Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Lesson 2.2
Religions from South Asia
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Explore 3

Discover 4
How Religions Began in South Asia 4
Hinduism 5
Buddhism 6
How Culture and Geography Influenced the Rise of Religions in South Asia 7
How Culture and Geography Characterized Religions in South Asia 8

Wrap-Up 10

Try This! 11

Challenge Yourself 12

Reflect on This 13

Photo Credits 14

Bibliography 14
Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Lesson 2.2

Religions from South Asia

Introduction
The prevalence of various religions across Asian regions transcends to South Asia where
Buddhism and Hinduism are considered as major religions. Hinduism is often considered as
a polytheistic religion as it does not advocate the worship of one god. But according to some
Hindu scholars, Hinduism is a monotheistic one because there is only one supreme being in
the person of Brahman, who is represented by many small gods. Buddhism, on the other
hand, is a nontheistic religion because it has no official god or deity.

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

In this lesson, you will learn about how these religions began in South Asia and how
geography and culture contributed to the rise of these religions. You will also learn how
these factors make each religion unique or different from the other.

Learning Objectives DepEd Competencies

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to do
In this lesson, you should be able to do the the following:
following: ● Cite regions or places where specific religions
evolved (HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIb-2.1).
● Explain how religions like
● Analyze the culture of the region that gave
Buddhism and Hinduism began rise to specific religions

in South Asia. (HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIb-2.2).

● Explain how geography influences religion
● Understand how geography and and how religion affects culture
culture contributed to the rise of (HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIb-2.3).

these religions.
● Explain how geography and
culture make these religions
unique from each other.
● Compare and contrast Hinduism,
Theravada Buddhism, and
Mahayana Buddhism.

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Explore
Word Hunt 5 minutes

C H R I S T I A N I T Y
G J K S L H Y R K N B O
A D F L F R E T N M O N
B L E A D F R O M B Z A
Q E T M O B N Z B R T B
O L J A I N I S M E E W
B L E S S E D R E A D G

Instructions
1. Look for names of religions in the word puzzle.
2. On a separate sheet of paper, write down the names of the religions you found.
3. Write one to two sentences about each religion you found. Utilize your own
perception and understanding of the religion to write your short description.

Guide Questions
1. What major and local religions exist in South Asia?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

2. Do religions in South Asia share commonalities? Explain your answer through

examples.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

3. What role does the geographic location of South Asia play in the development of its
major religions?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Discover

How Religions Began in South Asia Words to Remember

In the previous lesson, you learned how religions ● geography – pertains to
like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam began and the physical features of a
evolved in West Asia. However, these are not the place
only religions that grew and are practiced in Asia. ● culture – collective term
In South Asia, there emerged other religions, such for the unique customs,
as Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, and Mahayana practices, and traditions
Buddhism. In this section, we will discuss how of a specific group of
these religions emerged in the region. people

In what ways are religions from South Asia similar to or

different from Islam and Christianity?

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Hinduism

Fig. 1. Each Hindu god is believed to grant special favors.

Hinduism is a religion wherein several gods or goddesses are worshipped. These deities
include Brahma, the chief and creator of the world; Vishnu, the preserver of life; and Shiva,
the destroyer. Hinduism is considered as the oldest religion in the world and is mainly
practiced by Hindus living in India. This religion is also the world’s third largest religion
following Christianity and Islam.

Hinduism is believed to have begun in the Indus Valley and its tributaries. It is essential to
note that the Indus Valley gradually developed as the center of complex urban culture in the
Asian region, beginning in 3300 BCE. This meant that knowledge-sharing in different aspects
of life, including religion, politics, and society, could have easily spread in this region, paving
the way for the foundations of Hinduism to be established. There were three periods in the
evolution of Hinduism: the ancient period (3000 BCE to 500 CE), the medieval period (500
to 1500 CE), and the modern period. Nevertheless, historians believe that the founding of
Hinduism cannot be attributed to any person; rather, it was the result of the integration of
prehistoric religions of the sub-Indian religion and the Vedic religion of the Indo-Aryan
civilization.

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Buddhism

Fig. 2. The presence of many Buddhist temples around the world implies the far-reaching
spread of this religion.

