Phase 1: Pre-Buddhist

Hinduism, i.e., the religion of India in the pre-Buddhist period is not much explored. Kosambi (Chattopadhyaya, 2009) says that Hinduism is older than the Vedic religion of Aryans. Brahminism existed in India prior to Vedic religion. Buddha mentioned about sixty two philosophies existing in India of his time. He said that eighteen principles dealt with the past– four with infinity, four with partial infinity, four with continuity and discontinuity of this universe, four with infinite uncertainty, and two reject the cause and effect chain. Buddha mentioned that forty five principles were about future – sixteen principles claim that soul survives death; eight claim that after death nothing is left; and eight neither say that after death soul survives nor that soul does not survive. Seven principles claim that soul is destroyed and five principles claim that this life itself is nirvana. Buddha rejected all these paths and preached a new eightfold path focusing more on awareness of consciousness. From this it is clear that the ancient Indian society was philosophically and religiously plural and it permitted religious tolerance and accommodation. People believed in a number of traditions, believed in magic and witchcraft, animal sacrifice (which was later opposed by Jainism and Buddhism), and worshipped plants, rivers and hills. They also had a caste system which may not have been as rigid as it subsequently became. Aryans, if they came from outside, like other invaders from outside were not only assimilated in this system but also affected this system, popularized sacrifice, and introduced new gods and goddesses.