Independent educational reading about belief, conscience and coexistence
Religious Tolerance
Religions of the world

Hinduism

An introduction to a broad family of religious and philosophical traditions shaped over many centuries in South Asia and practiced in communities around the world.

Traditional Hindu temple architecture in IndiaMany traditions.
Interwoven histories.
Home  ›  World religions  ›  Hinduism
Overview

A diverse religious family

Hinduism is an umbrella term for numerous traditions that developed across the Indian subcontinent. It has no single historical founder, universally binding creed, sole sacred text or central authority governing every Hindu community.

That diversity is essential to understanding the subject. Hindu traditions include devotional, philosophical, ritual and contemplative paths. Communities may focus on Vishnu, Shiva, Devi or other forms of the divine; some understand these as manifestations of one ultimate reality, while others use different theological frameworks.

Hinduism is frequently described as one of the world's oldest continuously practiced religious traditions. Its history is not a single uninterrupted storyline, however. Practices, texts and schools emerged in different eras and regions and continue to be interpreted in varied ways.

Belief and practice

Ideas such as dharma, karma, samsara and moksha are influential across many Hindu traditions, but their meanings and relative importance differ. Worship may take place in temples or homes and can include prayer, offerings, festivals, pilgrimage, meditation, study and service.

Foundational vocabulary

Ideas encountered across traditions

These concise definitions are starting points. Hindu philosophical schools may explain each idea differently.

Dharma

Ethical, religious and social responsibility, often understood in relation to a person's situation and stage of life.

Karma

The relationship between intentional action and consequence, interpreted within broader teachings about moral life and rebirth.

Samsara

The continuing cycle of birth, death and rebirth described in many Indian religious and philosophical traditions.

Moksha

Liberation from samsara. Traditions differ in how liberation is understood and how it may be realized.

Brahman

Ultimate reality in several Hindu philosophies; its relationship to the individual self is explained differently by different schools.

Yoga

A broad range of spiritual disciplines involving ethics, devotion, knowledge, meditation or embodied practice.

Decorative lamps glowing during an Indian festival
Historical and civic context

Religion, identity and public life

Hindu identity intersects with language, region, caste, migration, family custom and political life in complex ways. Hinduism should not be treated as interchangeable with any political movement or national ideology.

Modern India is religiously diverse. Its constitutional and civic debates include religious freedom, minority rights, secular government and the relationship between religion and nationalism. Reports of discrimination or interreligious hostility should be evaluated by date, location and reliable documentation rather than generalized to all Hindus.

Social practices associated with caste have affected Hindu communities as well as people of other religions in South Asia. Hindu thinkers, reform movements, activists and legal institutions have interpreted and challenged these practices in different ways.

Reader guide

Frequently asked questions

Is Hinduism polytheistic or monotheistic?

Neither label describes every tradition. Hindu theology includes devotional monotheism, understandings of many deities, non-dual philosophies and other positions. Some worshippers understand multiple divine forms as expressions of one ultimate reality.

Does Hinduism have one holy book?

No single text has the same role for every Hindu. Important bodies of literature include the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, philosophical works and regional devotional texts.

Who founded Hinduism?

There is no single founder. The traditions grouped under the name developed over a long period through many communities, teachers, texts and schools.

Do all Hindus believe in reincarnation?

Rebirth is central to many Hindu teachings, but individual belief and interpretation vary. It is best to ask how a particular community or person understands it.

Are Hinduism and Buddhism the same?

No. They developed in overlapping cultural settings and share some vocabulary, but have distinct scriptures, institutions and teachings. See the comparison of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Where can I find definitions of unfamiliar words?

The sitewide glossary provides a starting point, while the introductory essays explain terms in their Hindu contexts.

Source note

Reference foundations

This page updates an archived overview while preserving its educational purpose and links to the wider collection.

  1. David Levinson, Religion: A Cross-Cultural Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1998.
  2. Historical demographic editions of the Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.
  3. American Religious Identification Survey materials from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
  4. Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey data tables. Historical figures should be read as dated records, not current estimates.