Ancient Religions of India

India’s three primary religions; Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism are all responses to the Aryan religion of Brahmanism. The Aryans came into power in Indian around 1000 B.C.E., and as their political influence spread, their religious beliefs followed in its wake. Two fundamental beliefs of Brahmanism are samsara and karma. Samsara deals with the cyclical nature of the soul and how death only brings rebirth into a new form. Depending upon the tally of a person’s good and bad deeds, which is considered karma, determines whether or not the next reincarnation will be an improvement or a disappointment. However, if one were able to completely understand that life was actually an illusion and that the only way to escape the endless cycle of reincarnation was to realize that reality is unchanging one could ascend above the endless cycle of birth, life and death. According to the Aryan priests, those that transcend the cycle of life will become one with Brahman and enter into an eternity of blissful non-being.

From Brahmanism, emerged Jainism, which adopted both the beliefs of karma and reincarnation, but expanded the realm of what life forms were eligible for rebirth and ultimately enlightenment. The founder of Jainism was Vardhamana Maharvira who became an ascetic, giving up his privileged status as a son of regional chieftain, and took on the role of a wandering holy man. After twelve years of wandering under austere conditions, Maharvira achieved enlightenment and became a “completed soul.” However, rather than ascend above the karmic chaos of the world, Maharvira remained on Earth to share his teachings for the next thirty years. The subsequent followers of Jainism believed that everything that inhabits the world has a sou...

... middle of paper ...

... a moral law that encourages Hindus to engage in pursuits toward material gain as long as it is achieved honestly; 3. pursue pleasure and love as long as it is focused on perpetuating the family; 4. ultimately, attain “moksha” which is the release from the wheel of life and becoming one with Brahman.

In all three religions that took root in India a common thread can be found in the goal of leaving this world on better terms than how one entered it. Despite the route one took, whether it is Jain, Buddha or Hindu, one seems destined to have an opportunity to improve upon any mistakes made in life until they get it right. However, the proponents of Hinduism, at least, seem to have taken into consideration the possibility of enjoying the life that one is currently living, more than Buddhism and certainly more than Jainism.

Works Cited

History of World Societies