Religion In India
By 250 B.C. the 2 major religions in India were Buddhism and Hinduism. The two religions were not widely practiced by the common people, because the requirements were difficult to follow, like self-denial in Buddhism, and were mainly practiced by priests and leaders, like Hinduism. This soon changed during the Mauryan Empire's reign.
Buddhism
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who lived from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Gautama taught that the goal of following Buddhism was to reach a higher state called Nirvana and become filled with peace. In order to reach Nirvana one had to reject all pleasures and the sensory world and become spiritually enlightened. This philosophy was very difficult for the common person to practice, as rejecting all pleasures of life is a hard thing for most people to do. After Gautama, called the Buddha, died, his followers gradually changed the teachings of Buddhism and taught new ideas like multiple Buddhas that helped all people reach salvation. These new ideas helped the populace to accept Buddhism, and allowed popular worship.
When Ashoka, the third Mauryan emperor, made Buddhism the national religion of the Mauryan Empire, India soon became a Buddhist nation, and many people converted to Buddhism. As Buddhism spread, it inspired Indian art and the construction of stupas and temples began throughout the empire. Huge statues of Buddha were carved into mountains and rocks. The popularity of Buddhism in India also influenced other countries as well. Trade with other Asian countries like China and nations in southeast Asia spread Buddhism, eventually spreading into Japan and developing into Zen Buddhism. Large stupa complexes in southeast Asia like Thailand and Burma show how Buddhism influenced those cultures.
When Ashoka, the third Mauryan emperor, made Buddhism the national religion of the Mauryan Empire, India soon became a Buddhist nation, and many people converted to Buddhism. As Buddhism spread, it inspired Indian art and the construction of stupas and temples began throughout the empire. Huge statues of Buddha were carved into mountains and rocks. The popularity of Buddhism in India also influenced other countries as well. Trade with other Asian countries like China and nations in southeast Asia spread Buddhism, eventually spreading into Japan and developing into Zen Buddhism. Large stupa complexes in southeast Asia like Thailand and Burma show how Buddhism influenced those cultures.
Hinduism
Before and during the Mauryan Empire, Hinduism was only practiced by priests and some devoted followers because of the complicated rituals and sacrifices required by the religion. But after the fall of the Mauryan Empire and the popularity of Buddhism, Hinduism also started to change. It started leaning towards monotheism, the idea that there is only one god. Originally, Hindu followers worshiped thousands of diverse gods, with the three main ones being Brahma, the creator of the world, Vishnu, the preserver of life, and Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance and evil. During the Gupta Empire, however, the religion emphasized the idea that all the gods are actually incarnations of one great entity, and the entity's three major forms are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. This increased its popularity, and the personal connection that stories and legends gave the gods also helped Hinduism regain interest in the populace. Soon Hinduism became widely worshiped as well.
Hinduism is widely practiced in India today, and its influence can be felt mainly through the caste system. The caste system is a ranking that divides the people into separate classes, and people in different classes generally cannot talk, interact, or marry each other. The very bottom caste, called the "untouchables", are pretty much shunned from Indian society. Although today India has almost gotten rid of the caste system, many Hindus still practice it and discriminate against lower castes.
The legacy of the culture, religions, advancements, and people of the Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties still lives on today. Click on the link to see how and why these ancient Empires affect today's India and the world.
Hinduism is widely practiced in India today, and its influence can be felt mainly through the caste system. The caste system is a ranking that divides the people into separate classes, and people in different classes generally cannot talk, interact, or marry each other. The very bottom caste, called the "untouchables", are pretty much shunned from Indian society. Although today India has almost gotten rid of the caste system, many Hindus still practice it and discriminate against lower castes.
The legacy of the culture, religions, advancements, and people of the Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties still lives on today. Click on the link to see how and why these ancient Empires affect today's India and the world.