History of the Indian Religions in Asia

HinduismIt was during the reign of Asoka (150 B.C.) when
It was the early 320 B.C. when the famed GuptaBuddhism spread its clutches in India. Gautama Buddha
dynasty came into throne and started a revival of thewas the founder of this religion. According to the
Hindu religion. The term "revival" does not imply that thereligious documents, the reincarnation of a life form can
Hindu religion was non-existent in the previousbe avoided by following the 8 fold path preached by
centuries but the spread of the Hindu religion remainedGautama Buddha, and by meditation. This religion
dormant before that time. Although the arrival ofspread itself very fast and Buddhists also paid
Hinduism has not been documented and there is noattention to Hindu Gods.
certain theory about this, Religious facts state that inJainism
1500 B.C. the Aryans were the ones who brought inNearly at the same time (as above) another religion
this religion to the Indian sub-continent. Hinduism is ainfluenced the sub-continent. It was Mahavira who
polytheistic religion and reincarnation was a uniquepreached principles that encouraged getting out of the
theme that resided within this religion. The Hindu religionreincarnation cycle. This religion came to be known as
follows the 4 Vedas: the Rig veda, Shyam veda, YajurJainism and the followers are called Jains.
veda and the Atharva Veda. It has also 2 epics at itsIslam
disposal, The Ramayana and The Mahabharata.It was in the middle of 1100 AD when a series of
These are the books that state the main principles ofinvasions by Muslim rulers invaded India. This forced
Hinduism although there are several other books likepeople to change their religions to Islam. People were
Upanishads.forbidden to pray to any God except Allah and thus
BuddhismIslam made its way into India.