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As the birthplace of several world religions, the Indian sub-continent is home to countless sacred and holy sites. Below is information on a few of the most notable.

[edit] Buddhist

[edit] Understand

Buddhism is a non-theistic religion founded around 400-500 BC by Sakyamuni Buddha. Born into a royal household in northern India, Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha's former name) discovered that a life of luxury did not lead to peace of mind, and that the rich, like the poor, still suffer the torments of old age, sickness and death. He therefore renounced his title and abandoned his wealth in order to seek a way that could lead all beings, without discrimination, to freedom from suffering. He spent six years experimenting with the various common methods of the day, but to no avail. Finally, at the age of thirty-five and while meditating under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, he awoke to the insights he had been seeking. The essence of the Buddha's discovery are categorized in his first teaching that was delivered to a group of five ascetics at the Deer Park in Sarnath and is called the Four Noble Truths. The Buddha finally passed away in a copse of sal trees at Kushinagar. He was believed to be over 80 years old at the time.

For many centuries, Buddhism was the major religion in India, and was supported by many great kings, with Asoka the Great (273–232 BC) perhaps the most famous. Buddhism's influence in India waxed and waned over the next millennium, and during the 6th and 7th century support was mostly confined to Southern India. However, perhaps the single most significant blow to Buddhism in India occurred in 1193 when Turkic Islamic raiders burnt the great Buddhist center of learning in Nalanda (in current day Bihar), and by the end of the 12th century it had all but disappeared from the lowlands, though it continued to thrive in the Himalayan regions.

Buddhism as a philosophy and religion can roughly be dived into to two schools. Theravada and Mahayana. The Theravada school which spread to Thailand, Sri Lanka and other South East Asian countries promotes personal liberation from suffering, whereas the Mahayana, which is prevalent in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Bhutan and Tibet, emphasizes the liberation of all beings. The Vajrayana school, which is often called Tibetan Buddhism, is an offshoot of Mahayana and differs from it only in method, not philosophy. A common thread throughout all Buddhist schools is the cultivation of wisdom and compassion as a basis of interacting with the world, and the total rejection of religious conversion. All schools of Buddhism recognize karma (the law of cause and effect) as the creator of our illusory universe, which Buddhists refer to as samsara.

[edit] Common images and symbols

• Buddha Sakyamuni. Obviously the most common image at Buddhist monasteries, and statues show the Buddha in a various number of postures, though the most common of these depicts the Buddha sitting in lotus posture with the finger tips of his right hand touching the ground.
• Tara (only in Vajrayana monasteries). This female deity can be depicted in a variety of colors, though green or white are the most common. Green Tara represents the Buddha's enlightened activity. White Tara represents compassion.
• Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche (only in Vajrayana monasteries, especially those of the Nyingma school). An eighth century sage credited as the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism. The most common images portray him in a sitting posture, wearing an elaborate hat and with his right leg lowered slightly. His eyes are wide open and appear to be gazing into the distance.
• Prayer wheels (Tib: mani) (only in Vajrayana monasteries). There are several types of prayer wheels, and the following are some of the most common: copper wheels mounted in walls surrounding monasteries and stupas, and large wooden wheels standing alone near the gates of monasteries or placed in rivers where they are continuously turned by the current. In addition, there are small hand-held wheels that are carried by devotees. Prayer wheels are always filled with consecrated prayers and mantras (or in the case of water wheels, they are painted on the side), and it is believed that turning them in a clockwise direction and with a pure motivation to benefit all beings will activate the blessings, and so create auspicious conditions for those in the vicinity and also result in those who turn them eventually achieving a state where they have the ability to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings. Turning prayer wheels is considered equal to chanting mantras or prayers, though most devotees combine the two activities.

[edit] Respect

• Wear clothing that expresses respect for the sacred nature of the site.
• Go bare foot within the main temple/stupa complex.
• Circumambulate stupas and other sacred objects in a clock-wise direction.
• Turn prayer wheels in a clockwise direction.
• Preserve the peace and tranquility.
• Do not climb onto statues or other sacred objects.

