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Encyclopedia > Dharmic religions
Part of a series on
Hinduism
History · Deities
Denominations · Mythology
Beliefs & practices
Reincarnation · Moksha
Karma · Puja · Maya
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Dharmic Religions ·
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Vigraha
Hinduism: Swastika

Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Image File history File links Aum. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Within Smarta Hinduism, a variety of forms of God are seen as aspects of the one impersonal divine ground, (Brahma) or Aum. ... Hinduism encompasses many movements and schools fairly organized within Hindu denominations. ... Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... Hindu philosophy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that some essential part of a living being (or in some variations, only human beings) can survive death in some form, with its integrity partly or wholly retained, to be reborn in a new... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Karma is a concept in Hinduism, based on the Vedas and Upanishads, which explains causality through a system where beneficial events are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful events from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a persons reincarnated lives. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflooding river Shipra. ... Maya (illusion) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Illustration depicting the transmigration of the soul. ... Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Vedanta (Devanagari: , ) is a school of philosophy within Hinduism. ... A woman practising hatha yoga Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a family of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ama (Ayurveda). ... yugas (Devnāgari: युग) In Hindu philosophy the cycle of evolution of life is divided into four yugs (epochs or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dvapara Yuga Kali Yuga // The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a continuous cycle of... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Vegetarianism For plant-eating, non-human animals, see Herbivore. ... Bhakti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Hindu scripture is overwhelmingly written in Sanskrit. ... The Upanishads (उपनिषद्, Upanişad) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ... The Brahmana (Sanskrit ब्राह्मण) are part of the Hindu Shruti; They are composed in Vedic Sanskrit, and the period of their composition is sometimes referred to as the Brahmanic period or age (approximately between 900 BC and 500 BC). ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... The (DevanāgarÄ«: ) is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the poet Valmiki and is an important part of the Hindu canon (smá¹›ti). ... Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra The (Devanagari: ), is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... The Aranyakas (Sanskrit आरण्यक, Forest Books, Forest Treatises) are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures are sometimes argued to be part of either the Brahmanas or Upanishads. ... The Shikshapatri is a text of two hundred and twelve verses, and was written by Shree Swaminarayan, a reforming Hindu from the Vaishnava tradition, who lived in Gujarat from 1781-1830 and who was recognised by his followers as a deity during his lifetime. ... The Vachanamrut The Vachanamrut or the nectarine discourses of Bhagwan Swaminarayan is the most sacred and foundational scripture of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. ... map showing the prevalence of Dharmic (yellow) and Abrahamic (purple) religions in each country. ... The percentage of Hindu population of each country was taken from the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2004. ... These are some of the most noteworthy Gurus and Saints of Hinduism: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Adi Shankara Amritanandamayi Baba Lokenath Brahmachari Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaj Bhagawan Nityananda Bhagwan Swaminarayan Chinmayananda Gurumayi Chidvilasananda Lahiri Mahasaya Madhvacharya Mahavatar Babaji Mother Meera Muktananda Narayana Guru Nimbarka Nisargadatta Maharaj Raghavendra Swami Ramakrishna... The Gopuram of temples, in south India, are adorned with colourful icons depicting a particular story surrounding the temples deity. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ... Glossary of terms in Hinduism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Nataraja is one of the most famous images of Lord Shiva Murtis (singular Murti, also spelled Murthi or Murthy) refers to deities or images used by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists during worship as points of devotional and meditational focus. ... Image File history File links HinduSwastika. ...

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map showing the prevalence of "Dharmic" (yellow) and "Abrahamic" (purple) religions in each country.
map showing the prevalence of "Dharmic" (yellow) and "Abrahamic" (purple) religions in each country.

Dharmic religions are a family of religions from India, encompassing Hinduism and the three related religions that have spawned from it. Dharmic religions are one of the two major schools of religion in the world, the other being Abrahamic religions. The theology and philosophy of Dharmic Religions center on the concept of Dharma, a Sanskrit term for "fixed decree, law, duty", especially in a spiritual sense of "natural law, reality". It is mostly influential across the Indian subcontinent, East Asia and South East Asia with influence felt throughout the world. These Dharmic religions are very closely interrelated. The main Dharmic religions are: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. [1][2][3] Image File history File links Abraham_Dharma. ... Image File history File links Abraham_Dharma. ... Map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (purple) and Dharmic (yellow) religions in each country. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (purple) and Dharmic (yellow) religions in each country. ... Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... East Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy, and a life-enhancing system of psychology. ... Jaina redirects here. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in sixteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ...

Contents

The Dharmic faiths

According to the Encarta encyclopedia published by Microsoft Corporation: Encarta is a digital multimedia encyclopedia published and updated frequently by Microsoft Corporation. ... Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), (founded 1975), headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, is the worlds largest software company (with over 50,000 employees in various countries, as of May 2004). ...

Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism share with Hinduism the concept of dharma along with other key concepts, and the four religions may be said to belong to the dharmic tradition. At one level Hinduism can refer to the beliefs or practices of followers of any of the dharmic traditions. The word Hinduism retains this sense in some usages in the Indian Constitution of 1950. In the field of religious studies, however, Hinduism is used in a narrower sense to distinguish it from the other religions of Indian origin. [4]

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism
See also: Shrauta

Hinduism (Devanagari: हिन्दू धर्मHindū Dharma or सनातन धर्मSanātana Dharma or the eternal dharma) is considered to be the oldest living religion in the world.[5][6] Unlike most other major religions, Hinduism has no single founder[7][8] and is based on a number of religious texts developed over many centuries that contain spiritual insights and practical guidance for religious life. Among such texts, the Vedas are the most ancient. Other scriptures include the eighteen Puranas and the epic poems Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Bhagavad Gita, which is contained within the Mahabharata, is a widely studied scripture that summarizes the spiritual teachings of the Vedas.[9] Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Shruti (what is heard) is a canon of Hindu scriptures. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Rigveda manuscript in Devanagari (early 19th century) DevanāgarÄ« (देवनागरी — in English pronounced ) (ISCII – IS13194:1991) [1] is an abugida alphabet used to write several Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Nepali from Nepal. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... Purana (Sanskrit पुराण, purāṇa, meaning ancient or old) is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Indian written literature (as distinct from oral literature). ... Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra The (Devanagari: ), is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . ... The (DevanāgarÄ«: ) is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the poet Valmiki and is an important part of the Hindu canon (smá¹›ti). ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra The (Devanagari: ), is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ...


Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 1 billion adherents (2005 figure), of whom approximately 890 million live in India.[10] Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... Billion may mean: 1,000,000,000 (one thousand million; ), used by most English-speaking countries (American and usual modern British meaning) 1,000,000,000,000 (one million million; ), used by most other countries outside Asia (older British meaning). ... One million (1000000), one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999999 and preceding 1000001. ...


Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism
Image:Buddha-Sarnath-sepia.jpg
A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found in Sarnath, near Varanasi.

Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma (Pali: धमा Dhamma), "the teachings of the awakened one") is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a way of life, a practical philosophy, and arguably a form of psychology. Buddhism focuses on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (Pali: Gotama Buddha), who was born in Kapilavastu, ancient India which now falls under modern day Nepal, with the name Siddhārtha Gautama (Pāli: Siddhattha Gotama) around the fifth century BCE[11]. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy, and a life-enhancing system of psychology. ... Standing Buddha sculpture, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ... Sarnath (formerly also Mrigadava, Rishipattana, Isipatana), located 13 kilometres from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded. ... VārāṇasÄ«   (HindÄ«: वाराणसी, UrdÅ«: وارانسی, IPA: ), also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras (HindÄ«: बनारस, UrdÅ«: بنارس, ; IPA: ), or Kashi or Kasi (काशी کاشی ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... Dharma (Sanskrit) or Dhamma (Pāli) in Buddhism has two primary meanings: the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment the constituent factors of the experienced world In East Asia, the character for Dharma is 法, pronounced fÇŽ in Mandarin and hō in Japanese. ... Pali may refer to: Pāli, a Middle Indo-Aryan language Pali, Rajasthan, a town and district in Rajasthan, western India Pali, a Hawaiian word, meaning cliffs Nuuanu Pali, a region on the Hawaiian island of Oahu Ballaleshwar Pali, the Ganapati temple of pali and place in Maharastra This is... Nontheism (or non-theism), broadly conceived, according to Caporale & Grumelli (1971) , is the absence of belief in both the existence and non-existence of a deity (or deities, or other numinous phenomena). ... The Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David (1787) depicts the philosopher Socrates carrying out his own execution. ... Psychology is an academic and applied field involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ... Standing Buddha sculpture, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ... Kapilvastu, formerly Taulihawa (or, Kapilbastu Kapilvastu District or Tilaurakot), aprox. ... Ancient India may refer to: the ancient History of India, which generally includes the ancient history of the whole Indian subcontinent the legendary Kingdoms of Ancient India in Sanskrit literature the Iron Age Mahajanapadas the Middle kingdoms of India of Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages Category: ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... 563 BCE: Siddhārtha Gautama, Buddha-to-be, is born in Lumbini, Ancient India. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... East Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms. ... 563 BCE: Siddhārtha Gautama, Buddha-to-be, is born in Lumbini, Ancient India. ...


Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into three traditions: Theravāda (Sanskrit: Sthaviravāda), Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Buddhism continues to attract followers worldwide, and it is considered a major world religion. According to one source ([6]), "World estimates for Buddhists vary between 230 and 500 million, with most around 350 million." However, estimates are uncertain for several countries. Buddhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world behind Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and traditional Chinese religion, respectively.[12] Buddhism is the fourth-largest organised religion in the world, and the monks' order Sangha is amongst the oldest organisations on earth. Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and continental Southeast Asia (parts of southwest China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia... Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... The percentage of Buddhist population of each country was taken from the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2004 [1]. Other sources used were CIA Factbook [2] and adherents. ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (مسلم), believe God (Arabic: الله ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Chinese folk religion comprises the religion practiced in much of China for thousands of years which included ancestor worship and drew heavily upon concepts and beings within Chinese mythology. ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ...


Jainism

Main article: Jainism
The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahimsa, meaning non-violence. The word in the middle is "ahimsa." The wheel represents the dharmacakra, to halt the cycle of reincarnation through relentless pursuit of truth.
The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahimsa, meaning non-violence. The word in the middle is "ahimsa." The wheel represents the dharmacakra, to halt the cycle of reincarnation through relentless pursuit of truth.

Jainism (pronounced in English as /ˈdʒeɪ.nɪzm̩/), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म), is a religion and philosophy originating in ancient India. A minority in modern India, with growing immigrant communities in the United States, Western Europe, Africa, the Far East and elsewhere, Jains continue to sustain the ancient Shraman (श्रमण) or ascetic tradition. Jaina redirects here. ... This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a moral philosophy that rejects the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political change, and proclaims others means such as disobedience or the power of persuasion. ... Ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life. ... The Dharmacakra (Sanskrit) or Dhammacakka (Pāli), Tibetan , Chinese fălún 法轮, Wheel of Dharma is an auspicious Buddhist symbol representing a Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightenment. ... Common dictionary definitions of truth mention some form of accord with fact or reality. ... The Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David (1787) depicts the philosopher Socrates carrying out his own execution. ... The history of India begins with the archaeological record of Homo sapiens ca. ... A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... The word ascetic derives from the ancient Greek term askesis (practice, training or exercise). ...


Jains have significantly influenced the religious, ethical, political and economic spheres in India for about three millennia. Jainism stresses spiritual independence and equality of all life with particular emphasis on non-violence. Self-control (व्रत, vratae) is vital for attaining Keval Gyan and eventually moksha, or realization of the soul's true nature. Ethics is a general term for what is often described as the science (study) of morality. In philosophy, ethical behavior is that which is good or right. ... Politics is the process by which decisions are made within groups. ... A millennium is a period of time, equal to one thousand years (from Latin mille, thousand, and annum, year). ... Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. ... EQUAL is a popular artificial sweetener Equal (sweetener) Equality can mean several things: Mathematical equality Social equality Racial equality Sexual equality Equality of outcome Equality, a town in Illinois See also Equity Egalitarianism Equals sign This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... self control is self imposed dicipline self control is exercising moderation in all things. ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...


The Jain Sangha (संघ), or community, has four components: monks (साधु), nuns (sadhvi), laymen, or Shravakas (श्रावक), and laywomen, (Shravikas). A Shravaka(श्रावक)follows basic principles or "Niyam". Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ... A monk is a person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. ... Nun in cloister, 1930; photograph by Doris Ulmann In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ... Sravaka (Sanskrit śrāvaka; Tibetan nyan thos; Pali sāvaka) is a hearer, a term applied to the personal disciples of the Buddha, distinguished as mahā-śrāvaka; it is also applied to hearers, or disciples in general; but its general connotation relates it...


Perhaps the smallest, Jainism is also the second-oldest Dharmic religion. It is a religious system that does not recognize a Godhead, and that reveres liberated souls known as Siddhas. The followers of Jainism firmly reject the Vedas, but strongly adhere to dharma, moksha and nirvana. Jaina redirects here. ... The Sanskrit word Siddha is derived from the word Siddhi meaning Perfection, referring to physical as well as spiritual perfection or enlightenment. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ... Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... [ (Devanagari , Pali: Nibbāna निब्बान -- Chinese: 涅槃; Pinyin: niè pán), literally extinction and/or extinguishing (ie, of the passions) is a mode of being that is free from mind-contaminants (Kilesa) such as lust, anger or craving. ...


