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Indian Culture
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India is home to many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Jainism,
Sikhism and Christianity. The Hindu religion is one of the world's oldest, with
writings that date back 3,200 years. Hindus believe in reincarnation,
in which a person is reborn through many different lives. Many of the beliefs and practices of Hinduism
are found in a set of texts called the Vedas,
or Books of Knowledge.
Hinduism has many gods. Of great importance are Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver
and Siva the Destroyer. Others include the elephant-headed Ganesh, the god of love Kama and
Agni, the god of fire. Hindus see divinity in all living creatures, and many of their gods
have the characteristics of animals.
Buddhism originated in India about 2,500 years ago. It is named for the Buddha, the name
given to Siddhartha Gautama when he reached a state of enlightenment.
For the first 500 years of Buddhism's existence, its beliefs were not written down, but were only spoken. Buddhists
do not worship a single god or group of gods, but believe that happiness and spiritual freedom
are found through compassion for other living creatures, a path of wisdom, morality and
meditation, and the giving up of personal desire.
Jainism was founded at the same time as Buddhism in response to Hindu practices at the time.
It has a strict moral code and preaches the abandonment of worldly desires. Islam, which believes
in universal brotherhood and a single god, was introduced to India by Arab traders in the
8th century A.D. Sikhism was founded in the 16th century and also believes in one god, as well
as universal tolerance and equality for all.
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