Religions
Religions
Major Religions – Origin and Founders
| Religion | Founder / Origin | Time Period | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | No single founder | Ancient (before 1500 BCE) | Oldest living religion, based on Vedas and Upanishads |
| Jainism | Lord Mahavira (24th Tirthankara) | 6th Century BCE | Revived Jain philosophy of non-violence |
| Buddhism | Lord Buddha (Gautama Siddhartha) | 6th Century BCE | Born at Lumbini, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya |
| Islam | Prophet Muhammad | 7th Century CE | Originated in Mecca, reached India in 8th Century CE |
| Sikhism | Guru Nanak Dev Ji | 15th Century CE | Ten Gurus, Guru Granth Sahib as holy scripture |
Memory Tip: JAIN–BUDDHA–HINDU all started in India. ISLAM came from Arabia. SIKHISM started in Punjab.
Main Teachings and Beliefs
| Religion | Main Teachings |
|---|---|
| Hinduism | Karma, Dharma, Moksha, Rebirth, Vedas and Puranas |
| Jainism | Ahimsa, Anekantavada, Triratna (Right Faith, Knowledge, Conduct) |
| Buddhism | Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Middle Path |
| Islam | Five Pillars, One God (Allah), Holy Quran |
| Sikhism | One God, Equality, Seva, Langar, Guru Granth Sahib |
Exam Tip: Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path are always from Buddhism.
Unity in Diversity
- India is the home of many religions living together.
- All religions teach values like truth, peace, love and service.
- Major festivals: Diwali (Hindu), Eid (Islam), Christmas (Christian), Gurpurab (Sikh), Buddha Purnima (Buddhist).
- This diversity strengthens national unity.
Memory Tip: Different faiths but one nation – this is India.
Bhakthi Movement
- Started in South India around 7th Century CE.
- Alvars – Devotees of Lord Vishnu
- Nayanars – Devotees of Lord Shiva
- Main saints: Kabir, Ravidas, Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsidas, Chaitanya, Namdev, Tukaram
- Used local languages to spread devotion.
- Opposed caste discrimination and rituals.
Exam Tip: Alvars = Vishnu Devotees, Nayanars = Shiva Devotees.
Sufi Movement
| Sufi Saint | Place | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti | Ajmer | Chishti |
| Nizamuddin Auliya | Delhi | Chishti |
| Baba Farid | Punjab | Chishti |
| Salim Chishti | Fatehpur Sikri | Chishti |
- Focused on love, humanity and God.
- Used Qawwali (music) for spiritual teaching.
Common Features of Bhakthi and Sufi Movements
- They opposed caste discrimination.
- They preached equality of all humans.
- They used local languages instead of Sanskrit, Arabic or Persian.
- They promoted Hindu–Muslim unity.
Memory Tip: Both movements promoted love, peace and brotherhood.
Role of Women in Bhakthi Movement
| Woman Saint | Region | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Mirabai | Rajasthan | Devoted to Lord Krishna, composed devotional songs |
| Andal | Tamil Nadu | Only female Alvar saint |
| Lalla Ded | Kashmir | Preached equality and devotion |
| Akka Mahadevi | Karnataka | Follower of Lord Shiva, opposed social restrictions |
Important: These women saints proved women can achieve spiritual equality.
Regional & Andhra Integration
- Sri Veeresalingam Pantulu promoted social reforms inspired by religious values in Andhra region.
- Bhakthi movement strongly influenced Telugu literature and temple culture.
- Kuchipudi dance has many themes from Hindu religious stories.
- Temples like Sri Venkateswara Temple (Tirumala) and Kanaka Durga Temple (Vijayawada) show strong religious diversity and unity.
Regional Note: Andhra is known for Bhakthi literature through poets like Annamacharya.