[edit] Notable sites

Below is list of fourteen of the most notable Buddhist sites in the sub-continent:

• Bodh Gaya, Bihar — the place where the Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment.
• Boudhanath Stupa. Kathmandu, Nepal — one of the main sacred sites in Nepal.
• Bumthang Valley, Bhutan — the valley is considered the spiritual heart of Bhutan and contains many sacred sites, including the famous Kurjey Lhakhang in Jakar.
• Ellora and Ajanta, Maharashtra — spectacular rock-cut cave monasteries and temples, holy place for the Buddhists, Jains and Hindus.
• Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh — the site where Buddha reached Mahaparinirvana and was cremated
• Lumbini, Nepal — the birth place of Sakyamuni Buddha.
• Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh — a sacred lake associated with the Buddhist sage Padmasambhava. A popular pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.
• Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh — the place where the Buddha first taught the Dharma.
• Taktshang Monastery, (Tiger's Nest), Paro, Bhutan — a monastery associated with Guru Rinpoche. It is one of Bhutan's most sacred places.
• The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka — a temple housing a tooth that came from the mouth of Lord Buddha and is considered Sri Lanka's most sacred site.

[edit] Festivals

Vajrayana tradition

• New Year, first full moon in year (usually in February).
• Modlam Chenmo, 8th-15th day after lunar new year.
• The Buddha's Enlightenment and Passing into Nirvana, 15th day of 4th lunar month (usually May).
• Guru Rinpoche's Birthday, 10th day of the 6th lunar month.
• Chokhor Duchen, 4th day of the 6th lunar month (usually July). Celebrates the first sermon given by the Buddha Sakyamuni after enlightenment.

Theravada tradition

• Vesak, first full moon in May. Celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into nirvana.
• Asalha, first full moon of 8th lunar month (usually July). Celebrates the first sermon given by the Buddha Sakyamuni after enlightenment.

[edit] Hindu

[edit] Understand

Founded around 4000 years ago, Hinduism was the first religion in the subcontinent and is considered amongst the oldest in the world. Hindus believe in a set of ideas called the dharma, or truth. According to Hindu philosophy, all living beings have an atma (soul) that is reborn several times, in both human and animal form. The karma (actions) of people in one life will decide his/her fate in the next life.

The Hindu religion has numerous gods — they are all considered to be different appearences of the supreme spirit, Brahma the Creator. The other two most important gods are Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. These gods are worshiped in a temple (known as a mandir in Hindi or a Devalaya in Sanskrit), most of which are elaborately decorated with carvings and sculptures. Each temple has its own priest(s) who carry out the puja (prayers) and rituals.

The Ganges river is considered to be holy by most Hindus. They believe that bathing in it will wash away their earthly sins. Millions of pilgrims take a dip in the holy water from the Varanasi ghats (the steps along the river-bank) and take some Ganga Jal (holy water) with them back as a blessing.

The majority of Hindus live in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There are small minorities in North America, Europe and the Middle East. Nepal is the only Hindu state in the world, although a significant minority of Buddhists live there.

[edit] Common images and symbols

• Om. The sacred syllable that represents God. It is often prefixed to prayers and mantras.It is pronounced as A-U-M. According to Hindu philosophy, the letter A represents creation, when all existence issued forth from Brahma's golden nucleus; the letter U refers to Vishnu the god of the middle who preserves this world by balancing Brahma on a lotus above himself; and the letter M symbolizes the final part of the cycle of existence, when Vishnu falls asleep and Brahma has to breathe in so that all existing things have to disintegrate.

• Swastika. Derived from the Sanskrit term for well-being, the Swastika is an equilateral cross. Each of its arms is bent right angles in either the left or right direction. It is often decorated with a dot in each quadrant. Denotes purity of soul and truth.

