An Indian Muslim couple weds on the bank of Karnataka's Tungabhadra River. Behind them, a Hindu man takes his ritual bath.

Religion is integral to Indian life; shown are roadside Hindu and Christian shrines in Jammu and Kashmir.

Religion in India ranks among the world's most ancient and varied. The Indian subcontinent spawned the Dharmic religions, which compose one of the world's three major schools of religion. Vedic religion gave rise to what is now the oldest extant and third-largest religion, Hinduism; almost 900 million of its one billion adherents live in the Republic of India.^[1] The other major Dharmic religions, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, each have millions of Indian followers. The Abrahamic religions of Islam and Christianity, spread by missionary activity and conquest over many centuries, are the two largest non-native religions. Image File history File linksMetadata Muslim_wedding_in_India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Muslim_wedding_in_India. ... , Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... The Tungabhadra is a river of southern India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x720, 110 KB) Credit: Baba Steve source: http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x720, 110 KB) Credit: Baba Steve source: http://www. ... This article is about the area controlled by India. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... The image above is proposed for deletion. ... This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... Jain and Jaina redirect here. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is...

More than four-fifths of Indians practice Hinduism. Islam, practised by around one-sixth of the population, is the most prevalent minority religion. Christianity and Sikhism are each practised by around 2% of Indians.^[2] About 1.1% practise Buddhism and 0.4% practise Jainism. Zoroastrianism and Judaism have a centuries-long history in India; each has several thousand Indian adherents. Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

More than nine-tenths of Indians state that religion plays a key role in their lives.^[3] Though inter-religious marriages are generally taboo^{[citation needed]}, Indians are generally tolerant of other religions and retain a secular outlook. Inter-community clashes have never found widespread support in the social mainstream, and it is generally perceived that its causes are political rather than ideological in nature. India's religious diversity extends to the highest levels of government; the Prime Minister of India is a Sikh, the President of India is a Hindu, and the chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is a Christian. The Constitution of India declares the nation to be a secular republic that must uphold the right of citizens to freely worship and propagate any religion or faith.^[4][5] The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the Government of India. ... The President of India (Hindi: Rashtrapati) is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ... United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is the present ruling coalition of political parties in India. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Indian Secularism refers to the secularism as practiced by the Government of India. ...

History

See also: Religious thinkers of India

Human figures and prehistoric animals as portrayed by the bruised-rock artwork at the Bhimbetka shelters.

Evidence attesting to prehistoric religion in the Indian subcontinent derives from scattered Mesolithic rock paintings depicting dances and rituals. Neolithic pastoralists inhabiting the Indus River Valley buried their dead in a manner suggestive of spiritual practices that incorporated notions of an afterlife and belief in magic.^[6] Other South Asian Stone Age sites, such as the Bhimbetka rock shelters in central Madhya Pradesh and the Kupgal petroglyphs of eastern Karnataka, contain rock art portraying religious rites and evidence of possible ritualised music.^[7] India has been home to a large number of religious thinkers and spiritualists. ... Image File history File links Bhimbetka rock paintng. ... Image File history File links Bhimbetka rock paintng. ... // The term Neolithic religion summarily refers to hypotheses concerning religious behaviour of the peoples of the Neolithic period and technology, especially in the Levant and Europe. ... The Mesolithic (Greek mesos=middle and lithos=stone or the Middle Stone Age[1]) was a period in the development of human technology between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods of the Stone Age. ... An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... The Indus River (Urdu: Sindh; Sindhi: Sindhu; Sanskrit and Hindi: सिन्धु ; Persian: حندو ; Pashto: ّآباسنFather of Rivers; Tibetan: Lion River; Chinese: Yìndù; Greek: Ινδός Indos) is the longest and most important river in Pakistan and one of the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent and has given the country India its... The Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in South Asia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... , Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP)   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... The Kupgal petroglyphs are works of rock art found at Kupgal in Bellary district of Karnataka, India. ...

