What is the religion in India? Religion of Ancient India (briefly)

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, most likely they will answer you that it is Buddhism.

Although this is not always the case. All world faiths are represented here - Buddhism, Christianity, Islam.

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

A Hindu is a follower of Hinduism.

Indian is a resident of the country India.

A Buddhist can be Indian, but he cannot be Hindu.

In addition, India hasSikhs and Jains, of whom few have heard. When it comes to churches and temples, India has a wide variety of them. And this, of course, was influenced by Portuguese colonization.

Take Kerala for example.

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

As for the religiosity of Indians, 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 an obligation imposed by tradition. In addition to Hinduism, there are other national religions, such as Jainism and Sikhism.

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

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

In general, in Indian languages ​​there is no word for religion in the usual sense, that is, as something that connects a person with God, and the concept of God is also not always present or coincides with ours.

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

Depending on the context dharma is usually translated as “rule, norm, religious duty, law, obligation, principles, truth” etc. Most often, dharma means a set of rules, primarily ritual, the strict observance of which is the main condition for preserving 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 cause-and-effect dependence. A person who does not observe dharma deserves, according to the law of karma, a worse rebirth, and one who accumulates dharma as a religious virtue ensures a better rebirth in the future.

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

This is how diverse India is...

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There are many beliefs in the world. , living in different countries and on different continents, they believe in higher power, capable of influencing fate and worship them. Religions can be global - spreading throughout the world, without knowing borders, as well as those that unite people of one nation or group of people living in the same geographical region. So, for example, religion is one of the oldest religions on the planet. What is Indian religion, what is the philosophy of Hinduism, the ultimate goal of spiritual practice - we will try to understand all these questions further.

What kind of religion is this

Hinduism is one of the religions that arose in the territory conventionally called the Indian subcontinent, behind which are hidden countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and some nearby areas. The number of Hindus around the world is very large, and some scholars call Hinduism the third largest religion in the world, after Christianity and Islam, since about 1 billion are adherents of this faith. In the second half of the 20th century, the basic ideas of Hinduism began to gain popularity and are now known in all corners of the world; many have probably heard of, and.
In the modern world, Hindus live not only in neighboring countries, but also in most Asian countries, and there are also many of them in Europe, Canada, etc. Short description religion can be like this: Hinduism is a complex religion, since its adherents believe in 330 gods, there are many schools of Hinduism that interpret certain concepts differently. However, there are basic provisions, sacred texts containing philosophical reflections, poems, stories, spells that unite all this wealth under one name. Hindus believe in the existence of the most important deity in the entire pantheon of deities - Brahma, who has no appearance and can take on 3 forms: Brahma the Creator, and.

He is present in the Universe in every part of its reality and in the soul, which Hindus call Atman, of every living being. is a divine being. The spiritual goal of every Hindu is to become one with Brahma. The process of achieving a goal involves a chain of rebirths of a person, each of which is the result of his karma, the actions that a person performs during each. When a person’s earthly life ends, his flesh dies, but not his soul. She continues her path to union with Brahma, being reborn in another and perfecting her karma.

Origins and history

Hinduism is considered to be one of the oldest religions existing in the world. Since ancient times, the peoples living near the Indus worshiped the mother deity and sacred trees, as evidenced by stone tablets found during excavations. It is known that in the 2nd millennium BC. e. Aryan conquerors arrived in these places, in which the leadership belonged. They worshiped gods who represented the powerful forces of nature. The priests of these tribes, called Brahmins, performed sacrifice ceremonies and composed ritual hymns, which later formed the basis of the Vedas. They revered gods such as Varuna, Indra,.
Over time, the need for sacrifices was questioned and the idea of ​​relocation emerged human souls, which was later confirmed by the law of karma. It was possible to stop the endless chain of rebirths by following the path, and not by making sacrifices, as was previously thought. By 500 BC. e. Hinduism became a religion that combined many principles of Buddhism and Jainism. Believers began to profess ideas and abandon alcoholic drinks, avoid violence. Buddha was added to the pantheon of Hindu gods.

The heyday of Hinduism is considered to be the period from the 6th to 5th centuries. BC e. - a period of intense philosophical quest, when there were at least 6 philosophical schools offering an effective way to achieve the cherished goal. Schisms and contradictions among Hindu schools and movements led to the development of folk Hinduism in the 7th–8th centuries. Now the veneration of many gods was recognized, of which the main ones were Shiva, Vishnu and. This can be confirmed literary work Ramayana, written in Hindi, talks about ancient Indian rulers and wars, how deities come down to earth, fight demons, help and treat people well.

In the process of conquering the lands of Indian peoples by Islamic warriors, Hinduism was gradually subjected to some violent, against the will of the people in the conquered territories, or everyday changes, in the process of assimilation of peoples, marriages, births. At the same time, part of Indian territory was colonized by the British, where Hinduism was influenced by Christianity. The cruel ritual of sati was not recognized here, when after the death of a husband his living wife had to be burned at the stake along with the body of the deceased, and weddings between children were also despised. Already in the VI–X centuries. In India, the bhakti movement actively developed, worshiping the god Vishnu and his incarnation in the mortal bodies of Krishna and Rama.

Types of Hinduism

There are many traditions and beliefs united common name"Hinduism". The recognized authority of the Vedas is fundamental, but there are also religious movements that have their own traditions and cult scriptures. So give precise definition Indian religion cannot be considered because it is a collection of beliefs and traditions.

