Vedic religion and Hinduism
Festivals, worship and prayers are held in our homes and grandparents tell the reason behind them. Such traditions pass on through generations.
Vedic religion is regarded as the oldest religion of India. Its base is Vedic literature. Hinduism is the extended form of Vedic religion.
Key idea 1 : Nature of Vedic religion — Vedic people worshipped nature and offered Havi into fire while chanting mantras. Life was simple and based on moral values — truthfulness, respect for elders, honouring relations and not harming others. In time the rituals became complex.
Key idea 2 : Thought of the Upanishads — The Upanishads discuss the Atman, Brahman, purpose of life and Moksha. This philosophy says human life, nature and the whole universe are forms of one supreme principle. Two famous sutras: ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ (I am Brahman) and ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ (You are that).
Key idea 3 : Hinduism, the Gita and Shankaracharya — In Hinduism devotion, philosophy and the quest for Moksha gained importance; a person’s future is believed to be shaped by Karma. The ‘Bhagavad Gita’ asks us to do our duty without worrying about the result. Adya Shankaracharya (8th century CE) wrote commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and the Gita and set up four Muths at Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannathpuri and Shringeri.
- Easy : What does ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ mean? — I am Brahman.
- Medium : In how many places did Shankaracharya set up Muths? — Four.
- Exam-type : Among six Darshanas, which has the atom theory? — Vaisheshika.
In the figure: Four bases of Hinduism: Vedas, Upanishads, the Gita and the work of Shankaracharya.
According to tradition, when Shankaracharya was a boy he was bathing in a river in Kerala with his mother when a crocodile caught his leg. He told his mother Aryamba that the crocodile would let go if she allowed him to take sanyas. She gave permission and, says the story, the crocodile released him; later he set out in search of a Guru. The story is told through generations; its miraculous part is not proven by historians.
Vedic religion → Hinduism; ‘Karma’ means our actions, and they shape our future.
‘Dharma’ is not only rituals; truth, duty and social service are also parts of Dharma.
Six Darshanas: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, Vedanta. Memory clue: ‘Sa-Yo-Nya-Vai-Pu-Ve’ — first syllables of the six names.
Spot the difference
| Darshana | Main idea |
|---|---|
| Samkhya | Explains creation of the universe |
| Yoga | Practice and meditation |
| Nyaya | Logic and theory of knowledge |
| Vaisheshika | Universe made of atoms |
| Purva Mimamsa | Analysis of Vedic rites |
| Vedanta | Philosophy of the Upanishads |
Practice questions
- 1Which is regarded as the oldest religion of India?
- 2What does ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ mean?
- 3What is the main teaching of the Bhagavad Gita?
- 4At which places did Adya Shankaracharya set up Muths?
- 5What are the Shaddarshanas? Name any two.
- 6What does the Yoga Darshana stress?
- 7Explain the words ‘Karma’ and ‘Dharma’ in your own words.
- 8How would you use the thought ‘Sarve bhavantu sukhinah’ today? Write three lines.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Vedic religion.
- 2You are that.
- 3Do your duty without worrying about the result.
- 4Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannathpuri and Shringeri.
- 5Six schools of Indian philosophy; e.g. Samkhya and Yoga.
- 6Gaining self-realisation through practice and meditation.
- 7Karma — our actions; Dharma — following truth, morality, duty and social service.
- 8E.g. caring for everyone’s health and happiness, helping the needy, not hurting anyone.
Jainism and Vardhaman Mahavir
In class we learn to hear everyone; if we decide after hearing only one friend’s view we may go wrong. One teaching of Jainism says exactly this.
Jainism is an ancient religion that gives highest importance to non-violence. A person who reveals religious knowledge is called a ‘Tirthankar’; there were 24 in all and Vardhaman Mahavir was the twenty-fourth.
Key idea 1 : Life of Mahavir — Vardhaman Mahavir (599 to 527 BCE) was born at Kundagram near Vaishali in the Vrijji mahajanapada of today’s Bihar. His father was Siddharth and mother Trishala. After leaving home and comforts and doing hard penance for twelve and a half years he gained ‘keval’ (pure) knowledge, hence ‘Kevali’; as joy and sorrow no longer affected him he was a ‘Jina’ (conqueror). The word ‘Jain’ comes from ‘Jina’. For about thirty years he preached in the people’s language, Ardhamagadhi.
