Much like many of the widely accepted religions in the world, such as Christianity and Islam, Hinduism does not actually have a founder or an exact date as to when it was established as a religion. Various experts say that Hinduism is an amalgamation of various Indian cultures formed together and is based upon ancient Indian religious principles.
One of the sources of the name ‘Hinduism’ is attributed to the geographic area where the religious believers are concentrated – the Indus Valley. ‘Hindu’ is the Persian derivative of ‘Indus’, and was used by invading Persians to refer to the people living in the region of the Indus Valley. Therefore, the term ‘Hinduism’ comes from references to the Indus Valley civilization, which was already established by 2000 BCE.
Another version as to where the name ‘Hinduism’ originates from is associated with the term ‘Sindhu’, an ancient Sanskrit term for the river Indus that rose around 7000 BCE, many thousands of years ago. ‘Sindhu’ was pronounced ‘Hindu’ in Persian and Arabic, and the name eventually spread beyond the subcontinent. The faith is still sometimes referred to as ‘Sanatana Dharma’, which means ‘the eternal law’ or ‘the eternal path’ in Sanskrit.
One fact that still remains a mystery is why Hindus refer to their faith as ‘Dharma’ or ‘Sanatana Dharma’ but call themselves Hindus. ‘Hindu’ has been used historically as an umbrella for different beliefs and practices. Yet, the Indian term for a Hindu is ‘Hindustani’, which comes from the Hindu Kush mountain range. This confusion with its nomenclature gives rise to the question of why Westerners refer to the faith as Hinduism instead of ‘Sanatana Dharma’.
It is known that the settlers in the Indus Valley began to identify differently from other ancient societies and communities. They developed their own distinct language and customs, and also innovated in the fields of art and science, like pottery and metallurgy. The Indus Valley civilization flourished in the northern part of the subcontinent and spread its influence to other parts of the world. Experts believe that these bustling centres of growth and innovation likely stimulated a distinct identity amongst its people, which would later be referred to as ‘Hinduism’.
Most of the facts about the origin of Hinduism remain a mystery due to the lack of written record about it. The religion is believed to have evolved from an amalgamation of various indigenous religions, the Vedic period and the Upanishads. The names and practices have changed over time but the focus or the core belief has mostly remained the same – a belief in karma and reincarnation, worshipping deities such as Shiva, Rama and Krishna, and embracing moral values and good conduct.
How did Hinduism Spread
The beginnings of Hinduism can be linked back to the Indus Valley civilizations, which were then greatly expanded by the Aryans in India. The Aryan civilisation is said to have lasted from 1500 BC to 500 BC and it heavily influenced Vedic Hinduism during this time period. As the Aryans spread across India, the influence of Hinduism followed them and eventually the faith was practiced across most of India, including the Kashmir region and Nepal.
Hinduism as we know it today has been shaped over the centuries by several different influences, including foreign conquerors, Islamic philosophy, and changing cultural trends. Religion is highly personal and each person has their own vision of the faith. For example, Hinduism is given diverse interpretations among its hundreds of millions of followers – from those who are considered to be more orthodox, to those who are more open-minded and accept the modern world. The religion is also deeply embedded in many societies in India, as well as parts of south-east Asia such as Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Over the past two millennia, Hinduism has been adopted by people all over the world, through immigration and settlement. The growth and expansion of Hinduism is largely thanks to the widening access to Indian and Hindu cultures that has been enabled by advancements in communication and travel. This includes people travelling to India and adopting the faith, as well as the widespread availability of religious texts, material, audio and visual content.
Characteristics of Hinduism
Hinduism is often referred to as a polytheistic religion, which is somewhat of a misnomer. It is true that Hindus believe in multiple deities, but the love and reverence for each deity is considered to be part of the same divine being, or Brahman. Many Hindus also accept the concept of monism and advaita, which are philosophies of oneness and non-duality.
Hinduism also focuses heavily on the idea of reincarnation, which teaches that an individual’s soul reincarnates in different body forms countless times. It is believed that reincarnation occurs in order to allow a soul to learn and experience different lessons in life and ultimately reach enlightenment. Hindus believe that each individual is born with certain karma and must accept the consequences of both good and bad actions.
Prayers and ceremonies play an important role in Hinduism and are conducted to honor and seek blessings from the gods. Hinduism encourages people to open their minds and accept that all religious paths, regardless of what they are, lead to the same supreme being, or Brahman. Therefore, Hindus view other religions with great respect. This idea of religious harmony is seen not just in India, but in many parts of the world.
Hinduism and Philosophy
Hinduism has also been heavily influenced by various philosophies, many of which are still practiced in different parts of the world. The theory of karma and reincarnation, which plays a prominent role in many Hindu beliefs, was first introduced in the Upanishads written around 800BCE. It was later formalized and developed in the Sanskrit classics, such as the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita. The philosophical outlook of Hindus includes ideas of non-violence, pursuit of knowledge, universal love and respect for all living beings.
Philosophy not only shapes religious beliefs and behavior, but is also seen to be an important part of daily life. Hinduism advocates the practice of meditation, the development of awareness and self-reflection as ways to achieve higher consciousness. The Vedas are also seen to be highly important as texts of wisdom, containing poignant messages about community, solidarity and the way of life one should strive for.
Hindu philosophy is mostly based upon the teachings of ancient sages who looked to find the meaning behind existence among nature and spiritual realms. The Vedas were then derived from philosophical thought, which further developed into the Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita. The ancient sages then formed the Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita into written texts, which are still considered fundamental texts of Hinduism.
Hinduism Today
Today, Hinduism is one of the world’s largest and oldest religions. It has close to 1.2 billion followers or as some call it ‘The Adherents’, according to survey data. Hinduism is the third largest religion by population, behind Christianity and Islam. It is also the oldest of the major religions, with its origins dating back to ancient India and its early civilization.
Hinduism is still seen as the basis for many societies and cultures in Indian states, including traditions, rituals, ceremonies and festivals. It is also seen to have a global resonance, with Hindus practising their religion in communities all over the world. Hinduism is typically seen as a peaceful faith and has been known to influence and be influenced by many other religions.
Hinduism is a distinct faith and culture, with unique customs and values that have been evolving over centuries. It presents an understanding of life that is focused on harmony and peace with nature, and non-violence towards humans and the environment. The philosophy of Hinduism provides a profound understanding of life and is still seen to be highly relevant in our modern world.
