Nitin Singhania Summary: Religion in India- 2 | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Islam

As the world's second-largest religion, Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the 7th century AD and spread globally through a vast empire. The term 'Islam' signifies 'submission' to God, and adherents, known as Muslims, submit to God and follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the final messenger in a lineage that includes Abraham and Moses. Both Christians and Muslims share Abraham as a common ancestor, making them part of the Abrahamic Religions. Core Tenets: The fundamental tenets of Islam include the belief in one Allah, with Prophet Muhammad as the last messenger. The Five Pillars (arkan) are central beliefs and practices:

1. Shahada (Profession of Faith): Central belief in 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.'
2. Salat (Prayer): Muslims pray facing Mecca five times a day.
3. Zakat: Almsgiving.
4. Sawn: Fasting during Ramadan.
5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Other Beliefs

Muslims anticipate the Day of Judgement when deeds are judged, leading to either heaven or hell. Obligatory practices include offering namaz (prayer), Friday prayer (Jummah namaz), and fasting during Ramadan, concluding with Eid celebrations. Charity, known as zakat, involves giving a portion of earnings to the needy.

 Sects in Islam

The two major divisions are Shia (supporters of Ali) and Sunni (followers of the Sunnah), differing on Prophet Muhammad's successor. Despite the majority in India being Sunni, Shias are noticeable during Muharram. 

Movements in Islam

 Throughout history, Islam in the Indian subcontinent experienced changes and movements, including:

• Faraizi Movement (early 19th century): Led by Haji Shariatullah, advocating for the return to pure Islam, rejection of un-Islamic practices, and protection of tenant rights.
• Ahmadiyya Movement (late 19th century): Founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, aiming to create a community adhering to true Islamic values.
• Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya Movement (19th century): Initiated by Sayyid Ahmad Barelwi as an armed movement against British rule to establish an Islamic state.
• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Advocated modern education for Muslims, promoting collaboration with the British for mutual prosperity.

Christianity 

As the world's most widely practiced religion, Christianity revolves around the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians, who are monotheistic, believe in the Godhead consisting of the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. According to their beliefs, God sent Jesus as a messiah to save the world. Jesus was crucified, resurrected three days later, and ascended to heaven. Christians anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus. 

Holy Book 

The Bible, comprising 66 books originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, is Christianity's holy book. It includes the Old Testament, shared with Jews, and the New Testament, written after Jesus's death. The Gospels narrate Jesus's life, while epistles offer instructions for the church's operation. Acts of the Apostles details the apostles' ministry, and Revelation presents prophecies about the end of the world. 

Symbol and Origins 

The cross symbolizes Christianity. According to scriptures, Jesus was born to a Jewish virgin, Mary, in Bethlehem. He grew up in Nazareth, fled persecution to Egypt, and had Joseph as his earthly father. Jesus used parables in his teachings. 

Persecution and Spread 

Early Christians faced persecution but gained tolerance when Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the 4th century AD. Christianity now has three main branches: Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox, each with distinct governing structures and denominations. 

Christianity in India

Introduced in 52 AD by Thomas the Apostle, Christianity later thrived during British rule. Christian missionaries played a significant role in education and language growth in 19th-century India. India's third-largest religion, Christianity, has around 3 crore followers, with the majority being Roman Catholics, followed by Protestants. Kerala has the highest Christian population, and states like Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya have significant Christian majorities.

Sikhism

 The history of Sikhism begins with Guru Nanak (1469-1539), a non-conformist who provided an organized alternative to Hinduism. Guru Nanak emphasized congregational worship and communal dining to bring people together. Sikhism, also known as Sikhi, means 'disciple' or 'seeker.' 

Guru Nanak's Teachings

Guru Nanak presented an alternative to the existing social order, focusing on salvation achievable through service and community welfare rather than idol worship or renunciation. He encouraged followers to lead practical lives while serving others through practices like the community kitchen (langar). 

Sikh Gurus and Evolution

Over 239 years, Sikh Gurus acted as divine spiritual leaders, emphasizing both spiritual and moral well-being. Guru Angad introduced the Gurmukhi script, and Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth Sahib. Mughal-Sikh relations soured after the execution of Guru Arjan Dev, leading to conflicts and the militarization of Sikhs.

