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India: Religions and its importance

Student name: Khevana naik (544 words)

Student number: 122814213

Course code: CUL133KAA

Professor name: Dr. Belinda Huang

Date: 02 February 2023

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Content: Pg.

1) Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 3

- Thesis…………………………………………………………………………………. 3

2) Karma and reincarnation………………………………………………………… 3

- What impact will karma have on Hinduism's reincarnation? 3

- How karma and varnas are connected?................................ 4

3) Siddartha Gautama and Buddhism……………………………………… 4

- How and what led the prince to become a Buddha?............. 4

4) Hinduism and Gupta empire……………………………………………………. 5

- How the Gupta Empire influenced Hinduism's expansion?... 5

5) Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………. 5
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INTRODUCTION:

India is a multicultural nation with a diverse range of languages,

religions, cultures, and civilizations. I am an Indian, and learning

about ancient societies, objects, and the origins of various

religions and civilizations excites me greatly. Understanding all of

these things helps one understand how India was split into

various religions early on and how this had an impact on kings

and empires. I'm going to discuss three significant issues that

have had a major influence on the subcontinent here.

KARMA AND REINCARNATION:

The principle of karma, which states that every action, whether

good or bad, influences the future, is the most crucial concept in

Hinduism. It establishes how we will die and be reborn as other

beings as well as how long we will endure suffering as mortals

before achieving nirvana, or ultimate peace. The caste system of

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varnas, which includes the castes of Brahmans, Kshatriyas,

Vaishyas, and Shudras, has a connection to karma and

reincarnation. Rebirth into a higher caste is regarded as good;

however, those with truly evil karma may experience animal birth

(“3: Religious and Social Diversity Lecture” pg3). Hinduism, in my

opinion, genuinely depends on the idea that doing good deeds

can rebirth you into a higher caste in order to make a good living.

SIDDARTHA GAUTAMA AND BUDDHISM:

Siddhartha Gautama, a prince raised in great privilege, saw great

suffering from illnesses and deaths during his one trip outside of

his home and left to find a solution. He became enlightened and

discovered what is known as the middle way after spending time

in meditation under a bodhi tree. He holds that by practising

meditation, one can find peace in their lives and put an end to the

never-ending cycle of reincarnation. He claims that suffering

results from the desire for what one does not have (“3: Religious

and Social Diversity Lecture” pg4-5). My understanding is that

practising meditation can help one find the answers to their

problems as well as a great way to calm their mind and soul.

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HINDUISM AND GUPTA EMPIRE:

Hinduism emerged under the Gupta Empire, which required its

subjects to acknowledge its superiority by establishing smaller

kings as tributary subordinates. Hindu temples rose to

prominence as prime examples of the subcontinent's architectural

style as a result of their luxurious power and influence. This

temples' architectural designs are still readily evident, and they

are a wonderful work of art that contains their respective

religions' histories and beliefs (“3: Religious and Social Diversity

Lecture” pg9-10).

CONCLUSION:

Overall, each of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism has its own

distinctive aspects and effects on various empires and

civilizations. Most of the Hinduism is based on karma and the

caste system, while Jainism is based on jiva and requires a vow

of nonviolence to achieve moksha. Buddhism showed us how

meditation can be a crucial component to achieving nirvana(“3:

Religious and Social Diversity Lecture” pg3-5).

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