Video - Hinduism: A Journey Through 4,000 Years of Faith and Culture

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world, with roots tracing back over 4,000 years to the Indus Valley Civilization in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Unlike many other major religions, Hinduism has no single founder. It is a complex and diverse faith with a wide range of beliefs, practices, and scriptures. The early development of Hinduism is closely tied to the Vedic tradition. The Vedas, a collection of ancient sacred texts composed in Sanskrit, form the foundation of Hindu religious knowledge. The period of the Vedas, roughly 1500 to 500 BCE, is known as the Vedic Age. Hinduism evolved significantly during the later Vedic period and the subsequent classical period, which saw the composition of key texts like the Upanishads, the Mahabharata (which includes the Bhagavad Gita), and the Ramayana. These texts expanded on philosophical ideas, cosmology, and mythology. Central to Hinduism is the belief in a supreme reality called Brahman, which manifests in various deities such as Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). The religion also emphasizes concepts like dharma (duty/ethics), karma (action and its consequences), and samsara (the cycle of rebirth). Over the centuries, Hinduism has continued to evolve and adapt, absorbing influences from various cultures and integrating a multitude of local traditions. Today, it remains a major world religion, primarily practiced in India and Nepal, but with a significant global diaspora. Hinduism is characterized by its pluralistic nature, allowing for a wide range of beliefs and practices, and is often seen as a way of life as much as a religion.