Typology

It is customary to distinguish the following main types of Hinduism, among which the main ones are:

1. Folk beliefs. The oldest form of Hindu religion, where people worship deities and forms they are endowed with divine power. Each locality or tribe had its own idols.
2. Vedic Hinduism. Its basis is the sacred scripture “Veda”, its collection of religious hymns called “Rigveda”.
3. Vedantic Hinduism. Adherents of one of the philosophical schools of Hinduism, Vedanta, who recognize the religious and philosophical treatises “Upanishads” - part of the “Vedas”, which contain reflections on the nature of God.
4. Religious and philosophical school. It is presented in the basic text of this branch of Hinduism, which later influenced the adoption of many Indian rituals throughout the world.
5. Dharmic Hinduism. Does not belong entirely to any one school of philosophy, but contains certain moral principles that must be followed on a daily basis. Dharma is a set of norms and rules.
6. Bhakti Hinduism. It involves devotional worship and service to God, who may be present in various forms, living and non-living substances or objects. This type of religion, sometimes called Vaishnavism or Vaishnavism, is characterized by monotheism and the worship of the god Vishnu and his avatars, incarnations in a mortal being.

Directions

Since Hinduism does not have a clear religious concept and system of concepts, religion is a complex of traditions and beliefs, then, according to the research of scientists, we can say that the dominant directions are:

1. Vaishnavism. The most popular religion of the Hindus. Followers worship the one god Vishnu, his appearances in various forms and images and his incarnations in the earthly beings Krishna and Rama. This religious teaching includes such basic and most famous concepts of Hinduism as karma, the cycle of souls, samsara, and meditation. It has 4 theological traditions, sampradayas, each of which has its own founding teacher.
2. Worship of Shiva, personifying cosmic consciousness. It has about 6 philosophical schools, with regional and temporal differences in their ideology. Shaivism is based on meditation, love for all living beings and...
3. Smartism. The direction appeared as a result of the transformation of the Brahman tradition. The philosophical system is Advaita Vedanta, created by the Indian thinker Shankara. The worship of 5 gods is typical, but each believer can choose which divine being he wants to worship or which form of it.
4. Shaktism. Followers revere the Divine Mother Shakti, the consort or female creative force of Shiva, and her incarnations in such forms as Kali, Lakshmi, Durga, Saraswati. The direction is characterized by liberal views; believers consider themselves children of Shakti and try to follow her basic desire - to live in harmony and agreement with other people and the world around them.

What Hindus Believe: Basic Tenets

The main beliefs of Hindus, despite all the differences philosophical schools, traditions, and revered deities and their manifestations, one can name a number of concepts that have become distinctive for Hinduism among other religions of the world.

Reincarnation of souls (samsara)

Samsara is one of the central concepts in Hindu ideology. Conventionally, this can be called the wheel of rebirths, endless births and deaths of the earthly body and the movement of the soul towards moksha, deliverance from the results of actions in past life and her release. Samsara occurs in accordance with the law of karma, according to which all a person’s actions, good and bad, determine his future destiny and the soul’s achievement of moksha or nirvana. The reason for the soul being in the wheel of samsara is its ignorance and lack of awareness of the true, accepting itself as one with the material body. This identification keeps the soul in kama, sensual pleasures, and causes it to take on new bodies, being reborn again and again.

Law of retribution

Karma is the law of action and consequences. According to him, every act of a person entails certain consequences and determines his future fate, the suffering and suffering that he will encounter in his life. life path. The law of karma underlies the wheel of samsara and regulates the chain of rebirths. Following the law, every human act, good or bad, will have consequences in the future and forces a person to think about each of his actions and take responsibility for his own. This applies to past and future lives, since the soul only changes the material shell. And the main thesis of the law of karma is in tune with the proverb: “What goes around comes around.”

Exit from the chain of rebirths

Moksha is the liberation of the soul from suffering, material existence and exit from the circle of samsara, the chain of rebirths. This philosophical concept means an elevated, calm, concentrated state of a person, in which matter, karma and space are considered as a special force that hides the true nature of the world and reveals the diversity of its manifestations. The way to achieve moksha is self-awareness or “atama-jana”, awareness of one’s true self. inner world and unity with God, achieving pureness towards God and absolute freedom from material desires.

Did you know? Bathing in the sacred Ganges River in India is considered a sacred act that can wash away sins from the soul of a Hindu.

Varnas and castes

Indian society is traditionally divided into classes, or varnas. There are 4 of them in total:

1. The highest varna of Hindu society. The social group exists in all states of India and includes clergy, teachers, scientists and officials. Since ancient times, priests and monks were also included in it.
2. Kshatriyas. The second most important social group after the Brahmins, which includes influential warriors, nobles and rulers. In ancient times, kshatriyas became leaders of troops, influential statesmen, and landowners. Their duty was to protect brahmins, women, and sacred cows. Kshatriyas are characterized by such qualities as ambition, development, skillful use of weapons, strength and endurance.
3. Vaishya. Representatives of this varna are farmers, traders and livestock breeders. Now these are entrepreneurs, they try to avoid physical labor by engaging in trade and management.
4. Shudras. Representatives of this class are hired workers who do the dirtiest and hardest work.

Castes are the names given to social groups of Hindus. social order. The castes are characterized by:

• endogamy, the ability to enter into relationships only with members of the same social group, caste;
• hereditary assignment, belonging to one or another caste is inherited and cannot be changed;
• limited choice .

