Religion in South Asia

Hinduism Religions of South Asia Facts on Hinduism

Number of Believers: -900 Million

Foundation of Religion: -No Single Founder -Founded in India as early as 1500 B.C.

Sacred Texts: -Include the Vedas (oldest), Puranas, and Ramayana.

Major Populations: -India: 80% of Population -Nepal: 86% of Population -Bhutan: 25% of

Hinduism is the major religion of India. It has about 900 million followers. Although most Hindus live in India, Hindu literature and philosophy have influenced people throughout the world. Hinduism represents a diverse group of beliefs, practices, and texts that have developed over thousands of years. Many Hindus claim that their religion has been practiced for longer than any other religion in the world. No single authority exists in Hinduism, and the diversity within this religion has led some scholars to prefer the plural term Hinduisms. Like most religions, Hinduism has a variety of beliefs about deities (gods and goddesses), life after death, and personal conduct. Hinduism has no single book that is the source of its doctrines, but it has many sacred writings that have contributed to its beliefs and practices. The most important include the Vedas, the Puranas, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. The Vedas are the oldest Hindu scriptures and include sections that are older than the sacred writings of any other major religion. Early Hindus worshiped gods that represented powers in nature, such as rain and the sun. Some Hindus came to believe that, though deities appear in many separate forms, these forms are part of one universal spirit called Brahman. Individual Hindus often focus on just a few of the many deities as their ishta devata—that is, their personal deities. According to common Hindu doctrine, animals as well as human beings have souls. Some Hindus worship gods in the form of animals, including monkeys and snakes. Cows are especially revered because of the gifts, such as milk, that they provide for people. Caste is a system of social classes that reflects a general division of labor. Complicated rules traditionally govern contact between castes. For example, marriages between people of different castes are rare, and the upper castes are not supposed to eat with lower ones. According to several Hindu texts, the Hindu castes are grouped into four main categories, called varnas. In order of rank, these hereditary groups are (1) Brahmans, the priests and scholars; (2) Kshatriyas, the rulers and warriors; (3) Vaisyas, the merchants and professionals; and (4) Shudras, the laborers and servants.

Hinduism Religions of South Asia In practice, the caste system includes thousands of jatis (subcastes). Each jati has its own rules of conduct that usually include a traditional occupation. The ranks of jatis in relation to one another sometimes are disputed. to caste, and eating with people of other castes is common. Caste distinctions remain strongest in the choice of marriage partners. A group of jatis, known collectively as untouchables or outcastes, has traditionally existed outside the four varnas and ranked below the lowest Shudra caste. By custom, the untouchables have held such occupations as cleaning toilets, disposing of garbage, and tanning animal hides, which Hindu law forbids for a member of any of the four varnas. The Indian Constitution of 1950 outlawed untouchability and gave the group full citizenship. Discrimination against untouchables still exists. But a portion of government jobs and university admissions now are reserved for untouchables, helping some of them succeed outside their traditional occupations. For centuries, various Hindu and non-Hindu groups have criticized the prejudices and the practices of discrimination in the caste system. The system has weakened, particularly in urban areas. Occupation seldom is tied to caste, and eating with people of other castes is common. Caste distinctions remain strongest in the choice of marriage partners. Reincarnation and karma. Hinduism teaches that the soul never dies. When the body dies, the soul is reborn. This continuous process of rebirth is called reincarnation. The law of karma states that every action influences how the soul will be born in the next reincarnation. If a person lives a good life, the soul will be born into a higher state, perhaps into the body of a Brahman. If a person leads an evil life, the soul will be born into a lower state, perhaps as a worm. A person’s reincarnation continues until he or she achieves spiritual perfection. Hindu worship Typically, Hindus worship as individuals or families, not as large communities. Many observances of Hinduism take place at home. Most homes have a shrine devoted to a deity or deities chosen by the family. Individuals and families also visit temples to worship deities. Most Hindu temples have many shrines. Each temple recognizes one deity as central. Monotheism or Polytheism Difficulty lies in determining whether Hinduism is a polytheistic or monotheistic religion. Supporting a view of Hinduism as a polytheistic religion is the great number of Hindu gods. Devotion to these various deities is based primarily on one's region and needs, and even when devotion is given to only one, the existence of others is acknowledged. Despite these polytheistic elements, however, many Hindus explain that the gods are various forms of a single Supreme Being. Numerous holy texts explain that there exists a single Supreme Reality, called Brahman.

Sikhism Religions of South Asia Facts on Sikhism

Number of Believers: -23 Million

Foundation of Religion: -Around 1500 A.D. in India

Sacred Text: -Guru Granth Sahib

Major Populations: -India: 21 Million -United Kingdom: 800,000 -United States: 500,000 -Canada: 450,000

Sikhism is a religion that origi-

nated in India. There are about 22 million Sikhs (followers of Sikhism) worldwide. The majority of Sikhs live in the northwest Indian state of Punjab. There are also sizable Sikh populations outside of India, particularly in Canada, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and countries in East Africa. The word Sikh comes from the Sanskrit word shishya, which means disciple or learner. Beliefs and practices. Sikhism is a monotheistic faith—that is, Sikhs believe in one God, whose essence is called Naam, or the Divine Name. According to Sikhism, God is formless, all-powerful, without gender, and beyond human understanding. Sikhs believe in the reincarnation (rebirth) of the soul into any one of 8.4 million life forms, including human beings. The goal of each living being is to achieve liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, and reach union with God. To close to God one must lead a life focused on God and meditate on God's name. This kind of meditation, called Naam Simran, is a central teaching of Sikhism. Sikhs also must practice honesty, charity, and community service. The holy book of Sikhism is the Guru Granth Sahib. It contains the teachings of the human Sikh gurus (spiritual teachers) and others. It serves as an eternal guide for Sikhs and as the basis of all worship. The Guru Granth Sahib is kept in a place of worship called a gurdwara (temple), meaning doorway to the guru. The gurdwara, at the heart of any Sikh community, is a place to meditate, spend time with fellow believers, and listen to readings from the Guru Granth Sahib.

History. Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469 in a village called Talwandi, in Punjab (now Nankana Sahib, in Pakistan). According to tradition, when he was about 30 years old, he received a revelation from God while bathing in the River Bein. Nanak undertook long and difficult journeys to spread God’s word. He taught the oneness of God and the equality of all human beings. Upon his death, Nanak chose a successor, to whom he gave the title guru, to continue his work. In all, there were 10 human gurus, each having equal status. Most Sikhs believe Guru Nanak’s spirit passed from guru to guru. They often refer to the gurus as Nanak I, Nanak II, and so on. Traditions. The symbols of Sikhism known as the five k's—the kara (steel bangle), kirpan (a small sword), kes (uncut hair), kangha (comb), and kachh (short breeches). He instructed all men to add the name Singh, meaning lion, to their name and all women the name Kaur, meaning princess.

Kesh - unshorn hair. This represents the natural appearance of sainthood and submission to God's will. This is the first token of Sikh faith. Kanga - A wooden comb to clean the hair. Kara - A Iron bracelet on the wrist, a symbol of dedication to the Divine Bridegroom and a reminder never to perform a wicked act. Kachhera - Shorts to indicate virtuous character and restraint. Kirpan - A sword symbolizing dignity, power, unconquerable spirit and the duty to protect others.

Buddhism Religions of South Asia Facts on Buddhism

Number of Believers: -360 Million

Foundation of Religion: -Siddhartha Gautama around 500 B.C. in India

Sacred Texts: -Tripitaka

Major Populations: -Bhutan: 75% of Population -Cambodia: 96% of the Population -China: 21% of the Population -Mongolia: 50% of Population

Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions. It was founded in India about 500 B.C., or shortly afterward, by a teacher called the Buddha. At various times, Buddhism has been a dominant religious, cultural, and social force in most of Asia. Today, Buddhism has about 350 million followers. Most live in Tibet and other regions of China, and in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Sri Lanka, and mainland Southeast Asia. Beliefs and practices All Buddhists take refuge—that is, seek comfort, guidance, and security—in (1) Buddha; (2) his teachings, called the dharma; and (3) the religious community he founded, called the sangha. These elements of Buddhism are known as the Three Refuges or Three Jewels. Buddha is a title given to a person believed to have transcended the cycle of rebirth known as samsara and attained nirvana (enlightenment). The first Buddha and founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama, born in the 500’s or 400’s B.C. in Nepal. Buddhist accounts tell that he was born a prince. As a young man, after providing for his wife and young son, Gautama resolved to leave his family and palace life to seek spiritual liberation as a wandering ascetic (a person who denies himself worldly comforts and pleasures). After traveling throughout northeastern India for six years, Gautama experienced nirvana and discovered the Four Noble Truths. These central teachings state that (1) suffering is part of life; (2) there are causes of suffering, like emotional attachment, ignorance, and selfishness; (3) there is a state of transcendence of suffering; and (4) there is a path that leads to that state. Eventually, Gautama decided to teach his message and founded a community of followers. After others learned of his discovery, they called him the Buddha, which means Enlightened One. The dharma. The Buddha preached that existence reincarnation, a continuing cycle of death and rebirth. Each person's position and well-being in life was determined by his or her behavior in previous lives. For example, good deeds may lead to rebirth as a wise and wealthy person or as a divine being in one of the Buddhist heavens. A person’s evil deeds may lead to rebirth as a poor and sickly person or even in one of the Buddhist hells. The Buddha also taught that as long as individuals remain within the cycle of rebirth, they will encounter suffering. However, they can transcend this cycle by following the Middle Way and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Middle Way calls for moderation and the avoidance of both self-indulgence and extreme self-denial. The Noble Eightfold Path includes (1) knowledge of the truth; (2) the intention to resist evil; (3) saying nothing to hurt others; (4) respecting life, morality, and property; (5) holding a job that does not injure others; (6) striving to free one's mind of evil; (7) controlling one's feelings and thoughts; and (8) practicing proper forms of concentration.

Texts. After the Buddha's death, his followers collected his teachings in a set of texts called the Tripitaka (Three Baskets). The first part, the Basket of Discipline, deals with the rules for living as a monk. The second part, the Basket of Discourses, consists of sermons. The third part, the Basket of the Higher Dharma, contains philosophical discussions of doctrine. Later Buddhist traditions have added their own scriptures. Meditation, in many forms, is central to Buddhism. Among the best-known types of meditation is Zen, practiced in Japan and elsewhere in East Asia. Zen originated in China, where it is called Chan. It is associated with the Mahayana tradition. Zen emphasizes a close relationship between a master and his disciples, and the attainment of a state of spiritual enlightenment called satori.

Buddhist Temple in Bhutan Place of WorshipBuddhists will often worship daily at home alone or in a group. There will be before a shrine containing an image of Buddha or a bodhisattva, usually with a candle or incense. Many visit Monasteries or Temples, especially on full moon days and festivals, to chant or make offerings and to listen to talks by monks.