the ancient most living thought and culture of the world. The concept of 'Hindu-ism' (categorically termed 'Hinduism' in the narrow sense 'religion') being asingle monolithic religion is recent, dating back only to the 19th century. Thus Hinduism is rightly called adharmathat was evolved by the greatrishi(sages and seers) of ancient India.
Hinduism is a modern term, but it represents the
ancient most living thought and culture of the world.
Thus Hinduism is rightly called adharmathat was
evolved by the greatrishi(sages and seers) of ancient India.
It emphasizes thedharma(right way of living)
rather than a set of doctrines, and thus embraces diverse thoughts and practices.
The word 'Hindu' has its origin inSanskrit
literature. In theRigveda,Bharatis referred to as the country of 'Sapta Sindhu', i.e. the country of seven great rivers.
The word 'Sindhu' refers to rivers and sea and not
merely to the specific river called 'Sindhu'. In Vedic Sanskrit, according to ancient dictionaries, 'sa' was pronounced as 'ha'. Thus 'Sapta Sindhu' was pronounced as 'Hapta Hindu'.
Hindus themselves prefer to use
theSanskrittermsantana dharmafor their religious tradition. Santana Dharmameans eternal and universal law or principle that governs everyone irrespective of culture, race, religion, belief and practices. Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save himself from degradation and suffering.
Hinduism describes dharma as the
natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save himself from degradation and suffering.
What is buddhism?
Buddhism
Buddhism/budzm/[1][2]is areligion [note 1][3]
anddharmathat encompasses a variety of traditions,beliefsandspiritual practiceslargely based onteachingsattributed tothe Buddha. Buddhism originated in India, from where it spread through much of Asia, whereafter it declined in Indiaduring the middle ages. Two major extant branches of Buddhism are generally recognized by scholars:Theravada( Pali: "The School of the Elders") andMahayana( Sanskrit: "The Great Vehicle").
Life of the Buddha
Buddhism is an Indian religion attributed to the teachings of Buddha.[14][15]The details of Buddha's life are mentioned in many early Buddhist texts but are inconsistent, his social background and life details are difficult to prove, the precise dates uncertain.[16][note 2] The evidence of the early texts suggests that he was born as Siddhrtha Gautama in Kapilavatthu, a town in the plains region of modern Nepal-India border, and that he spent his life in what is now modernBihar[note 3]andUttar Pradesh.
Early Buddhist canonical texts and early
biographies of Buddha state that Gautama studied underVedicteachers, such as Alara Kalama (Sanskrit: Arada Kalama) and Uddaka Ramaputta (Sanskrit: Udraka Ramaputra), learning meditation and ancient philosophies, particularly the concept of "nothingness, emptiness" from former, and "what is neither seen nor unseen" from latter.