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Hindu:
The word Hindu originally meant people living on
the banks of the river Sindhu. Now it has
religious-cum-philosophical connotations. The
roots of Hindu Philosophy are the ideas of the
Vedas. The Vedas are called Shruti or `that
which is heard' and are regarded as revelations
to sages passed down orally to disciples and
students. Such ideas led to the Samkhya system
of philosophy, which is astik (Theist), rational
and systematic in its approach. The sage Kapila
of 7th century BC is considered to be its
founder.
Christianity:
Christianity is not native to the Indian soil,
although there have been Christian communities
in Kerala almost since the founding of the
religion by Jesus Christ. Born in Bethlehem, to
Mary and Joseph (who was a carpenter), Jesus
spread love and mercy to all. In the environment
of the Roman Empire, his message acquired a
unique force of its own, the powers-that-be had
him crucified after he had been betrayed to them
by one of his own disciples. But he rose from
his tomb and this Resurrection gave new strength
to his other followers, who went on spreading
his message.
Sikhism:
Sikh philosophy is a young, indigenous,
monotheistic one. Guru Nanak (1469-1539) who was
trying to unite Hinduism and Islam, founded the
Sikh religious order. The word `Sikh' derives
from the Sanskrit word shishya or disciple. Sikh
philosophy is a set of ideas developed by ten
gurus or teachers and passed on to their
shishyas or disciples. It conceives of God as
nirakara or formless and also as one. It admits
of no idols or superstitions, whether Hindu or
Islamic. It recognizes all human beings to be
equal. However it retains certain Hindu ideas,
such as those of the immortality of the soul, of
transmigration and karma. The sacred book of the
Sikhs is the Adi Granth or Granth Sahib
(completed in 1604), of which the Japji section
was written by Guru Nanak himself.
Islam:
Islam had its genesis outside India, in what is
now Saudi Arabia. Followers of this faith are
called Muslims. Islam was basically propounded
by prophet Mohammad (born around 570A.D. in
Mecca), although the belief is that it was
brought to the world by Adam and different
messengers were sent by God to preach this
lesson and Mohammad was the one who came last.
In other words, Mohammad gave the final form to
an already existing religion. Muslims are also
referred to as Mohammedans. |