The Harappan people of the Indus Valley Civilisation, which lasted from 3300–1700 BCE and was centered around the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra river valleys, may have worshiped an important mother goddess symbolising fertility.^[8] Excavations of Indus Valley Civilisation sites show seals with animals and "fire‑altars", indicating rituals associated with fire. A linga-yoni of a type similar to that which is now worshiped by Hindus has also been found. Location of Harappa in the Indus Valley. ... The Indus Valley Civilization existed along the Indus River and the Vedic Sarasvati River in present-day Pakistan. ... The Indus River (Urdu: Sindh; Sindhi: Sindhu; Sanskrit and Hindi: सिन्धु ; Persian: حندو ; Pashto: ّآباسنFather of Rivers; Tibetan: Lion River; Chinese: Yìndù; Greek: Ινδός Indos) is the longest and most important river in Pakistan and one of the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent and has given the country India its... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A Cucuteni culture statuette, 4th millennium BC. A mother goddess is a goddess, often portrayed as the Earth Mother, who serves as a general fertility deity, the bountiful embodiment of the earth. ... Linga worship (Estate of Cynthia and Harlen Welsh) Lingam or Linga is the Sanskrit word for mark. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Indus Valley Civilisation "Priest King" statue from Mohenjo-daro, circa 2500 BCE.

Hinduism's origins include cultural elements of the Indus Valley Civilisation, the Vedic religion of the Indo-Aryans, and other Indian civilisations. The oldest surviving text of Hinduism is the Rigveda, produced during the Vedic period and dated to 1700–1100 BCE.^γ[›][9] During the Epic and Puranic periods, the earliest versions of the epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata were written roughly from 500–100 BCE,^[10] although these were orally transmitted for centuries prior to this period.^[11] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (584x754, 75 KB) als „Priesterkönig“ gedeutete Steinfigur der Indus-Kultur aus Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan) Quelle: [1] Fotograf: Mamoon Mengal File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Indus... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (584x754, 75 KB) als „Priesterkönig“ gedeutete Steinfigur der Indus-Kultur aus Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan) Quelle: [1] Fotograf: Mamoon Mengal File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Indus... The Indus Valley Civilization existed along the Indus River and the Vedic Sarasvati River in present-day Pakistan. ... Mohenjo-daro (literally, mound of the dead), like Harappa, was a city of the Indus Valley civilization. ... This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... Ä€rya is a Sanskrit (आर्य) and Avestan word used by Hindus, Jains, Zoroastrians, and Buddhists. ... The Rigveda (Sanskrit , a compound of praise, verse[1] and knowledge) is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns dedicated to the gods. ... The Vedic period (or Vedic Age) is the period in the history of India when the sacred Vedic Sanskrit texts such as the Vedas were composed. ... The Puranas are part of Hindu Smriti; these religious scriptures discuss devotion and mythology. ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ...

After 200 CE, several schools of thought were formally codified in Indian philosophy, including Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva-Mimamsa and Vedanta.^[12] Hinduism, otherwise a highly theistic religion, hosted atheistic schools; the thoroughly materialistic and anti-religious philosophical Carvaka school that originated in India around the 6th century BCE is probably the most explicitly atheistic school of Indian philosophy. Carvaka is classified as a nastika ("heterodox") system; it is not included among the six schools of Hinduism generally regarded as orthodox. It is noteworthy as evidence of a materialistic movement within Hinduism.^[13] Our understanding of Carvaka philosophy is fragmentary, based largely on criticism of the ideas by other schools, and it is no longer a living tradition.^[14] Other Indian philosophies generally regarded as atheistic include Classical Samkhya and Purva Mimamsa. The term Indian philosophy may refer to any of several traditions of philosophical thought, including: Hindu philosophy Buddhist philosophy Jain philosophy Sikh philosophy Carvaka atheist philosophy Lokayata materialist philosophy Tantric religious philosophy Bhakti religious philosophy Sufi religious philosophy Ahmadi religious philosophy Political and military philosophy such as that of Chanakya... Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: सांख्य, IAST: Sāṃkhya - Enumeration) is one of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy. ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... (Sanskrit ni-āyá, literally recursion, used in the sense of syllogism, inference)) is the name given to one of the six orthodox or astika schools of Hindu philosophy—specifically the school of logic. ... Vaisheshika, also Vaisesika, (Sanskrit: वैशॆषिक)is one of the six Hindu schools of philosophy (orthodox Vedic systems) of India. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Atheism (Sanskrit: , lit. ... In philosophy, materialism is that form of physicalism which holds that the only thing that can truly be said to exist is matter; that fundamentally, all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions; that matter is the only substance. ... Carvaka (also spelled Charvaka, Sanskrit ) is a system of Indian philosophy that assumed various forms of philosophical skepticism and religious indifference. ... Nastika is a Sanskrit term meaning: It is the antonym of astika, or one who asserts. ... Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: सांख्य, IAST: Sāṃkhya - Enumeration) is one of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ...