Buddhism is an ancient religion that grew from the teachings of the Buddha (“The
Awakened One”) about the nature of suffering and how to overcome it. The title was given
to its founder Siddhartha Gautama after he attained enlightenment 2600 years ago. In this
religion, enlightenment is a state of mental awakening where an individual has
transcended from a life of material knowledge and has reached the ultimate spiritual goal of
life, which is nirvana.

There are two branches of Buddhism that differ in teachings:

● Theravada Buddhism is a major form of Buddhism that is practiced in Sri Lanka,
Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The teachings of this branch of Buddhism
closely adhere to the original teachings of the Buddha.
● Mahayana Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism that includes a wide range of
philosophical schools, metaphysical beliefs, and practical meditative disciplines. The
term Mahayana means “The Great Vehicle,” which pertains to Buddhism being
likened to a raft or a ship that carries one across the world of suffering and into a

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

better world. This branch of Buddhism is practiced in China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia,
Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan.

Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism are believed to result from the split of the
sangha (a Buddhist community of men, women, and children who are committed to
spreading the teachings of the Buddha) into two major factions—the Mahasanghika or “of
the great sangha” and the Sthavira or “the elders”—after the death of the Buddha. This split
was known as the great schism. Initially, Theravada Buddhism was believed to originate
from the Sthavira and Mahayana Buddhism from the Mahasanghika; however, later studies
showed that Mahayana Buddhism could trace its beginnings back to several schools of
Buddhism that somehow came together.

Check Your Progress

Aside from founders, customs, and traditions, what do you think
are other factors responsible for the establishment of a religion?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

How Culture and Geography Influenced the Rise of Religions in

South Asia

Religions evolve when one culture becomes a part of another culture through a social
process called assimilation. In South Asia, this occurred when the Aryans who employed
Vedic beliefs assimilated with former inhabitants of the Indus Valley, whose religions were
distinct and different. Over time, Buddhism emerged when Hinduism no longer suited the
needs of the Hindu society. This promotes the idea that religions could also change or
evolve over time, based on a society’s needs and day-to-day practices.

A society’s geographic location also shapes its religious beliefs. One way by which this
happens is when people attribute the physical features of their surroundings to the
presence of a supreme being. For example, Hindus consider the Ganges Valley as sacred

2.2. Religions from South Asia 7

Unit 2: How World Religions Began

because it was created by Lord Vishnu. The presence of trade routes, such as the Silk Road,
also allowed religions like Buddhism to spread from one region to another.

Check Your Progress

Are there other macro-level factors aside from culture and
geography that could have influenced the rise of religions in South
Asia? What are these?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

How Culture and Geography Characterized Religions in South Asia

Culture and geography contribute to the uniqueness of religions in South Asia. For example,
what makes Hinduism unique are the practices and traditions that characterize the religion.
In Hinduism, no one has to agree with any specific belief because it is borne from a mixture
of several belief systems. The geographic spread of Hinduism also makes it unique because
the center of the Hindu religion remains in India, where it originated. (Other religions, such
as Christianity or more specifically Catholicism, began in Europe; however, Catholicism has
the largest number of followers in the United States and in South America.)

Meanwhile, Buddhism, in both subtypes, does not require followers to worship a supreme
being. Instead, it asks its followers to practice self-reliance, discipline, and individual striving.
The geographic spread of Buddhism was unlike that of Hinduism because Buddhism spread
from India to different parts of Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Japan.

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Check Your Progress

What other specific features make Hinduism and Buddhism
unique?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

In Philippine Context
Hinduism and Buddhism in the Pre-colonial Philippines

The practice of Hinduism in the Philippines can be traced back to the pre-colonial period,
when our Asian neighbors like China and India engaged in trade and barter with the early
Filipinos. These countries not only brought with them goods to our shores but also their
customs and traditions as evidenced in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI) that was
discovered in 1989. Upon deciphering the inscription, it was found to contain a Kavi script
with Sanskrit words.

Fig. 3. Artifacts like the Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI) are evidence of how Hindu
influence was brought to the Philippines.

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Moreover, a golden image (claimed to be the image of the Buddhist goddess Tara) was
discovered in Agusan del Sur in Mindanao in 1917. Analysis dated the image to be created
during the 9th–10th century. It is believed that the Javanese miners brought the image to
worship when they were mining for gold in the regions of Agusan and Surigao during the
14th century. Its true identity has not yet been verified up to this day, but it is a clear proof
that Buddhism had already existed in the Philippines before the arrival of the Spaniards in
the 16th century.