Sikhism

Main article: Sikhism
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs. He is revered not only by Sikhs, but also by Hindus and Muslims in the Punjab and across the Indian subcontinent.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji[13] was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs. He is revered not only by Sikhs, but also by Hindus and Muslims in the Punjab and across the Indian subcontinent. [14]

Sikhism (IPA: ['siːkɪz(ə)m] or ['sɪk-] ; Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ, sikkhī, IPA: ['sɪk.kʰiː] ) is a religion that began in sixteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the teachings of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction."[15][16] Sikhism is the fifth-largest organised religion in the world. Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in sixteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... Guru Nanak Dev From [www. ... Guru Nanak Dev From [www. ... ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in sixteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 Punjab (Persian: ‎, meaning Land of the five Rivers) (c. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ... Image File history File links Seekism. ... Image File history File links Sikism. ... Punjabi (also Panjabi; in GurmukhÄ«, PanjābÄ« in ShāhmukhÄ«) is the language of the Punjabi people and the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. ... Image File history File links Sikkhi. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a rich, fertile and ancient land encompassing most of northern and eastern India, the most populous parts of Pakistan, and virtually all of Bangladesh. ... Satguru Nanak Dev Ji Satguru Nanak Dev Ji[1] (Gurmukhi:ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ, Devanagari:गुरू नानक देव, ); (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539), took birth in this world to re-establish Sanatan Dharma. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David (1787) depicts the philosopher Socrates carrying out his own execution. ... GURMAT (gur-mat, mat, Sanskrit mati, i. ... The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... The guru-shishya tradition (also guru-shishya parampara or lineage) is a spiritual relationship found within traditional Hinduism which is centered around the transmission of teachings from a guru (teacher, ) to a Å›iá¹£ya (disciple, ). The term shishya roughly equates to the western term disciple, and in some parts of... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ...


The principal belief in Sikhism is faith in one GodVāhigurū—represented using the sacred symbol of ēk ōaṅkār. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture—the Gurū Granth Sāhib—which includes the selected works of many authors from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. In theology, monotheism (Greek μόνος(monos) = single and θεός(theos) = God) is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God. ... Waheguru (Punjabi: , or , ) means The Wonderful Lord in the Punjabi language. ... Image:EkOngkar. ... Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. ... The Guru Granth Sahib (Punjabi: , ) — Granth is Punjabi for book; Sahib is Hindi meaning master, from Arabic, meaning companion, friend, owner, or master. ... Sobha Singh (painter)s impression of Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (Gurmukhi:ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ, Devanagari:गुरू गोबिन्द सिंह) (Born in Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666 as Gobind Rai – October 7, 1708, Nanded, Maharashtra, India) was the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on November 11, 1675... Khalsa Panth is the literal theocracy that manages the affairs of the Khalsa. ... Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 Punjab (Persian: ‎, meaning Land of the five Rivers) (c. ...


Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. However, most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India; prior to partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now the Punjab province of Pakistan. A Sikh (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent of Sikhism. ... Punjab   (Punjabi: , Hindi: , IPA: ) (Also spelled Panjab) is a state in northwest India. ... Britains holdings on the Indian subcontinent were granted independence in 1947 and 1948, becoming four new independent states: India, Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Pakistan (including East Pakistan, modern-day Bangladesh). ... The Punjab or Panjab   (Punjabi/Urdu: پنجاب) province of Pakistan is the countrys most populous region and is home to the Punjabis and various other groups. ...


Ayyavazhi

Main article: Ayyavazhi
The Symbol of Ayyavazhi, symbolising the ultimate aim of dharma experienced in Sahasrara
The Symbol of Ayyavazhi, symbolising the ultimate aim of dharma experienced in Sahasrara

Ayyavazhi (Tamil:அய்யாவழி – Path towards the Age of Dharma) is a religion which originated in South India in the mid-ninteenth century.[17][18][19] Ayyavazhi is not officially recognised as a separate religion by the government of India; its followers are counted with Hinduism during the Indian census.[20][21][22] Ayyavazhi is a bit exclusivistic but primarily Dharmic. The religion and its ideas are based on the religious texts of Ayyavazhi that contain spiritual insights and practical guidance for religious as well as social life. Ayyavazhi dharma is conceptualized in two ways: for acheiving social and spiritual goals. Ayyavazhi (IPA: )(Tamil:அய்யாவழி -Path of the father), is a monistic religion, originated in South India in the mid 19th century. ... Image File history File links Logo_of_Ayyavazhi. ... Image File history File links Logo_of_Ayyavazhi. ... The Symbol of Ayyavazhi The symbol of Ayyavazhi consist of a Lotusof 1008 petals carrying a Flame, in which the lotus represents the Sahasrathalam and the Flame represents Atman or Aanma. ... Ayyavazhi (IPA: )(Tamil:அய்யாவழி -Path of the father), is a monistic religion, originated in South India in the mid 19th century. ... Sahasrara is the highest primary chakra according to the Hindu Tantric tradition (Shakta). ... Ayyavazhi (IPA: )(Tamil:அய்யாவழி -Path of the father), is a monistic religion, originated in South India in the mid 19th century. ... Tamil may refer to: Tamil language, one of the Dravidian languages primarily spoken in South Asia Tamil script, primarily used to write the Tamil language Tamil people The word Tamil is also used as an adjective to qualify something of or pertaining to the Tamil people, culture, or language. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ...