Buddhism and Jainism adapted elements of Hinduism into their beliefs. Jainism's founder, Mahavira (599–527 BC, though possibly 549–477 BC), stressed five vows, including ahimsa (non-violence) and asteya (non-stealing). The historical Gautama Buddha, who founded Buddhism, was born to the Shakya clan just before Magadha (which lasted from 546–324 BCE) rose to power. His family was native to the plains of Lumbini, in what is now southern Nepal. The Sakyas claimed to be avatars of Vishnu. Indian Buddhism peaked during the reign of Asoka the Great of the Mauryan Empire, who patronised Buddhist teachings and unified the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE. He sent missionaries abroad, allowing Buddhism to spread across Asia.^[15] Indian Buddhism declined following the loss of royal patronage offered by the Kushan Empire and such kingdoms as Magadha and Kosala. Idol of Lord Mahavira at Shri Mahaveerji (the holy town in Rajasthan named after Mahavira. ... Ahimsa (Devanagari: ; IAST ) is a Sanskrit term meaning non-violence (literally: the avoidance of violence - himsa). ... Asteya is a Sanskrit word meaning avoidance of stealing or non-stealing. In Jainism, it is one of the five vows that all sravakas and shravikas as well as sadhus and sadhvis must take. ... Image:StandngBuddha. ... Śākya (Sanskrit) or Sakya (Pāli) is the name (derived from Sanskrit Å›akya, capable, able) of an Indo-Aryan-speaking nation or janapada of the (the so-called warrior caste). The Śākyas formed independent tribes or kingdoms near the foothills of the Himālayas. ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... Lumbini (Sanskrit for the lovely) is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in Rupandehi District, Lumbini Zone of Nepal near the Indian border. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being or Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavas and a manifestation of Brahman in the Advaita or Smarta traditions. ... A fresco from the Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, India, once a gathering places for Buddhist monks. ... This article is about Ashoka, the emperor. ... The Mauryan empire (321 to 185 BCE), at its largest extent around 230 BCE. The Lion Capital of Asoka, erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... For other uses, see Dharma (disambiguation). ... A fresco from the Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, India, once a gathering places for Buddhist monks. ... Boundary of the Kushan empire, c. ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... Kosala was an ancient Indian Aryan kingdom, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. ...

The Jama Masjid in Delhi is one of the world's largest mosques.

