Author: Mehrullah Muhajer Azizi
The History and Beliefs of Buddhism (part 6)
The Historical Development of Indian Religions
The land of India, as a vast and ancient civilization, has been filled with diverse beliefs and doctrines. Throughout history, it has experienced a wide variety of religions and systems of belief. As Dr. Ahmad al-Shalabi states in his book Major Religions of India: “This land is a society composed of various peoples and classes; rather, it can be described as a collection of societies in which numerous religions, diverse languages, and different colors and races coexist. Therefore, speaking about India is a broad and complex subject.” [1]
The earliest religion mentioned in history as the first Indian religion is the Vedic religion. To this day, there is no precise knowledge about the religions that existed in India prior to the Vedic tradition. Buddhism emerged after the Vedic religion and other beliefs; thus, it was not the earliest religion practiced in India.
The Vedic religion, also known as Brahmanism, was formed on the basis of the sacred texts called the Vedas. The word “Veda” is derived from Sanskrit and means “law,” “knowledge,” or “wisdom.” The Vedas consist of four books, and there are differing views regarding their origin and time of compilation. Some believe that the Vedas were written thousands of years before the Torah. These four parts are:
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Rig Veda
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Sama Veda
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Yajur Veda
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Atharva Veda [2]
But how did these beliefs come to be known as “Hinduism”? It is said that Western scholars were the first to use the term “Hinduism” for this tradition. Gradually, the name became widespread and was accepted by its followers. Today, it is recognized worldwide, including in India itself, as Hinduism. It should be noted that the Vedic religion forms the intellectual foundation of Hinduism. Many key concepts of Hinduism—such as sacrifices, the caste system, and the status of deities—originate from Vedic teachings.
However, adherents themselves often use the term “Dharma,” meaning “way of life,” “path,” or “method of living.” In earlier times, this religion was called “Brahmanism,” attributed to “Brahma,” whom they consider the supreme and eternal spirit of the universe. According to their belief, Brahma was the origin of creation, emerging from a golden egg that floated on dark waters from eternity. They believe Brahma existed before all creation and assign him a lifespan of one hundred divine years, where each day equals 4.32 billion solar years. At the end of each day, the world is destroyed; Brahma rests during the night and then recreates a new world.
With such beliefs, they assign a beginning and an end to Brahma, thereby denying his absolute eternality, since they consider something prior to him—the golden egg. They also deny his absolute immortality, as they believe his existence eventually comes to an end. [3]
Dr. Ahmad al-Shalabi divides the development of Indian thought into the following periods:
First: The Early Vedic Period, which includes three stages:
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a) The stage of developing primitive ideas and worshipping natural forces, whether those brought by the Aryans or those emerging from the indigenous environment of India. This stage dates back to the 15th century BCE, and valuable information about it is found in the Vedas.
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b) The stage of compiling and interpreting the Vedas by the Brahmins. These interpretations are called Brahmanas and date back to around the 8th century BCE. During this time, scholars and thinkers emerged who reflected on religious matters. Their reflections led to new interpretations, forming what became known as Brahmanism.
Renan Sidyolt suggests that the Brahmins interpreted the texts in a way that granted sacred legitimacy to their privileges. As interaction between Aryans and native populations increased, they established the caste system to prevent full integration. This stage corresponds to what later became Hinduism. [4]
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c) The stage of summarizing the Vedas in sacred texts known as the Upanishads. This period began in the 6th century BCE and continued for several centuries afterward. [5]
Second: The Age of “Atheism” (from the Vedic perspective), during which Jainism and Buddhism emerged. From the 6th century BCE onward, the Vedic religion began to decline.
Third: The Later Vedic Period, marked by the revival and dominance of Vedic traditions, along with expanded interpretations and explanations. One of the most important works of this era is the Laws of Manu, compiled around the 3rd century BCE. With these laws, Hinduism took its final form and its foundations were firmly established. [6]
In this sequence, Buddhism can be seen as a natural continuation of Brahmanical Hinduism, though it developed under a distinct name and perspective as a separate religion.
In summary, India is a unique land filled with numerous major and minor religions. The number of gods and deities in Indian beliefs reaches into the millions. It is observed that anyone wishing to establish a new religion could easily find followers in India. Despite this diversity, the dominant and widespread religion has been Brahmanical Hinduism.
Comparison of Indian Religions
Indian religions share a common foundation, with Hinduism considered the “mother religion.” Other religions, such as Buddhism and Jainism, emerged from it and often, in some form, return to it.
All Indian religions share belief in karma, although they differ in its interpretation. Based on this belief, they also share the concept of reincarnation (samsara), striving to escape the cycle of rebirth by suppressing desires and abandoning worldly pleasures. These religions tend toward pessimism and seek liberation or salvation—concepts that are largely similar among them.
Wells describes the connection between Buddha’s thought and other Indian ideas as follows: “Gautama had neither a sense of history nor a clear perception of the vast and complex drama of life unfolding across time and space; his mind was confined within the intellectual framework of his era and people, whose thoughts revolved around the idea of endless repetition.” [7]
The greatest difference among Indian religions lies in the issue of the caste system. Hinduism established and reinforced strict social divisions, whereas Jainism and Buddhism rejected it. However, neither could fully escape its influence in practice.
Another major difference concerns the concept of divinity. Hinduism embraces multiple gods; Jainism denies the existence of a creator God; and Buddhism remains largely silent on the matter. However, this distinction did not last long—eventually, Jains elevated Mahavira and Buddhists elevated Buddha to divine status, blending them with deities and idols.
Jainism does not believe in the unity of existence; instead, it views each soul as an independent, eternal entity that does not merge into a universal spirit—thus differing from Hinduism. Buddhism, on the other hand, rejects priestly authority and does not recognize the authority of the Vedas. Additionally, Buddhism differs from Jainism in that it seeks collective salvation, whereas Jainism focuses on individual liberation. [8]
Continues…
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References:
[1]. Ahmad al-Shalabi, Major Religions of India, p. 18.
[2]. Encyclopedia of Religions, vol. 2, p. 87.
[3]. Ibid., vol. 2, p. 87.
[4]. Dr. Ibrahim & Dr. Yusuf Karam, History of Philosophy, p. 12.
[5]. Ahmad al-Shalabi, Major Religions of India, p. 34.
[6]. Ibid., p. 34.
[7]. Encyclopedia of Religions, vol. 2, p. 88.
[8]. Ibid., vol. 2, p. 88.
