Hinduism

The origin of Hinduism can be traced all the way back to early civilization. The society was ruled by priest not by kings and they interceded with the Gods dictated customs and rituals and determined such issues and land tenure. Mother Goddess (Kali) Siva with three faces sitting in the posture of a yogi were worshipped. Certain animals also regarded as sacred. Humped bull, Shivas mount is example.

Aryan Invation

Consequent to the Aryan invation the Dravidians had to retreat towards the south of India, and the farmers virtually controlled the whole of north India. They brought with them their nature Gods, Fire, Ether, Water etc. they also brought with them their cattle-raising and meat-eating traditions. By the 8th century B.C. the priestly caste had succeeded in reasserting its supremacy and the nature Gods were absorbed. Instead, a universal soul (Bhahman) and an individual soul (atman) usurped.

During the period of transition (1500-1200 B.C.) the holy scripts of the Hindus, the Vedas were written. The brahmanical Hinduism posed a challenge by the birth of budhism and joining during 500 B.C.

Muslim Invation

With the raids of Muhammed Ghazni conducted on an annual basis from AD 1001 Muslim power made itself strongly felt on the subcontinent. The raids stopped in 1083 when Seljuk Turks Kook Ghazni. In the year 1192 Mohammed of Gori who captured Punjab moved his admires to India and took Ajmer. Within 20 years the Muslim had brought the whole of the Ganges basin under their control.

Sikhism, Christianity and Judaism are minority religious though prevalent in India. Among these Sikhism is a majority in Punjab while Christianity form around 25% of the total population in Kerala.

Religion and Rituals

Many of the rituals in India are related deeply to religion. “Sati” although banned by the British was one such ritual where an innocent young widow must utter herself to the funeral pyre of her husband.

This was because the hindus believed that no wife did enjoy a separate entity and she deserved no freedom through her life.

Places of worship

Varanasi (Kasi or Allahabad) viswanath temple on the bank of the ganges is an important Pilgrim Centre of the Hindus. Maha Kumbha Mela a confluence of 15 million Saints and devotees commingle here together to take bath in the holy ganges once in 12 years. Haridwar in U.P. is another sacred city of the borth. Ayodhya, the birth place of Rama is yet another in U.P. Badrinath and Kedarnath in the mighty Himalayas and Vaishnodevi in Jammu & Kashmir are other important temple in the north. Golden Temple at Amritsar in Punjab is a Sikh temple of great important. Puri Jagannath temple in Orissa, Dwarkanath in Gujarat, Mahalakshmi in Mumbai, Thirupathy in A.P., Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Guruvayur and Sabrimala temples in Kerala are famous centres of Pilgrim tour.

Bodhigaya in Bihar, Ajantha and Ellora in Maharashtra are the famous Buddhist pilgrim centres.

Juma Masjid in Delhi is a world famous mosque. There are mosques in umpteen numbers in India, equally eminent, like the one in Mahalakshmi beach in Mumbai.

Khajuraho, Jaisalmer, Sravanabalagola are abodes of some of the most famous Jain temples.

Malayattoor shrine ( founded by Apostle St. Thomas ) in Kerala is the first Christian pilgrim centre in India to be accorded international status by the Holy See. Bhrananganam is also an important centre as the birth place of Sister Alphonsa, declared saint.

Brahma Temple at Pushkar, Rajasthan

Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh, constructed between 50 B.C. to A.D. 50

Chaturmukhi murti at jain Temple, Rajasthan

Juma Masjid, Delhi

Golden Temple, Punjab

Malayatoor Church, Kerala