Between 400 BCE and 1000 CE, Hinduism expanded as the decline of Buddhism in India continued.^[16] Buddhism subsequently became effectively extinct in India. Though Islam came to India in the early 7th century with the advent of Arab traders, it started to become a major religion during the Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent. Islam's spread in India mostly took place under the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) and the Mughal Empire, greatly aided by the mystic Sufi tradition. Although historical evidence suggests the presence of Christianity in India since the first century, it became popular following European colonisation and Protestant missionary efforts. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1523x1247, 1368 KB) Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1523x1247, 1368 KB) Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India. ... The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa مسجد جھان نمہ, commonly known as Jama Masjid of Delhi is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. ... For other uses, see Delhi (disambiguation). ... The Decline of Buddhism in India, in the land of its birth occurred for a variety of reasons, and happened even as it continued to flourish beyond the frontiers of India. ... The Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent mainly took place from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though earlier Muslim conquests made limited inroads into the region, beginning during the period of the ascendancy of the Rajput Kingdoms in North India, from the 7th century onwards. ... The Delhi Sultanate (دلی سلطنت), or Sulthanath-e-Hind (سلطنتِ ہند) / Sulthanath-e-Dilli (سلطنتِ دلی) refers to the various Muslim dynasties that ruled in India from 1210 to 1526. ... Flag Mughal Empire at its greatest extent in 1700 Capital Agra, Delhi Language(s) Persian (initially also Chagatai; later also Urdu) Government Monarchy List of Mughal emperors  - 1526-1530 Babur  - 1530–1539 and after restoration 1555–1556 Humayun  - 1556–1605 Akbar  - 1605–1627 Jahangir  - 1628–1658 Shah Jahan  - 1659–1707... Sufism is a mystic tradition within Islam which encompasses a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to divine love and the cultivation of the heart. ... European settlements in India (1501-1739). ... This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. ...

Communalism has played a key role in shaping the religious history of modern India. British India was partitioned along religious lines into two states—the Muslim-majority Dominion of Pakistan (comprising what is now the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of Bangladesh) and the Hindu-majority Union of India (later the Republic of India). The 1947 Partition of India inaugurated rioting among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs in Punjab, Bengal, Delhi, and other parts of India; 500,000 died as a result of the violence. The twelve million refugees that moved between the newly founded nations of India and Pakistan composed one of the largest mass migrations in modern history.^Δ[›][17] Since its independence, India has periodically witnessed large-scale violence sparked by underlying tensions between sections of its majority Hindu and minority Muslim communities. The Republic of India is secular; though it is often considered a Hindu holy land (punyabhumi), its government recognises no official religion. In recent decades, communal tensions and religion-based politics have become more prominent.^[18] Anthem God Save The Queen/King British India, circa 1860 Capital Calcutta (1858-1912), New Delhi (1912-1947) Language(s) Hindi, Urdu, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1877-1901 Victoria  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - January-December 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George... This article is under construction. ... The Dominion of Pakistan was an entity that was established as a result of partition from India as a homeland for the Muslims in August 1947. ... On August 15, 1947, India became an independent Dominion within the British Commonwealth. ... This article is under construction. ...

Demographics

Main article: Major religions in India

Venkateswara devotees gather at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, the world's richest Hindu temple and, after the Vatican, the second-most visited religious center.

Hinduism is the largest religion in India; its 828 million adherents compose 80.4% of the population. The term Hindu, originally a geographical description, derives from the Sanskrit, Sindhu, (the historical appellation for the Indus River), and refers to a person from the land of the river Sindhu. Islam is a monotheistic religion centred around the belief in one God and following the example of Muhammad. It is the largest minority religion in India. As of 2007, India is home to 147 million Muslims, the world's third-largest Muslim population after those in Indonesia (210 million)^[19] and Pakistan (166 million); they compose 13.4% of the population.^[20] Muslims represent the majority in Jammu and Kashmir and Lakshadweep,^[21] and high concentrations in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Kerala.^[21][2] Major religions in India includes Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity and Judaism, among some others. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Vishnu in the form of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala Lord Venkateswara (Sanskrit वॆन्कटॆष्वरा), also called Venkatachalapathy or Srinivasa, is a Hindu God believed to be a form of the Hindu Deity Lord Vishnu. ... The Venkateswara Temple (Telugu: తిరుమల వేంకటేశ్వర దేవాలయం, Tamil: திருப்பதி வேங்கடேஸ்வரர் கோவில்) at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Venkateswara (or Srinivasa) and attracts followers from a wide range of Hindu traditions. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album) In theology, monotheism (from Greek one and god) is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... Muslim percentage of population by country Distribution of Islam per country. ... This article is about the area controlled by India. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... India is a federal republic comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. ... , Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: , translation: Northern Province, IPA: ,  ), [often referred to as U.P.], located in central-south Asia and northern India, is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ... , Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in north India. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a north eastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a part of Guwahati. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...

