Bhutan is a state governed by religion. It has very limited religious freedom due to immense government and social pressure not to express the desire to follow other faiths. Buddhism is followed by 70% of the population, while Hinduism is practiced by 25%. The rest are either Muslims or Christians.

The well-known religion is Drukpa Kagyupa which is the branch of Mahayana Buddhism. It has been institutionalized in the Dratshang (Central Monk body), headed by the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) who is selected from amid the many scholarly lamas and enjoys an equivalent status with the King. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have adopted Mahayana Buddhism in its Tantric form as its official religion. The rich cultural heritage of it has lingered amazingly untarnished. It is to a great degree not miscellany of the past but a living culture, where age-old traditions are vibrant and still continue to have clear significance in every day life of the Bhutanese people.

Mahayana Buddhism
Though there are basic teachings which all forms of Buddhism follows, - -
-The individual existence is sorrowful, and consequence require deliverance.
-The belief in rebirth.
-The assumption of a moral natural law which rules the process of Karman and rebirth and is neither created by a deity nor supervised by him.
-The view the phenomenon world is without substance and is in a state of constant flux.
-The imperial person is considered without self, but as a combination of complex soulless factors, in which
-The goal of extinction of sorrowful personality is logically connected.
-Liberation is only achieved through extirpation of greed, hatred, and delusion, therefore gaining wisdom (enlightenment).
-The Buddha is regarded as a human teacher who had gained enlightenment, a transcendental being who had once been mortal.

Mahayana Buddhism differs from other forms of Buddhism.. In Mahayana, the main belief is idealism not realism, meaning things are seen as illusions. It also believes that all forms of rebirth are exactly the same in the cores of their soles, this is known as the eternal absolute compared to the true being that other forms of Buddhism believe in.
Mahayana Buddhists regard Gautama as a representation of the absolute, not as a natural teacher. It also believes that liberation does not come solely form yourself but it requires outside help and that final deliverance comes through others powers. The ultimate goal of Mahayana is to follow the guide lines of the religion to lead all beings to liberation compared with Hinayans belief that the ultimate goal is to reach nirvana. Mahayana’s believe that each person should help others to help the world and educate people to be selfless while Hiyanana follower’s attitude is to defeat the world by examining and revealing its elements and knowledge.

The essence of Mahayana Buddhology is that the universe is the savior and bestower of deliverance, it is master over space and time. That the life of Gautama(Buddha) was a projected illusion to help humankind understand and achieve knowledge for life. It doesn’t believe in the only one Buddha, but that there are as many Buddha’s as there are grains of sand.

Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the oldest practiced religions, with firm roots extending back 1000 years BCE. It is based on a number of holy books, most important of these is The Four Vedas, or books of “Divine Knowledge” which create foundations of Hindu philosophy.

The religion is broken up into a system of Castes. The extent and way in which a person practices Hinduism depends upon which caste a person belongs.

Dharma, Artha and Karma are the three aims in the life of Hindu. i) For filling ones duty to family and caste and gaining religious merit through having a wholesome life. (ii) The lawful making of wealth. (iii) Desire and satisfaction. A Hindu links these goals with the four stages they progress through in a full life.

(i)Child and student-this time is devoted to learning about life and education and correct social behavior from their parents and guru.
(ii) the house holder-at this time a person proves themselves by being able to manage a household and raise children, most importantly to bare a son.
(iii) meditation and solitude-once proven as a householder, a person is free to take up a life of celibacy and meditation.
(iv) finally in the latter stages of life a person renounces all possessions and ties in hope to achieve Moksha.
The main concern for most Hindus is to reduce bad karma and to hopefully gain points to be born with a higher status in their next life. This is achieved by worship and honest and charitable living within the restrictions imposed by a person’s caste. Most Hindus have a shrine in their homes dedicated to a chosen a Deity to which they perform a puja to everyday. Puja is an act of prayer and offerings to a god.

The main gods in Hindu are:
Vishnu- the preserver, restorer and protector. His job is to keep the world in order. Vishnu is a blue skinned, four armed deity normally found resting on a serpent or floating in the ocean. His vehicle is the half man half eagle Garuda.

Krishna- has many guises but normally he appears as a playful cow herder who seduces and dances with cow girls. Krishna possess the three routes to salvation, selflessness of action, knowledge and devotion to god.

Shiva- is revered as the source of the universe and as the destroyer, also know as the divine lord, the lord of dance, the source of all knowledge and the great god. In appearance he has 4-5 faces and holds a trident, is draped with a serpent and he has a third eye on his fore head. His animal vehicle is Nandi the bull.

Ganesh- the god of learning, success, prosperity and peace. He is the smiling elephant headed god.

Lakshmi- Is the embodiment of loveliness, grace and charm. She is the goddess of prosperity and wealth.

Durga- the great goddess with ten arms. She holds the head of a demon, a spear and other weapons. She is known as the demon slayer.