World Civilizations I. Golden Religions of India Starting around 500 BC, three of India's major religions emerged. Mahavira was the founder of the Jain religion. He taught his followers to live a sober life, avoid harming any living being, and renounce evil thoughts and actions. Similarly, the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama (or the Buddha), taught his followers a path to nirvana that involved avoiding violence and freeing oneself from desires. In response to both Jainism and Buddhism the religion of Hinduism evolved. The evolution of Hinduism derives mainly from a response of the Brahman caste to the lack of recognition of the caste system by Jainism and Buddhism. Hindu traditions validated animal sacrifices and the caste system, but emphasized the individual's relationships with the worship of personal deities and recognized the need for material gain and pleasure. India has a long tradition of religious acceptance. Even during the periods of conquest by the Mongols, Persians and Greeks, the religions of other nationalities were accepted and integrated into the fabric of Indian culture. India's location along major trade routes made it impossible to prevent the influence of other political, social and ideological issues, and if they were opposed, they would surely lead to the demise of Indian society. However, despite all external influences, ancient and modern India has a unique culture, illustrated in the complexity of its many religions. Hinduism is often considered the world's oldest religion, with roots dating back to prehistoric times. Hinduism, as we now recognize it, evolved as a response to Jainism and Buddhism's contempt for the caste system. We see the beginnings of Hinduism around 1000 BC Orecchio... middle of paper... the first to establish in 1884 the antiquity of Jainism as an independent, pre-Buddhist religion on the basis of data available from the Pali Canon. Buddhist scriptures record philosophical dialogues between Buddha and Udaka Ramaputta, the first of several teachers with whom the young Siddartha Gautama studied before his enlightenment. Buddhist scriptures attest that some of the early Buddhists were actually Jains who converted, but were encouraged by the Buddha to maintain their Jain identity and practices. The complexities, differences and similarities of these religions make religious tolerance in India a necessity. Although Hinduism is still the main religion of modern India, there are still those who practice Jainism and Buddhism; continuing the historic struggle against the oppressive caste system of Hinduism. Works Cited History of World Societies