Hinduism in India- Origins, Philosophies, and Facts

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world dating back to almost 2500 B.C.E. Not to mention that India is the centre of Hinduism with 96 CR+ people followers which is near to 79% of the total population. A total of 16% of the world’s population follow the Hindu ways of faith. Hinduism is different at its core as it promotes polytheism and accepts all kinds of theologies as many ways to attain Moksha- the ultimate liberation. The Vedas promote an idea of the one true God- Brahman who is the creator & one source of all beings & themselves. But unlike Western cultures, Hinduism doesn’t limit itself to the boundaries of one true path but recognizes each religion as a path. 

Hinduism- Origins:

Being one of the oldest religions in the world, it is impossible to find its true origins. The followers call it

‘Sanatana Dharma’ – the eternal way of living.

By Krishna in GEETA

However, the historical proof suggests that it dates to 2 millennia B.C.E. There is no single founder of this vast religion. As it offers liberty to all philosophies, many different philosophies from the motherland have contributed to the Hindu religion and made what we see today. 

The oldest Hindu manuscript we have is Rigveda which is more than 3500 years old. It was composed by many Rishi or ancient scholars at that time. The human similarities evidence suggests that Indians were in close contact with Iranian in societal & economic relations. Note that Europe also has an impact on Indian Vedic culture as we can see few Indo-European heritage as its last survivors. One of the prime examples is the circumambulation of the sacred fire that connects both Indian & European history. 

We can understand the development of Hinduism as the constant interaction of the ruling class & lower people of ancient India. The Out of India Theory (OIT) suggests that Europeans & Indians were a resident of North India including Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, and Afghanistan from where they migrated to Europe. The great Indus Valley Civilization shows some similar traditions to Hinduism however there is negligible positive proof to rely on. 

The Vedic period lasted till 500 BCE and after that, we see challenges to Brahmanism when Gautam Buddha & Mahavira people started their philosophical path of achieving Moksha. We see a significant gain in Vasudev, and Shiv cults. Shiva & Vishnu are treated equally to Brahman and the three emerged as one trinity of the whole creation. 

The Reforms in Hinduism:

After the fall of the Maurya empire, we see the growth of Hinduism along with the 10 incarnations of Vishnu including Krishna- the Hero of Mahabharata. We also witness the growth of Shaivism as the pieces of evidence of the ‘Pashupata’ cult in 2 CE. The cult of Durga or Shakti- the better half of Shiva gained importance in the 4th CE. The mediaeval times gave birth to several Bhakti movements that gave Hinduism a new path of Bhakti filled with emotions & mystic characteristics.

The Tamil poems address God as a parent, friend, master, and guide and promote virtues of love, humility, and brotherhood. We see the influence of Kabir & Tulsi on Hinduism in the mediaeval era. Also, the Kannada-speaking area gave birth to Virashaivas who rejected image worshipping and adopted only lingam worshipping. Gorakhnath is one of the few names from the 13th century who still has thousands of followers in India. They follow different codes of conduct towards Bhakti and Dharma. 

Many reforms affected Hinduism during Modern times. Below are some of the biggest names among them. 

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy – Founder of Brahma Samaj
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati – Founder of Arya Samaj
• Swami Vivekananda – Founder of Ramakrishna Mission
• Shri Aurobindo – Founder of Aurobindo Ashram
• Helena Blavatsky – Founder of Theosophical Society

Hinduism Schools of Philosophies:

Hinduism gave birth and accepted all the reforms with time. As a result, we see the greatest mixture of different philosophies in Sanatana Dharma. There are six schools of Philosophy in Hindu Dharma. 

• Sankhya
• Yoga
• Nyaya
• Vaishvik
• Mimansa
• Vedanta 

Holy Books of Hinduism:

Hinduism has divided its key scriptures into two divisions. 

• Shruti– Heard or Revealed truths of Nature. 
• Smriti- Memory- It is to remind adherents of the eternal truth of Shruti according to changing time, land & personality. 

1. Shruti – Shruti includes Vedas and Upanishads. Vedas are four- Rig Veda, Sam Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. Upanishads number over 100 and teach about the self, God, and the nature of the world. It also further explains the ancient writings of the Vedas. 

2. Smriti – Smriti includes the following manuscripts. 

• Upavedas – Upavedas include four main texts that are Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda, and Arthasastra. 
• Puranas – 18 Major Mahapuranas & many more Upapuranas explain the ancient Shrutis through parables & stories. 
• Ramayana – The story of Rama- prince of Ayodhya and Sita- wife of Rama and the Ravana- King of Lanka. The story regards Rama as an incarnation of Vishnu. 
• Mahabharata – Mahabharata is the longest poem in history. It tells the story of Kauravas & Pandavas- cousin brothers of the same clan and a devastating war between them. This story includes Krishna as its prime hero. Krishna is also regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu. 
• Bhagavad Gita – The Bhagavad Gita is a tiny part of Mahabharata. It represents a situation where Arjuna was depressed and asking Krishna to show him the right path. This Upanishad-ranked book guides you to the right way of Dharma and three spiritual Yogas- Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, and Bhakti yoga. 
• Agama Shastras – These are lost ancient scripts that deal with devotion, worship, and practical aspects of living life. 

Hindu Contribution to Society:

Contrary to how mystical Hinduism seems, it has impacted the world profoundly with its great contribution to world heritages. Here are some of them. 

1. Education – Takshashila University- 700 BCE. 
Nalanda University- 500 CE

2. Mathematics – Aryabhatta gave the Concept of Zero, the value of Pi, Quadratic equations, ratios, and a few topics of Trigonometry. We also hear the successive contributions of Varahamihira, Bhaskara 1, Bharmagupta, and Madhava who were scholars in Mathematics & Astrology. The sage Bodhayan gave the Pythagoras Theorem in 740 B.C.E.  

3. Astronomy – Aryabhatta also discovered the concepts of planets in the solar system, Earth as a round object and its rotation on the axis, the reflection of sunlight from the moon, and the concept of time (365 days) in a year. 

4. Metallurgy – Archeologists have found Steel, Iron, and Gold in excavations dating back to 3000 B.C.E.

5. Surgery – We find detailed surgical procedures and instruments in Sushuruta Samhita. (600 B.C.E.)

6. Arts & Literature – Hinduism gave birth to Sanskrit, the most ancient language in the world. The Sama Veda possesses some of the greatest classic dance & music. 

7. Yoga & Meditation – Both Yoga & Meditation have influenced the world the most. Hatha Yoga- the process of holistic body cleansing exercise and Meditation- a process to attain calmness of mind & understanding of self & world. 

Conclusion:

Hinduism has witnessed a long rich history with many reforms. Today what we see is a mixture of many philosophies, cultures, and beliefs in one bowl. The process is still in continuation and it will go further.