Indian references in Naruto

Just when many otaku all over the world thought that this was the end for Naruto, 
Masashi Kishimoto decided to move onto the next generation through Naruto 
Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and Boruto: Naruto the Movie. It seems we weren't 
the only ones who thought it was too soon to be the end.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Anime, Naruto is an Anime based in an alternate universe in which there are five major countries which use powerful warriors from Japanese lore called Shinobi or Ninja. Naruto, the protagonist, is a budding Genin
(Rookie) who has Kyuubi, the Nine-tailed demon fox, sealed in him for which he is 
hated by the people of his hometown, Konoha. Naruto aims to gain his village's love 
and respect by becoming the best Hokage(Leader of Konoha's Shinobi) to ever live. 
The Anime is based on the Manga(Japanese comic) named Naruto and is divided 
into two series, Naruto and Naruto Shippuden.

Before you read any further let me warn you there will be some spoilers and also 
prior knowledge of the series would be helpful so please watch the Anime if you 
haven't. Now you may read.

As many of you must have noticed, Naruto is filled with references to India particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. The most noticeable of all the reference would be the six 
paths of Pain.

Pain is an antagonist in the series and leader of Akatsuki, an organization bent on 
world domination, has six powers he divides evenly between his avatars. His 
avatars are Preta, Asura, Naraka, Deva, Ningendo(Human) and Chikushodo(Animal). Of these the first four are Sanskrit words and all find roots in Buddhist texts. Gedo
(Outer path) is Pain’s hidden power which also finds roots in Buddhism.In case you
were curious Preta means ghost, Asura means demon, Naraka means hell and 
Deva means heavenly or divine and is used to refer to Hindu deities.

Pain’s eyes are a special doujutsu(Eye technique) called Rinnegan which is 
Japanese for Samsara eye. Samsara is the cycle of reincarnation.

We also find some Hindu symbols throughout the series, for example the branch 
members of the Hyuuga clan have a Swastika shaped seal, though in the Anime the
seal was replaced with a cross because people mistakenly associated the symbol 
with Nazism but the Manga still uses Swastika-shaped symbol.

Also, the Senju clan has a vajra as its symbol. A Vajra is an Indian weapon used in 
rituals. It’s considered a symbol of irresistible force and indestructibility. It’s common 
to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Many Senju clan members have -rama in their names like Hashirama and Tobirama 
the first and second Hokage. Also Tsunade, Hashirama's granddaughter and fifth 
Hokage, and Uzumaki Mito, Hashirama's wife, wear a diamond shaped tattoo on 
their forehead which can be considered a bindi.

But the most important reference would be chakra. In the Indian texts, chakra is the 
life force present in all living beings, this life force is harnessed by the Ninja of the Narutoverse to enhance strength, speed, stamina, perform illusions or use the fire, 
wind, earth, lightning and water based attacks.

The chakra gates also find a reference through Maito Gai and Rock Lee. According 
to the Indian texts, every human has many gates of chakra, seven main and several
others. In the series eight gates are mentioned, opening each chakra gate gives the
user a tremendous chakra boost at cost of muscle strain, whose severity depends 
on how many gates are opened. Opening all eight gates makes the user almost unstoppable but causes death. Gai and Lee use the chakra gates throughout the 
series to face powerful enemies.

Towards the end of the series we find that Naruto and Sasuke are the reincarnations
of the sons of the fabled Sage of Six Paths; Asura and Indra. Ashura, according to Buddhist mythology, are eight limbed and three faced demi-deities associated with 
pride and wrath. But in the series Asura was a kind and friendly person and the 
Sage's favoured son. Indra on the other hand is the Hindu deity of rain.

In Naruto Shippuden Konan, a member of Akatsuki and close friend of Pain, uses 
an attack called Paper Chakram against Tobi. another Akatsuki member and a main antagonist, which resembles a chakram. A Chakram is an Indian weapon shaped 
like a ring with spikes on outer edges.

What's more? The Anime has some Indian looking characters like Hashirama and 
Mabui. And I'm sure as the series moves onto the next generation Kishimoto will 
throw in more references. I mean does anyone else think Uchiha Sarada, Sasuke's daughter, sounds suspiciously Indian.

But the Indian references, though a factor, is not the main reason behind the Anime's fanbase in India. All references do is create interest and speculations in minds of the audience. Naruto is popular all over the world because of the story, the battle 
scenes, the animation, the theme songs and last but not least the life lessons like 
loyalty towards friends, forgiving past sins, moving on in life and never ever giving 
up.

In conclusion I must say I am no expert critic, just another fan and I must have 
missed a lot of references. So readers do tell what Indian reference did you find in 
Naruto?

P.S.: Boruto: Naruto the Movie is out so do check it out.