A set of 15th- or 16th-century palm-leaf manuscripts containing Tamil-language Christian prayers.

Christianity is a monotheistic religion centred on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in the New Testament; it is the third largest religion of India, making up 2.3% of the population. Christianity is prevalent in North-East India, Goa and Kerala. Buddhism is a dharmic, nontheistic religion and philosophy. Buddhists form majority populations in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, and the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and a large minority (40%) in Sikkim. Around 12 million Buddhists live in India. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album) In theology, monotheism (from Greek one and god) is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... The Himalayas in Sikkim North-East India is the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States and the state of Sikkim. ... For other uses, see Goa (disambiguation). ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... , Arunachal Pradesh   (Hindi: Aruṇācal PradeÅ›) is the eastern most state on Indias north-east frontier. ... , Ladakh (Tibetan script: ལ་དྭགས་; Wylie: la-dwags, Ladakhi IPA: , Hindi: लद्दाख़, Hindi IPA: , Urdu: لدّاخ; land of high passes) is a region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in Northern India sandwiched between the Kuen Lun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people... , Sikkim (also Sikhim) (DevanāgarÄ«: सिक्किम  ) is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. ...

Jainism is a nontheistic dharmic religion and philosophical system originating in Iron Age India. Jains compose 0.4% (around 4.2 million) of India's population, and are concentrated in the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.^[21] Sikhism began in sixteenth century North India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. As of 2001, there were 19.2 million Sikhs in India. Punjab is the spiritual home of Sikhs, and is the only state in India where Sikhs form a majority. There are also significant populations of Sikhs in neighbouring New Delhi and Haryana. The Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent succeeds the Late Harappan (Cemetery H) culture, also known as the last phase of the Indus Valley Tradition. ... This article is for the Indian state. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA:  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ... , Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... (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. ... Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... Guru Nanak Dev[1] (Punjabi: , ) (Born in Nankana Sahib, Punjab, (now Pakistan) on 20th October 1469 – 7 May 1539, Kartarpur, Punjab, India), was the founder of Sikhism, and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. ... Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. ... Sikhism has been in India for over 500 years. ... , This article is about the Indian state of Punjab. ... , This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ... , Haryana (Hindi: हरियाणा, Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ, IPA: ) is a state in north India. ...

As of the census of 2001, Parsis (followers of Zoroastrianism in India) represent approximately 0.006% of the total population of India,^[22] with relatively high concentrations in and around the city of Mumbai. There are several tribal religions in India, such as Donyi-Polo and Mahima. About 2.2 million people in India follow the Bahá'í Faith, thus forming the largest community of Bahá'ís in the world.^[23] The Bahá'ís originated from the Babi sect when the prophecy of Bahá'í was satisfied. Ayyavazhi, prevalent in South India, is officially considered a Hindu sect, and its followers are counted as Hindus in the census. A very minor community of Indian Jews is present in Kerala and Maharashtra. Up to 2% of Indians are estimated to be atheists;^[22] Around 0.07% of the people did not state their religion in the 2001 census. This article is about the Parsi community. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... , “Bombay” redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... This article is about the generally-recognized global Baháí community. ... There are several meanings of the term Babi Babi is the name of a baboon god in Egyptian mythology. ... Ayyavazhi (IPA: )(Tamil:அய்யாவழி [1] -Path of the father) is a dharmic belief system[2] which originated in South India in the 19th century. ... Jews in India are a religious minority, living among Indias predominantly Hindu and Muslim populace. ... “Atheist” redirects here. ...