Key idea 2 : Five Great Vows and Three Jewels — Five Great Vows: Ahimsa (hurt none), Satya (truth), Asteya (no stealing), Aparigraha (no hoarding out of greed), Brahmacharya (giving up bodily pleasures). Three Jewels: Samyak Darshan (right faith), Samyak Dnyan (right knowledge) and Samyak Charitra (right conduct, following the vows). ‘Samyak’ means balanced.
Key idea 3 : Anekantavada and equality — If we look at only one side while seeking truth we do not know the whole truth; we should look at all sides — this is ‘Anekantavada’. It builds tolerance towards others’ views. Mahavir taught that a person’s greatness depends not on varna but on good conduct. He gave women too the right to sanyas. In the ‘Samavasaran’, his preaching assembly, people of all varnas could enter.
- Easy : Which Tirthankar was Mahavir? — The twenty-fourth.
- Medium : How many Great Vows in Jainism? — Five.
- Exam-type : How many years did Mahavir live? — 599 − 527 = 72 years.
In the figure: Three parts of Mahavir’s teaching: Five Great Vows, Three Jewels and Anekantavada.
According to a story in Jain tradition a poisonous snake named Chandakaushika lived on a road, so people told Mahavir not to go that way. Mahavir still went calmly along that path and stood in meditation as the snake came near. The angry snake bit him, but Mahavir did not become angry. Touched by his calm, the snake became peaceful. Message of the story: non-violence and forgiveness conquer anger.
What happened before Mahavir leaving home? According to Jain tradition, Vardhaman was a prince of Kundagrama near Vaishali. He stayed at home until his parents had passed away, and then at about the age of 30 he left everything.
What happened after Mahavir leaving home? According to the tradition, after about twelve years of hard penance he attained Kevala Jnana (perfect knowledge) and then taught for nearly thirty years in the language of the common people, Ardhamagadhi.
Five vows: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya. Three Jewels: faith, knowledge, conduct.
Mahavir was not the first Tirthankar of Jainism; he is regarded as the twenty-fourth and last.
Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya in this order. Memory clue: ‘5 vows = 5 fingers’ — count them on your hand.
Spot the difference
| Vow | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ahimsa | Not hurting any living being |
| Satya | True speech and action |
| Asteya | Not taking things without consent |
| Aparigraha | Not hoarding out of greed |
| Brahmacharya | Giving up bodily pleasures |
Practice questions
- 1Who is called a Tirthankar?
- 2State Vardhaman Mahavir’s parents and birthplace.
- 3Why is Mahavir called ‘Jina’ and ‘Kevali’?
- 4Name the Five Great Vows.
- 5What are the Three Jewels?
- 6Why did Mahavir use Ardhamagadhi?
- 7Explain ‘Anekantavada’ in your words with one example.
- 8How can we practise ‘Ahimsa’ today as citizens? Write four points.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A person who reveals religious knowledge.
- 2Father Siddharth, mother Trishala; born at Kundagram near Vaishali.
- 3‘Jina’ as joy and sorrow did not affect him; ‘Kevali’ for gaining pure (keval) knowledge.
- 4Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha and Brahmacharya.
- 5Samyak Darshan, Samyak Dnyan and Samyak Charitra.
- 6Because it was the people’s language, so everyone could understand the teaching.
- 7Looking at all sides; e.g. hearing both friends in a dispute before deciding.
- 8E.g. avoiding beating or teasing, kindness to animals, settling disputes peacefully, obeying the law.
Buddhism and Gautama Buddha
When a question comes to us we read books and ask elders. Buddha left home to find the answer to the question why there is suffering in life.
Gautama Buddha founded Buddhism. The path he taught is called ‘Dhamma’, and it spread in India and many countries outside India.
