The Muslim invasion saw an end to the indigenous empires of India and, from then on, independent city-states or communities under the control of a city would be the standard model of government. The Islamic Sultanates rose in the region of modern-day Pakistan and spread northwest.
The disparate world views of the religions, which now contested each other for acceptance in the region and the diversity of languages spoken, made the unity and cultural advances, such as were seen in the time of the Guptas, difficult to reproduce. Consequently, the Islamic Mughal Empire easily conquered the region. India would then remain subject to various foreign influences and powers among them the Portuguese, the French, and the British until finally winning its independence in CE.
Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Module 2: Hinduism. Search for:. Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously. In , Hindus were incited to tear down the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, which they believe was deliberately and provocatively built over the site of Rama's birth.
Tensions have been exacerbated by attempts to covert Hindus to other religions and reactions by the continuing hindutva movement. However, the post-war Hindu movements imported into the west, and wide migration of Hindus, raised questions about the exact nature of Hindu identity.
From the s onwards, many Indians migrated to Britain and Northern America. Gurus travelled to the West to nurture the fledgling Hindu communities, sometimes starting missionary movements that attracted Western interest. In the late s, Transcendental Meditation achieved worldwide popularity, attracting the attention of celebrities such as the Beatles. Perhaps the most conspicuous was the Hare Krishna movement, whose male followers sported shaved heads and saffron robes.
Many such Western adherents, and casual practitioners of yoga also, were attracted to the non-sectarian spiritual aspects of Hinduism.
Many Hindu youth in the diaspora have similarly preferred these universal aspects of Hinduism, standing in tension with its more political and sectarian elements.
At the end of the millennium, the Hindu communities became well established abroad, excelling socially, economically and academically. They built many magnificent temples, such has the Swaminarayan Temple in London. Hindus in diaspora were particularly concerned about the perpetuation of their tradition and felt obliged to respond to Hindu youth, who sought a rational basis for practices previously passed down by family custom.
They are now particularly concerned about how to deal with contentious issues such as caste , intermarriage and the position of women. In many ways, Hindus in the West are turning back to their roots. Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled.
While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Introduction History of Hinduism India Hinduism's early history is the subject of much debate for a number of reasons. Secondly, Hinduism is not a single religion but embraces many traditions.
Hindu notions of time Hindus in general believe that time is cyclical, much like the four seasons, and eternal rather than linear and bounded. Main historical periods Although the early history of Hinduism is difficult to date with certainty, the following list presents a rough chronology. Religion in the Indus valley We know little of the religion, social structure or politics of this early civilisation and we do not know the language, but seals have been found with what looks like a script inscribed on them.
Male figure found at Mohenjo-Daro. Vedic Period The Vedic Period c. The Aryan migration thesis that the Indus Valley groups calling themselves 'Aryans' noble ones migrated into the sub-continent and became the dominant cultural force. Hinduism, on this view, derives from their religion recorded in the Veda along with elements of the indigenous traditions they encountered. The cultural transformation thesis that Aryan culture is a development of the Indus Valley culture.
On this view there were no Aryan migrations or invasion and the Indus valley culture was an Aryan or vedic culture. Vedic religion If we take 'Vedic Period' to refer to the period when the Vedas were composed, we can say that early vedic religion centred around the sacrifice and sharing the sacrificial meal with each other and with the many gods devas.
Dasavatara Temple, Deogarh, 6th century. Poet-saints and gurus During this time not only religious literature in Sanskrit developed but also in vernacular languages, particularly Tamil.
Madhva c. Ganesha is also deva god of intellect and wisdom and the patron of arts and sciences. Many believe the universe is recreated in karmic cycles. Many believe in Brahma as a Creator God. After Death: The laws of karma govern the rebirth of one's soul in Hinduism. Ultimately, one's soul becomes enlightened and liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth, entering ultimate bliss and becoming one with Brahman.
During one's cycle of death and rebirth, one's karma dictates which of the many heavens, hells, and lower life forms one may become. Is there Evil in the World, and Why? Hindus generally believe that individuals can do evil if they forget their divine natures. Some also believe in gods can do some evil.
In general, Hindus think that evil, sin, and death are illusions since all that exists is nature, the Ultimate Reality or God. Today, with about million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. A swastika symbol featured on a tile at Hindu temple on Diu Island, India. The symbol is one of good luck and good fortune. There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the om and the swastika.
The word swastika means "good fortune" or "being happy" in Sanskrit, and the symbol represents good luck. The om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters and represents three sounds a, u and m , which when combined are considered a sacred sound. The om symbol is often found at family shrines and in Hindu temples. The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around B. This collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations received by ancient saints and sages.
Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between B. But many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed. Around B. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were common in the Vedic Period. Hindus began to emphasize the worship of deities, especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.
The concept of dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly. Hinduism and Buddhism have many similarities. Buddhism, in fact, arose out of Hinduism, and both believe in reincarnation, karma and that a life of devotion and honor is a path to salvation and enlightenment.
But some key differences exist between the two religions: Buddhism rejects the caste system of Hinduism, and does away with the rituals, the priesthood and the gods that are integral to the Hindu faith.
The Medieval Period of Hinduism lasted from about to A. New texts emerged, and poet-saints recorded their spiritual sentiments during this time.
0コメント