| Religion of India |
Hindu :
The word Hindu originally meant people living on the banks of
the river Sindhu. Now it has religious-cum-philosophical
connotations. The roots of Hindu Philosophy are the ideas of the
Vedas. The Vedas are called Shruti or `that which is heard' and
are regarded as revelations to sages passed down orally to
disciples and students. Such ideas led to the Samkhya system of
philosophy, which is astik (Theist), rational and systematic in
its approach. The sage Kapila of 7th century BC is considered to
be its founder.
Christianity :
Christianity is not native to the Indian soil, although there
have been Christian communities in Kerala almost since the
founding of the religion by Jesus Christ. Born in Bethlehem, to
Mary and Joseph (who was a carpenter), Jesus spread love and
mercy to all. In the environment of the Roman Empire, his
message acquired a unique force of its own, the powers-that-be
had him crucified after he had been betrayed to them by one of
his own disciples. But he rose from his tomb and this
Resurrection gave new strength to his other followers, who went
on spreading his message.
Sikhism :
Sikh philosophy is a young, indigenous, monotheistic one. Guru
Nanak (1469-1539) who was trying to unite Hinduism and Islam,
founded the Sikh religious order. The word `Sikh' derives from
the Sanskrit word shishya or disciple. Sikh philosophy is a set
of ideas developed by ten gurus or teachers and passed on to
their shishyas or disciples. It conceives of God as nirakara or
formless and also as one. It admits of no idols or
superstitions, whether Hindu or Islamic. It recognizes all human
beings to be equal. However it retains certain Hindu ideas, such
as those of the immortality of the soul, of transmigration and
karma. The sacred book of the Sikhs is the Adi Granth or Granth
Sahib (completed in 1604), of which the Japji section was
written by Guru Nanak himself.
Islam :
Islam had its genesis outside India, in what is now Saudi
Arabia. Followers of this faith are called Muslims. Islam was
basically propounded by prophet Mohammad (born around 570A.D. in
Mecca), although the belief is that it was brought to the world
by Adam and different messengers were sent by God to preach this
lesson and Mohammad was the one who came last. In other words,
Mohammad gave the final form to an already existing religion.
Muslims are also referred to as Mohammedans. |
