RELIGION
India is a mosaic of different religions, varying from the ancient animistic beliefs of the tribal communities to the rigid orthodoxies of the Hindu caste system. The majority of India 's population are Hindus, while around 200 million (20 per cent) are Muslims. Several other religions, such as Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity, also flourish. Jawaharlal Nehru saw a unity in this diversity, and the Constitution of India declares it to be a secular republic, where the state has no official religion and all faiths can be freely practiced.
Hinduism - The bedrock of Hinduism constitutes the four Vedas and the Upanishads, which are a holistic compilation of knowledge, philosophy and ethics. Yet, Hinduism is not a religion of the Book, but a way of life that has systematically evolved over the past 5000 years. 
In practice, Hindus worship a huge pantheon of gods and goddesses. Socially, they can be divided into four castes—the upper caste Brahmins (priests), the Kshatriyas (warriors), the Vaishyas (merchants and traders), and the lowest caste, Sudras (workers). The caste system envisioned society as an organic whole with each part or caste performing a vital function.
The traditional family structure was that of a joint family presided over by its patriarch. This is now fast disappearing in urban areas. Yet, sanskara, traditional values, are still instilled into children, and complicated rites mark each stage of orthodox Hinduism which shuns idol-worship, and prefers to concentrate on larger philosophical issues. Sadhus, who wear saffron to indicate their retreat from the material world, are its most visible practitioners. They hold a most respected position in Hindu society.
Islam - Islam was introduced into Western India in the 8 th century by Arab traders, but it gained prominence in the north only after the 12 th century, when it was declared the state religion under the medieval Muslim rulers.
Today, Muslims are India 's second largest religious community, despite a large exodus to Pakistan after the traumatic Partition of 1947. Muslims can be broadly divided into two sects, the Sunnis and the Shais. The latter believe that Prophet Mohammed's cousin Ali and his descendants are the true imams. Traditional Muslim education, based on the Koran, is still imparted by the clergy in madrasas near mosques, which are central to the entire community. In India , the Friday public prayers, led by the local imam, are only open to men, and nearly all Muslim places of worship follow strict rules of segregation.
Sufism is a less orthodox mystic Islamic order. Its teachings emphasize direct experience of god, and Sufis believe that mystical ecstasy can be attained even through music and dance. Sufi saints like Nizamuddin Auliya attracted many converts from Hinduism, and the fusion of the two religious traditions led to a flowering of poetry, music and art.
Sikhism - Sikhism is a reformist religion founded by Guru Nanak in the 15 th century. Eschewing idol worship, rituals and the caste system, it believes in a formless god. The Sikh, with his characteristic turban, is easy to identify. He is supposed to abide by the five “k's”: kesh (long hair), kachha (underpants), kirpan (small sword), kangha (comb) and kara (bracelet). The Sikhs follow the teachings of ten gurus that are contained in their holy book, the Adi Granth, kept in the Golden Temple at Amritsar ( Punjab ).
Religious persecution by the later Mughals led the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, to reorganize the community in 1699 as a military order called the Khalsa, based on the principles of sangat (congregation), simran (meditation), kirtan (hymn singing), langar and pangat (sharing and partaking of food in a common kitchen).
Christianity - The rise of Christianity in this region dates to the late 15 th century when Catholic missionaries traveled to India in the wake of Portuguese traders. About this time, Christian Armenian communities also settled in Mughal India , procuring a license to trade. There is evidence that the Mughal emperor Akbar invited Jesuit priests to religious discussions held in Fatehpur Sikri. With the coming of the East India Company, Protestant missionaries spread across the country, setting up educational institutions and hospitals in the 18 th and 19 th centuries.
Many are still run by dedicated workers. They also involved themselves with reform movements and influenced the government to take measures against practices such as sati. Marriages between Indians and the Europeans who came led to the birth of the Anglo-Indian community. During the Raj, the railways and many of the subordinate civil services were run by them.
Indian Christians believe that the apostle St. Thomas brought the religion to South India in the 1 st century AD. Today, church services have been Indianized to a large extent by absorbing some dialects, practices and rituals to make it easier for local worshippers to follow them.
Other Religions - Apart from these four major groups, India has other smaller though distinct religious communities. Buddhists are followers of Gautam Buddha who lived and preached the gospel of non-violence and peace. From India , Buddhism spread to other countries in Asia but, ironically, it has now nearly vanished in the land of its birth. The 14 th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, now lives in India with his followers in exile and is a widely respected figure. Jains, the followers of Mahavira, are a pacific and non-violent community who respect life in every form, and observe rigid fasts and self-denial. They are divided into the Svetambaras (dressed in white) and the Digambaras (who shun clothing). The Parsis are followers of Zoroaster and came from Persia in the 7 th century. A small community, they have nevertheless played a significant role in Indian industry and are known for their philanthropy. The first Jew came to India in about 587 BC and now live mainly in Mumbai and Cochin.
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