Dharma

This concept is usually used to designate a complex or set of rules and norms that must be adhered to in order to maintain cosmic order. According to Hindu philosophy, a person who lives by the rules of dharma can achieve nirvana or moksha.

Hindu deities

There are many Hindu deities, their avatars and deified forms that are worshiped by Hindus. Among others, the following can be highlighted.

This is a divine triad that unites in a single form the 3 most important deities of Hinduism: Brahma the Guardian, Vishnu the Creator, Shiva the Destroyer. Trimurti represents the spiritual principle of Brahman or the “soul of the world”, which is the basis of all things and phenomena.

Lokapala

Lokapalas are the ruler deities who guard the cardinal directions, who are the supports and protectors of the world. Each side of the world has its own god, and when worshiping him, a special mantra is read. Each deity has his own weapon and animal that serves him for transportation. In modern Hinduism, there are 8 localapalas, although previously there were 4. Their names sound like this, moving from the north along the compass needle: Kubera, Soma, Inda, Surya, Agni, Varuna, Vayu.

All India

All movements of Hinduism recognize and honor the following gods:

1. Ayyappa is the son of Shiva and Vishna, who took the form of a woman. Symbolizes unity and harmony. God Ayyappa is often depicted as a young man. precious stone on .
2. Ganesha is the god who symbolizes wisdom and prosperity in Hinduism. It looks like a creature with a human body and an elephant's head with one tusk, and can have from 2 to 32 arms.
3. Durga is a warrior goddess, wife of Shiva. Strives to create balance and harmony, happiness and peace. Has the appearance of a 10-armed figure riding a tiger or lion. Her fingers are intertwined in mudras, and in her hands she holds weapons for protecting the gods and attacking demons.
4. Kali is the mother goddess who is a symbol of destruction. She destroys ignorance and frees people who want to know God and takes care of world order. She is depicted as thin with long black, 4, 3 and blue skin. She may be naked or in the skin of an animal. In her hands is a sword, the head of a demon, and with others she drives away fear and blesses for the fulfillment of desires.
5. Lakshmi - goddess material well-being, abundance, success and good luck. She also represents beauty and grace. Being the wife of Vishnu, she is married to Rama and Krishna in her incarnations. The goddess can be depicted with 2, 4 or 8, she is dressed in gold or red clothes. Elephants are often painted next to her.

Also among the pan-Indian deities are Kama, Parvati, Skanda, and Hanuman.

Vedic

The most famous deities of Vedic mythology are:

• Indra is the main god and ruler of the heavenly kingdom, the god of war, the thunderer and the serpent fighter;
• - god and light, healer;
• Agni is the lord of fire and hearth;
• Vayu - deity and winds;
• Varuna - Lord God, guardian of justice;
• Aditi - goddess of motherhood;
• Saraswati is the goddess of wisdom, art, and...

These also include Mitra, Yama, Soma, Ushas, ​​Prithivi, Rudra.

Avatars, or incarnations of the god Vishnu, are described in detail in the sacred scripture “Puranas”. Their list is quite large and has been expanded over time. The Avatars whose mission was most significant in Hinduism and whose form Vishnu took were the following:

• Matsya is the incarnation of God in;
• Kurma - in the form of a turtle;
• Varaha - boar;
• Narasimha - man with the head of a lion;
• Vamana - the dwarf king of the Daivas of Bali;
• Parashurama is the son of the brahmana Jamadagni, who made the brahmanas supreme;
• Rama is the king of Ayodhya, the ideal ruler and husband;
• Krishna - in some sources is called the supreme form of God and is not considered an avatar;
• Gautama Buddha - appeared in the form of a man who decided to identify people who were vicious and not devoted to the faith, trying to dissuade them that the “Vedas” were sacred, and thus take away their power;
• Kalki is the upcoming avatar, whose appearance is predicted at the end of the Kali Yuga era.

Sacred texts

Since ancient times, literary writings that had the significance of shrines had poetic form and were passed on from mouth to mouth, since it was easier to remember their contents. The texts of the sacred scriptures were written in Sanskrit. As a rule, they are divided into 2 types: Shruti and Smriti.

Shruti

• The Rigveda is the oldest known Vedic scripture;
• "Samaveda";
• "Yajurveda";
• "Atharvaveda".

In turn, each book of scripture is divided into 4 parts:

• “Samhitas” are mantras with sacred content that form the basis of each “Veda”;
• "Aranyaki";
• "Upanishads".

This is a type of scripture that includes the Hindu epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata. According to scientific research, the Mahabharata contains the essence of all the Vedas, transmitted in the form of philosophical instructions by Krishna to the warrior Arjduna, who was a prince, before the start of an important battle. The Ramayana tells the story of Rama and the captivity of his wife Situ. The themes of human existence and dharma are presented in the form of an allegorical narrative with a philosophical meaning. Smriti also includes the Puranas and individual scriptures containing individual instructions to followers of Hinduism.

The main stages and goals of a person according to religion

Life path and spiritual development According to ancient tradition, people in Hinduism are divided into ashrams. Philosophical teaching says that the system of ashrams leads to the realization of a person’s life goals of purusharthas, at each stage of life, of which, like ashrams, there are 4. Important purusharthas are: artha, kama, dharma, moksha.

