Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with more than 1 billion adherents
globally.
It ranks just below Christianity and Islam, and is considered to be one of the world’s
oldest active religions.
So, where did it all start?
What’s the history of Hinduism?
Well, first and foremost, Hinduism doesn’t have one specific set of teachings, nor a
specific holy doctrine or founder.
Though, it may have originated as far back as 3000 BCE, with the Indus Valley Civilization,
near the current border of Pakistan and India.
Although Hinduism is commonly classified as a religion, it is also considered a philosophy
and a culture.
Because the belief system has no standard method of practice, it’s considered to be
one of the most tolerant religions in the world.
Hinduism is closely associated with other Eastern religions.
In fact, Hinduism incorporated concepts like karma and reincarnation, around the same time
that similar concepts emerged in Buddhism and Jainism.
These ideas deal with the cycle of life and rebirth, as well as the consequences of a
person’s actions.
Another major distinguishing feature of Hinduism, compared to most other active religions, is
its belief in multiple deities.
The primary three are Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, but there are many others.
However, some Hindus consider these deities to be manifestations of a single cosmic spirit,
called brahman, who is genderless and omnipotent.
Many Hindus also consider the ancient Vedic texts to be sacred.
The scripture was written in Sanskrit around 1000 BCE, as a hymn to the gods.
Within the Veda, multiple major and minor deities are described, including Indra, the
king of the gods, and Vishnu, a protector god.
Today, Hindus still recite verses from this text ritualistically, during weddings and
funerals.
Currently, about 15% of the world’s population subscribes to Hinduism, with roughly 99% of
Hindus residing in India and Nepal.
In nations like Mauritius, Fiji and Guyana, Hindus also constitute a large minority.
In America, there are also about 2 million Hindus, and make up about a half of a percent
of the population.
Hinduism started in South Asia, and continues to thrive there.
India’s relationship with Hinduism is deep, with the Hindu-nationalist “Indian People’s
Party” currently wielding power.
India’s Prime Minister is also the latest in a long line of predominantly Hindu leaders.
By 2050, Hinduism is expected to grow by 34%, with about 1.4 billion adherents globally.
However, as its influence is limited outside Asia, the religion will most likely stay in
the number-three-spot, behind Christianity and Islam, for a long time to come.
For a look at one extreme, ancient Hindu practice, checking out this video from This Happened
Here now.
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