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India is a country
with a past that is considered to be the most glorious.
Historians from across the globe have traveled through the ages,
writing their accounts as witnesses of their times. Their
writing has provided valuable insights into the history of
India. Almost each era has had some of the most prominent
travelers leave back accounts of that time and age. They have
not only provided information about the art and architecture or
the ruling king or prominent kingdom, but also the finer aspects
of the social and cultural life.
The most interesting aspect of the history of ancient India is
that the nation covered a larger area than today that included
China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and according
some historians the lands further north-west, north-east and
north. |
Through this nation were numerous kings
and kingdoms that could be considered to be like today States of the
nation. Ancient India was a diverse nation, but the string of being
Indian connected every kingdom. That is the very thread that continues
to connect every citizen of this country, no matter what his or her
caste or creed maybe.
The country, essentially a Hindu nation has welcomed new religions, as
well as parented and housed two important religious movements in the
name of Buddhism and Jainism. While Islam came with the invaders of the
Muslim world, Christianity became a part of the Indian society when the
traders of the west came and decided to ingrain their religion on Indian
soil.
Thus, an important part of ancient India is that it welcomed one and all
with open arms, even though they came here to plunder and rob her. Even
though they came here to dilute her purity. She has never been
authoritarian and thrown out her invaders, but has made them a part of
her great heritage. This is the basis of the story of India since time
immemorial.
Many people around the world are interested in the history of Buddhism
in India. It is a simple tale, and a glorious one for that matter. It
began with a prince renouncing everything in life to find the reason for
people’s suffering, and having found the reason he wanted to provide a
solution too, which he did. This religious movement is known as Buddhism
because on attaining enlightenment Prince Siddharth was renamed Buddha,
which means the ‘enlightened one’; and so the path came to be known as
the Buddhist path.
Like this every era of India has numerous tales of glory, bloodshed,
rising kingdoms and falling heroes. It is considered as one of the most
colorful histories to have been accounted for..
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