Key idea 1 : Life of Buddha — Gautama Buddha (563 to 483 BCE) was born at Lumbini in Nepal. His father was Shuddhodana and mother Mayadevi; his birth name was Siddharth. He left home to find the cause of suffering. On Vaishakha Purnima, meditating under a pipal tree at Uruvela near Gaya, he attained ‘Bodhi’ (enlightenment); the tree is the ‘Bodhi tree’ and the place ‘Bodhgaya’. His first sermon was at Sarnath near Varanasi, called ‘dhamma-chakka pavattan’ in Pali. Later for about forty-five years he travelled on foot (charika) and preached in the people’s language, Pali.
Key idea 2 : Noble Truths, Panchasheel and the Eightfold Path — Four Noble Truths: (1) there is suffering in life, (2) suffering has a cause, (3) it is possible to end suffering, (4) Pratipad, the ‘way’ to do so — the Eightfold Path of good conduct. Panchasheel: staying away from killing, stealing, unethical conduct, lying and intoxicants. The Eightfold Path has eight parts: right view, resolve, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration.
Key idea 3 : Sangha, equality and free thought — For preaching Dhamma Buddha created a Sangha of bhikkhus; women had a separate Sangha — the bhikkhunis. People of all varnas and castes could embrace Buddhism. Buddha rejected distinctions by birth; greatness depends on conduct. He opposed the rituals of yajna. Taking refuge in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha is called ‘Trisharan’. The trend of thought called Lokayat or Charvak of that time stressed free thinking and rejected the authority of the Vedas.
- Easy : Where did Buddha give his first sermon? — At Sarnath.
- Medium : How many Noble Truths? — Four.
- Exam-type : How many years did Buddha live? — 563 − 483 = 80 years.
In the figure: Four stages in Buddha’s life: birth, enlightenment, first sermon and founding of the Sangha.
What happened before the first sermon? After Buddha attained Bodhi at Bodhgaya he set out for Sarnath to find his five former companions. They had practised harsh penance with him, but had left him when he gave up extreme austerity. According to tradition they were doubtful at first on seeing him return, thinking he had given up the search for truth. Buddha convinced them.
What happened after the first sermon? According to tradition, after the first sermon the eldest of the five, Kondanna, understood the teaching and became Buddha’s first disciple. This was the start of the Sangha of bhikkhus. That is why the sermon is called ‘Dhamma-chakra-pravartan’ — setting the wheel of Dhamma in motion.
In the twentieth year after his coronation Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and set up a stone pillar. The Brahmi inscription on it says ‘Buddha Shakyamuni was born here’; the village was given a tax concession and paid only one-eighth share. The pillar was found again in December 1896; the inscription was buried about one metre below ground level. In 1997 UNESCO made Lumbini a World Heritage Site.
Birth — Lumbini; Bodhi — Bodhgaya; first sermon — Sarnath.
Buddha founded Buddhism but did not call himself a god; he taught a path of good conduct.
Lu-Bo-Sa: Lumbini → Bodhgaya → Sarnath. Memory clue: ‘4 truths, 5 precepts, 8 parts’ — remember the numbers 4, 5, 8.
Spot the difference
| Point | Mahavir | Buddha |
|---|---|---|
| Time (BCE) | 599–527 | 563–483 |
| Title after enlightenment | Kevali, Jina | Buddha |
| Language | Ardhamagadhi | Pali |
| Rules | Five Great Vows | Panchasheel |
Practice questions
- 1State Gautama Buddha’s birthplace and birth name.
- 2What is the ‘Bodhi tree’?
- 3Where was Buddha’s first sermon and what is it called?
- 4What are the four Noble Truths?
- 5What is Panchasheel?
- 6What is the difference between bhikkhus and bhikkhunis?
- 7In your words tell what happened before and after the first sermon.
- 8Write two similarities in the teachings of Mahavir and Buddha.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Lumbini (Nepal); birth name Siddharth.
- 2The pipal tree under which Buddha attained Bodhi.
- 3At Sarnath; ‘dhamma-chakka pavattan’.
- 4There is suffering, it has a cause, it can end and there is a way (Eightfold Path).
- 5Five rules taught by Buddha — staying away from killing, stealing, unethical conduct, lying and intoxicants.
- 6Bhikkhus are male monks; bhikkhunis are women, with a separate Sangha.
- 7Earlier the five companions were doubtful; afterwards Kondanna became the first disciple and the Sangha began.
