Summary
Highlights
Hindu tradition is presented as a complex interweaving of Aryan, Dravidian, and tribal cultures, leading to diverse religious practices and forms of worship. It is better understood as 'Hindu traditions' due to its dynamic and evolving nature, continually reshaped by communities worldwide.
The concept of Hinduism as a unified world religion akin to Christianity or Islam emerged in the 19th-century colonial context. Despite many divine figures, Hindu worshipers often believe in a radical oneness expressed through Brahman, the ultimate reality transcending all personal names and forms.
The earliest literary sources are the Vedas, ancient hymns composed in the second millennium BCE, orally recited as 'shruti' (what is heard). The Upanishads, wisdom literature from the 8th to 6th centuries BCE, delve into philosophical reflections on the universe and the identity of Atman (the self) with Brahman (ultimate reality).
The Dharmashastras, composed before the common era, focused on moral and social duties. These philosophical and moral insights were woven into the epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the mythological Puranas, which contain narratives about divine manifestations and form the basis of varied religious expressions through ritual, pilgrimage, music, and dance.
Daily worship often involves household shrines dedicated to specific deities. While closely identified with India, where over 95% of Hindus live, the concept of 'Hindu' as an identity marker expanded and contracted during the struggle for Indian independence and was shaped by colonial partitions. Today, Hindu communities exist globally.