country, their way of life.

The religion of India, which is considered the main one in the country, is Hinduism. This direction occupies a dominant position in Asian countries in terms of the number of its followers. The origins of Hinduism are rooted in the distant past and do not have any founder, as well as a single text that constitutes its basis. The numerous gods of this faith have a number of incarnations and contain one of the features of the omnipresent one God.

The main Indian religion carries in its provisions the doctrine of the ability of the soul to various reincarnations. Faith proclaims the existence of karma. The teachings of Hinduism thus clarify the consequences of good and evil deeds, which find their manifestation not only in this life. Karma is present in all living beings. The purpose of reincarnation is, according to the principles of faith, salvation, as well as deliverance from the suffering reincarnations of the soul. It is called moksha. If a person in his life strictly follows virtue, then he is able to bring closer the moment of salvation of his soul.

India's leading religion is represented by multiple masterpieces of architectural and sculptural art. Each of them is built in honor of a specific deity.

India's population includes a large number of groups called "jati". In turn, the various castes are united into varnas, which are numerous estates. All life tasks of a person, from before acquiring a profession, are subject to certain special and strict rules. Marriages between representatives of different caste groups are still very rare today. Indians become brides and grooms already in their infancy. It is then that the future is determined by the parents. The leading religion of India contains a clause prohibiting divorce, as well as secondary marriages of widows. However, there are currently exceptions. After death, the bodies of the adherents of Hinduism are usually burned. For this, special funeral pyres are created.

Hinduism is widespread in India among eighty percent of the country's population. This is practically eight hundred and fifty million people.

The second most widespread religion in India is Islam. It was brought to the country by the Arabs in the seventh century, and its main distribution began in the eleventh century. Indian Muslims have a ban on polygamy.

Religions in India that have few adherents are Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judism, Jainism and some others. A small part of the population preaches Christianity. There are also Catholics in India.

One of the oldest world religions, Buddhism, originated before our era. The fifth century is considered the time of its origin, and the homeland is the Indian state. According to its provisions, liberation from suffering (enlightenment) is given to every living being, especially a person. This is possible due to the Buddha nature, which is endowed with every soul. In contrast to the Hindus, the representatives of this faith do not unite into castes. Any person who sincerely accepts it can become a follower of Buddhist teachings. Despite the origin of this faith in India, its spread in the country is small. It is mainly represented by Tibetan and sometimes Sri Lankan currents. The teachings of the Buddha were largely absorbed by Hinduism. He embodied him in the god Vishnu.

A follower of Sikhism on the streets of the country can be recognized by his bushy beard and bright turban. He is a representative of the faith that combined Islam and Hinduism. Sikhs worship gurus and Grant Sahib.

Other religions that exist in India have a small number of adherents preaching the positions of their faith. These teachings affirm the resistance to violence and the purity of the elements, which include earth, water, fire and air.