Indian Religions

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Indian religions, sometimes also termed as Dharmic faiths or Dharmic religions (Dharma), are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent; namely Hinduism (2 schools Vedanta and Yoga, and 7 denominations Ayyavazhi, Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Smartism, and Śrauta), Jainism (Digambara, Śvētāmbara), Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana) and Sikhism. These religions are also all classified as Eastern religions. Although Indian religions are connected throughout the history of India, they constitute a wide range of religious communities and are not confined to the Indian subcontinent.

Evidence attesting to prehistoric religion in the Indian subcontinent derives from scattered Mesolithic rock paintings. The Harappan people of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which lasted from 3300 to 1300 BCE (mature period, 2600–1900 BCE), had an early urbanized culture which predates the Vedic religion.

The documented history of Indian religions begins with the historical Vedic religion, and the religious practices of the early Indo-Iranians, which were collected and later redacted into the Vedas. The period of the composition, redaction and commentary of these texts is known as the Vedic period, which lasted from roughly 1750–500 BCE. The philosophical portions of the Vedas were summarized in Upanishads, which are commonly referred to as Vedānta, variously interpreted to mean either the “last chapters, parts of the Veda” or “the object, the highest purpose of the Veda”. The early Upanishads all predate the Common Era, five of the eleven principal Upanishads were composed in all likelihood before 6th century BCE, and contain the earliest mentions of Yoga and Moksha.

Hand Candle Diwali Festival Of Lights Hinduism

Diwali Festival of Lights Hinduism

Common concepts in Indian religions

Class at a Yoga-retreat in India

Yoga class presenting various asanas.

Articles on Buddhism

Main articles

The Buddha

Buddhist philosophy

Buddhist cosmology

Doctrines of Buddhism

Buddhist practices

Buddhist meditation

Enlightenment In Buddhism

Moral discipline and precepts

Topics related to Buddhism

Buddhist scriptures

Buddhist Texts

Vajrayana texts

Mahayana texts

Theravada texts

Comparative Buddhism

 Buddhist culture

Schools of Buddhism

Gita_Govinda

Manuscripts of 18th-century Hindu texts in a regional language Odiya

Articles about Hinduism

Main articles

Hindu Philosophy

Essence of Hinduism

Concept of God

Hinduism’s Sacred Texts

Hindu Denomination

Worship (rituals)

Hindu people

Other terms and concepts

Hinduism and Other Religions

History

Politics

Hindu Culture

Hindu Festivals

Depiction of Siddha Shila as per Jain cosmology which is abode of infinite Siddhas

Depiction of Siddha Shila as per Jain cosmology which is the abode of infinite Siddhas

Jainism

Main articles

History

Jain Philosophy

Ethics of Jainism

Practices

Scriptures and texts

Traditions and sects

Art and Architecture

Religion in India

Architecture Indian Worship Lake Travel Landmark

The Harmandir Sahib (also known as the Golden Temple).

Sikhism

Main articles

History

Beliefs and Philosophy

Practices

Scriptures and texts

Traditions and sects

Comparison with other religions

See also