Hinduism is often considered the world’s oldest living religion, with roots stretching back more than four thousand years to the Indus Valley civilization of the Indian subcontinent. Unlike most major religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single creed, and no single sacred text. Instead, it is a vast, pluralistic tradition encompassing a spectrum of beliefs, practices, and philosophies.
At the heart of Hinduism lies the concept of Dharma the cosmic order and moral duty that governs all life. Central beliefs include karma (the law of cause and effect across lifetimes) and samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). The ultimate spiritual goal for many Hindus is moksha, or liberation from this cycle a merging of the individual soul (atman) with the universal consciousness (Brahman).
The sacred texts of Hinduism include the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Hinduism embraces a remarkable pantheon of deities Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer form the central Trimurti while also accommodating monotheistic, polytheistic, and even atheistic interpretations.
Today, Hinduism is practiced by over 1.2 billion people, primarily in India, Nepal, and the Indian diaspora worldwide.