The Ancient Religion of Ancient India (briefly)

India is a country with a peculiar, unusually interesting culture and its own original beliefs. It is unlikely that in any other country - except, perhaps, ancient Egypt and Greece - there are so many myths, sacred writings and legends. Some researchers consider this peninsula the cradle of humanity. Others suggest that this country is one of the main heirs of the culture of the Aryan nationalities who came here from the deceased Arctida. The oldest religion of Ancient India - Vedism - was later transformed into the Hinduism that exists to this day.

The history of India in brief

The ancient tribes inhabiting the Hindustan Peninsula switched from gathering and hunting to settled agriculture around 6-7 thousand BC. E. By the end of 3 thousand on these territories a highly developed culture of urban settlements already appears. Modern scientists, it is called "Harappa". This civilization existed almost a millennium. In the ancient Indian Harappa cities there were well developed crafts and there was a rich class of traders. What happened to this culture is unknown. Some researchers suggest that a major catastrophe occurred, while others believe that the rich cities of this period, for whatever reasons, simply went bankrupt and were abandoned.

Later, in India, the Muslim dynasties ruled for a long time. In 1526, these territories were conquered by the Khan Babur, after which India became part of the huge empire of the Great Moguls. Abolished this state was only in 1858 by the English colonialists.

History of religion

Throughout the centuries, this country has consistently succeeded each other:

• Vedic religion of Ancient India.
• Hinduism. To date, this religion is predominant in India. Its adherents are more than 80% of the country's population.
• Buddhism. Nowadays it is confessed to a part of the population.

Early beliefs

Vedism is the oldest religion of Ancient India. Some scholars suggest that it appeared in this country some time after the disappearance of the huge flourishing ancient state - Arctida. Of course, this is far from the official version, but in fact it is very interesting and much explaining. According to this hypothesis, a long time ago, for some unknown reason, the earth's axis shifted. As a result, the climate changed a lot. In the Arctic, located either at the North Pole, or in the modern circumpolar continental regions, it has become very cold. Therefore, the arias that inhabited it were forced to migrate towards the equator. Some of them went to the Middle and Southern Urals, building here observatory cities, and then - to the Middle East. The other part moved through Scandinavia and the Valdai Hill. In the formation of Indian culture and religion, the third branch, which reached Southeast Asia, and later mixed with the indigenous inhabitants of these places, the Dravidians, took part.

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 East Punjab. According to the official version, this is where Vedism originated. 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 - the earth, the sky and the intermediate sphere - the antarious (compare with the Slavic Yavey, Navey and the Rule). To each of these worlds corresponded certain gods. The main creator, the Purusha, was also worshiped.

Veda

About what is the oldest religion of Ancient India, we briefly talked. Next, we will understand what the Vedas are - its foundational scripture.

At the moment this book is one of the oldest sacred works. It is believed that for thousands of years the Vedas were transmitted only verbally - from teacher to student. About five thousand years ago the sage Vyasadeva recorded their part. This book, which today is actually considered the Vedas, is divided into four parts (turiya) - Rigveda, Samavud, Yajurvedu and Atharvavedu.

Contains this work of mantra and hymns, recorded in verse and serving as a guide for Indian priests (rules for wedding, funeral and other ceremonies). Also, it has spells designed to treat people and perform all sorts of magical rituals. The mythology and religion of Ancient India are intertwined in the closest possible way. For example, in addition to the Vedas, Puranas are going. 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. This was connected, apparently, mainly with the gradual strengthening of the influence on the public life of the caste of the brahmanas. In the renewed religion, a clear hierarchy of gods is established. The Creator comes to the fore. There is a triune - Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva. Brahma is given the role of the creator of social laws, and in particular the initiator of the division of society into varnas. Vishnu is venerated as the main guardian, and Shiva as the god-destroyer. Gradually, two directions appear in Hinduism. Vishnuism speaks of the eight descendants of Vishnu on the earth. One of the avatars is Krishna, the other is the Buddha. Representatives of the second direction - the cult of Shiva - especially revere the god of destruction, considering him at the same time the patron of fertility and livestock.

The role of the dominant religion Hinduism begins to play in India since the Middle Ages. So it 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 what is given and predetermined by the gods, and therefore, is not subject to change.

The public system varnasrama-dharna

Thus, another ancient religion of Ancient India - Hinduism, became the heir of many traditions and rites of previous beliefs. In particular, the division of Indian society into varnas arose even in the time of Vedism. In addition to the four social groups (brahmanas, kshtarii, vaisyas and sudras), according to this religion, there are four modes of a person's spiritual life. The stage of training is called Brahmacharya, social and family life - Grihastha, the subsequent withdrawal from the mundane - Vanaprastha and the final stage of life with final enlightenment - Sannyasa.

Whoever created the varnasrama-dharma, such an orderly way of life is preserved in the world so far. In any country there are clergymen (brahmanas), administrators and military (kshtarii), businessmen (vaisyas) and workers (sudras). This division allows us to streamline social life and create the most comfortable conditions for people with the opportunity to develop and improve themselves.

Unfortunately, in India, varnasrama-dharna by our time has strongly degraded. The strict division into castes (and depending on the birth), which exists here today, contradicts the basic concept of this doctrine of the need for spiritual growth of man.

The Religion of Ancient India succinctly: the emergence of Buddhism

This is another very widespread belief in the peninsula. Buddhism is one of the most unusual religions in the world. The fact is that, unlike the same Christianity, the founder of this cult is a person quite historical. The creator of this rather widespread teaching (and not only in India) Sidgartha Shanyamuni was born in 563 in the city of Lumbene in the family of Kshtariya. The Buddha began to call him after attaining enlightenment at the age of 40.

The religion and philosophy of Ancient India have always considered the deity not as a punishing or a merciful force, but as a model for imitation, a kind of "light" of self-development. Buddhism also completely abandoned the idea of creating a world by any Creator. The adherents of this religion believe that the person can rely only on himself personally, the sufferings are not sent to him from above, but are 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 attainment 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. Her invaluable contribution to this process was made by such celebrities as E. Blavatsky, Nikolai and Elena Roerich and others.

Today one of Vanga's predictions concerning India is widely known. The famous prophetess believed that soon the oldest doctrine would return to the world. And it will come from India. New books will be written about him, and it will spread all over the Earth.

Who knows, perhaps the foundation of future new beliefs will truly become the ancient religion of India. "The Fire Bible," as Vang predicts, "will cover the Earth with exactly white color", so people will be saved. Perhaps, it is even a well-known work written by the Roerichs - Agni Yoga. "Agni" in translation means "Fire."

Culture of Ancient India

The religion and culture of Ancient India are closely related phenomena. The otherworld mystical world of the gods is almost always present in the works of Indian artists, sculptors and even architects. Even nowadays, in each of their works the masters strive to make a deep content, a certain vision of inner truth, not to mention the ancient craftsmen.

Unfortunately, there were very few ancient Indian paintings and frescoes before us. But in this country there is simply a huge amount of ancient sculptures of historical value, and monuments of architecture. What do they stand for, for example, the huge Ellora caves with the magnificent Kailasa temple in the center. Here you can also see the majestic statues of the divine Trimurti Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva.

So, we have found out that the ancient 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. Nowadays this country remains unusually interesting, original, original and unlike any other state in the world.