Ashrams

1. Brahmacharya is the very first stage of a person, which lasts from birth to 24 years. It is also called "the life of a disciple" because it involves a period of training under the supervision of a guru as a monk, practicing self-knowledge, abstinence, and living according to the principles of dharma.
2. Grihastha - period family life when a Hindu must start a family, give birth, take care of parents and engage in service to holy persons. It lasts from 25–49 years. During this period, a person must achieve goals such as artha and kama.
3. Vanaprastha is the period from 50-74 years when a person retires and prepares to move away from the material world. A person pays more attention to spiritual practices and visiting holy places.
4. Sannyasa - ashram aged from 75 to 100 years. The time when a person leaves worldly affairs and devotes his self-knowledge and spiritual practices, at this time he is preparing to depart to another world and liberate the soul from the material, achieving moksha.

Artha, kama, dharma, moksha

Purushartha, which he must achieve for his worldly following moral principles, in Hinduism were formulated by philosophers and received the following names:

1. Artha - to achieve wealth, gain prosperity and accumulate certain funds, gain knowledge and skills, occupy a high social position and gain power.
2. Kama is the goal of sensual gratification, passion, sexual desire and pleasure. It is below the worldly goal of material prosperity and economic development and is available not only to people, but also to animals craving physical pleasure.
3. Dharma is a set of measures and rules that determine moral principles, the fulfillment of religious obligations and the implementation of the laws of existence.
4. Moksha is the goal of liberating the soul from the wheel, a chain of rebirths on the path to liberation from suffering and limitations of the material world.

. By performing spiritual practices, following, doing good and kind with a pure soul and open mind, adhering to dharma, Hindus will be able to achieve all purusharthas.

Hello dear readers. Today we will talk about how the religions of India arose and were formed.

The main religious denominations in this country are Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Less than 1% of the country's indigenous population preaches Buddhism. We will also dwell in a little more detail on the question - In order to understand everything, let’s turn to historical facts.

Important Milestones

You can select following periods, which had a significant influence on the formation of cultural and religious movements in India:

• Proto-Indian. This is the religion of the civilization of the same name. The period lasted from the 3rd millennium BC. and until about 1700 BC...
• Vedic (early and late). According to historians, it lasted approximately from the beginning of the second millennium BC to the 6th century BC.
• Brahmanism. The beginning of the period dates back to the 6th century BC...
• . The teaching flourished in the period from the 6th century BC. until the 7th century of our time.
• Medieval India. A period characterized by the revival of Hinduism on the one hand, and on the other by wars and the colonization of territories that contributed to the emergence of Islam.
• Christian. This is due to the fact that from 1750 to 1947 India became a colony of Great Britain.

1947 - the time of declaration of independence of the former British colony and the formation of three independent states– Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. This event marked the onset of the heyday of Hinduism. It retains its position as a major religion to this day.

Proto-Indian period

Very little is known about this time in ancient India. According to archaeological data, natural economy and primitive relationships contributed to the fact that the basis of the proto-Indian religion was formed by such primitive concepts as the cult of fertility, female labor, snakes, buffaloes and sacred trees.

By the time the Aryans settled in India, at the end of the second millennium BC, decline and fragmentation of religious views had already been noted. However, according to many researchers, the philosophy and culture of proto-Indian civilization formed the basis of Vedism, which replaced it.

Now it is impossible to reliably indicate in which century the new ideological era began. Historians claim that this happened around the turn of the second millennium BC.

Vedic period

Having absorbed the views and spiritual beliefs of the ancients, a completely new era begins with the settlement of the Aryans. It is characterized by the formation of a harmonious religious-mythical system.

The Vedas date back to the end of the second and beginning of the first millennium BC. The sacred texts that appeared, revered by the Indo-Aryans, marked the beginning of the Vedic religious period in the history of India, and then formed the basis of Hinduism.

The fundamental canons of the doctrine were:

• division into classes and caste differences;
• worship of gods and powers personifying natural phenomena, deeds, various spheres of the Universe;
• combining deities into pairs (an example is the Earth God Prithvi and the Sky God Dyaus, the deity of the day Mithra and the night Varuna, etc.);
• division of deities into higher and lower;
• the appearance of creatures opposing themselves to the forces of good - demons;
• the practice of complex ritual blood sacrifices, which also had pronounced caste differences;
• the emergence of the institution of brahmins, whose obligations included performing the rituals described in the Vedas.

Over the course of many centuries, ethnic, cultural, and historical factors subjected the Vedic teachings to transformation, which gave rise to the eraBrahmanism. This is the next evolutionary stage of ancient Indian philosophical thinking. The Vedic worldview gave rise to Jainism and, in fact, Hinduism itself.

Brahma Time

The emergence and formation of Brahmanism in India dates back to approximately the 6th century BC. and the 8th century of our time. This period is the second most important after the Vedic period in the formation of subsequent religious views. The principles that originated at that time formed the basis of later Hinduism.

Important differences of Brahmanism are:

• the central place in the doctrine is given to the concepts of spirit, soul, “self,” which contradicts the canons of Vedic philosophy;
• the concept of “Brahman” takes on a completely different meaning - it is the Absolute, the highest spirit;
• a harmonious doctrine is formed about samsara - the cycle of births, through which the formation of the soul of any living creature on earth is carried out;
• the concept of karma appears as the actions that determine samsara;
• the main postulate is the statement that everything is subject to change, according to the laws of samsara, only the Supreme Spirit is unchanged, to which one should strive - brahman and atman;
• teaching contains the doctrine that highest aspiration for every believer - this is the achievement of a state of exiting the cycle of samsara (series of reincarnations), maximum approach to brahman and atman, which requires a certain way of life and strict restrictions;
• the theory of Brahmanism streamlined the basic concepts of cosmogony and theology, the primary meanings of the Creator, the Creative Force, as the cause that gave birth to the world and preserves it, were revised.

