Author: Sa’dullayev, Shohjahon

Annotation: This article examines the religious belief system of the Harappan civilization and its role in the evolution of religions that later emerged on the Indian subcontinent. Based on archaeological findings, ancient Indian religious sources—particularly the Rigveda—and a historical-comparative approach, the study reconstructs the main features of Harappan religious beliefs. The findings suggest that the Harappan religious system was characterized by the cult of nature and animals, purification rituals, relatively simple religious practices, and a respectful attitude toward living beings. The article further explores the formation of the Vedic religious system following the arrival of the Aryans in the Indian subcontinent, its interaction with indigenous religious traditions, and the historical development of Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. The study concludes that the evolution of Indian religions should not be understood as the complete replacement of one religious system by another, but rather as the result of a long-term religious and cultural synthesis between ancient local beliefs and Vedic traditions.

Keywords: Harappan civilization, Indian civilization, religious beliefs, Rigveda, Vedic religion, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, religious transformation.

Pages in journal: 290 - 301