UNITY IN DIVERSITY – CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN CULTURE

Due to the geographical size and climatic diversity of India, differences in living and living patterns of people living in different areas emerged. This gave rise to cultural diversity indeed! No matter what empire there was in India, it could not control the whole of India. But on the other hand, we can say that at the moment on a geographical basis there is evidence of unity in diversity. People went from region to region crossing the mountains, rivers, and deserts. Their cultural exchange continued. In the same way, any empire over the entire Indian subcontinent (Which is called Jambudweep in ancient texts) could not control, but the concept of a respected ruler who could control the entire Jambudweep remained and continued to attract various rulers. Such a ruler was identified (According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra) as the Chakravarti ruler.

In the field of religion, a mixture of Arya and non-Aryan positions was seen. The method of Yajna was prevalent among Aryans, whereas the non-Aryans performed devotional Avatarism and Idol Worship. Then with the cooperation of both, in the eighth century, the form of religion was developed which was identified as Hinduism.

Similarly, the Indian subcontinent has not been cut off from the outside world. Desi elements and foreign elements have played a role in the development of Indian culture. India has been in contact with West Asia, Central Asia, and South East Asia. Cultural exchanges took place with these regions. So much so that the Gandhara art category developed as a result of cultural exchanges with the Mediterranean.

Cultural exchanges continued between North and South India as well. The devotion from the South changed the nature of the religion of North India. In the same way, a new style of architecture (Bashar resto) developed with the cooperation between both the Nagara style of architecture and the Dravidian style of the south.

Thus, based on the appropriate elements, where the current population of the Indian continent is about 125 Crores, where diversity exists in religious and community form, the basis of the culture of ancient India was formed from which unity in diversity is given.