Ayyavazhi is spread throughout India and it has more than 8000 worship centers across the nation. But the followers of Ayyavazhi are highly populated in southern parts of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.[23] Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...   (IPA: ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...


What is Dharma?

Main article: Dharma

The word Dharma (Sanskrit; "धर्म" in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, the dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism. Dharma also is practiced in the Surat Shabda Yoga traditions. In its oldest form, dharman, it first appears in the Vedas. Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... Rigveda manuscript in Devanagari (early 19th century) DevanāgarÄ« (देवनागरी — in English pronounced ) (ISCII – IS13194:1991) [1] is an abugida alphabet used to write several Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Nepali from Nepal. ... The word dharma (Sanskrit; धर्म in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. ... Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy, and a life-enhancing system of psychology. ... Jaina redirects here. ... Surat Shabd Yoga or Surat Shabda Yoga is a form of spiritual practice that is followed in the Sant Mat and many other related spiritual traditions. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ...


It is difficult to provide a single concise definition for Dharma (life fails to convey its connoted complexity). The word has a long and varied history and complex set of meanings and interpretations. Certain Westerners and Orientalists have proposed a number of possible translations, from "justice" to "religion", however these definitions have evolved with their associated usage in western culture. For other uses, see Life (disambiguation), Lives (disambiguation) or Living (disambiguation), Living Things (disambiguation) Look up life, living in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Western World. ... Orientalism is the study of Near and Far Eastern societies and cultures, by Westerners. ...


"Dharma" derives from the verbal root dhri, which simply means "manner of being." The term must therefore be understood in its original (i.e. metaphysical) context, that of a conformity to a divine or creative principle at work in an individual and in nature. It represents the individual's internal law, to which obedience must be given if that individual life is to live in accordance with a divine will. This is what Hindus consider the sole or primary purpose of life. It explains how justice finds its place among the many modern definitions of the word dharma.


Rene Guenon, father of the 20th century school of perennial philosophy, defines it as such: René Guénon (aka Sheikh Abd Al Wahid Yahya) (1886-1951) was a French-born author, philosopher, and social critic of the early 20th century. ... The Perennial Philosophy (Latin philosophia perennis) is the idea that a universal set of truths common to all people and cultures exists. ...

It [dharma] is, so to speak, the essential nature of a being, comprising the sum of its particular qualities or characteristics, and determining, by virtue of the tendencies or dispositions it implies, the manner in which this being will conduct itself, either in a general way or in relation to each particular circumstance. The same idea may be applied, not only to a single being, but also to an organized collectivity, to a species, to all the beings included in a cosmic cycle or state of existence, or even to the whole order of the universe; it then, at one level or another, signifies conformity with the essential nature of beings. (Guenon's "Introduction to the Study of Hindu Doctrines")

This said, certain Western definitions of the word must be considered in the light of this original definition—that is, as branches from a single root. Monier Monier-Williams, for example (while covering the entire scope it would seem), gives its primary definition as: Photo of Monier Monier-Williams by Lewis Carroll Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1819–1899) studied, documented and taught Asian languages in England, and compiled one of the most widely-used Sanskrit-English dictionaries. ...

that which is established or firm, steadfast decree, statute, ordinance, law; usage, practice, customary observance or prescribed conduct, duty; right, justice (often as a synonym of punishment); virtue, morality, religion, religious merit, good works,

of which the first, "that which is established or firm" seems to be the most ancient and etymological. Dharma is cognate with the Latin firmus, the origin of the word firm. Meanings related to law, morality, scripture, and teachings were probably acquired through analogy, by being regarded as firm and called as such. For the phenomenological or psychological meaning, see below. Not to be confused with Entomology, the study of insects. ... Cognate (Latin: cognatus co+gnatus, ie. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ...


Dr. David Frawley, an expert on Hindu philosophy and religion, describes Dharma as: Dr. David Frawley (born 1950 in Wisconsin, U.S.A.) is currently one of the worlds leading authors on Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Yoga, Ayurveda, and contemporary Indian politics. ...

a universal tradition has room for all faiths and all religious and spiritual practices regardless of the time or country of their origin. Yet it places religious and spiritual teachings in their appropriate place relative to the ultimate goal of Self-realization, to which secondary practices are subordinated. Sanatan Dharma also recognizes that the greater portion of human religious aspirations has always been unknown, undefined and outside of any institutionalized belief. Sanatan Dharma thereby gives reverence to individual spiritual experience over any formal religious doctrine. Wherever the Universal Truth is manifest; there is Sanatan Dharma—whether it is in a field of religion, art or science, or in the life of a person or community. Wherever the Universal Truth is not recognized, or is scaled down or limited to a particular group, book or person, even if done so in the name of God, there Sanatan Dharma ceases to function, whatever the activity is called.

