HinduEdit

Hinduism is a broad and ancient family of religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions that originated on the Indian subcontinent and spread with migration and trade to other parts of Asia and the world. It is not a single creed or a centralized church, but a tapestry of paths to the divine, ethical norms, ritual practices, and social ideas that have shaped civilizations for millennia. Adherents recognize many avenues to realization—devotional devotion (bhakti), disciplined knowledge (jnana), and righteous action (karma)—all within a framework that emphasizes harmony with the moral order of the cosmos, known in many contexts as dharma. The tradition’s pluralism is one of its defining strengths: different communities honor diverse deities, calendars, languages, and sacred sites while sharing a common sense of sacred time and purpose. For the broader cultural panorama, Hinduism is closely tied to the history and art of the Indian world, its philosophical schools, and the daily life of millions in the Indian subcontinent and in diasporic communities around the globe. See Hinduism and Sanatana dharma for cross-references to related concepts and discussions.

The core concepts of Hindu thought have evolved over many centuries. At the heart of many streams is the idea of a universal order—often described as dharma—not only as ritual duty but as the moral and social code that sustains family, community, and polity. This is connected to the belief in karma, the law of moral cause and effect, and samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, from which liberation (moksha) is the ultimate aim for many practitioners. In the metaphysical strand, Hindu thought encompasses a spectrum from a monistic perspective that identifies the self (atman) with the absolute (brahman) to more theistic paths that worship one or more personal gods. For linguistic and philosophical context, see Dharma, Karma, Samsara, Moksha, Atman, and Brahman.

Hinduism’s vastness is reflected in its enduring devotional and philosophical movements. The major devotional traditions split into streams such as Vaishnavism, which centers on Vishnu and his avatars like Rama and Krishna; Shaivism, which worships Shiva in diverse forms; and Shaktism, which venerates the divine feminine in various manifestations. A complementary, historically influential strand is the Smarta tradition, which emphasizes a pragmatic approach to multiple deities. Across the centuries, the Bhakti movement popularized accessible, emotionally direct worship that often cut across regional boundaries, reshaping temple life, poetry, music, and social expectations. See also Vedanta for the major non-dual and related philosophical schools, and Yoga for the practice-oriented path that has inspired global adoption.

Scriptures and living traditions provide the intellectual and practical backbone of Hindu life. The oldest compendium is the Vedas, a set of liturgical texts that anchors ritual and cosmology, followed by the Upanishads, which explore metaphysical questions about ultimate reality and the self. The epic narratives in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata—the latter of which contains the Bhagavad Gita—offer moral and ethical lessons set in legendary ages and historical moments. The Puranas elaborate on cosmic cycles, genealogies of gods, heroes, and sages, and devotional lore that many Hindu communities cherish in daily worship and festival calendars. In many regions, devotional and ritual life also draws on regional texts and temple Agamas and Tantras to guide rites of passage, temple construction, and daily puja. See Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Bhagavad Gita for related materials.

Practices and institutions in Hindu life are diverse, reflecting its pluralistic nature. Daily worship can range from home puja to temple ceremonies, with offerings, prayers, and music that express devotion to a chosen deity, family tradition, or philosophical lineage. Pilgrimage to sacred places—such as Varanasi or other holiest sites associated with rivers, temples, and sages—remains a common feature of practice for many Hindus. Texts and teachers guide ethical conduct in family life, business, learning, and community service, often emphasizing duties to family (parental and filial obligations) and to society at large. In addition to temple worship and ritual, Hindu thought has contributed to the world’s philosophical vocabulary through schools like Advaita, Dvaita, and other strands of Vedanta; the practice of yoga has played a significant role in spiritual and physical well-being and has influenced modern wellness and philosophy far beyond its religious origins. See Sanskrit and Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Bengali for linguistic diversity in liturgical and devotional life.

Society and reform have long been part of Hindu history. The traditional social order in many communities intertwined with the varna (often described as four broad social orders) and jati (local guilds and lineages) structures. Critics have argued that certain forms of social hierarchy limited mobility and opportunity for some groups; defenders of the tradition contend that social order, familial obligation, and mutual obligation contributed to social stability and cohesion, while reformers within Hinduism have sought to harmonize age-old customs with modern rights, equality, and constitutional protections. Notable reform currents include late- and post-colonial movements that emphasized education, the dignity of all individuals, and a reinterpretation of sacred texts in light of modern ethics; these efforts are represented in part by reformist institutions and thinkers such as Ramakrishna Mission, Arya Samaj, and earlier figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy'''s Brahmo Samaj. See discussions of Caste system in India for how social structures have interacted with religious practice and political life.

The modern political landscape around Hindu identity and public life has been shaped by debates over nationalism, pluralism, and governance. A strand of organized activity has linked Hindu cultural revival with public life in some regions, giving rise to a movement sometimes described as Hindu nationalist in its public footprint. Proponents argue that cultural renewal strengthens national unity, civic morals, and social cohesion, while critics contend that it can threaten pluralism and the rights of minority communities. In contemporary India, the Ayodhya dispute and its resolution by the courts marked a watershed moment in how religion, law, and national identity intersect in a diverse republic; supporters saw the verdict as upholding historical claims and public order, while critics warned about set-backs to secular neutrality and minority protections. Proponents emphasize that Hindu traditions have often accommodated diverse paths to truth within a shared civilizational space, while opponents caution against exclusive narratives. See Hindu nationalism and Ayodhya dispute for more on these debates and their historical arc.

In the global era, Hinduism interacts with diverse cultures through diaspora communities, international temples, charitable organizations, and educational initiatives. Hindu communities abroad maintain temples and cultural centers that advance ritual life, festival observance, and language preservation, while also engaging in interfaith dialogue and local civic life. The result is a dynamic exchange where traditional practices adapt to new contexts without losing the core emphasis on dharma, community, and spiritual inquiry. See Diaspora and Yoga for related cross-cultural influences and institutions.

See also - Hinduism - Vaishnavism - Shaivism - Shaktism - Bhakti movement - Vedanta - Yoga - Rama - Krishna - Vishnu - Shiva - Caste - Arya Samaj - Ramakrishna Mission - Ayodhya dispute - Hindu nationalism