- 8Both taught non-violence and truth; rejected birth-based distinctions; preached in people’s languages; gave women a place.
Other religions and religious harmony
Children come to our school from different homes and each has different festivals; yet we share in each other’s joy. India’s history is like this too.
Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism came to India in ancient times and took root in its society. ‘Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti’ — Truth is one, the wise call it by many names — is the thought of tolerance in Indian culture.
Key idea 1 : Judaism and Christianity — People of the Jewish religion may have come to Kochi in Kerala in the 1st to 3rd century CE. They believe in one God; ‘Torah’ is their main holy text and their prayer house the ‘Synagogue’. Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ; St. Thomas, one of his twelve disciples, came to Kerala in the 1st century CE and in 52 CE set up a church at Pallayur in Trichur district. The ‘Bible’ is the holy book and the prayer house is the ‘Church’. Teaching: all are brothers and sisters, love even enemies and forgive those who err.
Key idea 2 : Islam and Zoroastrianism — Islam is a monotheistic religion; ‘Quran Sharif’ is the holy book and the prayer house the ‘Masjid’ (mosque). Islam means peace and surrender to Allah. India and Arabia had trade relations since ancient times; in the 7th century Islam reached India through Arab traders. The Parsees came from the Pars (Fars) province of Iran, hence ‘Parsee’; they are believed to have first come to Gujarat in the 8th century. Their founder was Zarathushtra; God is ‘Ahur Mazda’; scripture ‘Avesta’; fire and water are sacred; the temple is the ‘Agyari’; teaching — good thoughts, good words, good deeds.
Key idea 3 : Religious harmony — The philosophy of every religion is based on morality, peace and social justice. India has had religious tolerance since ancient times and all religions influenced its culture. Living in harmony with all religions is a trait of India; this is the idea of ‘Sarvadharmasambhav’ (equal respect for all religions). It keeps unity in diversity in our country.
- Easy : Which is the holy text of Judaism? — The Torah.
- Medium : What is the Parsee temple called? — Agyari.
- Exam-type : The Pallayur church is of which century? — 52 CE means the 1st century.
In the figure: Where and when Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Parsee religions came to India.
The Parsee tradition tells the ‘Story of Sanjan’ like this: when the Parsees reached Sanjan in Gujarat, its king Jadi Rana sent them a cup of milk filled to the brim, meaning ‘our kingdom is full’. A Parsee priest mixed sugar into it; the milk did not spill and became sweeter. It meant ‘we will blend with you and sweeten your life’. The king gave them shelter. This story is very popular among Parsees, but historians have not proved it.
Jews — Kochi; Christians — Kerala; Islam — Arab traders; Parsees — Gujarat.
These religions were not born in India; they came from outside and took root here. Religions born in India are Vedic, Jain and Buddhist.
Kochi-Kerala-Arab-Gujarat: Jewish, Christian, Islam, Parsee. Memory clue: ‘Good thoughts, words, deeds’ — the three Parsee principles.
Spot the difference
| Religion | Holy text | Prayer house |
|---|---|---|
| Judaism | Torah | Synagogue |
| Christianity | Bible | Church |
| Islam | Quran Sharif | Masjid |
| Zoroastrianism | Avesta | Agyari |
Practice questions
- 1Where may the Jewish people have come in India?
- 2Which church did St. Thomas set up?
- 3How did Islam come to India?
- 4Why are Parsees called ‘Parsee’?
- 5State the holy texts and prayer houses of four religions.
- 6State the meaning of ‘Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti’.
- 7What principles are common in the teachings of all religions?
- 8Write a five-line message on ‘Religious harmony’.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1At Kochi in Kerala.
- 2The church at Pallayur in Trichur district in 52 CE.
- 3In the 7th century through Arab traders.
- 4Because they came from the Pars (Fars) province of Iran.
- 5Jews — Torah, Synagogue; Christians — Bible, Church; Islam — Quran, Masjid; Parsees — Avesta, Agyari.
- 6Truth is one, the wise call it by many names.
- 7Morality, peace, tolerance, social justice and compassion.
- 8Write your own message; e.g. respect all religions, share in each other’s festivals, never look down on anyone.