Both the Laguna copperplate and the golden statue of Agusan show how religion can
spread through other countries through trade and international relations.

Wrap-Up
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
● Hinduism is the product of religious assimilation between the early inhabitants of the
Indus Valley and the members of the Indo-Aryan civilization.
● Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism grew out of the great schism,
which took place after the death of the Buddha.
● Religion could be influenced by culture. In South Asia, this was showcased by the
adoption of Hinduism over Buddhism among Indians, enabling the former to be the
country’s primary religion.
● Geography shapes religion. In South Asia, both the Indus Valley and Ganges River
have historically contributed to the spread and development of Hinduism and
Buddhism.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Try This!
A. Completion. Fill in the blank to complete the thought of each statement.

1. Hinduism originated in the _______________.

2. _______________ teaches about the nature of suffering and how to overcome it.

3. _______________ is the branch of Buddhism that is closest to the original teachings of

the Buddha.

4. _______________ means “The Great Vehicle” because Buddhism is likened to a ship

that ferries people across the sea of suffering.

5. _______________ brought about the split of Buddhism into two branches.

B. Modified True or False. Analyze each statement. Write true if the sentence is

accurate. Otherwise, change the underlined word or phrase to make the statement

correct.

__________________ 1. The word Buddha means “The Awakened One.”

__________________ 2. The change in the surroundings can bring about change in

a religion.

__________________ 3. Majority of Buddhists are concentrated in India.

__________________ 4. Trade routes like the Silk Road facilitated the spread of
religions like Buddhism.

__________________ 5. One characteristic that makes Hinduism unique is it

requires its followers to follow a specific set of beliefs.

__________________ 6. The Aryans used their Buddhistic culture to assimilate with

the inhabitants of the Indus Valley.

2.2. Religions from South Asia 11

Unit 2: How World Religions Began

__________________ 7. Theravada Buddhism closely adheres to the teachings of

the Buddha.

__________________ 8. There are ten major gods worshipped by Hindus.

__________________ 9. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges River washes

away their sins.

__________________ 10. Buddhism does not have a specific founder.

Challenge Yourself
Compare and contrast Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, and Mahayana Buddhism by
completing the table below.

Gods and
Religion Origin Founder Locations
Goddesses

Hinduism

Theravada
Buddhism

Mahayana
Buddhism

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify the rubric based on your
needs. Consult your teacher for the final rubric.

Performance Levels

1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight

Proficiency Proficiency

Accuracy Very few concepts Some concepts are All concepts

are accurate. accurate. included are ×3
accurate.

Completeness Key points were All key points were All key points were
missing from the included in the table. included in the table.
table. Also, personal notes
×2
were added that fully
exemplify mastery of
the content.

Total Possible Score 15

Reflect on This
Would you consider shifting from your current religion to Hinduism or Buddhism? Explain
your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Photo Credits
Murudeshwar Shiva by Gururaj Malekar is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia
Commons.

Extract from Inskripsyon sa Binatbat na Tanso ng Laguna by Darwgon0801 is licensed under

CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Theravada." Encyclopedia Britannica. February 5,
2014. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Theravada.

Das, Subhamoy. "The Origins of Hinduism." Learn Religions.

https://www.learnreligions.com/theories-about-the-origin-of-hinduism-1770375. Last
accessed March 10, 2021.

Doniger, Wendy. "Hinduism." Encyclopedia Britannica. November 30, 2020.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism.

Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core contributors. "Hinduism in the Philippines."

Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core.
https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Hinduism_in_the_Philippines&oldid=75473
8. Last accessed March 10, 2021.

Murphy, Anne. “The Religions of South Asia.” Asia Society.

https://asiasociety.org/education/religions-south-asia. Last accessed March 10, 2021.

O'Brien, Barbara. "Origins of Mahayana Buddhism." Learn Religions.

https://www.learnreligions.com/origins-of-mahayana-buddhism-450007. Last
accessed March 10, 2021.

