India; Unity in Diversity

India: States & Union Territories

As mentioned before, there are 29 states and 6 union territories. Border disputes are there with Pakistan and China and this is an outline map and shouldnt be seen as one conclusive.

Geography and climate across the country is varied.
In the north, near the himalayas, it is mostly cold with snow at many of those regions.
In the north west, by Rajasthan we’ve the deserts like Thar desert.
Far north eastern states receives heavy rainfall. The town of Cherrapunji, south of capital Shillong holds the world record for most rain in a calendar month while the village of Mawsynram, near town of Cherrapunji holds the distinction of seeing the heaviest yearly rains.
South west of India, Kerala gets heavy rainfall but south east, Tamil Nadu gets scanty rainfall.

Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi)

Mahatma Gandhi needs no explanation. He is the father of our nation. He was the one who showed that freedom could be sought through non-violence. To be mentioned are his principles on truth, vegetarianism, simplicity, religion etc. He was born on 2nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat (west coast of India). He had to sacrifice his life (he was shot dead) for his principles on 30th January, 1948. Maha-atma=Great soul. Gandhi’s full name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He is reverently called Gandhiji or Bappu.

Religions originated in India: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikkhism & Buddhism

India is the birth place of several religions. Let me tell you about the religions that were born in India at first. Pictures of temples of these major religions are shown above. Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism & Buddhism was born in India. Buddhism reached Japan through China-Korea and now it is one of the major lifestyles of the Japanese.

Religions which came to India: Bahai, Parsi, Jew, Christianity, Islam

India has always been open to other cultures, languages & religions. Here is a glimpse on religions which came to India from other countries. These temples/shrines are of religions like bahai, parsi, jew, christian & muslim.. India has one of the world’s largest population of muslims (3rd or 4th).

Question: ..We got lots of knowladge about the Indian Culture and Histrory from this thread. But, I don’t completely agree with the line, that Buddhism was born in india, as you mention. Here I have collected a brife history of Buddhism, it may be helpful to clear your line more accurately. ..Siddharta Gautama was born around the year 580 BCE in the village of Lumbini in Nepal…

 

Answer: I agree with you that Buddha was born in Lumbini in Nepal. Especially recent findings point to that.

One point to be noted here is that most of us desis were part of the larger Indian subcontinent eons back. Indus valley civilization, most of the recovered remains are in Pakistan now and some in India. Yet we take it as part of the country. yeah before that we didn’t have the identity, india, nepal, pakistan or bangladesh. Anyways that is not the point I want to tell.

Let me show how I can argue Buddhism was born in present day India . Buddha was born in present day Nepal, I agree again.

 

1. Bodh Gaya in Patna in India is the birth place of Buddhism.This is the place where Siddhartha Gautama sat by a pipal tree and got enlightened.This is the place from where Buddha started spreading his enlightenment. Siddhartha became Buddha or the ‘awakened one’ here. In that ways, one can even say Buddha was born in present day India.
2. Though I mentioned the birth of buddhism in (1), I will give the true credits to Ashoka (c.272-235 BC).Ashoka was the third descendant in the Mauryan Empire. While he was young, he was said to be cruel and killed all his brothers to get to the throne of his father Bindusara (c.297-272). Asoka was succesful in conquering a vast empire (shown in picture). Yet, a small kingdom in Kalinga with its patriotic people didn’t give up. A long and bloody war broke out and thousands died. Seeing the burnt houses and scattered corpses, Ashoka got sick and his mind drastically changed.

   He adopted Buddhism under Upagupta, the buddhist monk and he used his emperor status to propagate Buddhism to new heights and to the whole world, as far as Rome & Egypt. Though Buddhism originated by 6th century BCE,Till then (3rd Century BCE) Buddhism was not well known to the world. Ashoka made Buddhism his state religion around 260 BC. He propagated the school of Buddhism and preached it within his domain and worldwide from about 250 BC. Ashoka send his own son son and daughter for propagating buddhism around.

   In other ways, one can say he assumed the role of Constantine I who later (272-373 AD) legalized and then legitimized Christianity in the Roman Empire for the first time.

References:

1. India through the ages.
   Authors: K.C.Vyas, D.R. Sar Desai, S.R.Nayak
   available in Hokkaido University Main Library
2. wikipedia, other resources.

Well whatever be the origin of Buddha or Buddhism, India remains to be the place which have opened her hands to such diverse religions. Buddhism has grown and sustained in India. Even now, the Tibetan Buddhism finds its HeadQuarters and warm stay at Dharamsala in India.

To end, Buddhism is born in those minds who follow the path of enlightenment. Let our minds be enlightened!