Brahman

Religious teachings of that time were not unified. Even within Brahmanism there were various currents.

The emergence of Buddhism

The founder of the faith, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent in the middle of the first millennium BC. The history of that time is the best proof of the assertion that for the emergence of new philosophical thinking there must be political and religious prerequisites:

1. Around the sixth century AD, there was a gradual weakening of the influence of Vedic teachings in this geographical region.
2. At the same time, there was an active process of building statehood and power, implying the elevated position of some classes over others, therefore the emergence of Buddhism appeared as the opposite and alternative to Brahmanism. It can safely be called an oppositional philosophical direction.
3. The created Buddhist teaching had an important political role, since it contributed to the creation and strengthening of an influential state at that time.
4. Buddhism was supported and strongly welcomed by the royal power of Ashoka. This certainly played a role important role in strengthening the position of faith in the Indian subcontinent. According to many modern researchers, the ruler of the Mauryan Empire had unlimited power and strength. It was he who contributed to Buddhism gaining positions at that time. It was a mutually beneficial symbiosis of power and creed.
5. The strength of the inner content of Buddhism as a worldview also played a significant role in strengthening its position and spread.

Image of King Ashoka

Difficult period for further development philosophical teaching and the time of decline is the 7th-13th centuries of our time, when it lost the support of the upper class.

Similar processes were caused by a series of Muslim conquests on the territory of the Indian subcontinent. At the same time, the advent of Islam contributed to a new wave of revival of Hindu religious movements.

Buddhism and Hinduism

From the first moments of the emergence of the Buddha's teachings, there were peculiarities of relationships , caused by contradictions between new views on the structure of the world and old religious foundations, formed over centuries and millennia.

The arrival of Islam in India marked the end of the era of Buddhism in the subcontinent.

Despite the fact that Hinduism is not a single religion, but consists of many movements, it is the historically based, traditional and established religion of the majority of indigenous people.

Spring Festival (Holi) in India

At the same time, we can safely say that cultural heritage ancient India had a huge influence on the formation of worldviews throughout the world. Without historical support at home, Buddhism has spread throughout the world and continues to attract new supporters of the philosophical teaching.

Conclusion

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India is Hinduism. The name of the religion comes from the name of the Indus River, on which the country is located. This name was introduced by the British. The Hindus themselves call their religion sanatana dharma, which can be translated as eternal order, eternal law. There are more than 700 million followers of Hinduism. They also live in other countries of South Asia, especially in Nepal. The formation of Hinduism took place over a long period of time and went through several stages of development. One of the first religious systems in India was Vedism.

Vedism

The formation of Hinduism has rich history. The first religions of India arose as a result of the synthesis of several ethnocultural components. In the IV-III millennium BC. On the territory of India, in the cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, a developed civilization had already developed. The discovery of this civilization occurred only in the 20th century, and there is still a lot of mystery in it. However, it can already be said that elements of the beliefs of the peoples who inhabited these cities were included in later religious systems. So, buffalo kulyp, which can be judged from surviving prints, also exists in modern India. The cults of some trees have also been preserved. Presumably, the nature of the ritual was orgastic in form with a strong element of eroticism, with exciting singing and dancing.

Veda

The main system-forming factor of the Indian religion was the religion of the ancients Aryans, which in the 2nd millennium BC. began to penetrate into Indian territory. The Aryans were fair-skinned and fair-haired people, and the local tribes Dravidians And proto-Dravidians had blue-black skin color. The ancient Aryans were pagans who deified and spiritualized animals, plants, and natural phenomena. The main religious action was the ritual of sacrifice, including human sacrifice. All complex religious practice was gradually reduced to canonical, sacred texts - Veda. There are four in total:

• Rig Veda- a collection of hymns to the gods;
• Yajurveda- a collection of sacrificial formulas;
• Herself-Veda- a collection of sacrificial chants;
• Atharvaveda- a collection of spells and spells.

Later the Vedas were supplemented brahmins containing explanations and interpretations of the Vedas, Aranyakami - instructions for hermits, Upanishads - reflections, teachings about the structure of the world, the essence of man and the meaning of ritual. Based on all these texts, one can get an idea of ​​Vedic.

Gods of Vedism

In the Vedas you can find mention of many gods. Most of the hymns are dedicated Indra - the god of thunder, rain, the young king of the gods. Indra plays a key role in the Vedic pantheon. He made the transition from chaos to order possible by defeating a huge snake Vritra, personifying the primordial chaos. In general, the pantheon of gods does not lend itself to unambiguous systematization. The origin of most gods is associated with the deification of the cosmos, nature and natural phenomena. God Dyaus - sky god, Prithivi- goddess of the earth, Agni- God of fire, Soma- god of the sacrificial drink, Miter- a god who monitors order and compliance with the contract. The Vedas contain myths about the creation of the world, relationships between gods, the influence of gods on people’s lives, etc.