2.2. Religions from South Asia 14

Unit 2: How World Religions Began

“What Is Buddhism?: Learn More About Buddhism.” Buddhism for Beginners.

https://tricycle.org/beginners/. Last accessed March 10, 2021.

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 Unit 2: How World Religions Began

2.2. Religions from South Asia

Explore

C H R I S T I A N I T Y
G J K S L H Y R K N B O
A D F L F R E T N M O N
B L E A D F R O M B Z A
Q E T M O B N Z B R T B
O L J A I N I S M E E W
B L E S S E D R E A D G

1. What major and local religions exist in South Asia?

Answers may vary. The students can start by explaining how various religions
emerged in the Indian subcontinent. Some of these are Hinduism, Buddhism,
Sikhism, and Jainism.
2. Do religions in South Asia share commonalities? Explain your answer through
examples.
Answers may vary. The students can discuss that religions in South Asia share
commonalities, such as being polytheistic, the importance of the Indus River, and
various beliefs and practices they have adapted from each other.
3. What role does the geographic location of South Asia play in the development of its
major religions?
The geography of South Asia contributed to the uniqueness of the religions that
emerged in the region. It also influenced religious beliefs. One example is when
people associate the physical features of their surroundings with a supreme being.

2.2. Religions from South Asia 1

 Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Check Your Progress

1. Aside from founders, customs, and traditions, what do you think are other factors
responsible for the establishment of a religion?
Answers may vary. The students can discuss that other factors affecting spiritual
development are the sense of religion and religious feelings that originate from
individual beliefs. The religious feeling in humans is described as the source and
capacity that govern the spiritual interests, desires, and quests that lead to faith.
2. Are there other macro-level factors aside from culture and geography that could have
influenced the rise of religions in South Asia? What are these?
Answers may vary. The students can mention other factors such as language (i.e.,
communication) and personality (i.e., sense of self and society). One good example is
the two schools of Buddhism, which are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana
Buddhism. Theravada Buddhists, who are more conservative, still use the ancient Pali
language that Siddhartha Gautama used. On the other hand, Mahayana Buddhists
are more open to other religions’ beliefs, values, and ideals. They use the Sanskrit
language.
3. What other specific features make Hinduism and Buddhism unique?
Answers may vary. The students' responses can explain specific features like how
Hinduism and Buddhism view deities. Hindus worship many gods, but followers of
Buddhism do not worship any god at all. Although Buddhists invoke Buddha's name
or pray to Buddha, they do not consider him a supreme being.

Try This!

A. Completion. Fill in the blank to complete the thought of each statement.

1. Hinduism originated in the Indus Valley.

2. Buddhism teaches about the nature of suffering and how to overcome it.

3. Theravada Buddhism is the branch of Buddhism that is closest to the original

teachings of the Buddha.

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 Unit 2: How World Religions Began

4. Mahayana means “The Great Vehicle” because Buddhism is likened to a ship that
ferries people across the sea of suffering.

5. The great schism brought about the split of Buddhism into two branches.

B. Modified True or False. Analyze each statement. Write true if the sentence is accurate.

Otherwise, change the underlined word or phrase to make the statement correct.

true 1. The word Buddha means “The Awakened One.”

change in 2. The change in the surroundings can bring about change in

people’s needs a religion.

Hindus 3. Majority of Buddhists are concentrated in India.

true 4. Trade routes like the Silk Road facilitated the spread of
religions like Buddhism.

does not require 5. One characteristic that makes Hinduism unique is it

requires its followers to follow a specific set of beliefs.

Vedic 6. The Aryans used their Buddhistic culture to assimilate with

the inhabitants of the Indus Valley.

true 7. Theravada Buddhism closely adheres to the teachings of

Buddha.

three 8. There are ten major gods worshipped by Hindus.

true 9. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges River washes

away their sins.

have 10. Buddhism does not have a specific founder.

2.2. Religions from South Asia 3

 Unit 2: How World Religions Began

Challenge Yourself

Gods and
Religion Origin Founder Locations
Goddesses

majority
Shiva, Vishnu,
Hinduism India no one concentrated in
and Brahma
India

Theravada Siddhartha in different parts

India no god
Buddhism Gautama of the world

Mahayana Siddhartha in different parts

India no god
Buddhism Gautama of the world

2.2. Religions from South Asia 4