Other religions in IndiaIslamSikhismBuddhismJainismWorld Religions

Islam

Muslims are followers of the prophet Muhammad

He was born in the Persian City, Mecca in 570 A.D.

He was inspired by Allah (God) and wrote down his messages in the Koran (Quran)

Two main branches are called the Sunni and Shi’ah Muslims which differ mainly in administration of the community and holidays

Islam in India88 million Muslims in IndiaThe world’s largest Islamic

populationIslam was established in India

after Muslim invaders took power in the thirteenth century

Five pillars of IslamCreed (One God is Allah)Prayer (5 times a day

and go to the Mosques every Friday; pray in direction of Mecca)

Fasting (partake in month-long fast of Ramadan)

Almsgiving (give to the poor)

Pilgrimage (One trip to Mecca)

Five major beliefs of Islam One God (Allah) AngelsThe prophets (those of the Old and

New Testament)Holy booksDay of Judgment

◦Islam is a strongly social faith which seeks to model one’s entire individual and community life in obedience to the teachings of the Quran

SikhismFounded in the 16th

century by Guru Nanak, a wandering holy man.

Believed in one God (Sat Nam)

Sikhs believe that by following their religion they will avoid reincarnation

Sikhs reject the caste system

Believe all should worship and live as equals

The Golden Temple of AmritsarAmritsar is the holy center of the

Sikh religion Four main doorsHoly book Granth Sahib “The Teacher Book” • Bathe in the waters surrounding

the temple to cleanse themselves

Five outward signs of faith A Sikh man has long hair (Kesh) tied

up in a bun and covered with a turbanHe wears short pants (Kachha)Carries a comb call kanghaCarries a sword called KirpanWears a bracelet (kara) which

symbolizes the idea that God is without beginning or end.

After being baptized, men take the last name Singh, which means “lion” and women use Kaur, which means “princess”

Sikhs: Men and women

BuddhismFounder,

Siddhartha Gautama, lived in India in the fifth century B.C.

He wanted to “reform” Hinduism

Known as Buddha

ReformersBy 600 B.C., the Brahman caste

became very powerful One day, Gautama walked

outside the palace walls and saw: 1-An old man, 2- A sick man, 3-a dead man, and 4-A beggar

These images haunted him so he left his family to find the cause of human misery

Background info. For Buddhism

Buddha is also known as the “Enlightened One” who has achieved Nirvana (state of perfect peace)

Buddha’s teachings were written down in Three Baskets of Wisdom

Buddhists strive to become enlightened and freed from desires and cravings

Different sects of BuddhismTheravada Buddhists

◦Stressed monastic life (monks)Mahayana Buddhists

◦Worship the Buddha and other enlightened ones as gods

Tibetan Vajrayana

Buddhist temples

India

Tibet

JainismGrew out of efforts to reform

HinduismFounder, Mahavira, lived around

the same time as the BuddhaWanted to break thepower of the caste system•Emphasizes abimsa, or nonViolence

Principles of JainismStrict vegetariansPurity of life

◦Asceticism◦Elevation of

consciousness◦Not harming any living

creatureWhat are the differences between Jainism and Buddhism?