[edit] Respect

• Do not disrespect or step on anything made of paper. Books are associated with Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge).
• If you decide to attend a prayer, remember to accept the flowers with your right hand, or with both hands.
• Take off your shoes before entering a temple.
• Do not bring non-vegetarian food or alcohol into the premises of a temple. In some cities like Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi, alcohol and meat is banned.
• Many Hindu temples do not allow non-Hindus inside certain parts of the temple complex. Remember that these are places of worship, not tourist attractions.

[edit] Notable sites

Below is a list of fourteen of the most notable Hindu sacred sites in the sub-continent

• Char Dham, Uttarakhand — a pilgrimage of four towns
• Ellora and Ajanta, Maharashtra — spectacular rock-cut cave monasteries and temples, holy place for the Buddhists, Jains and Hindus.
• Haridwar and Rishikesh, Uttarakhand — spiritual twin cities, the Gateway to the God, and the Yoga capital of the globe respectively.
• Madurai, Tamil Nadu — site of the spectacular Meenakshi Temple
• Nashik, Maharashtra — a temple town in the West
• Shirdi, Maharashtra
• Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh — one of the most sacred places for Hindus with Golden Temple on Seven Hills.
• Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh — considered the most sacred Hindu city, located on the banks of the Ganges, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities of the world.
• Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh — the birth place of Krishna, also known as the City of Widows.

[edit] Festivals

• Holi, March. The festival of colors, Holi celebrates the coming of spring. A huge bonfire is held in the evening prior to the festival.
• Diwali, October/November. The festival of lights. Celebrated with diyas, candles, colorful lights, sweets and plenty of fireworks.
• Dussehra, October/November. Held on the last day of Durga Puja. Celebrates the victory of good over evil. Huge effigies of the mythological characters Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are stuffed with fireworks and burned.
• Janmashtami, August/September. Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Marked by devotional songs and dances.
• Mahashivratri, March. Dedicated to Lord Shiva. At night, leaves are offered to the idol.
• Ganesh Chaturthi, August/September. According to legend, Lord Ganesh was born on this day. It is at its most elaborate in Maharashtra.

[edit] Islam

[edit] Understand

Founded by Prophet Mohammed in 570 AD, Islam literally means submitting to the will of god. Muslims believe that when the Prophet was making a pilgrimage to Mount Hira, near Mecca, the angel Gabriel came to him and told him that there is one God but Allah and that Mohammed should becomne the messenger to carry out God's will and convey God's ideas to people. When Prophet Mohammed first began to preach, people refused to believe him. Pilgrimages to Meccah brought money into the city and people did not want to change. In AD 622, the Prophet with his followers fled to the town of Yathrib (later renamed Medina). This flight called the Hijra, marked the start of the Islamic calendar.

At Medina, Prophet Mohammed declared that people should peacefully live together, rather than fighting between tribes. The words of Allah, which Prophet Mohammed passed down to the people, were compiled in a holy books called the Qur'an.

To Muslims, Islam is a way of life supported by five pillars.

• There is no God but Allah and Prophet Mohammed is His messenger
• A prayer to Allah is to be made five times a day
• Alms should be given to the poor at least once a year.
• Muslims should fast between dawn and dusk during the month of Ramadan
• Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Meccah (known as the Hajj) at least once in their lifetime

Muslims worship in mosques (masjid in Hindi) and are called to prayer five times a day by the Muezzin, at times set by the Qur'an. A Muslim religous leader is called an Imam. During prayers in the mosque, worshippers stand in a straight row behind him. Males and females form separate groups. Friday is an important day for all Muslims. They gather in the mosque to offer namaz (morning prayers) and listen to a talk by the Imam. This occasion gives Muslims a chance to know each other, particularly in areas where Muslims are a minority.

Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the countries of North Africa and the Middle East have large Muslim populations. Although less than 15% of the population in India follows Islam, in absolute numbers there are over 0.15 billion Muslims in India. Only Indonesia and neighboring Pakistan have a higher Muslim population.

[edit] Respect

• Wear clothes that cover your body well, avoid shorts or sleeveless tops.
• If you are not a Muslim, do not enter a mosque on Fridays till noon.
• Take off your footwear before enterinf a mosque.
• Do not disrespect Imams and other religous leaders.

