Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{178892,
        author = {Nishant kumar and Dr. Pushparaj Singh},
        title = {EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: FROM VEDIC RITUALS TO BUDDHISM TO JAINISM},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {11},
        number = {12},
        pages = {4567-4572},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=178892},
        abstract = {The evolution of religious practices in ancient India marks a significant transformation from the ritualistic and sacrificial traditions of the Vedic period to the more philosophical and ethical teachings of Buddhism and Jainism. The Vedic era (1500–600 BCE) was characterized by complex sacrificial rituals (Yajnas), performed by Brahmins to appease deities and maintain cosmic order. Over time, societal changes, urbanization, and growing dissatisfaction with the ritualistic orthodoxy led to the emergence of spiritual movements advocating renunciation and introspection.
Buddhism and Jainism arose in the 6th century BCE as reformative responses, emphasizing ethical conduct, meditation, and non-violence over ritual sacrifices. While Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, advocated the Middle Path to attain Nirvana through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, Jainism, founded by Mahavira, emphasized strict asceticism and the doctrine of Ahimsa (non-violence). Both traditions rejected the authority of the Vedas, caste hierarchy, and animal sacrifices, fostering a more personal and ethical approach to spirituality.},
        keywords = {Vedic Rituals, Buddhism, Jainism, Sacrificial Traditions, Spiritual Transformation, Renunciation, Asceticism, Ahimsa (Non-violence), Middle Path.},
        month = {May},
        }