India is a country with a peculiar, unusually interesting culture and its own original beliefs. It is unlikely that in any other state - with the exception, perhaps, of the ancient Egypt and Greece - there is such a huge number of myths, scriptures and traditions. Some researchers consider this peninsula the cradle of mankind. Others suggest that this country is one of the main heirs to the culture of the Aryan nationalities who came here from the deceased Arctida. The oldest religion of Ancient India - Vedism - later transformed into existing and still Hinduism.
History of india in brief
The ancient tribes that inhabited the Hindustan Peninsula moved from gathering and hunting to settled agriculture in about 6-7 thousand BC. e. By the end of 3 thousand, a highly developed culture of urban-type settlements is already emerging in these territories.
Modern scholars called it “Harappan”. This civilization lasted for almost a millennium. Crafts were well developed in the ancient Indian Harappan cities and there was a rich class of merchants. What happened to this culture is unknown. Some researchers suggest that a large-scale catastrophe occurred, while others believe that the rich cities of this period for some reason simply went broke and were abandoned.
Subsequently, in India, Muslim dynasties ruled for a long time. In 1526, these territories were conquered by Khan Babur, after which India became part of the vast Mughal empire. This state was abolished only in 1858 by the English colonialists.
Religion history
For centuries, in this country successively replaced each other:
- Vedic religion of ancient India.
- Hinduism. Today, this religion is dominant in India. Its adherents are more than 80% of the country's population.
- Buddhism. Nowadays, a part of the population professes.
Early beliefs
Vedism is the oldest religion of ancient India. Some scholars suggest that she appeared in this country some time after the disappearance of a huge prosperous ancient state - Arctida. Of course, this is far from the official version, but in fact it is very interesting and explains a lot. According to this hypothesis, once upon a time, for unknown reasons, a displacement of the earth's axis occurred. As a result, the climate has changed a lot. It became very cold in Arctida, located either at the North Pole, or in modern subpolar continental regions. Therefore, the Arians who inhabited it were forced to migrate towards the equator. Some of them went to the Middle and Southern Urals, having built observatory cities here, and then to the Middle East. The other part advanced through Scandinavia and the Valdai Upland. In the formation of Indian culture and religion, the third branch took part, reaching Southeast Asia and subsequently mixed with the indigenous inhabitants of these places - the Dravids.
Basic concept
In fact, Vedism - the oldest religion of ancient India - is the initial stage of Hinduism. It was not distributed throughout the country, but only in its part - in Uttar and Eastern Punjab. According to the official version, it was here that Vedism was born. For the adherents of this religion, the deification of all nature as a whole, as well as its parts and some social phenomena, was characteristic. There was no clear hierarchy of gods in Vedism. The world was divided into three main parts - earth, sky and the intermediate sphere - antarizhu (compare with the Slavic Reveal, Navuy and Right). Each of these worlds corresponded to certain gods. The main creator, Purusha, was also revered.
Veda
About what the oldest religion of ancient India is, we briefly talked with you. Next, we will understand what the Vedas are - its fundamental scripture.
At the moment, this book is one of the oldest sacred works. It is believed that for millennia the Vedas were transmitted only verbally - from teacher to student. About five thousand years ago, a part of them was recorded by the sage Vyasadeva. This book, which today is actually considered the Vedas, is divided into four parts (turiya) - “Rigveda”, “Samaveda”, “Yajurveda” and “Atharvaveda”.
This work contains mantras and hymns recorded in verses and serving as a guide for Indian clergymen (rules for weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies). It also has spells designed to heal people and perform all kinds of magical rituals. The mythology and religion of ancient India are closely related. For example, in addition to the Vedas come the Puranas. They describe the history of the creation of the universe, as well as the genealogy of Indian kings and heroes.
The emergence of Hindu beliefs
Over time, the ancient religion of Ancient India - Vedism - is transformed into modern Hinduism. Most likely, this was connected mainly with a gradual increase in the influence of the Brahmin caste on social life. In a renewed religion, a clear hierarchy of gods is established. Creator comes to the fore. There is a trinity - Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva. Brahma is given the role of creator of social laws, and in particular, the initiator of the division of society into Varna. Vishnu is revered as the main guardian, and Shiva - as the destroyer god. Gradually, two directions appear in Hinduism. Vishnuism speaks of the eight descent of Vishnu to the earth. In this case, Krishna is considered one of the avatars, while the other is Buddha. Representatives of the second direction - the cult of Shiva - especially worship the god of destruction, considering him at the same time the patron of fertility and livestock.