According to the Natchintanai Scripture:

By the laws of Dharma that govern body and mind, you must fear sin and act righteously. Wise men by thinking and behaving in this way become worthy to gain bliss both here and hereafter.

Yama, the lord of death, is also known as Dharmaraj, since he works within the laws of karma and morality, regulated by divine principles. More familiar is the embodiment of Dharma in Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. The eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira was referred to as Dharmaraj owing to his steadfastness to Truth & Dharma. This article is about the deity Yama in Hinduism. ... Lord Sri Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ... Yudhisthira was the son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti. ...


In scripture translations dharma is often best left untranslated, as it has acquired a lively life of its own in English that is more expressive than any simplistic translation. Common translations and glosses include right way of living, divine law, path of righteousness, order, faith, natural harmony, rule, fundamental, and duty. Dharma may be used to refer to rules of the operation of the mind or universe in a metaphysical system, or to rules of comportment in an ethical system.


Status in India

Followers of the Jain and Sikh faiths are considered broader Hindus according to the social-fabric of India. An extra-judicial observation of the Supreme Court of India in 2005 stated that "Sikhs and Jains are part of the wider Hindu community." These two faiths are either regarded as subsects, or sub-castes of the broader Hindu religion, primarily due to the coherence in ideologies, interworship and social intermingling of the followers of these religions. The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. ...


Hinduism and Buddhism share many common features including Sanskrit, yoga, karma and dharma,Nirvana, moksha and reincarnation. India also is home to the government of Tibet in exile under Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... A woman practising hatha yoga Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a family of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. ... For other uses of the word, see karma (disambiguation). ... Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... [ (Devanagari , Pali: Nibbāna निब्बान -- Chinese: 涅槃; Pinyin: niè pán), literally extinction and/or extinguishing (ie, of the passions) is a mode of being that is free from mind-contaminants (Kilesa) such as lust, anger or craving. ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that some essential part of a living being (or in some variations, only human beings) can survive death in some form, with its integrity partly or wholly retained, to be reborn in a new... Official language Tibetan Headquarters Dharamsala Head of State (Dalai Lama) Tenzin Gyatso National Anthem Tibetan National Anthem, (Link) The Government of Tibet in Exile, officially named the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a theocratic government-like entity headed by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai... Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. ... The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933) In Tibetan Buddhism, the successive Dalai Lamas (Tibetan: ཏ་ཱལའི་བླ་མ་; Wylie: Taa-la’i Bla-ma; Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Dálài LÇŽmā) form a tulku lineage of Gelug leaders which trace back to 1391. ...

The Emblem of India is a replica of Ashoka Pillar
The Emblem of India is a replica of Ashoka Pillar

The tricolour Indian flag has the Ashoka Chakra (Wheel of Ashoka) in the central horizontal band. The Emblem of India is a replica of Ashoka Pillar. Photo from [1] All photos were taken by Jona Lendering and Marco Prins. ... Photo from [1] All photos were taken by Jona Lendering and Marco Prins. ... The Emblem of India The Emblem of India is a replica of the Ashoka Capital The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. ... Fragment of the 6th Pillar Edict of Ashoka (238 BCE), in Brahmi, sandstone. ... The Ashoka Chakra (Pronunced as Ashok Chakra, not Ashokaa Chakraa) is an ancient Indian depiction of the Wheel of Life and Cosmic Order (Sanskrit: Chakra, wheel. ... The Emblem of India The Emblem of India is a replica of the Ashoka Capital The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. ... Fragment of the 6th Pillar Edict of Ashoka (238 BCE), in Brahmi, sandstone. ...


Birth and history

Further information: Vedic civilization
Further information: Historical Vedic religion
Further information: History of Hinduism

The earliest ancestor of Dharmic religions was the Vedic religion of the Indo-Aryans who founded the Vedic civilization of ancient India. It, in turn, had its roots in the original Indo-Iranian religion of the Aryans, from which also sprang the Zoroastrian faith. Vedic religion laid the foundations to modern Hinduism. The four Vedas composed during the Vedic civilization, i.e. Rigveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda and Yajurveda form the holiest texts of Hinduism. The founders of all Dharmic reliigons have been influential Hindus who explored and concentrated on specific aspects of Hinduism to form a distinctive and relatively limited set of beliefs. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatama Gandhi and a Rajasthani tribesman The Indo-Aryans are the ethno-linguistic descendents of the Indic branch of the Indo-Iranians. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The history of India begins with the archaeological record of Homo sapiens ca. ... Indo-Iranian can refer to: The Indo-Iranian languages The prehistoric Indo-Iranian people, see Aryan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article is about the term Aryan. For Arian, a follower of the ancient Christian sect, See Arianism. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are the main scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as the Sanatana Dharma, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ... The Rigveda (Sanskrit: , a tatpurusha compound of praise, verse and knowledge) is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns dedicated to the gods. ... The Samaveda (Sanskrit: सामवेद, sāmaveda, a tatpurusha compound of ritual chant + knowledge ), is third in the usual order of enumeration of the four Vedas, the ancient core Hindu scriptures. ... The Atharvaveda (Sanskrit: अथर्ववेद, , a tatpurusha compound of , a type of priest, and meaning knowledge) is a sacred text of Hinduism, and one of the four Vedas, often called the fourth Veda. According to tradition, the Atharvaveda was mainly composed by two groups of rishis known as the Bhrigus and the... The Yajurveda (Sanskrit , a tatpurusha compound of sacrifice + veda knowledge) is one of the four Hindu Vedas. ...