See also: Hinduism in India, Islam in India, Christianity in India, History of Buddhism in India, Sikhism in India, History of the Jews in India, Parsi, and Bahá'ís in India

India is the birthplace of Hinduism. ... Islam in India is the second-most practiced religion after Hinduism. ... The Nasrani Menorah, the symbol of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani Christian community in South India. ... The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. ... Sikhism has been in India for over 500 years. ... A map of India, showing the main areas of Jewish concentration. ... This article is about the Parsi community. ... The Baháí Faith has been established in India almost since the founding of the religion in 1844. ...

Statistics

See also: Demographics of India

Map of the British Indian Empire in 1909, shaded by prevailing religion.

Hinduism
Islam
Buddhism
Animism
Christianity

The following is a breakdown of India's religious communities: Population growth, from 443 million in 1960 to 1,004 million in 2000 Map showing the population density of each district in India Map showing the population growth over the past ten years of each district in India Map showing the literacy rate of each district in India Chart showing... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 762 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1368 × 1077 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 762 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1368 × 1077 pixel, file size: 1. ... Anthem God Save The Queen/King British India, circa 1860 Capital Calcutta (1858-1912), New Delhi (1912-1947) Language(s) Hindi, Urdu, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1877-1901 Victoria  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - January-December 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George... India is the birthplace of Hinduism. ... Islam in India is the second-most practiced religion after Hinduism. ... A fresco from the Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, India, once a gathering places for Buddhist monks. ... Ä€divāsÄ«s (आदिवासी), literally original people of the forest, comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India. ... The Nasrani Menorah, the symbol of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani Christian community in South India. ...

Religions of India^{[2]α[›]β[›]}

Characteristics of religious groups

Theoretical Human population increase from 10,000 BC – 2000 AD. Population growth is the change in population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals in a population per unit time. ... Sex ratio by country for total population. ... This article is about the ability to read and write. ... It has been suggested that Workforce be merged into this article or section. ...

Law

Main articles: Constitution of India, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India, and Secularism in India

Jawaharlal Nehru as he signed the Constitution of India on 24 January 1950. Nehru was an atheist who supported Indian secularism.

The preamble to the Constitution of India proclaimed India a "sovereign socialist secular democratic republic". The word secular was inserted into the Preamble by the Forty-second Amendment Act of 1976. It mandates equal treatment and tolerance of all religions. India does not have an official state religion; it enshrines the right to practice, preach, and propagate any religion. No religious instruction is imparted in government-supported schools. In S. R. Bommai vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court of India held that secularism was an integral tenet of the Constitution.^[24] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Preamble of the Constitution of India — Indias fundamental and supreme law The Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties are sections of the Constitution of India that prescribe the fundamental obligations of the State to its citizens and the duties of the citizens to the... Indian Secularism refers to the secularism as practiced by the Government of India. ... Image File history File links Nehru_signing_Indian_Constitution. ... Image File history File links Nehru_signing_Indian_Constitution. ... Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindi: , IPA: , from Persian Javâher-e Laal, meaning Red Jewel) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964) was a political leader of the Indian National Congress, a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and the first Prime Minister of Independent India. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Forty-second Amendment Act of 1976 (officially the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976) was an amendment to the Constitution of India that reduced the ability of the Indias Supreme and High Courts to proclaim laws constitutional or unconstitutional. ... The jugement of the Supreme Court of India in S. R. Bommai vs. ... The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. ...

The right to freedom of religion is a fundamental right according to the Indian Constitution. The Constitution also recommends establishment of a uniform civil code for its citizens as a Directive Principle.^[25] However this has not been implemented until now. The Supreme Court has stated that the enactment of a uniform civil code all at once may be counterproductive to the unity of the nation, and only a gradual progressive change should be brought about (Pannalal Bansilal v State of Andhra Pradesh, 1996).^[26] In Maharishi Avadesh v Union of India (1994) the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking a writ of mandamus against the government to introduce a common civil code, and thus laid the responsibility of its introduction on the legislature.^[27] The Fundamental Rights in India enshrined in the Part III of the Constitution of India guarantee civil liberties such that all Indians can lead their lives in peace and harmony as citizens of India. ... A fundamental right is a right that has its origin in a countrys constitution or that is necessarily implied from the terms of that constitution. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... The Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines to the central and state governments of India, to be kept in mind while framing laws and policies. ... A writ of mandamus or simply mandamus, which means we order in Latin, is the name of one of the prerogative writs and is a court order directing someone, most frequently a government official, to perform a specified act. ... Sansad Bhavan, The Parliament of India The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is bicameral. ...

