Religions In India : RAS Art And Culture

Hinduism

• Biggest religion in the country and has various sects within it.
• The word is originated from ‘Hindu’ which is a term about the people living in the area around Indus river.
• The principles of Hinduism are borrowed from philosophies of pre-vedic and vedic religions.
• Hinduism is closely related to four vedas- Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. 
• The religious sacrifices and offerings are said in these vedas and are primarily done in air.
• Later, the form of worship was changed to ‘puja’ and then temples were originated.
• With the assimilation of various ideas in holy books, Hinduism became a proper religion with some areas of worship and priests who act as mediators to God.
• Hindu traditions say that Kama, Artha and Moksha are the goals to achieve in one’s life.
• Other literature related to this religion are Upanishads and Aryankas.
• Stages of life as per Upanishads:
• Brahmachari (Celibacy)
• Grihasta (Householder)
• Vanaprastha (Hermit)
• Sanyasi (Ascetic)
• A person has to achieve for moksha after becoming ascetic. 
• Bhakti movement originated from this religion in North India.
• Saints of this movement translated Hindu holy books into various local languages to take Bhakti message to the people.
• Vaishnavite movement in South India in 13th century led to the emergence of ‘Alwar saints’ who are devotees of Vishnu.
• Similar group called ‘Shaivites’ emerged in south and the saints are called ‘Nayanars’.

Dark side of Hinduism: Sati, domination of brahmins, child marriage, caste discrimination. 

• Later, British ideals of equality made several thinkers to change these situations with some movements-Brahmo movement, Ramakrishna Mission and Arya Samaj movement.

The Brahmo Movement:

• Started by Raja Rammohan Roy to question some problems in Hinduism. 
• He started Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to solve these issues.
• He rejected worship of idols and stood against sati practice.
• He established two schools to promote education among masses.
• Devendranath Tagore took over this mission after the death of Raja Rammohan Roy in 1843. 
• Another member of this movement, Keshab chandra Sen advocated against polygamy, child marriage and caste system. 
• He was very radical which led to the division of Brahmo samaj into ‘Adi Brahmo Samaj’ and ‘Sadharan Brahmo Samaj’.

Ramakrishna Mission:

• Started by Swami Vivekananda or Narendranath Dutta in 1897 to change the philosophies of Hinduism.
• He preached that the purpose of man is to find God which is called ‘Neo-Hinduism’.

• Three fold philosophy: 
  • Spread vedantic spirituality
  • Harmonious existence of all religions in the world
  • Service to mankind as service to God

Arya Samaj 

• Founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati to revive Hinduism from within.
• He propounded the concept of ‘Go back to vedas’.
• The main policy was to work for the mankind and their welfare.
• Established many schools and opposed idolatry.
• Started ‘Suddhi movement’ to reconvert non-Hindus into Hinduism.

Split in Arya Samaj:

• Arya Samaj was splitted into two groups after the death of Dayanand Saraswati.
• ‘Gurukul’ (conservative ideas) which was led by Swami Shraddananda.
• ‘College’ (radical  ideas) which was led by Lala hansraj.
• The main reason for the split is ideological differences.
• Swami Shraddananda founded Gurukul at Haridwar.
• Lala Hansraj founded DAV college at Lahore.

Jainism

• The word ‘Jain’ is originated from ‘Jina’ which means conqueror. 
• The followers believe that they have ability to conquer their desires. 
• ‘Mahavira’ is not the founder of Jainism as thought by everyone because Jainism is not founded by one person.
• He was the last Tirthankar out of 24 ‘Tirthankars’. 
• As per Jains, Tirthankars show the way of truth in times of need. 
• Tirthankars teach the followers to get liberation or moksha. 
• They usually get moksha through penance and meditation. 

About Tirthankar:

• He was born to Queen Trishala and King Siddhartha in 6th century BCE and belongs to Ikshvaku Dynasty.
• Left his home at the age of 30 to live ascetic life.
• He found the truth of life on 10th day of Vaishaka in Pava near Patna.
• In his journey to find truth, he achieved ‘kaivalya/Kevalnyam’ or enlightenment and got the title ‘Mahavira’. 
• Some other titles given to him are ‘Jitendriya’ or ‘Jaina’ who conquers all the senses and ‘nigrantha’, who frees from all relations.

Mahavira’s teachings to Jains:

• 1. Right path or dharma
  2. Strict asceticism
  3. Moral cultivation
  4. Renunciation of the world
• Jains do not harm any living creature.
• Believe in three-jewel path: 
  1. Right knowledge (samyak jnana)
  2. Right belief (samyak darshana)
  3. Right conduct (samyak charita)
• Jains want to get themselves out from cycle of rebirth to attain salvation.
• Five principles of Jains:
  1. Satya (truthfulness)
  2. Ahimsa (Non-violence)
  3. Aparigraha (non-acquisition)
  4. Brahmacharya (chaste living)
  5. Asteya (not stealing)
• Eight auspicious symbols of Jainism are:
  1. Nandyavarta: Large swastika with nine endpoints.
  2. Swastika: peace of human beings.
  3. Darpana: mirror that reflects oneself.
  4. Bhadrasana: A throne that is sanctified by the feet of Jaina.
  5. Minayugala: A pair of fish that depicts the control over sexual urge. 
  6. Kalasha: A pot with water is considered auspicious.
  7. Shrivasta: A mark on Jain’s chest to signify pure soul.
  8. Vardhamanaka: A dish used as lamp that indicates increase in due, health and merit.
     • Jainism divided into two groups due to ideological differences- Svetambara and Digambara.

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