Introduction of Hindu and Buddha dharma
In Hinduism “Dharma” has a lot of meanings. A bare meaning of Dharma in
English is religion but it is much more than that Dharma means natural law, duty, social welfare,
ethics and many more. The dharma is taken from ancient scriptures called Vedas. These Vedas
also teach us about the Gods and the way to obtain their favors.
According to Hindus Dharma is in every aspect of his/her life. From the birth as a
baby to death dharma is present. According to Hindu dharma everyone was born in a caste. This
caste determines their level in the society and their job in the society. According to Dharma the
highest caste is Brahmins who are considered as closest to God. According to Hindu Dharma
(Vedas) these people help the other persons to get the blessings of God by performing Yagnas
and sacrifices. The second highest place was occupied by Kshatriyas whose duty was to protect
the other people. The third place was occupied by Vaishyas who performs farming activities and
the last caste are called Sudras whose duty was to assist all the three groups
According to Hindu Dharma if something bad happens to a person, it is believed
that he had done something bad in this life or previous one. Hindu Dharma believes in
reincarnation i.e. the cycle of being reborn which is called samsara and the goal is to stop the
cycle of being reborn which is called Moksha
According to Buddha Dharma means the teachings of Buddha and the realization of these
teachings. Buddha dharma is contradictory to Hindu Dharma. These teachings do not focus on
supernatural matters instead these teachings focused on concept of why we are suffering and the
ways. These teachings explained that humans have the powers to become liberated from these
sufferings. Buddhist teachings said that the suffering is due to dukkha, which are the unhappy
experiences that we have experienced in life. Some of these unhappy experiences are getting old,
lack of health, pain and death and attachment of things and ideas. These teachings explained that
one should accept that Happiness and unhappiness are always interconnected and one should
accept that reality
When we are aware of dukkha, the interdependence and impermanence of things helps us
to see the things in reality. Nirvana (The state in which there is no suffering) can be achieved by
controlling the desire on things (craving). When we control the desire on things and being aware
of impermanence of all the things we can achieve nirvana
Hinduism’s and Buddhism’s Dharma are distinct from each other. Hindu Dharma
established on scriptures which teaches about supernatural powers and influences and guides the
society to become free from the cycle of Samsara and achieve moksha. But the Buddhist dharma
focused through the realization of reality the world can be released from suffering that is by
understanding the impermanence and interconnections of everything one can achieve Nirvana.
ORIGIN OF HINDUISM
The term ‘’Hinduism’’ refers to the indigenous religious philosophy of the peoples in
India and the Indian subcontinent. It is a combination of many traditions which are attached
through spiritually of the region. It does not have a clearly defined set of beliefs like the other
religions. It is widely accepted that Hinduism is the oldest religions in the world, but there is no
availability of known historical evidence about the founders. Hinduism's roots are vast and
diverse and are likely a synthesis of various regional beliefs of tribal people. According to some
of the historians, the origin of Hinduism was before 5,000 years or more.
There was a belief that Hinduism was brought to India by the Aryans. They occupied the Indus
Valley civilization and settled on the banks of the Indus river about 1500 BCE but now this
theory is not accepted, and many historians are believing that the principles and practices of
Hinduism evolved within the groups of people who lived at Indus valley before iron age and
some other historians are saying that the core tenets of Hinduism were started from indigenous
practices and rituals and at the same time they were influenced by outside sources
ORIGIN OF WORD HINDU
The term Hindu is derived from the name river Indus, which flows in northern part of India.
Previously the river was called the Sindhu, but the Persians who ruled before Islamic rulers
called the river Hindu knew the land as Hindustan and the inhabitants were called as Hindus. The
first time known use of this term Hindus is started from the 6th BCE and used by the pre Islamic
rulers known as Persians. Actually at that time the word Hinduism was only geographic and
cultural label, but later it was used to describe the religious practices of the Hindus.
STAGES IN EVOLUTION OF HINDUISM
The Hindu religious system evolved slowly, According to many historians the evolution of
Hindu religion can be divided in to three categories Ancient period, medieval period and Modern
period
Time line for early history of Hinduism
3000-1600 BC- The earliest practices of Hinduism were started in Northern
Indian sub-continent region by the rise of Indus valley civilization
1600-1200 BC-The Aryans were started invading southern Asia at 1600 BC
which had a huge impact on Hinduism
1500-1200 BC-The Vedas were first compiled at 1500 BC
1200-900 BC- The period where main tenets of Hinduism developed and the
Upanishads were also written at 1200 BC
900-600 BC- This period is called later Vedic period where ritual worship was
developed and Upanishads have also emerged where the concept of Karma,
Moksha have developed
500BC-1000AD-The Puranas were written at this time where the concept of three
gods was developed i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Epics like Ramayana,
Mahabharata was also started to form at this time
2nd century AD- Composition of Ramayana was completed at this time
