Hinduism and Buddhism: The History of Ancient India’s Most Influential Religions

In conjunction with the development of religions, including not just Hinduism but also Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism, the diverse traditions and ethnic groups that have called India home over the past 5,000 years combined to create a mythology that is as eclectic as it is interesting. Unraveling the details of India’s mythological systems is no easy task, but thankfully, hundreds of scholars who have studied Indian history have successfully translated thousands of ancient and medieval Indian texts into English and other modern Western languages. Generally speaking, Indian mythology originated from the ideas and practices of two ethnic groups, the Dravidians and the Aryans. Although the latter’s influence was more visibly dominant, the former was also integral in the development of Indian myths and Hinduism generally. It is also important to keep in mind the differences between mythology, theology, and rituals as they relate to Indian religion. 

In the West, Buddhism is a religion that everyone has heard of but one that few truly understand aside from Buddhists themselves. For almost 2,500 years, Buddhism has been dominant on the Indian subcontinent, based on the traditions, beliefs, and practices that came about from the teachings of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), the Sansrkit word for “the awakened one.” Today, three distinct branches of Buddhism have mostly fanned out across Asia, and it’s believed that upwards of half a billion people practice Buddhism today, and some of the traditional practices and principles of the religion, including the concepts of karma, reincarnation and the practice of yoga are all commonplace ideas across the world.