Since the Aryans were a nomadic people, rituals (primarily sacrifices) were performed under open air at specially selected and prepared sites. Many rituals were associated with the king, his birth, and initiation into the kingdom. Was widespread ancestor cult, which were thought to exist eternally in some indefinite place, which means that the ancient Aryans did not yet have the idea of ​​​​the transmigration of souls. The rituals were performed by priests - brahmins.

As it developed, its structure became more complex, and the influence of local beliefs changed, the religion of Vedism also changed. Brahmanism becomes a new stage in development.

Brahmanism

Castes in Brahmanism

At the stage of development of Brahmanism, the idea of ​​the first man appears Purusha, which gives rise to all people and all living things on earth. The legend of Purushu anchors the emerging caste system in India. She talks about a certain cosmic entity that sacrifices itself, as a result of which the world and its parts arise. From different parts of Purushu's body came people belonging to different castes(from Portuguese - “pure”) - estates. These classes are isolated; they should not communicate with each other. From the mouth of Purushu arose the highest caste - brahmins(priests, experts on sacred texts), from the shoulders - kshatriyas(warriors and rulers), from the thighs - vaishyas(farmers, traders), from the feet - Shudras(servants, dependent people). There was also an even lower layer called untouchable. Members of the first three castes, considered the highest, upon reaching maturity, underwent a rite of passage and were called "twice-born" In relation to them, a doctrine is formed about the responsibilities of a person in different periods of life (varna-ashrama-dharma). IN childhood a person leads the life of a student, then must marry and become an exemplary householder; Having raised children, he must leave home and lead the life of a monk, hermit-sannyasin. In Brahmanism, the concept of Brahmana- the impersonal Absolute, the essence, basis and cause of the world, as well as Atman - individual, spiritual beginning in man, his innermost essence, identical with Brahman and striving to merge with him. Gradually the idea of ​​the circulation of existence arises - samsara, about rebirths - incarnations individual soul into ever new bodily shells, oh karma - the law determining the next birth, about mokshe - the ideal to which every soul should strive, which consists in getting rid of rebirths and incarnations.

However, in Brahmanism there was too strict a caste division, in which only representatives of the highest caste - the Brahmans - could deal with religious and mystical problems. In this regard, as well as as a result of the further development of society, religious movements appear that proclaim more democratic orders and are in opposition to official Brahmanism. These movements primarily included Jainism and Buddhism. But Buddhism was soon pushed out of India and became, and Jainism, due to its characteristics, never became widespread and remained a national religion, not very popular, but very influential.

Jainism

The founder of Jainism is considered to be a Kshatriya. Vardhamana, who lived in the 6th century. BC. Until the age of 30, he led the life of a layman, and then left the world and wandered for many years. Having achieved the highest knowledge and received the title Mahavira Jina, which translated means “ great hero“, he preached the new faith for many years, converting many disciples to it. For for long years his teachings were transmitted in oral tradition, but in the 4th or 3rd century. BC. At the All-Jain Council in the city of Patalipura, an attempt was made to create a written canon. This attempt ended with the Jains splitting into two groups: digambars(clothed with light) and Shvetambara(dressed in white). The differences between these schools affected some elements of ritual, the living conditions of believers and the community as a whole, but agreement remained on the main issues.

The core of the Jain creed is the self-improvement of the soul - jivas to achieve moksha. This can be achieved by a representative of any caste, not just a Brahman, if he follows certain conditions. The task of every Jain striving for liberation comes down to getting rid of karma as a sticky base, along with which all the coarse matter stuck to it, prone to a constant cycle of existence, disappears. To complete this task, the following conditions are required:

• faith into the truth of doctrine;
• perfect knowledge;
• righteous life.

Jain vows

In fulfilling the last condition, members of the Jain community took upon themselves five basic vows:

• do not harm living things(the so-called principle ahimsa, which all Hindus adhered to, but the Jains followed it especially strictly);
• do not commit adultery;
• not to acquire;
• be sincere and pious in speech.

To these obligatory ones were added additional vows and restrictions, leading to a reduction in the pleasures and enjoyments in life.

A special layer among the Jains were ascetic monks, who completely broke with normal life and, as it were, became a standard for all others. Any Jain could become a monk, but not everyone could withstand the hardships of this path. The monks had no property, they did not have the right to stay in one place for more than 3-4 weeks, except for the rainy season. The monk is careful not to accidentally crush any small animal; he is limited in food, eats no more than twice a day, and lives by alms; The extreme form of asceticism is refusal of food, death by starvation. The additional vows are quite sophisticated: absolute silence for many years; exposure to cold or sun; standing for many years. Among the Digambaras, zeal and asceticism reached extreme limits. They had to eat food every other day, walk completely naked (dressed in light); When moving, sweep the ground with a fan, cover your mouth with a piece of gauze so as not to accidentally swallow an insect, etc.

The extreme demands of Jainism limited the spread of this movement in India. Neither farmers, nor artisans or warriors could be Jains, since due to the nature of their activities they could not observe the principle of ahimsa. Only the intelligentsia and financial circles of society became devout Jains. This explains the fact that Jainism, the number of followers of which never exceeded 1% of the population of India, nevertheless played an important role in its history.

Hinduism

Gradually, the influence of religious movements opposed to Brahmanism became weaker and a religious situation began to form in India, which is most accurately expressed in the concept of “Hinduism.” Hinduism can be defined not only as the religion of the Hindus, but also as a way of life, including the entire sum of life principles and norms, social and ethical values, beliefs and ideas, rituals and cults, myths and legends, everyday life and holidays. Hinduism is tolerant of anyone appearing on Indian soil. He easily assimilates any faith, making its gods incarnations of the gods of Hinduism. However, Hinduism is still based on beliefs coming from Vedism and Brahmanism. Hinduism does not have a clear ecclesiastical organization like those found in the West; it relies on the caste system of society, which is sometimes called the cornerstone of Hinduism.

