India is probably the only country with
the largest and most diverse mixture of races. All the five major racial
types - Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian and Negroid - find
representation among the people of India.
India is perhaps the most culturally diverse country of the world. Once
can find representation from almost all the major religions in India
Hinduism:
The Hindu religion had its origin in the concepts of the early Aryans
who came to India more than 4,000 years ago. It is not merely a religion
but also philosophy and a way of life. Hinduism does not originate in
the teachings of any one prophet or holy book. It respects other
religions and does not attempt to seek converts. It teaches the
immortality of the human soul and three principal paths to ultimate
union of the individual soul with the all-pervasive spirit.
The essence of Hindu faith is embodied in the Lord's Song, the Bhagavad
Gita: "He who considers this (self) as a slayer or lie who thinks
that this (self) is slain, neither knows the Truth. For it does not
slay, nor is it slain. This (self) is unborn, eternal, changeless,
ancient, it is never destroyed even when the body is destroyed".
Jainism and Buddhism:
In the sixth century before Christ, Mahavira propagated Jainism. Its
message was asceticism, austerity and non-violence. At about the same
time, Buddhism came into being Gautama Buddha, a prince, renounced the
world and gained enlightenment. He preached that 'Nirvana' was to be
attained through the conquest of self. Buddha's teachings in time spread
to China and some other countries of South-East Asia.
Islam:
Arab traders brought Islam to South India in the seventh century. After
them came the Afghan the seventh century. After them came the Afghans
and the Moghuls, among whom the most enlightens was the Emperor Akbar.
Akbar almost succeeded in founding a new religion Din-e-Elahi, based on
both Hinduism and Islam, but it found few adherents. Islam has
flourished in India through the centuries. Muslim citizens have occupied
some of the highest positions in the country since independence in 1947.
Sikhism:
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism in the 15-century, stressed the
unity of God and the The Sisganj Gurudwara in Delhi, an important Sikh
shrine brotherhood of man. Sikhism, with its affirmation of as the one
supreme truth and its ideals of discipline and spiritual striving, soon
won many followers. It was perhaps possible only in this hospitable land
that two religions as diverse as Hinduism and Islam could come could
come together in a third, namely Sikhism.
Christianity:
Christianity reached India not long after Christ's own lifetime, with
the arrival of St. Thomas, the Apostle. The Syrian Christian Church in
the south traces its roots to the visit of St. Thomas. With the arrival
of St. Francis Xavier in 1542 the Roman Catholic faith was established
in India. Today Christians of several denominations practice their faith
freely.
Judaism:
Jewish contact with the Malabar Coast in Kerala dates back to 973 BC
when King Solomon's merchant fleet began trading for spices and other
fabled treasures. Scholars say that the Jews first settled in
Cranganore, soon after the Babylonian onquest of Judea in 586 BC. The
immigrants were well received and a Hindu king granted to Joseph Rabban,
a Jewish leader, a title and a principality.
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