 Defence

 Guru Hargobind initiated a trend of militancy, symbolized by the combination of spiritual (piri) and temporal (miri) authority represented by two swords. He constructed the Akal Takht and Lohagarh Fort as symbols of temporal authority.

 Later Gurus and Martyrdom

 Guru Har Rai and Guru Har Krishan faced conflict and detention under Aurangzeb. Guru Tegh Bahadur sought sovereign authority for Sikhs, leading to his execution in 1675. Guru Gobind Singh marked the end of personal guruship, transferring authority to Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Panth. 

Khalsa Formation

Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa in 1699, baptizing Sikh men as 'Singh' and women as 'Kaur.' Khalsa Sikhs adhered to a dress code, including not cutting hair and wearing the five k's (kachcha, kesh, kangha, kirpan, and kara).

 Sikhism Beliefs

Sikhism sees God as a universal entity, self-illuminated, perpetual, and genderless. Popular names for God include Waheguru, Akal Purakh, Ek Onkar, and Satnam. The Three Pillars of Sikhism, given by Guru Nanak, involve focusing on God (Naam Japna), honest living (Kirat Karni), and sharing with others (Vand Chakna). 

Zoroastrianism

This 7th-century religion originated in Persia and was founded by the prophet Zarathustra around the 6th century BC. It is a monotheistic religion that believes in one eternal god named Ahura Mazda, who epitomizes just behavior and goodness. An opposing spirit of evil and struggle, called Angra Mainyu, engages in eternal conflict with Ahura Mazda, and it is believed that one day good will triumph over evil on the last day.

Contact with India 

The first contact of Zoroastrians with India likely occurred between the 8th and 10th centuries AD when they fled from Iran due to Islamic invasions. The Zoroastrians in India are known as Parsis and Iranis, with Parsis being the larger and more established community, residing mainly in Mumbai, Goa, and Ahmedabad.

Sacred Text

Their sacred text, the Zend Avesta, is written in Old Avestan and comprises 17 sacred songs (gathas) and the Ahuna Vairyo (sacred chant), supposedly written by Zarathustra himself. Translations of these texts and compiled glossaries are collectively known as Zend, divided into five parts.

1. Yasna: Describes worship through ceremony and offerings.
2. Vendidad: Describes laws against demons or evil spirits.
3. Yashts: Contains hymns of worship through praise.
4. Khordeh Avesta: Book of common prayers, meaning ‘Little’ or ‘Small’ Avesta.
5. Gathas: Part of the Yasna texts, further divided into Ahunavaiti, Ushtavaiti, Spenta-mainyu, Vohu-khshathra, and Vahishtoishti.

Beliefs and Practices

Zoroastrians worship fire and consider fire and earth as sacred elements. They believe that dead matter is a corrupting element, so they expose their dead bodies to be consumed by vultures in open spaces known as ‘dakhma’ or towers of silence. Due to the Indian vulture crisis, some now opt for burial, though the tradition persists in the Tower of Silence in Mumbai.

Fire Temples 

Their fire temples, known as Atash Behram, are rare, with only eight known temples in the entire country.

Calendars 

There are three major calendar forms used by the Parsis:

• Shahenshahi (majority): Uses the coronation of the last Sasanian king, Yazdegerd II, as the first year for dating the calendar.
• Qadimi: Claimed to be the oldest calendar of the three.
• Fasli: Claimed to be the most accurate religious calendar and the most recent of the three.

Qissa-i Sanjan 

It is an account of the migration of Zoroastrians (Parsis) and their settlement in the Indian sub-continent. The first chapter ends with the establishment of the fire temple at Sanjan, Gujarat.

Judaism

Judaism stands as one of the oldest religions globally, embracing a monotheistic belief in a singular God. Preceding both Christianity and Islam, these later religions have drawn significantly from Judaic philosophies. Adherents to Judaism are known as Jews, a community that has endured persecution across centuries, with a devastating chapter under Hitler's regime, where millions of Jews faced systematic torture and extermination in Germany and other parts of Europe.