Gods in Hinduism

Gradually, an idea emerges in Hinduism Trimurti- Hindu triad of main gods - Brahma, Shiva And Vishnu. Each god performs its own function. Brahma is considered the creator of the world, Vishnu is its protector, and Shiva destroys the world at the end of each time cycle. The cult significance of Brahma is insignificant. There are only two temples dedicated to him in all of India. Vishnu and Shiva are extremely popular and form two powerful movements, called Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

At the core Vaishnavism lies the cult of the god Vishnu and those associated with him Krishna And Frames. Based on the analysis of Indian mythology, we can conclude that thanks to Vishnu, the synthesis of the created world, its structure and integrity is achieved. The four-armed Vishnu is usually depicted reclining on a thousand-headed dragon floating on the primeval waters of the universe. Sheshe. When Vishnu wakes up, a lotus grows from his navel, with Brahma sitting in the corolla. The mythology of Vishnu includes the idea of avatars - his periodic appearances in the world in the guise of an animal or a man. Each such appearance of Vishnu is associated with a specific function that he must perform to save people. Human incarnation first occurred in the form of Prince Rama, then Krishna, Buddha, etc. Vaishnavites also revere his wife Lakshmi. The cult of Lakshmi is associated with the cults of fertility and animals. Hindus themselves revere Lakshmi as the goddess of luck and prosperity and a loving consort.

From the 11th century The intensive development of Vaishnavism begins, which is largely due to the popularity of the images of Rama and Krishna - avatars of Vishnu.

Frame - hero of the ancient Indian epic "Ramayana". This epic took shape in completed, written form several centuries BC and became one of the foundations of Indian culture. The Ramayana is a favorite poem of Indians, telling about love and loyalty, honor and observance of customs. It is not surprising that its hero Rama was deified in the minds of the people as one of the incarnations of the god Vishnu.

Krishnaism- a branch of Hinduism, which, without breaking ties with it, acquired independent significance. Krishna - ancient deity. His name means "black" and indicates that he is an aboriginal deity in origin. The first mention of the god Krishna appears in " Mahabharata" - another famous epic poem of India. Especially great importance for understanding the teachings of Vaishnavism there is a chapter of the poem called "Bhagavad-gita", which means "divine song".

In the 60s of the XX century. in the USA thanks to the activities of an Indian preacher Swami Brahhupada society emerges " Krishna Consciousness", which quickly gained great popularity. Soon branches of this society appeared in Europe, and then in Russia. Currently, the society is active in many cities of Russia, including Novorossiysk. Thus, one of the directions of the national religion of Hinduism is spreading throughout the world.

Shaivism

Shaivism is based on the cult of Shiva, widespread mainly in South and East India. The cult of Shiva contains elements dating back to pre-Aryan antiquity (power over animals, worship of the linga, practice of yoga). The Vedic prototype of Shiva is Rudra, the god of thunder and thunderstorms. This god brought terror and corruption to people. One of Rudra's epithets was Shiva (Benevolent), used for the purpose of appeasement. Rudra was understood by the ancient Aryans as the embodiment wildlife, its spontaneous destructive force; at the same time, it was a force that one could rely on and resort to for protection.

Shaivism as a cult system developed, in all likelihood, in the 1st-1st centuries. BC. At the same time, sculptural images of Shiva appear, the formation of his iconographic appearance is completed: flowing hair with a crescent in which the Ganges River flows, a tiger skin on the hips, snakes and a necklace of skulls on the neck, the third forehead eye, the fire of which incinerated the god of love Kamu. The number of hands can be up to ten. The image and mythology of Shiva is formed in its main features in the Mahabharata. In general, this image is multifaceted and contradictory. One of the most important attributes of Shiva is lingam, which became the main object of worship in Shaivism. In temples, the number of stone lingams sometimes reaches several hundred. Combination of lingam and yoni(male and feminine) - also a typical composition in Shaivite sanctuaries.

Shiva is an exemplary family man. His wife Parvati- daughter of the king of the Himalayas, sons - Ganesha with an elephant's head and Skanda- leader of the army of the gods. In the development of Shaivism, Shiva’s wife personifies the female hypostasis of the energy of God - shakti, on the basis of which a special cult arose - Shaktism. Numerous fertility goddesses have also become the embodiment of this energy, the most popular of which are Durga And Kali. Shakti is a spiritual energy that manifests itself under special circumstances and is closely intertwined with the male life-giving force of Shiva.

Play a big role in the life of Indians brahmins or priests. Their authority is unquestioned. They are engaged in worship, taking care of the temple, and doing theoretical work. However, along with the Brahmins, there are also sorcerers, especially in rural areas. Widespread pronunciation mantra(prayers) to which supernatural power is attributed.

Numerous holidays and rituals in which a huge number of people take part give Hinduism a special uniqueness. These can be mass pilgrimages to holy places or grandiose ritual-dramatic actions associated with popular ancient Indian heroes, a festival of lamps lit in honor of the goddess Lakshmi, holidays in honor of the goddess Saraswati and many others.

