Which is India's religion, Buddhism, or Hinduism?

Question

Or are they both of India, but from different parts? (North, and South?)

Answer 1

Hinduism is originally from India. Buddhism came out of Hindiuism, but it is usually outside of India where it is practiced. India is primarily either Muslim or Hindu. Look up the Migration and the divison of Pakistan and India to learn a little bit more about it.

Answer 2

Almost everyone has said correctly, however, I also would like to contribute. India is a secular state/nation and it does not have official religion. Hinduism is the religion of a large majority around 70% of the population. Hinduism is the result of the synthesis of many a faiths and culture. It has assimilated many belief systems and, on the other hand, it has given rise to very prominent schools of thoughts like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Dravids, Naths, Tantrics etc. Some of these schools were a process of reform on Hinduism. Some, ultimately, have become a part of Hinduism while some other have acquired their own distinct identity like Buddhism. Inter group rivalry has seen Buddhism vanishing from India and flourishing in nearby states but during this process a number of customs and beliefs of each other has been acquired by both schools of thoughts. Why I am using "school of thought" phrase because these religions are not like Abrahamic faith of one god, one creator, one world, one book, rules and commandments etc. etc.

Answer 3

They are both from India, but I believe Hinduism is more common within India while Buddhism is more common outside of India.

Buddhism is indeed an offshoot of Hinduism, but it is also very different. Somewhat like the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.

Answer 4

Hinduism is the religion of India.

Asia's two spiritual titans, Hinduism and Buddhism, have exerted profound influence on the planet and its people since their beginnings. They are unique in offering imperative moral direction alongside esoteric knowledge of the yogas leading to transcendent states of consciousness and ultimately to Liberation.

Taken together, Buddhist and Hindu adherents and enthusiasts would roughly account for one-quarter of the entire world population. Both religions have spread from the same soil, India, to countries far and wide. Buddhism especially has settled abroad, while its once powerful presence in India has dwindled to fewer than five million adherents (.5 percent of the
population).

Buddha was a Hindu, and Buddhism is Hindu in its origin and development, art and architecture, iconography, language, many of its beliefs, psychology, names, nomenclature, religious vows and spiritual disciplines. Hinduism is not all Buddhism, but Buddhism forms part of the ethos which is essentially Hindu.

For more info,please visit http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/wih/

Answer 5

hinduism, mostly. but buddhism is everywhere too.

the whole thing is hindu, but there are pockets of buddhism, all over the north and south too.

(there is also a sizable muslim population in india, they are mostly in the north, but you would have to say india's religion is hinduism.)

there is no official state religion, as india is a secular democracy, but it is a very religious country. the political party BJP is very pro-hindu and is sometimes in power. but they don't have a problem with the buddhists, they just don't like to see muslims in india.

Answer 6

I believe the state religion is Hinduism
Buddhism is an offshoot of hinduism and there are many buddhist sites in India but I don't believe it is the official religion of anywhere except maybe Tibet before the chineese took over....technically I don't think buddhism is a religion (in the western sense of the word)

Answer 7

The term hinduism is not a single religion, but a term refering to many sects.

Buddhism diverged from Hindu belief's and is not as popular in India as Hindu type religions, but is prevelent in Nepal, China, Tibet, Japan, Mongolia, etc and perhaps the North of India (comparitive to the south).

Answer 8

India is a secular democracy with a majority Hindu population. (Similar to the US and Christianity in that regard.) Buddhism was founded in India, but is more popular outside India, in places like Burma, Sri Lanka, Japan, Bhutan, etc.

Answer 9

Loving India is India's religion. It is our duty to make India a powerful country so that she does not fall a prey again to military conquerors as it did twelve hundred years. Indians have suffered the worst kind of slavery one can imagine. Read Dr. Ambedkar to know the meanest kind of slavery Indians were subjected to. We have to make ourselves strong and keep an eye on those work against the Indian interests. A.L.Rawal

Answer 10

Hinduism is a culture..... and Buddhism is a offshoot of Hinduism for export....