Religious communities continue to be governed by their own personal laws. Apart from Muslims, designated religious codes apply to Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Jews; for legal purposes, Buddhists and Sikhs are classified as Hindus and are subject to Hindu personal law.^[28] Civil laws for Muslims are based on Sharia law. The Code of Criminal Procedure is uniformly applied to all Indian citizens. Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the dynamic body of Islamic religious law. ...

Aspects

Religion plays a major role in the Indian way of life.^[3] Rituals, worship, and other religious activities are very prominent in an individual's daily life; it is also a principal organiser of social life. The degree of religiosity varies among individuals; in recent decades, religious orthodoxy and observances have become less common in Indian society, particularly among young urban-dwellers.

Rituals

A puja performed on the banks of the overflowing Shipra River in Ujjain during the summer monsoon.

The vast majority of Indians engage in religious rituals on a daily basis.^[29] Most Hindus observe religious rituals at home.^[30] However, observation of rituals greatly vary among regions, villages, and individuals. Devout Hindus perform daily chores such as worshiping at the dawn after bathing (usually at a family shrine, and typically includes lighting a lamp and offering foodstuffs before the images of deities), recitation from religious scripts, singing hymns in praise of gods etc.^[30] A notable feature in religious ritual is the division between purity and pollution. Religious acts presuppose some degree of impurity or defilement for the practitioner, which must be overcome or neutralised before or during ritual procedures. Purification, usually with water, is thus a typical feature of most religious action.^[30] Other characteristics include a belief in the efficacy of sacrifice and concept of merit, gained through the performance of charity or good works, that will accumulate over time and reduce sufferings in the next world.^[30] Devout Muslims offer five daily prayers at specific times of the day, indicated by adhan (call to prayer) from the local mosques. Before offering prayers, they must ritually clean themselves by performing wudu, which involves washing parts of the body that are generally exposed to dirt or dust. A recent study by the Sachar Committee found that 3-4% of Muslim children study in madrasas (Islamic schools).^[31] Image File history File linksMetadata Flood_puja. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Flood_puja. ... A puja as performed in Ujjain during the Monsoon on the banks of the overflowing river Shipra. ... The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra, is a river in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... , Ujjain   (Hindi:उज्जैन) (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti, Avantikapuri) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... A semi-arid wasteland near Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. ... It has been suggested that Salat of Quran be merged into this article or section. ... Adhan (Azaan) (أَذَان) is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin. ... This article is about Hygiene in Islam. ... Justice Rajindar Sachar The Rajinder Sachar Committee, appointed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India was a High Level Committee For Preparation of Report on Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India. ... Madrassa in the Gambia The word madrassa in the Arabic language (and other languages of the Islamic nations such as Persian, Turkish, Indonesian etc. ...

Dietary habits are significantly influenced by religion. Almost one-third of Indians practise vegetarianism; it came to prominence during the rule of Ashoka, a promoter of Buddhism.^[32][33] Vegetarianism is much less common among Muslim and Christians.^[34] Jainism requires monks and laity, from all its sects and traditions, to be vegetarian. Hinduism bars beef consumption, while Islam bars pork. For plant-eating animals, see Herbivore. ...

Ceremonies

A Hindu marriage.

