Shaivism: a sect that emphasise the worship of god Shiva. It looks like a syncretism of worship of Vedic god Indra and ideology of Vajrayana sect of Buddhism.

 

Vaishnavism: a sect that emphasise the worship of god Vishnu. It looks like syncretism of worship of Vedic god Surya (Sun god) and ideology of Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shramana - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shramana

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka

Any practicing Buddhist, and by this I really mean the clergy or others who practice Buddhist meditation, are by definition acknowledging the existence of a higher power, one they do not assume the arrogance of defining. The act of 'sitting' is in itself an expression of religious belief. Ergo, they accept the tenets of a religion, not a philosophy. 

As for the Jack Kerouac hippies, they were not Buddhists. Neither is anyone who practices the meditation sciences, which existed in India before Buddhism, for the purposes of worldly self-improvement. (i.e., better health, sharper mind, stop smoking, etc, etc)  That difference lies in the minds of the practitioners and not in a manual.  

 

Originally posted by lirelou Modern Hinduism is proof that even when once religion supplants another, as Buddhism did Hinduism during the reign of Ashoka, the previous religion can make a come-back.

 

That is my point, Hinduism is not a come-back of previous Vedic Religion. We don't see the revival of Vedic deities like Indra, Agni, Ashvins, Varuna and Maruts. Rather, in Hinduism most revered deities are Shiva, Rama, Krishna and Devi.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Vedic_religion - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Vedic_religion

 

 

 

Astute.

 

And I also welcome you to the forum and look forward to more of your thoughts on the Vedic and other areas.

 

CV

 

 

Hq's in the Field

Apache NF

Vic: Clifton, AZ.

 

Buddhism and Jainism emerged from the Vedic religion which was practiced by a ruling class in nomadic times and in the beginning of Pataliputra the first city of the gangetic plain. These two new religions almost destroyed the Vedic religion.

What we do not know is how much of the original indus religion and other local tribal beliefs survived in other Indian communities between 1800 to 600 BC and how early temple worship I.e. temples made of impermanent materials existed in India.

What we call Hinduism today is prayer to local Indian Gods using a foreign Sanscrit language and hymns written for entirely different I.e. Vedic Gods. no Hindu prays to any Vedic God except the later Vedic God Vishnu who was originally the body of the sacrifice.

Except for  vegetarianism and non violence adopted in response to Budhism and Jainism (originally Vedic religion demanded animal sacrifice) here is nothing derived from Budhism in Hinduism

although many Vedic practices of Yagnya are still done almost entirely in the Vedic way with very few non Vedic interpolations like Vigneswara dhyanam or achamanam

 

Both Buddhism and Jainism emerged from Shraman tradition, which is as old as Vedic tradition.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shramanism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shramanism

 

Originally posted by Venkytalks What we do not know is how much of the original indus religion and other local tribal beliefs survived in other Indian communities between 1800 to 600 BC and how early temple worship I.e. temples made of impermanent materials existed in India. What we call Hinduism today is prayer to local Indian Gods using a foreign Sanscrit language and hymns written for entirely different I.e. Vedic Gods. no Hindu prays to any Vedic God except the later Vedic God Vishnu who was originally the body of the sacrifice. Except for  vegetarianism and non violence adopted in response to Budhism and Jainism (originally Vedic religion demanded animal sacrifice) here is nothing derived from Budhism in Hinduism although many Vedic practices of Yagnya are still done almost entirely in the Vedic way with very few non Vedic interpolations like Vigneswara dhyanam or achamanam

This coincided with enlargement of epics and puranas is a state sponsored systematic fashion because the enemies of the Guptas were Kushans Shakas and Parthians who were all Budhist. 

The epics and puranas with some exceptions how good evidence of purposeful enlargement than evolution. And this took place before Shhankara who further helped in the development of modern hinduism.

Shramana tradition is more related to Hindu philosophy than religion. Upanishadic philosophy itself might have evolved due to contact with prevedic Indian traditions of Samkhya Yoga and austerities. These might date back to Indus valley. The tradition really affected monks more than common people. The Karma marga of Bhagavad gita is probably the main contributuon to Hindu religion. Few Indians follow Shramana tradition. 

Mimamsa and temple worship are the main methods of worship for Hindus just as going to Church or Mosque and personal prayers are the main forms of worship for common people.

Originally posted by Venkytalks This coincided with enlargement of epics and puranas is a state sponsored systematic fashion because the enemies of the Guptas were Kushans Shakas and Parthians who were all Budhist.

 

Very thoughtful post