Ancient Hindu kingdoms arose and spread the religion and traditions across South East Asia, particularly Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and what is now central Vietnam. A form of Hinduism different from Indian roots is practised in Bali, Indonesia, where Hindus form 90% of the population. Indian migrants have taken Hinduism and Hindu culture to South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and other countries in and around the Indian Ocean, and in the nations of the West Indies and the Caribbean. In addition, Hinduism does not allow conversion of individuals from other religions to it. The spread of Indian culture coupled with the non-conversion principles of Hinduism allowed later dharmic religions, like Buddhism, to be readily adopted by the natives who took to Indian culture but could not convert to Hinduism. These religions had similar features to those introduced by the ancient Hindu kingdoms which added to their popularity. Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Agama Hindu Dharma is the formal name of Hinduism in Indonesia. ... This is the current Indonesian Collaboration of the week. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... World map depicting Caribbean : West Indies redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy, and a life-enhancing system of psychology. ...


Exchanges with Abrahamic religions

Further information: Comparing Eastern and Western religious traditions

Dharmic religions and Abrahamic religions were conceived over 7,000 years ago in two opposite parts of Asia, and share a complex and conflicting dynamic. Possible connections between Indo-Aryan traditions and Hebrew culture may date back to Abraham himself, since the Mitanni influenced areas associated with him, notably Haran. The root of the words "Abraham" and "Brahma" (Hindu God of Creation) also appear to be the same[citation needed]. The inscriptions found from excavations in ancient Mitanni sites reveal agreements entered into by invoking the names of Vedic gods such as Mitra and Varuna, thus possibly indicating that the Vedic religion predated the Abrahamic religions by a fair amount of time. More direct connections would have followed the absorption of Judea into the Persian empire in which Zoroastrianism was the dominant faith. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... Mitanni or Mittani (in Assyrian sources Hanilgalbat, Khanigalbat) was a Hurrian kingdom in northern Mesopotamia (in what is today Syria) from ca. ... Haran (הָרָן) was a son of Terah, and brother of Nahor and Abram. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans[1]) and beyond. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ...


Some speculative writers have claimed that Jesus visited India and learned spiritual practices there from Buddhist and Hindu monks. There is a passage in Bhavishya Purana mentioning a man named Issa from the Middle East that have been used to support this theory. This and other passages in this particular Purana are however later insertions as seen from an Arabic-styled spelling. The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ...


In Indonesia, many Javanese Muslims practice a version of Islam deeply influenced by Indonesian Hinduism, and are known as Abangan. Javanese is a term used to describe a native of the Indonesian island of Java. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (مسلم), believe God (Arabic: الله ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ... Agama Hindu Dharma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Abangan form a large majorty of the Javanese Muslims. ...


Dharma and Taoism

Taoism, which is rooted in ancient Chinese philosophies, includes philosophical ideas which are similar to Dharmic concepts. In fact, the term 'Tao' itself has been translated by some Chinese scholars as 'The Way' or 'The Natural Way' -- much in the manner of some translations of 'Dharma'. Taoism (sometimes written as and actually pronounced as Daoism (dow-ism)) is the English name for: Dao Jia [philosophical tao] philosophical school based on the texts the Tao Te Ching (ascribed to Laozi [Lao Tzu] and alternately spelled Dào Dé Jīng) and the Zhuangzi; a family of organized...


Dharma and Zoroastrianism

Both Hinduism and Zoroastrianism are descended from the Indo-Iranian religion of the Aryan tribes who migrated to both Persia and India. As a result, they share many similarities, including language, scripture, ceremonies, and traditions. The moral law of Zoroastrianism, "Daena" (Good Religion), is similar in many ways to the Hindu Dharma. However, as the Zoroastrian faith does not descend from the Vedic school of Indo-Iranian theology, it is not considered a Dharmic faith. Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... The ancient Indo-Iranians were the founders of Persia and of Indian Vedic culture. ... Aryan () is an English language word derived from the Sanskrit and Iranian terms ārya-, the extended form aryāna-, ari- and/or arya- (Sanskrit: आर्य, Persian: آریا). Beyond its use as the ethnic self-designation of the Proto-Indo-Iranians, the meaning noble/spiritual has been attached to it in Sanskrit and... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... Dharma (Sanskrit धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Indo-Iranian can refer to: The Indo-Iranian languages The prehistoric Indo-Iranian people, see Aryan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The word Dharmic is an adjective of the word Dharma. ...