Hinduism has begun to play the role of the dominant religion in India since the Middle Ages. That remains to this day. Representatives of this religion believe that it is impossible to become a Hindu. They can only be born. That is, Varna (the social role of man) is that which is given and predetermined by the gods, and therefore cannot be changed.
The varnasrama-dharna social system
Thus, another ancient religion of ancient India - Hinduism, became the heiress to many traditions and rituals of previous beliefs. In particular, the division of Indian society into Varna originated in the time of Vedism. In addition to the four social groups (brahmanas, kshtariyas, vaisyas and sudras), according to this religion, there are four ways of the person’s spiritual life. The stage of training is called Brahmacharya, social and family life - Grihastha, the subsequent departure from the worldly - Vanaprastha and the final stage of life with final enlightenment - Sannyasa.
Whoever creates the varnasrama-dharna, such an orderly way of life is still preserved in the world. In any country there are clergymen (Brahmins), administrators and the military (Kshtarii), businessmen (Vaisyas) and workers (Sudras). Such a division allows you to streamline social life and create for people the most comfortable living conditions with the ability to develop and improve.
Unfortunately, in India itself, the varnasrama-dharna has greatly degraded by now. That rigid division into castes (and depending on the birth) that exists here today contradicts the basic concept of this doctrine of the need for spiritual growth of a person.
Religion of Ancient India Briefly: The Emergence of Buddhism
This is another very common belief on the peninsula. Buddhism is one of the most unusual religions in the world. The fact is that, in contrast to the same Christianity, the founder of this cult is a completely historical person. The creator of this rather widespread doctrine (and not only in India) Sidgartha Shanyamuni was born in 563 in the city of Lumben in the family of Kshtarii. They began to call him Buddha after he attained enlightenment at the age of 40.
Religion and philosophy of Ancient India have always considered a deity not as a punishing or merciful force, but as a role model, a kind of "light" of self-development. Buddhism, however, completely abandoned the idea of creating the world by any Creator. The adherents of this religion believe that a person can only rely on himself personally, while suffering is not sent to him from above, but is the result of his own mistakes and inability to reject worldly desires. However, like the earlier Indian religions discussed above, Buddhism contains the idea of salvation, that is, the achievement of nirvana.
Interaction with Western Culture
For Europeans, the culture and religion of Ancient India for a long time remained a mystery behind seven seals. The beginning of the interaction of these two completely different worlds was laid only at the end of the century before last. Celebrities such as E. Blavatsky, Nikolai and Elena Roerichs and others made their invaluable contribution to this process.
One of Wang’s predictions regarding India is widely known today. The famous soothsayer believed that the oldest teaching would return to the world soon. And it will come from India. New books will be written about him, and it will spread throughout the Earth.
Who knows, perhaps the foundation of future new beliefs will indeed be the ancient religion of India. The Fiery Bible, as Wang predicts, “will cover the Earth as if in white,” thanks to which people will be saved. Maybe we are even talking about the famous work written by the Roerichs - Agni Yoga. "Agni" in translation means "Fire."
Culture of Ancient India
Religion and culture of Ancient India are closely interconnected phenomena. The otherworldly mystical world of the gods is almost always present in the works of Indian artists, sculptors and even architects. Even in our time, in each of their works, masters strive to bring a deep content, a certain vision of inner truth, not to mention the ancient craftsmen.
Unfortunately, very few ancient Indian paintings and frescoes have reached us. But in this country there is simply a huge number of ancient sculptures of historical value, and architectural monuments. What, for example, are the huge Ellora caves with the magnificent Kailashi temple in the center. Here you can also see the magnificent statues of the divine Trimurti Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva.
So, we have found out that the oldest religion of Ancient India is Vedism. The later Hinduism and Buddhism are its development and continuation. Religious beliefs in India had a tremendous impact not only on culture, but also on social life in general. In our time, this country still remains unusually interesting, original, original and unlike any other state in the world.