The predominant religion in ancient India was
Hinduism. The roots of Hindu religion can be traced back to the Vedic
period. Hinduism is believed to be the oldest of major religions and
originated in northern India. Early Aryan, or Vedic, culture was the
early Hinduism whose interaction with non-Aryan cultures resulted in
what we call Classical Hinduism. It is interesting to note that much of
ancient, classical and modern Indian culture has been greatly shaped by
Hindu thought.
The Mahabharata and Ramayana, both sacred Hindu texts, served as
India's main motivating base for a great deal of literary, artistic and
musical creations in subsequent millennia. The Epic Period was a golden
era in Indian philosophical thought because of the tolerance of
different opinions and teachings. The most popular form of Indian
medicine, Ayurveda, was developed by Vedic saints and Jyotish, Hindu
astrology, is the most popular form of astrology in India today. Yoga,
an internationally-famous system of meditation, is one of six systems of
Hindu thought.
Besides Hinduism, other main religions during ancient India were
Buddhism, and Jainism. Buddhism originated in northern India in what is
today the state of Bihar. It rapidly gained adherents during the
Buddha's lifetime. Up to the 9th century, Indian followers numbered in
the hundreds of millions. Buddhism, known in ancient India as Buddha
Dharma, originated in northern India in what is today the state of
Bihar. It rapidly gained adherents during the Buddha's lifetime. Up to
the 9th century, Indian followers numbered in the hundreds of millions.
There also developed many heterodox religious sects in ancient India.
One such sect was Ajivika, founded by Mahavira's rival Goshala
Maskariputra. Ajivikas did not believe in karma and thought that the
destiny was predetermined and could not be changed. There were also
several other religious contemporaries to Buddha and Mahavira during the
6th century B.C. Another preacher of the same period was Pakuda
Katyayana, who also taught that the soul was superior to good and evil,
thus unchanged or untouched by it. He classified everything into seven
categories, i.e. earth, water, fire, air, pleasure, pain and soul, which
were eternal. Ajita Kesakambalin, another contemporary of Buddha taught
complete materialism. He did not believe in the afterlife and considered
death as the final phase of all souls.
