 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. |
Religion Of India
