Hinduism is a major world religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent and is followed by roughly 1.2 billion people, about 15 percent of humanity. Many Hindus call it Sanatana Dharma, the "eternal dharma." Rather than a single creed, it is a family of traditions sharing reverence for the Vedas, ideas of dharma, karma and rebirth, and a vast body of ritual and philosophy.
Hinduism at a glance
| Also called | Sanatana Dharma ("eternal dharma"), Vedic religion |
|---|---|
| Origin | Indian subcontinent; roots in the Vedic period (2nd millennium BCE) and possibly earlier |
| Adherents | About 1.2 billion (roughly 15% of the world) |
| Key scriptures | Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas |
| Main traditions | Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Smarta |
| Goals of life | Dharma, artha, kama, moksha |
Name and origins
The word "Hindu" originally referred to the people living beyond the Indus (Sindhu) river, and "Hinduism" as the name of a religion was popularized by British writers in the nineteenth century. Hindus themselves have used terms such as Vedic dharma, Hindu dharma and Sanatana Dharma. Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture accepted by all and no central authority.
Its history is usually traced to the Vedic religion of Indo-Aryan speakers in northern India in the second and first millennia BCE, whose hymns honored deities such as Indra, Agni and Soma. Some scholars also look for elements in the earlier Indus Valley civilization, although its religion is poorly understood. Over the following centuries, Vedic ritual combined with renunciant movements, devotional cults and regional traditions to form what is now called Hinduism, a process sometimes called the Hindu synthesis.
Scriptures
Hindu sacred literature is often divided into shruti, "what is heard" (revealed), and smriti, "what is remembered" (tradition). Shruti comprises the four Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda) with their ritual and philosophical appendices, the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads. The Upanishads explore the relation between atman, the self, and brahman, the ultimate reality, and underlie the Vedanta schools of philosophy.
Smriti includes the great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, whose section the Bhagavad Gita is among the most widely read Hindu texts; the Puranas, which recount the myths of the gods; law books such as the Manusmriti; and the Agamas and Tantras that govern temple worship and esoteric practice (see Tantrism). Devotional poetry in Tamil, Hindi, Bengali and other languages is equally important to many Hindus.
Core beliefs
Although beliefs vary, several ideas are widely shared. Dharma is the cosmic and moral order and the duties appropriate to each person. Karma is the principle that actions have consequences that shape future experience, and samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The final goal for many traditions is moksha, liberation from this cycle. Classical texts name four aims of human life (purusharthas): dharma, artha (prosperity), kama (pleasure and love) and moksha.
Hindu thought includes many views of the divine. Some schools, such as Advaita Vedanta, teach that brahman alone is real and that the self is ultimately identical with it; others, such as the devotional schools of Ramanuja and Madhva, stress a personal God distinct from souls. Many Hindus worship multiple deities while understanding them as forms or aspects of one supreme reality. Paths to liberation are often grouped as the ways of knowledge (jnana), action (karma), devotion (bhakti) and meditation (yoga).
Gods and traditions
The major devotional traditions are Vaishnavism, centered on Vishnu and his avatars such as Rama and Krishna; Shaivism, centered on Shiva; Shaktism, centered on the Goddess (Devi) in forms such as Durga, Parvati and Kali; and the Smarta tradition, which honors several deities equally. Ganesha, Hanuman, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Murugan are among the many other widely loved deities, and village and regional gods are also important. The older Vedic creator Prajapati and the class of divine beings called devas belong to this long history.
Practice and society
Hindu practice centers less on shared doctrine than on ritual and devotion. Puja, worship of a deity through offerings of flowers, light, food and prayer, is performed at home shrines and in temples. Life-cycle rites (samskaras) mark birth, initiation, marriage and death. Pilgrimage to sacred rivers, cities and mountains, such as Varanasi or Arunachala, and festivals such as Diwali and Holi are major events. Yoga and meditation, with ideas such as kundalini, have spread well beyond India.
The caste system, rooted in the ancient varna model and in hereditary groups (jati), has shaped Hindu society; reform movements and modern Indian law have challenged caste discrimination. Most Hindus live in India and Nepal, with large communities in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bali in Indonesia and the global diaspora.
Hinduism and Western esotericism
From the nineteenth century, Western interest in Hindu philosophy grew through translations of the Upanishads and the Gita, through Swami Vivekananda's addresses at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, and through the Theosophical Society, which borrowed and reinterpreted terms such as karma, reincarnation and akasha. Scholars note that these reinterpretations often differ substantially from their meanings within Hindu traditions.
Related entries
Frequently asked questions
What is the main belief of Hinduism?
There is no single creed, but most Hindus share belief in dharma (cosmic and moral order), karma (the consequences of actions), samsara (the cycle of rebirth) and moksha (liberation from that cycle). Many worship one supreme reality through several deities, and they revere the Vedas as sacred scripture.
How old is Hinduism?
Hinduism has no founding date. Its oldest scriptures, the Vedas, go back to the second millennium BCE, and some scholars see possible earlier roots in the Indus Valley civilization. The tradition as it is known today formed gradually over many centuries, and the name Hinduism was popularized only in the nineteenth century.
Do Hindus believe in one God or many gods?
Both views exist. Many Hindus worship several deities, such as Vishnu, Shiva and the Goddess, while understanding them as forms of one ultimate reality, often called brahman. Some schools are strongly devotional toward a single supreme God, and Advaita Vedanta teaches that brahman alone is ultimately real.
Sources and further reading
This entry replaces an article from the original Mystica encyclopedia (online since 2001). It was rewritten from the sources above by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.