[edit] Notable sites

Below is a list of a few of fourteen of the most notable Islamic sites in the sub-continent:

• Jama Masjid in Delhi
• Fatehpur Sikri near Agra
• Dargah of Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer – this tomb of a Sufi saint is hugely popular, not just among Muslims, but Hindus and Christians alike. It's one of the largest dargahs on the sub-continent, and people travel from all over to pay homage

[edit] Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr, 1st of Shawwal. Celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn till dusk. Dates are usually used to beak the fast. By far the most important date in the Islamic calendar. Arabic: (عيد الفطر)
• Eid Al-Adha, 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. This date coincides with the pilgrimage to Meccah. Commemorates Prophet Mohammed's willingness to sacrifice all that he cherished, including his own son Ismail, for Allah's sake. Arabic: (عيد الأضحى)
• Muharram (Ashura), 10th of Muharram. The day when Muslims remember and mourn the death of Hussain at Karbala. Devout Shias beat themselves with canes and sticks to feel Hussain's pain.

[edit] Jain

[edit] Understand

[edit] Common images and symbols

[edit] Respect

[edit] Notable sites

Below is a list of a few of the most notable Jain sites in India:

• Ellora and Ajanta, Maharashtra — spectacular rock-cut cave monasteries and temples, holy place for the Buddhists, Jains and Hindus.
• Shravanabelagola, Karnataka — one of the most sacred places for Jains.
• Shikharji, Jharkhand — Parshvanath Hill is about 4481 feet high, and twenty pilgrims are said to have attained Nirvana here.
• Mount Abu, Rajasthan — home to the complex of white marble Dilwada Temples.
• Gwalior's fort, Madhya Pradesh is home to dozens of Jain rock-cut sculptures.

[edit] Festivals

• Mahavira Jayanti, March/April. Celebrates the birth of Mahavira. Jain temples are decorated with flags. The most importnt date on the Jain calendar.
• Kali Chaudas, the day before Diwali. Jains avoid eating potatoes, onion or garlic on this day.
• Mahamasthakabhisheka is an important Jain festival held once every twelve years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka state, India. The festival is held in veneration of an immense 18 meter high statue of the Bhagwan (or Saint) Gomateshwara Bahubali. The anointing last took place in February 2006, and the next ceremony will occur in 2018.

[edit] Sikh

[edit] Understand

All Sikhs are originally from the state of Punjab. Sikhism began in 16th century Northern India with the teachings of Guru Nanak and nine successive Gurus. The Sikh system of philosophy is heavily based on the teachins of the Gurus, and is hence known as Gurmat. Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, was born as a Hindu in the year 1469. He believed that ceremonies and rituals divided people of different religions and that it was the beliefs and actions of the people that really mattered. The teachings of the Gurus are compiled in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. According to Sikh philosophy, there is one God who created the Universe. A Sikh place of worship known as a Gurudwara. It is derived from the Sanskrit words Guru and Dwaara and literally means the gateway to the Guru. Sikhism is unique since there are no priests. Readers, called Granthi, conduct services and read out passages from the Guru Granth Sahib. However, any member of the congregation may speak during a service.

Worldwide, Sikhs number more than 23 million, but more than 90 percent of Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab, where they form close to 65 percent of the population. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighbouring states and indeed large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs comprise only about 2 percent of the Indian population. Migration beginning from the nineteenth century led to the creation of significant communities in Canada (Brampton, Ontario; Surrey, British Columbia), the United Kingdom, the Middle East, East Africa, Southeast Asia and more recently, the United States, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

[edit] Commmon images and symbols

[edit] Respect

[edit] Notable sites

Below is a list of some of the most notable Sikh sites in India:

• Amritsar, Punjab — Sikh holy city, home to The Golden Temple.

[edit] Festivals

• Diwali, October/November. Sikhs celebrate Diwali to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone for the Golden Temple in 1577. Earthen lamps are used to illuminate houses and gurudwaras.
• Baisakhi, April 13. Marks the Punjabi New Year and the beginning of the harvest season.

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