Religions and Beliefs

In India the Sanskrit term “dharma” corresponds to the Western notion “religion”. It originates from the Indo-European root “dhar” – which means “to support”, lacks an exact Russian equivalent and is translated depending on the context, as “a rule”, “a norm”, “religious duty”, “law”, “responsibility”, “doctrine” or “moral principles”. The Indian thinker Aurobindo Ghose was sure it is India that is destined to give a new religion to the world – a religion, harmoniously uniting all religions, sciences and philosophical teachings, thus turning humanity into a common soul.

The religious cosmic space of South Asia constitutes a multifaceted unity, in which different religious systems coexist – from the global religious-ethical teachings to primeval cults. The majority of the South Asian population professes Hinduism. Islam that penetrated the country alongside the invaders preserves rather a strong position ranking second after Hinduism as to the number of disciples. There exists certain tension between these two religions, although the areas where Muslims prevail in the population have adhered Pakistan after India was declared independent. Christianity brought to the country by European colonizers ranks third as to the number of worshippers. Its stronghold is the South of India. Jainism, Sikhism and other national religions of the subcontinent have not spread widely. Buddhism, which appeared in India and turned into a global religion, has practically disappeared in its native land unable to compete with its rival Hinduism. Zoroastrianism of Iranian origin, as well as Judaism, coming to India with the immigrants, have relatively few followers. In faraway, rural areas situated at a great distance from the cities archaic tribal cults are still alive.  

Vishnu. India. Madras. The Tamils, 1901 - 1910.		Shiva - Nataradja. India, Rajasthan. The Indians. The Rajasthanians. 1979-1980.		Vishnu. India. The Indian, 1901 - 1910.
Representatives of two cultural worlds - the Hindu and Tibetian Buddhism in Nepal. India. The Indians. Snatenkov V., 20th century		Cow in the street. One may meet a cow in any Indian town or city. A cow is a sacred animal for all Hindus. India. The Indians. 2005.		Garuda. India. The Indians. Early 20th c.
Lakshmi. India. The Indians. Mid. 20th cent.		Vishny. India. 19th cent.
Cultic images of snakes. India. The Indians. 20th century.		Brahman-priest. India. The Indians. 20th century. Snatenkov V.		Buddhist monastery with prayer flags. Nepal. Snatenkov V.
Buddhist monk. Nepal. Snatenkov V.		Buddhist stupa with prayer flags. Nepal. Snatenkov V.		Woman rotates prayer wheel in Buddhist temple. Nepal. Snatenkov V.
Muslim matron. India. Snatenkov V.		Indian muslim girl. India. The Indians. 20th century. Snatenkov V.		Kamadeva. India. Madras. The Tamils.
Young Sikh in typical muslin headwear (the unmarried wear it instead of turban, the married ones put a turban on it). India. The Indians. 20th century. Snatenkov V.		Festival representation of Goddess Durga. India. Bengal. The Bengali. 2006.		Clay image of Shitala - Goddess of smallpox. India. The Indians. Vasilkov Ya., 1995.
Lord of thу South. India. Beginning of the 20th cent.		Suryia. India.		The high priest of Zoroastrian temple in Bombay. India. Bombay (Mumbai). Ryzhakova S.
Jantar Mantar, ancinet observatory in Jaipur. India. Jaipur. The Indians. Uspenskaya E. Yanes M. 2006.		Portrait of Aryabhata, the first in the line of great mathematician-astronomers  of Indian mathematics and astronomy, the father of the Hindu-Arabic number system. India. Madhya Pradesh. The Indians.		An interior of a synagogue in Kochin. India. Kochin. The Indians. Ryzhakova S.
The Bahai House of Worship - the Lotus Temple. India. Delhi. Snatenkov V.		Geography of religions and believes.