There are many family holidays and rituals: a wedding, the birth of a son, presenting a cord to a young man for the “twice-born,” a funeral. In India, there are sacred places where the dead are burned and the charred remains are drowned in the river. For ten days the family wears mourning - a piece of white cloth or white clothes. For a long time in India the custom was practiced sati, according to which the widow must ascend to her husband’s funeral pyre in order to also be burned. If she did not do this, it was considered a disgrace not only for her, but also for the entire family. There has been a struggle against this custom in India for many years. It still plays a big role here caste system, which determines the life and destiny of a person.

Religion in India goes back thousands of years. Initially, the main religion on the Hindustan Peninsula was Vedism. At this time, the Indo-Aryan race lived here, they professed a special religious practice described in ancient texts called the Vedas. Later, the sacred texts of the Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Rigveda were compiled. There is no exact time frame for what period the formation took place religions of ancient India. Modern scientists suggest that this took a period of one thousand to two thousand years. These dates are very arbitrary, since it is not possible to rely on any reliable facts during the period of three thousand years BC. Much later. After the exodus of the Aryans from the Hindustan Peninsula. Buddhism came to these territories and settled here for a long time.

Having brought a lot to the new religion Hinduism, which replaced Buddhism. This ancient religion of India has clung to the local population for many centuries and is still practiced by most of the population. Despite all kinds of persecution during the periods of occupation of these territories by various invaders. Carrying with them their beliefs. Hinduism has adapted and adapted Islam and Christianity. At this time in India there are many different religions and beliefs, but the main faith is Hinduism. Almost eighty percent of the population professes it. The second largest faith is Islam, with just over ten percent of believers. Then comes Christianity up to three percent. Sikhism up to two percent, Buddhism in India to one, Jainism to half a percent. Then there are many other religions, but their influence on the population is not great. Since ancient times, people who lived in the territory of modern India. Many different deities were worshiped and many of them retain their influence on human minds to this day. The good news is that these contradictions do not turn into bloody wars for faith in India.

Gods and goddesses of India

Pantheon gods of india very big. Moreover, some of the deities can appear in different forms. It can be quite difficult for an uninitiated person to understand all these intricacies of divine genealogies and reincarnations. Vishnu is the main deity; his title, translated from Sanskrit, characterizes him as having all the virtues. Most often in pictures he is depicted as a man with four arms and blue skin. He is able to be in three hypostases; in each of them, his body acquires some new property, allowing him to perform actions inherent in the gods. When Vishnu lies down to rest, a lotus flower appears from his navel. Brahma comes out of it. Brahma is the same deity as Vishnu. He is considered to be self-born at the very beginning of the creation of the universe. It is he who is credited with the creation of man and the creation of the first sages, to whom the first divine knowledge was transmitted. He can also be in three forms and has four arms, but his skin color is already human and is usually depicted as a gray-haired old man. In addition to four arms, he has four heads and four faces. Perhaps this is the only deity in the pantheon. Which is not depicted with any weapon in his hands. Most often he holds books.

You should definitely travel around India, visiting unique natural places, many of which have retained their original appearance, more details:.

Shiva, another deity of the Indian pantheon, also has three hypostases; he can simultaneously be both a creator and a destroyer. Most often it is depicted as a four-armed man with dazzling white skin. He holds a destructive weapon in his hands.

Lakshmi is the goddess of luck and prosperity, wife of Vishnu. Her usual image is of a magnificent woman with charming forms. Seated on a lotus flower. Sarasati, wife of the god Brahma, is the patroness of the arts.

Goddess of India Porvati, wife of Shiva. During his battles, she helps her husband in the form of a terrible demon devouring her husband's enemies. The divine pantheon of Hinduism is very large; to understand all these reincarnations, you need to be very well versed in religious dogmas. Ordinary Indians worship the chosen god, without particularly going into the possibilities of his reincarnation.

Throughout India there are very a large number of temples dedicated to different gods. But sometimes it may turn out that they are dedicated to the same deity. Only in a different form. Various gods, after creating the earth and humanity on it, gladly descended to people and, taking on human form, made love with the children of men. These events are reflected in many epic tales of ancient India.

IN different states worship different gods. There are even temples. Where various sacred animals are worshiped. There may be crocodiles, rats, monkeys and peacocks. Muslims living in India. They profess an orthodox religion. Only here she underwent some changes due to the peculiarities of local life and became more tolerant of other beliefs. More secular. The state, where the majority of Muslims live, has many mosques and fully tolerates other faiths on its territory.

Christianity has also adapted to the characteristics of the population living here. IN Christian churches there is the same caste system as in modern Indian society. A thousand-year fusion of different cultures has given rise to a unique society where everyone religions of india do not compete with each other, but serve common goals states and, despite the apparent differences in dogmas, get along well together. Apparently the thousand-year history of this people makes itself felt, professing patience and righteous work for rebirth in a new body with best qualities souls.

Yoga and Ayurveda

These concepts are not religious, rather philosophical preaching careful attitude to your body and through improving the body, access to a higher spiritual level. Thanks to this, one can better understand the true purpose of man and his approach to the essence of the gods. Perhaps these philosophical concepts best provide an opportunity to understand how so many different beliefs, sometimes contradictory, can exist together. Without conflicting with each other. Thanks to the fact that practicing yoga, many residents of the country strive to improve the spirit of soul and body. They become more tolerant of other people's misunderstandings. They just go on their way. Not paying attention to various little things.

Religions of India, video: