The adherents of Hinduism form the largest religious community in India, numbering over 900 million. See The Following Articles for More Information: Hinduism, Hindu, Vedic religion ...

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Religion in India, Religion in India - Hinduism, Religion in India - Buddhism, Religion in India - Jainism, Religion in India - Christianity, Religion in India - Islam, Religion in India - Ayyavazhi, Religion in India - Zoroastrianism, Religion in India - Sikhism, Religion in India - Judaism, Religion in India - Bahá'í Faith

Read more here: » Religion in India: Encyclopedia II - Religion in India - Hinduism

See also:

Religion in India, Religion in India - Hinduism, Religion in India - Buddhism, Religion in India - Jainism, Religion in India - Christianity, Religion in India - Islam, Religion in India - Ayyavazhi, Religion in India - Zoroastrianism, Religion in India - Sikhism, Religion in India - Judaism, Religion in India - Bahá'í Faith

Read more here: » Religion in India: Encyclopedia II - Religion in India - Judaism

Buddhism, known in ancient India as Buddha Dharma, originated in northern India in what is today the state of Bihar. It rapidly gained adherents during the Buddha's lifetime. Up to the 9th century, Indian followers numbered in the hundreds of millions. While the exact cause of the decline of Buddhism in India is disputed, it is known that the mingling of Hindu and Buddhist societies in India and the rise of Hindu Vedanta movements began to compete against Buddhism. Many believe that Hinduism's adaptation to Buddhism resulted in Buddhism's ra ...

See also:

Religion in India, Religion in India - Hinduism, Religion in India - Buddhism, Religion in India - Jainism, Religion in India - Christianity, Religion in India - Islam, Religion in India - Ayyavazhi, Religion in India - Zoroastrianism, Religion in India - Sikhism, Religion in India - Judaism, Religion in India - Bahá'í Faith

Read more here: » Religion in India: Encyclopedia II - Religion in India - Buddhism

India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with one of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion plays a central and definitive role in the life of the country and most of its people. The faith of more than 80% of the people is Hinduism, considered the world's oldest religious and philosophical system. Islam is practiced by around 13% of all Indians. Sikhism, Ayyavazhi, Buddhism and Jainism are Indian-born religious systems that are strong and influential not only in India but across the world. Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Bahá'í F ...

Including:

• Religion in India - Hinduism
• Religion in India - Buddhism
• Religion in India - Jainism
• Religion in India - Christianity
• Religion in India - Islam
• Religion in India - Ayyavazhi
• Religion in India - Zoroastrianism
• Religion in India - Sikhism
• Religion in India - Judaism
• Religion in India - Bahá'í Faith

Read more here: » Religion in India: Encyclopedia - Religion in India

India has probably the most enduring pilgrimage tradition in the world. The greater the challenge of the path, the stronger its allure.

There is no typical profile of a pilgrim in India - they come from as diverse a background as the country itself, whether from the upper, middle or poorer classes.

There is an interesting passage in Frank Elias's The Gorgeous East published in 1913: "One of the strangest sights in India is that of the ascetics who make pilgrimages from one part of the country to another.

(See also: Pilgrimage in India, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism is a philosophy and/or religion based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit; in Pali, Siddhattha Gotama), who lived between approximately 563 and 483 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, as well as the East Asian countries of China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Introduction to Buddhism

Hinduism is not a religion of mere theories. It is eminently practical. In no religion you will find such a variety of practical Yoga practised and such sublime unique philosophy expounded. That is the reason why India is the only glorious land of sages, Rishis, Yogins and saints.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Emphasis On Spiritual Practice

Introduction to Hinduism

Statistically, there are over 700 million Hindus, mainly in Bharat (India), and Nepal. Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. Since Hinduism has no founder, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu. He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Introduction to Hinduism

No religion preaches violence. If all religions advocate peace, why then do some who profess allegiance to their religion, commit violence to defend their peace-loving, peace-preaching faith? India is home to some of the oldest religious texts known to man. The Vedas and the Upanishads , for instance, do not preach a particular religion, nor do they spell out a list of dos and don’ts.

The Rig Veda says: “ Aano bhadrah kritavo yantu vishwatah ”, which means, let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere. These ancient texts did not have a single author, nor their philosophy a collective name. Because of its universality, this particular stream came to be known as Sanatan Dharma , or 'perennial duty’. Later it came to be called Hinduism. Unfortunately we now have its political version - Hindutva .

(See also: Peace on Earth, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Nothing captures the paradigmatic ambiguity of Hinduism - its liberating intellectual plurality and its equally restricting social construction - more than the life of the 14th century 'untouchable' saint-poet of western India, Chokhamela. The voice that speaks in his poetry is perhaps one of the first marginalised voices to be heard in the history of India.

Chokhamela belonged to a community of devotees called the varkaris whose traditions and forms of worship survive in a practice that is an almost unbroken continuum from the late 13th century.

(See also: Chokhamela, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Every festival in India is celebrated with a divine purpose so as to receive the grace of the Almighty. Science explores the law of gravitation while religion unfolds the law of grace. One can grow horizontally with the help of scientific knowledge. Horizontal growth involves more of everything that can provide comfort but not inner satisfaction. Religion invites us to grow vertically, exploring deeply love, devotion and contentment.

(See also: Navaratri, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus, a name given to the Universal Religion which hailed supreme in India. It is the oldest of all living religions. This is not founded by any prophet. Buddhism, Christianity and Mohammedanism owe their origin to the prophets. Their dates are fixed. But no such date can be fixed for Hinduism. Hinduism is not born of the teachings of particular prophets. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is free from religious fanaticism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Distinguishing Features Of Hinduism

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus, a name given to the Universal Religion which hailed supreme in India. It is the oldest of all living religions. This is not founded by any prophet. Buddhism, Christianity and Mohammedanism owe their origin to the prophets. Their dates are fixed. But no such date can be fixed for Hinduism. Hinduism is not born of the teachings of particular prophets. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is free from religious fanaticism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hindu Religion Ð All About Hinduism

Philosophy is the rational aspect of religion. It is an integral part of religion in India. It is a rational enquiry into the nature of Truth or Reality. It gives clear solutions for the profound, subtle problems of life. It shows the way to get rid of pain and death and attain immortality and eternal bliss.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Vedic Philosophy: Philosophy - Its Origin And Its Limitations

In India, whenever religion and philosophy were perceived to be in danger of getting distorted at the hands of a few, reformers emerged to steer the faith away from distortions. They were concerned with the protection of the essence of religion, which is devotion to God; they did their best to rid religion of unwanted fringe elements who tampered with its true nature and practice.

(See also: Hinduism Founders, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

In a meeting of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Lokamanya Tilak said: - A Hindu is he who believes that the Vedas contain self-evident and axiomatic truths. -

The Hindu Maha Sabha has given another definition: - A Hindu is one who believes in a religion which has originated in India. -

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Who Is A Hindu

Art of Listening: Samyak Shravan

Listening, shravan, is one of the easiest and most spontaneous methods of meditation. Mahavira extolled the virtues of shravan. He taught his disciples to be Shravakas and Shravikas - those who become adept in right listening. All India-born religions agree upon the benefits of shravan. From ancient sages like Ashtavakra and Gautama the Buddha to modern mystics like J Krishnamurti, all praise Samyak Shravan or the art of listening.

Read more here: » Samyak Shravan: Art of Listening - Samyak Shravan

In India, the day begins with worship. People pray, bow and meditate. Members of the Jain community all over India bathe, put on new clothes and walk barefoot to their local temple. They embark on their daily pilgrimage with no possessions and with high aspirations. Some of them carry a cloth mask which they wear when inside the temple. From the moment they walk into the temple, all worldly concerns are set aside to facilitate meditation. Their focus is on the Tirthankaras , the teachers who conquered their own vices to teach the world about compassion and salvation through example. The recitation of the Namokar Mahamantra encourages them to salute the achievements of all divine souls who attained salvation.

(See also: Jainism Worship, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Ayurveda and Yoga can be called sister sciences of 'self-healing and self-realisation'. Both evolved from a Vedic background in ancient India, based on the same philosophy, sharing many practices. Ayurveda, the 'yogic form of healing', is aimed at bringing us back into harmony with our true Self or Atman . The great Ayurvedic teacher Charaka defines Ayurveda as the harmony of body, prana , mind and soul. Patanjali defines yoga as controlling the mind in order to realise the Purusha .

(See also: Ayurveda, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

What makes a place sacred? A place where meditation is practised over many years automatically acquires certain powers. The place gets charged with the energy and vibrations from peaceful thoughts. Depending on the intensity of meditators, the sanctity and power of a particular place can thus remain charged, exuding powerful vibrations, for thousands of years.

The Parshvanath Hills is one such place. Twenty-two of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras attained nirvana on this hill, and these enlightened persons were separated by thousands of years.

(See also: Sacred places in India, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)