Beliefs and Practices 

Jews follow the belief in Yahweh, the one true God established by Abraham. Halakhah encompasses the totality of laws and ordinances in Judaism, evolving since biblical times to regulate religious observances and the daily life of the Jewish people. Their religious scripture, the Torah, constitutes the first five books of the larger text Tanakh. Additionally, the Talmud comprises compilations of legal and ethical writings along with a brief history of Jewish history. Synagogues serve as separate prayer halls, where religious services, such as the Eliyahu-hanavi or thanksgiving to Elijah the Prophet, take place.

Historical Roots

 Abraham, considered the ancestor of all Jews, advocated that adherence to God's injunctions would bring blessings. His son Isaac and grandson Jacob, also known as Israel, received divine blessings. Moses, sent by God to Earth, received the Ten Commandments or the Sefer Torah on Mount Sinai, guiding the Israelites (children of Jacob or Israel) in their way of life. Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the 12 tribes known as the 'Tribes of Israel.'

Practices and Beliefs

During prayers, male Jews wear a tsisith or prayer shawl. The Jewish faith also anticipates a Day of Judgment, envisioning the Messiah escorting the righteous to heaven and consigning evildoers to hell.

Jewish Communities in India

While the first Jewish settlers arrived on the western coast of India, the country hosts five major Jewish communities:

1. Malayalam-speaking Cochin Jews
2. Marathi-speaking Bene Israel Jews
3. Baghdadi Jews, who arrived from West Asia as traders and settled primarily around Surat, present mainly in Mumbai and Kolkata
4. Bnei Menashe, claiming ancestry to the Menashe tribe, one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel, residing on the India-Myanmar border in Manipur and Mizoram
5. Bene Ephraim, a small group of Telugu-speaking Jews who converted to Judaism in the 1990s

Largest Jewish Community in India: The Bene Israel stands as the largest Jewish community in India.

Prominent Synagogues

• Ayyavazhi: Considered a part of the Hindu religion and predominantly followed in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Ayyavazhi centers around the life and teachings of Ayya Vaikundar. The essential holy texts in this faith are the Akilathirattu Ammanai and J- Nool. The day of Vaikundar's incarnation, known as Ayya Vaikunda Avataram, is observed as a state holiday in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  Worship Practices: In worship centers of Ayyavazhi, instead of placing a deity in the sanctum sanctorum, a structured arrangement of flame-shaped copper, saffron cloth, and distinct garlands made of rudraksha and flowers is used. This setup symbolizes a formless god known as Elunetru.

Summary

• Vaishnavism: Regards Vishnu as the Supreme Lord, with traceable roots to the 1st millennium BC.
• Shaivism: Considers Shiva as the Supreme Lord, originating before Vaishnavism in the 2nd millennium BC, in the form of the Vedic deity Rudra.
• Shaktism: Views the Devi or goddess as supreme, known for sub-traditions of Tantra.
• Smartism: Based on Puranic teachings, treats Shiva, Shakti, Ganesh, Vishnu, and Surya as equals.
• Shramana: Refers to one who performs acts of austerity or is an ascetic. Various Shramana schools include Jainism, Buddhism, Ajivika, Ajnana, and Charvaka.
• Ajivika: Founded by Makkhali Gosala in the 5th century BC, believes in no free will, opposes Buddhism and Jainism, rejects the authority of the Vedas, and believes in the existence of the soul in material form.
• Ajnana: Embraces radical scepticism, considering the attainment of knowledge about nature impossible and favoring ignorance.
• Islam: Originated in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century AD, connoting 'submission' to God. Christians and Muslims share Abraham as a common ancestor, and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad are compiled into the Hadith.
• Christianity: Based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, with the fundamental philosophy of the existence of one God. The sacred text of Christians is the Bible, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• Sikhism: Commences with the life, times, and teachings of Guru Nanak. The supreme purpose of human existence is salvation, achieved through right belief, right worship, and right conduct. Guru Hargobind was the first to wear two swords as a symbol, and Guru Gobind Singh founded the Sikh warrior community Khalsa.
• Zoroastrianism: Originated in Persia and founded by the prophet Zarathustra around the 7th century BC. It is a monotheistic religion whose followers believe in one eternal god, Ahura Mazda. Worship in Zoroastrianism involves reverence for fire.
• Judaism: Followers are called Jews, believing in Yahweh or the one true God who revealed himself to Abraham. They also anticipate the Day of Judgment.