Major Religions of India: Founders, Sacred Texts, Philosophies & Shrines

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest living religious traditions, rooted in the Vedic civilization of the Indian subcontinent:

1. Sacred Scriptures:
• Shruti ('That which is heard'): Revealed eternal knowledge. Comprises the Four Vedas:
  1. Rigveda: Oldest scripture in the world (~1500–1200 BCE); contains 1,028 hymns (Suktas) across 10 Mandalas. The famous Gayatri Mantra is in the 3rd Mandala.
  2. Samaveda: 'Veda of Chants' and melody; foundation of Indian classical music.
  3. Yajurveda: Rituals, liturgical procedures, and sacrificial formulas.
  4. Atharvaveda: Daily charms, spells, healing remedies, and societal customs.
• Upanishads (Vedanta): Philosophical treatises ending the Vedas (traditionally 108). India's national motto, 'Satyameva Jayate' ('Truth Alone Triumphs'), is inscribed from the Mundaka Upanishad.
• Smriti ('That which is remembered'): Epics (Ramayana by Sage Valmiki; Mahabharata by Sage Ved Vyasa, containing the 700-verse Bhagavad Gita spoken by Lord Krishna in the Bhishma Parva) and 18 Mahapuranas.

2. Core Philosophical Tenets:
• Four Purusharthas (Goals of Human Life): Dharma (righteousness/moral duty), Artha (material prosperity/livelihood), Kama (pleasure/love), and Moksha (spiritual liberation from the cycle of rebirth).
• Karma & Samsara: The law of cause and effect governing rebirth (transmigration of the soul/Atman).
• Char Dham Pilgrimage: Established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century at four corners of India: Badrinath (North - Uttarakhand), Puri (East - Odisha), Dwarka (West - Gujarat), and Rameswaram (South - Tamil Nadu).

Buddhism was founded in ancient Northern India during the 6th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama Buddha / Shakyamuni), born as a prince of the Shakya clan:

1. The Four Great Events in Buddha's Life (Char Mahapratik):
• Janma (Birth): Born in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) around 563 BCE. Symbol: Lotus and Bull.
• Mahabhinishkramana (The Great Renunciation): Left his princely palace at age 29 on his horse Kanthaka in search of truth. Symbol: Horse.
• Nirvana / Sambodhi (Enlightenment): Attained supreme enlightenment at age 35 under the sacred Bodhi Tree (Peepal tree on the banks of Niranjana River) at Bodh Gaya (Bihar). Symbol: Bodhi Tree.
• Dharmachakra Pravartana (First Sermon): Preached his first sermon to five disciples at the Deer Park in Sarnath (near Varanasi, UP). Symbol: Dharmachakra (Wheel of Law).
• Mahaparinirvana (Passing Away): Attained final liberation at the age of 80 in Kushinagar (UP). Symbol: Stupa.

2. The Four Noble Truths (Chatvari Arya Satyani):
1. Dukkha: Life is full of suffering and sorrow.
2. Samudaya: The root cause of suffering is desire and craving (Trishna/Tanha).
3. Nirodha: Suffering can be ended by extinguishing desire.
4. Magga: The path to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path (Arya Ashtangika Marga: Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration).

3. Sacred Scriptures & Sects:
• Tripitaka ('Three Baskets'): Written in Pali language:
  - Vinaya Pitaka: Rules and monastic discipline for monks and nuns.
  - Sutta Pitaka: Sermons, dialogues, and teachings of the Buddha (includes the Dhammapada).
  - Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophical and psychological analysis of Buddhist doctrines.
• Major Branches: Hinayana / Theravada (strictly follows original teachings, Pali script), Mahayana (worships Buddha as a deity, Sanskrit texts, believes in Bodhisattvas), and Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism, widespread in Tibet, Ladakh, and Bhutan).