See also

Map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (purple) and Dharmic (yellow) religions in each country. ... This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... The ancient Indo-Iranians were the founders of Persia and of Indian Vedic culture. ...

References

  1. ^ [1] From the River of Heaven: Hindu and Vedic Knowledge for the Modern Age by David Frawley
  2. ^ [2] Pagan Theology: paganism as a world religion by Michael York
  3. ^ [3] List of religions
  4. ^ [4] MSN Encarta: The Dharmic Tradition
  5. ^ An Introduction to Hinduism, "The Origin of Hinduism" on About.com
  6. ^ Hinduism and the Clash of Civilizations by David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri)
  7. ^ Osborne, E: "Accessing R.E. Founders & Leaders, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism Teacher's Book Mainstream.", page 9. Folens Limited, 2005
  8. ^ Klostermaier, K:"A Survey of Hinduism", page 1. SUNY Press, 1994.
  9. ^ See Gītā Dhyānam
  10. ^ Adherents
  11. ^ http://indology.info/papers/cousins/
  12. ^ Garfinkel, Perry. "Buddha Rising." National Geographic Dec. 2005: 88-109.
  13. ^ Nanak may be referred to by many names and titles such as Baba Nanak or Nanak Shah.
  14. ^ Duggal, Kartar Singh (1988). Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism. Himalayan Institute Press, xxii. ISBN 0-89389-109-6.
  15. ^ Singh, Khushwant (2006). The Illustrated History of the Sikhs. India: Oxford University Press, 15. ISBN 0-19-567747-1.
  16. ^ (Punjabi) Nabha, Kahan Singh (1930). Gur Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh/ਗੁਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਰਤਨਾਕਰ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼ (in Punjabi), 720. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
  17. ^ V.T.Chellam's Thamizhaga Varalarum Panbadum, Page 492, "Ayyavazhi religion gets originated."
  18. ^ G.Patrick's Religion and Subaltern Agency, Chapter 5, Page 91 "By the middle of the nineteenth century, AV had come to be a recognisable religious phenomenon, making its presence felt in South Tiruvitankur and in the southern parts of Tirunelveli."
  19. ^ Samuel Mateer, The Land of Charity, [5] page 222 - 223.
  20. ^ Dr.R.Ponnu's, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and the Struggle for Social Equality in South India, Ram Publishers, 2000, Page 64, Birth of a New Sect. (This book says that Ayyavazhi was a sect of Hinduism, Officially which indirectly states that Ayyavazhi followers are counted with Hinduism during Census)
  21. ^ Madurai News Letter, Thozhamai Illam, Kanyakumari, Page 9. This site (News letter) tells about a discussion in swamithoppe, and Ayyavazhi as an important sect of Hinduism See this Pdf
  22. ^ Dr.R.Ponnu's, Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality in South India, Ram Publishers, 2000, Page 98.
  23. ^ V.T. Chellam's, Thamizhaka Varalarum Panpadum Chapter 12, Page 494 "The refined religious system by Vaikunda Samikal spread in the Southern districts of Thiruvithancore and Tamil Nadu."

Marios caricature of Khushwant Singh, sitting next to a pile of books, a bottle of scotch, and a girlie magazine Khushwant Singh (Punjabi: , born February 2, 1915 in Punjab) is one of Indias most prominent Indian novelists and journalists. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ...

Further reading

  • Eastern Religion: Origins - Beliefs - Practices - Holy Texts - Sacred Places, ed. Michael Coogan. Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-19-522191-5

  Results from FactBites:
 
Dharmic religions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2102 words)
Dharmic religions are a family of religions from India, beginning from Hinduism and 3 others which have spawned from it.
Having its foundations in the Vedic religion of the Indo-Aryans, Hindu philosophy represents a microcosm for the complex and diverse body of theology and philosophy indicated by the term 'Dharmic faiths'.
The earliest ancestor of Dharmic religions was the Vedic religion of the ancient Vedic civilization in ancient India.
Dharmic religions at AllExperts (1608 words)
Dharmic religions are a family of religions whose theology and philosophy center on the concept of Dharma, a Sanskrit term for "fixed decree, law, duty", especially in a spiritual sense of "natural law, reality".
Dharmic faiths have a close and irreversible influence with the history, society and cultures of India and every other Asian nation they have proliferated into.
Dharmic religions and Abrahamic religions were conceived over 7,000 years ago in two opposite parts of Asia, and share a complex and conflicting dynamic.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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