Indian religions
Overview
Indian religions, also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent. These religions, which include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by a vast majority of the population in India, Nepal, and the Indian diaspora worldwide.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest of the Indian religions and the third largest religion in the world. It is a complex and diverse religion with no single founder. Hinduism encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, but most Hindus believe in a supreme deity (Brahman) and the concepts of Dharma (duty, ethics), Karma (action and subsequent reaction), Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth), and Samsara (cycle of rebirth).
Beliefs and Practices
Hindu beliefs and practices are vast and varied, but most revolve around the concepts of Dharma, Karma, Moksha, and Samsara. Many Hindus also believe in the divinity of the Vedas and the Upanishads, the ancient scriptures of Hinduism.
Deities
Hinduism is a polytheistic religion with a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Some of the most widely worshipped deities include Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer).
Buddhism
Buddhism is a non-theistic religion or philosophy that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha. It originated in ancient India as a Sramana tradition sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, spreading through much of Asia.
Teachings
The primary teachings of Buddhism revolve around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.
Practices
Buddhist practices often include meditation, mindfulness, morality, wisdom, and generosity. Many Buddhists also observe Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada practitioners.
Jainism
Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion. The three main pillars of Jainism are Ahimsa (non-violence), Anekantavada (non-absolutism), and Aparigraha (non-attachment). Jains take five main vows: ahimsa, satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha.
Tirthankaras
In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the dharma. The word tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha, which is a passage across the sea of interminable births and deaths.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century. It is one of the youngest of the major world religions and the world's fifth-largest organized religion.
Beliefs and Practices
Sikhism emphasizes the equality of all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Sikhs believe in a single, formless God, with many names, who can be known through meditation. Sikhs also believe in the concepts of Karma and Reincarnation.