Jainism is an ancient Indian ascetic tradition believing in 24 Tirthankaras ('Ford-makers' who cross the torrent of rebirth):

• 1st Tirthankara: Rishabhanatha (Adinatha); symbol: Bull.
• 23rd Tirthankara: Parshvanatha (lived ~250 years before Mahavira); symbol: Serpent.
• 24th & Last Tirthankara: Vardhamana Mahavira (599–527 BCE). Born in Kundagrama near Vaishali (Bihar) into the Jnatrika Kshatriya clan. Renounced world at age 30, attained Kaivalya (infinite knowledge/omniscience) under a Sal tree on the banks of Rijupalika River at age 42. Attained Nirvana at Pavapuri (near Nalanda, Bihar) at age 72. Symbol: Lion.

Core Doctrines & Principles:
• The Five Great Vows (Pancha Mahavratas):
  1. Ahimsa: Non-violence towards all living beings (supreme moral rule: 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah').
  2. Satya: Truthfulness.
  3. Asteya: Non-stealing.
  4. Aparigraha: Non-attachment and non-possession of material goods.
  5. Brahmacharya: Celibacy and chastity (added by Mahavira; first 4 were taught by Parshvanatha).
• Triratna (The Three Jewels): Samyak Darshana (Right Faith), Samyak Jnana (Right Knowledge), and Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct).
• Sacred Texts: Agamas and Siddhantas, originally composed in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
• Major Sects: Digambara ('Sky-clad', monastic nudity, strictly renounces all clothing) and Svetambara ('White-clad', monks wear simple white cotton robes).
• Famous Pilgrimage Sites: Shravanabelagola (Hassan, Karnataka - houses the colossal 57-foot monolithic statue of Gommateshwara/Lord Bahubali, site of the Mahamastakabhisheka every 12 years) and Dilwara Temples (Mount Abu, Rajasthan - famed for intricate marble carvings).

Sikhism was founded in the 15th century CE in the Punjab region by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539), preaching monotheism ('Ek Onkar' - One Universal God), equality of all humans regardless of caste or gender, honest labor (Kirat Karo), contemplation of God's name (Nam Japna), and selfless community charity through community kitchens (Langar / Vand Chhako):


The Five Ks (Panj Kakar) of the Khalsa:
1. Kesh: Uncut hair covered by a turban, symbolizing holiness and acceptance of God's will.
2. Kangha: Small wooden comb tucked in the hair, symbolizing cleanliness and self-discipline.
3. Kara: Iron/steel bracelet worn on the wrist, reminding the wearer of righteous deeds and moral restraint.
4. Kachera: Specially tailored cotton breeches/underwear, symbolizing chastity and readiness in battle.
5. Kirpan: Curved ceremonial steel sword/dagger, worn to defend the weak, oppressed, and righteous.

• Islam: Founded in Arabia by Prophet Muhammad (570–632 CE). Sacred text is the Holy Quran. The five pillars of Islam are Shahada (declaration of faith), Salah (prayer 5 times daily), Zakat (charity to the needy), Sawm (fasting during the holy month of Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The earliest mosque in India is the Cheraman Juma Mosque in Methala, Kodungallur (Kerala), built in 629 CE.

• Christianity: Centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Sacred scripture is the Holy Bible (Old Testament and New Testament). Christianity reached India in 52 CE when St. Thomas the Apostle landed at the port of Muziris (Kodungallur, Kerala), establishing the St. Thomas Syrian Christian community decades before spreading across Europe.

• Zoroastrianism (Parsi Religion): Founded by Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) in ancient Persia (Iran). Sacred scripture is the Zend Avesta. Worship takes place in Fire Temples (Agyari) where a consecrated eternal fire burns. Core ethical motto: Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta ('Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds'). The Parsis sought refuge in Gujarat (Sanjan) in the 8th–10th century to escape persecution.

• Judaism: Monotheistic faith of the Jewish people founded by Prophet Moses and Patriarch Abraham. Sacred text is the Torah (Hebrew Bible). Place of worship is the Synagogue. Historic Jewish communities in India include the Cochin Jews (Kerala - Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry built in 1568) and Bene Israel of Maharashtra.