Occasions like birth, marriage, and death involve what are often elaborate sets of religious customs. In Hinduism, major life-cycle rituals include annaprashan (a baby's first intake of solid food), upanayanam ("sacred thread ceremony" undergone by upper-caste youths), and shraadh (paying homage to a deceased individual).^[35][36] For most people in India, the betrothal of the young couple and the exact date and time of the wedding are matters decided by the parents in consultation with astrologers.^[35] Major Hindu religious ceremonies of the past, including sati (ritual self-immolation by widows) and Thuggee robbery (coupled with ritualised murder), were outlawed by the Charter Act of 1813, enacted during the hundred-year period when the British East India Company ruled India; the introduction of British morals foreshadowed future social legislation that substantially reconfigured Indian religious practices. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 1,014 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Jaisingh Rathore File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 1,014 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Jaisingh Rathore File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Annaprashan, also known as annaprashan vidhi, is a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual that marks an infants first intake of food other than milk. ... Upanayanam, sometimes known outside India by the name, sacred thread ceremony, is a Hindu rite-of-passage ritual. ... Shraadh is a Sanskrit word which literally means anything done with sincerity and faith (shraddha is the Sanskrit word for faith). ... // Ceremony of Burning a Hindu Widow with the Body of her Late Husband, from Pictorial History of China and India, 1851. ... A drawing of Thug Prisoners published by Illustrated London News, C. 1857 Thuggee (or tuggee) (from Hindi ‘thief’, from Sanskrit ‘scoundrel’, from ‘to conceal’) was an Indian network of secret fraternities who were engaged in murdering and robbing travellers, operating from the 17th century (possibly as early as 13th century... The companys flag initially had the flag of England, the St Georges Cross, in the canton The Honourable East India Company (HEIC), often colloquially referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... // The East India Company was founded in 1600, as The Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies. ...

Muslims practice a series of life-cycle rituals that differ from those of Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists.^[37] Several rituals mark the first days of life—including whispering call to prayer, first bath, and shaving of the head. Religious instruction begins early. Male circumcision usually takes place after birth; in some families, it may be delayed until after the onset of puberty.^[37] Marriage requires a payment by the husband to the wife and the solemnisation of a marital contract in a social gathering.^[37] On the third day after burial of the dead, friends and relatives gather to console the bereaved, read and recite the Quran, and pray for the soul of the deceased.^[37] Indian Islam is distinguished by the emphasis it places on shrines commemorating great Sufi saints.^[37]

Pilgrimages

See also: Hindu pilgrimage sites in India and Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India

Millions of Sikh pilgrims from around the world visit the Harmandir Sahib annually.

India hosts numerous pilgrimage sites belonging to many religions. Hindus worldwide recognise several Indian holy cities, including Allahabad, Haridwar, Varanasi, and Vrindavan. Notable temple cities include Puri, which hosts a major Vaishnava Jagannath temple and Rath Yatra celebration; Tirumala - Tirupati, home to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple; and Katra, home to the Vaishno Devi temple. The Himalayan towns of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri compose the Char Dham (four abodes) pilgrimage circuit. The Kumbh Mela (the "pitcher festival") is one of the holiest of Hindu pilgrimages that is held every four years; the location is rotated among Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. ... In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 768 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1428 × 1115 pixel, file size: 811 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Image is touched up in Photoshop File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 768 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1428 × 1115 pixel, file size: 811 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Image is touched up in Photoshop File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed... For the Golden Pavilion Temple in Kyoto, Japan, see here. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... , Haridwar (also spelt as Hardwar, Hindi: हरिद्वार)   is a holy city and municipal board in the Haridwar District in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. ... , VārāasÄ« ( , Hindi: , IPA: ), also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras ( , Hindi: , , IPA: ), or Kashi or Kasi ( , Hindi: , ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... , Vrindavan   (alternate spellings Vrindaban or Brindavan), or Vraj in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India is a town on the site of an ancient forest which is believed to have been the region where the famous cowherd boy, Krishna, from Hindu scriptures spent his childhood days. ... Puri can mean: Puri, a city in the Indian state of Orissa, which is famous for the Jagannath temple and the serene beaches located there . ... Temple dedicated to the worship of Vishnu as Venkateswara. ... Jagannath(far right) with his brother Balarama(far left) and sister Subadra (center) in Radha