Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Religions in India
Religions in India
Christianity
Two major divisions – the Roman Catholic Church and
the Protestant church.
According to tradition, Christianity was brought to India
by Saint Thomas in the 100 A.D.
to legends, the Parthian king Gondophernes sent a
messenger to Syria to look for a skilful architect who would
build for him a new city, who returned with St. Thomas,
who converted him and many members of his court to
Christianity.
The truth of the legend is doubtful. It was most probably
the frequent trade and movement between India and the
west which was responsible for bringing this disciple of
Lord Christ to India.
Tomas preached Christianity in many parts of India &
was killed at Mylapore, near Madras. The tomb of St.
Thomas is still to be found at the same place.
A large community of Christians known as Syrian
Christians continues to reside in Kerala even today.
Sikhism
Started by Guru Nanak & was preached by
subsequent gurus till tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh; with
basic beliefs as:
i.Formless god
ii.Equality of all mankind
iii.Need of a Guru
iv.Pahul tradition
The fifth guru, Guru Arjun Dev, gave the Sikhs three
things viz.
Zoroastrianism
Founded by Zarathushtra or Zoroaster, in 8 century BC.
th
Bhakti Movement
In northern India, it developed into two
streams, nirguna bhakti and saguna bhakti.
Nirguna bhaktas – Devotees of a formless God even
while calling him variously as Rama, Govinda, Hari or
Raghunatha. The most conspicuous among them were
Kabir and Nanak
Saguna bhaktas – Devotees of Rama, the son of
Dasharatha, or Krishna, the son of Devaki and Vasudeva
Tulsidas, who idolised Rama in his famous Ramcharita Manas
Judaism
Indian Jews are a religious minority of India. Judaism was
one of the first foreign religions to arrive in India.
Of the total Jewish population in India, about half live in
Manipur & Mizoram and a quarter live in the city of
Mumbai.
In Kerala a community of Jews can be seen at Kannur
(Kodungalloor) and Kochi
BAHA’I Faith
Youngest of the world’s independent religion. India was
the 6th country to have the Baha’i Faith introduced to it.
Very small %age of population in India follows Baha’i Faith.
Baha’i House of worship in Delhi, popularly known as the
Lotus Temple is a prominent attraction in Delhi. It was
completed in 1986 and serves as the mother temple of the
Indian subcontinent.
Vaishnavism & Shaivism in South India
Vaishnavism
Panini’s
Ashtadhyayi worshippers of Vasudeva (Krishna)
Shaivism