Hinduism

Hinduism is a religion and way of life that originated on the Indian subcontinent. It has no single founder and no single text that all practitioners share in common. It comprises multiple philosophical schools and traditions, linked together by ancient texts, social customs, and domestic and temple worship. It is one of the world's religions with the largest number of adherents, found mainly in India and Nepal, and among diaspora communities scattered across the world.

The word 'Hindu' originally derives from the Sindh (Indus) river as a geographical designation. Outsiders first used it to refer to people living in that region. The term 'Hinduism' as a religious label became established in later centuries, especially during British colonial rule, when attempts were made to unite various traditions under a single name.

Texts

Texts are conventionally divided into two categories. Shruti ('what was heard') comprises the Vedas and Upanishads, and holds supreme authority. Smriti ('what was remembered') includes major epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the Puranas, and legal texts. The Bhagavad Gita, which is part of the Mahabharata, is among the most widely read texts. Sanskrit is the original language of most of these works.

Core concepts

Dharma refers to duties and the way of life by which a person is judged. Karma means that every action has consequences. Samsara is the cycle of birth and death that repeats endlessly. Moksha is liberation from that cycle, and is the highest goal in many traditions. Brahman is the term for the ultimate reality underlying all things, while atman refers to the self of the individual; different philosophical schools dispute how the two are related.

Deities and worship

Many deities are worshipped, but various traditions understand them as manifestations of a single reality. Major schools include Vaishnavism (Vishnu and his avatars such as Krishna and Rama), Shaivism (Shiva), and Shaktism (goddesses, Devi). Ordinary worship is called puja, and takes place in homes and temples. Pilgrimage to sacred sites such as the Ganges river, and observance of festivals such as Diwali and Holi, are important aspects of practice.

Society and later history

The varna and jati systems (called 'caste' externally) influenced Indian social organization for many centuries, tied to occupation and birth. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries saw reform movements that challenged hierarchy. The Indian constitution prohibited discrimination based on caste. There is also a political ideology based on Hindu identity known as Hindutva, which is distinct from the religion itself.