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India
Traveling
across this vast country makes you appreciate not just the
geographical variations, but also differences in languages,
customs and ethnicity. There are around 180 languages and
544 dialects in India, which just proves the amazing
diversity.
In
north of India mighty Himalayas rise majestically and in
south great Indian Ocean rules. In west the Arabian Sea and
Thar Desert, while in the east lush green forests and Bay of
Bengal. Sunny and sandy beaches, beautiful monuments,
temples, spiritual centers, palaces, forts, snow capped
mountains, deserts, dense forests with unique flora and
fauna make India an attractive tourist destination. Unity in
diversity makes India a unique country.
Modern
India is a vibrant economy with growing industrial and
agricultural sector. Mega cities like Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkatta, Chennai, Banglore, Hyderabad and Ahemadabad
represent growing industrialization in the country. Although
traditional industries like textile, heavy machinery, and
mining are well developed in India, it is the information
technology revolution, which brought India amongst front
ranking industrialized nations. India is a ‘Software
Giant’ and the ongoing biotechnology revolution will soon
make it a global player in biotech sector. But with 70
percent population living in rural areas, agriculture still
plays a major role to the Indian economy.
Civilization
and Religion
India is a country with rich cultural heritage and
is a cradle of civilization. Archeological evidences show
that an advanced civilization with knowledge of architecture
and city planning lived in India before, during and after
3000 B.C. While some scriptures refer to the presence of
even older Indian civilizations. Science of mathematics,
astronomy and medicine thrived in ancient India.
Documents
and scripture from ancient India, with details of
sophisticated plastic surgery equipments and methods are
available. Vedic mathematics is now accepted as an easy way
for training people in math, while Sanskrit, which was
widely used in India at that time, is now considered by
experts as the best scientifically structured language ever
made. India is also a home for over a billion people and the
ancient religion of Hinduism - which is the modern name for
the religion of this land. Tolerance receptivity and
all-comprehensiveness are the main characteristics of
Hinduism. Openness of Hinduism towards other religions and
the ability to amalgamate foreign religions and cultures
have resulted in a country where all the major religions of
the world can coexist and flourish side by side.
Hinduism
has no difficulty in bringing diverse faiths within its
fold; it has something to offer to almost all minds.
Strength of Hinduism lies in its infinite adaptability to
the infinite diversity of human character and human
tendencies. It has its highly spiritual and abstract side
suited to the philosopher; its practical and concrete side
congenial to the man of the world; its aesthetic and
ceremonial side attuned to the man of the poetic feeling and
imagination; and its quiescent contemplative aspect that has
its appeal for the man of peace and the lover of seclusion. Hindus
believed in pantheism, more than 2,000 years before the
advent of Spinoza and were evolutionists many centuries
before the doctrine of evolution was accepted by scientists
of the present age. None of the other civilizations anywhere
in the world, with the probable exception of China, has been
as continuous as that of India.
While Egyptian, Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations have
disappeared, in India the ideas emanating from the Vedic
times continue to be a living force.
Most
of the other oriental religions like Buddhism, Jainism,
Sikkhism have their roots in Hinduism. Unlike many other
religions Hinduism is not dogmatic religion. There are no
prophets and no single book. Vedas
(4 in number- Rig
Veda, Sama
Veda, Atharva
Veda and Yajur
Veda) and Upanishads
(108 in number) form the core of Hindu religion and its
philosophy. While popular Hindu religion also includes
mythological stories (which have their own symbolic
meanings) called Puranas. Two great epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata are also considered to be part of holy Hindu
scriptures. Bhagvad Gita, which is a part of Mahabharata
epic, can be considered as 'soul' of Hindu religion. It
consists of a discourse given by lord Krishna to his
disciple Arjuna and it summarizes the eternal religion of
Hinduism.
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