IEO Level 2- English Olympiad (SOF) Class 9 Coaching Programs

⏳ 🎯 Online Tests (2 Tests [50 Questions Each]): NTA Pattern, Analytics & Explanations

Click Here to View & Get Complete Material

Rs. 200.00

3 Year Validity (Multiple Devices)

🎓 Study Material (303 Notes): 2024-2025 Syllabus

Click Here to View & Get Complete Material

Rs. 450.00

3 Year Validity (Multiple Devices)

🎯 250 MCQs (& PYQs) with Full Explanations (2024-2025 Exam)

Click Here to View & Get Complete Material

Rs. 200.00

3 Year Validity (Multiple Devices)

Sociology: Major Religious Groups in India: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism

Major Religious Groups

Hinduism

83% of Indian population constitutes Hindus. They are also found in the countries of Asia, Africa, UK, Caribbean islands and Fiji. This is one of the oldest religions in the world and was popular among the people of Indus valley civilization around 3000 BC. The religion is characterised by so much of diversities within. There is no single holy book which contains all its doctrines, no historical founder and no common beliefs or practices which are applicable for every Hindus. There are innumerable gods whom Hindus worship. The religion is both polytheistic and monotheistic in a time with contradictory beliefs. Many scholars define Hinduism as a way of life. This religion has philosophical and ideological backgrounds from texts like Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Tantras, Darsanas, etc. Hinduism is characterised by the existence of innumerable jatis within it. Each practicing different religious rituals. The three-basic concept of Hinduism are.

  • Dharma: the word dharma means duty and each individual is advised to live according to the duties laid upon him.
  • Karma: the net balance of one՚s good and bad deeds in the previous birth is known as karma. This determines whether one՚s birth cycle is completed or not.
  • Moksha: Moksha means salvation, which is the aim of every Hindu.
  • Hinduism through all these years had undergone many reforms such as abolition of evil practices like sati, female infanticide and foeticide, human sacrifice etc. Some of the great reformers of Hinduism are Raja Ram Mohan Rai and Swami Dayananda Saraswathi.

Zoroastrianism

  • The religion originated around 1000 BC and flourished under the first Iranian Emperor. It has roots on Eastern Iranian tribal, pastoral society. Zoroastrianism got its name from the founder Zarathustra or Zoroaster who born as a prince to the king Pourushaspa. The story about his birth is that he was born after when the mother earth requested the almighty to rescue her from the evil powers. Another name for the religion is Mazdaism. Mazda or Ahura Mazda means wise god who is regarded as the creator of the whole universe. They say, “Everything emanates from Ahura Mazda and merges back to him at the end.” Their holy texts are called Gatas. Fire is an outward symbol of them. They consider fire as the purest creation of god and hence they don՚t burn the dead bodies. They build large dakhamas or concrete platforms with open tops known as tower of silence and lay the dead bodies in it so that birds could eat away.
  • The followers of this religion are called Parsi and they reached India in the 8th century AD and are the main agents of modernisation in India.

Buddhism

Buddhism acquired a dominant position in India during the time of Emperor Asoka who propagated the religion throughout the nation and even to the outer parts of the country. By 12th century AD Buddhism was likely to get eliminated from India, but still there are some sections of society who practice this religion. Monasteries were the strongholds of Buddhism. They were destroyed during the Muslim invasion. This was one of the reasons stated for the decline of Buddhism. Another was that they adopted some practices and concepts of Hinduism and another one was owed to the peaceful nature which made other religions to suppress the religion. Further, the Buddhist monks were more focused on their own salvation rather than converting people to their faith. The monasteries were run exclusively on royal patronage and hence with the collapse of the supporting emperors, monasteries became weaker. Today the Himalayan Buddhism of direct Indian ancestry is seen only in Nepal that too fused with Hinduism. Their chief priest is called Vajracharya. Buddhism of Tibetan origin survives with Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. A Sinhalese monk Anagarika Dharmapada founded Mahabodhi society in 1891 for the revival of Buddhism. Conversion on Buddhism on a large scale took place after Dr. B. R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism on 14th October 1956 at Nagpur, Maharashtra. And these Buddhists are known as Neo- Buddhists.

Jainism

Jains are mostly found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka. The founder of this religion is Vardhamana Mahavir. Non-harming and nonviolence are the two principles of Jainism which are adopted by Hinduism and Buddhism. They have a large scriptural literature. The basic idea of Jainism is that the action of a man is important for his attainment of salvation. Jainism is based on three principles known as three jewels: right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Jains are the members of four-fold organisations composed of monks and nuns, layman and laywoman. The monks and nuns observe stricter discipline. Jains must abstain from injuring life, making false speech, taking what is not given, leading an impure life, and taking food and drink at night. Jains does not have root vegetables or those that have multiple seeds. Jains are of two sections Swetambaras and Digambaras, while they are divided into not less than 60 castes.

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic faith. It is a historical religion which originated from Judaism. The belief of Christians is that God spoke directly, and Christ Jesus is the chosen one of god. It is with Jesus that the history of Christianity takes a start. One of the central beliefs of Christianity is that three things are everlasting; faith, hope and love and the greatest of all is love for everything that exists in the universe. Christianity is of greater antiquity in India than in any other country except Palestine. Christianity came to India with the Christian travellers settling in Kerala for trade reasons. They converted the local people and established permanent groups of Christians there. From 4th century AD churches existed in India. The second outbreak of Christianity to India happened in 16th century when Europeans gained power over Indian Territory. Both Syrian and roman Catholics spread all over India. Christian missionaries were against caste system and hence most of the people who got converted to Christians were of lower caste. The religion became popular among tribes of India, especially over the north eastern part of the country. They provide English education to its followers thus making them literally advanced.