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* -India is the birthplace of 4 of the world’s major religious traditions - Jainism(.4%), Buddhism(.8%), Sikhism (1.9%), Hinduism (80.5%) * Other Religions include Islam (13.4%), Christianity(2.1%), Other (.6%), Religion not stated (.1%) 80.5% Hindu Oldest religion World’s third largest religion Holy city: Varanisi- on Ganges river Multi-theistic Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the preserver, Shiva the destroyer Caste system enforced 827 million followers.4% Jainism Breakaway group led by Mahavira Main text: Siddharta Followers: 4 million Central theme: non-violence (ahimsa), seeking personal liberation (moksha) Believe in reincarnation Don’t believe in a god but believe in a divine being that is worthy of devotion

1.9% Sikhs * Monotheistic * Guru Nanak-founder * followers:16.5 million * Text-Guru Granth Sahib * Amritsar in Punjab is the holy city * Believe in reincarnation * Caste system * Five K’s * uncut hair * comb * steel bracelet * sword * undergarment.8% Buddhism North India 9 million followers Siddhartha Gautama- becomes the Buddha Main text- three pitakas Reach enlightenment, Nirvana- have no sense of self and suffering is caused by the desire for material things Meditation to reach enlightenment- yogas Tolerant of other religions Karma

* Hinduism: Most populated in 27 states except in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. * Muslims : Most populated in Lakehadweep and Jammu & Kashmir * Christianity: Most popular north-eastern states: Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya * Sikhism: Most popular in Punjab

Hinduism: * Has no known founder or specific date of origin but its roots date back as far as 1500 BC or earlier * One of the worlds oldest oldest surviving religions and because of this, most of the Hindu history is unclear. Buddhism: * founded in Northeastern india by Siddharta Guatama, an Indian prince.(also referred to as “the buddha”. * Founded in 520 BC and is now the fourth largest religion in the world.

Sikhism: * Was established in the 16th century by a man named Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who was born into a Hindu family. * It was created in an environment with heavy conflict between the Hindu and Muslim religion. * Guru’s most famous saying was “there is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, so whose path shall i follow? i shall follow the path of God.” * today Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world Jainism: * Founded in the 6th century in eastern india around the same time that Buddhism was developing. * Founder was a man named Mahavira who got many converts to this religion before his death. * Today Jainism has about 4 million adherents. Most who are in india.

Hindu-Muslim Conflict * - In 1947, the British Indian Empire split India and Pakistan into two separate states * - The majority of Hindus went to India, and Muslims went to Pakistan * - The region of Kashmir was in the middle. It had a majority of Muslims, but because it had a Hindu leader, it went to India. * - The two countries have been in conflict ever since

* Hindu-Muslim Conflict Modern * - Many incidents including 3 wars in 1947, 1965, and 1971 * - Both countries have nuclear weapons * - The most violent event in recent times was the Gujarat Riots in On Feburary 27, 2002, a train pulling into Godhra was reportedly set on fire by a mob of Muslims - The train carried Hindu activists - This attack sparked more violence between the two groups * - Muslims lived in refugee camps, and were often victims of rape, murder, looting, and torched homes. * - There were attacks on both Muslims and Hindus * (POSSIBLE IMAGE: godhra train image

* -Within India, on a day to day basis, the vast majority of people engage in ritual actions that are motivated by religious systems that owe much to the past but are still constantly evolving today. * -Religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. India is the birthplace of four of the worlds major religions: Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Throughout India's history, religion has been an important part of the country's culture value and way of life. * -Indian religions have demonstrated for many centureis a considerable degree of tolerance for an alternate vision of the divine and salvation

* Other Religious Conflicts * Sikhism * - Also wanted their own state * - Live in Punjab, and act violently towards Hindus there * Christianity * - Murder of a Hindu monk sparked more anti- Christian violence such as the murdering of priests, burning of Bibles, and destruction of Christian establishments * - Anti-Christian violence by Muslims as well * Buddhism * - Buddhist temple bombings

* censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx *