Hinduism Indian Predominan Religion

India’s predominant religion is Hinduism, and though the approximate date of which it was lain down is unknown, Hinduism was established and founded by the Aryans, who arrived in India at approximately 1500 BCE. Hinduism can be said to have been inspired by and emerged from the Vedic religion; however the simple fact that the core of Hinduism comes from the Vedic period does not denote that the complex theological thought that is behind it was also developed during that period. The Vedic period goes from roughly 1500 – 500 BCE, which is well before Hinduism was fully established. The fundamental idea of Hinduism is that of a Single Supreme Being; this is solely being indicated at in the Vedic religion but is developed later. Another rudimental idea of Hinduism would be that of dharma, and the idea of dharma expands onto the universal idea of karma. These two latter concepts are not as supported by sources written during the Vedic period.

The Vedic Age is the period of which the four Vedas were under composition. There are four Vedas: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. They comprise of hymns and prayers. Of these four oldest and sacred texts of India, The Rig Veda is the main source of information on the Rig Vedic civilization. The Rig Veda was written by the Aryans who entered the Indus Valey toward the end of the Harappan Civilization (which date backs to roughly 1500 BCE). The Vedic era hints that “the ideas of a culture are reflected in its deities, and the characters of the gods in the Vedas give an insight into the values and practives of early Hinduism.” (The Worlds of Religion, chapter 9)

Although the concept of a Single Supreme Being is hinted at in the Vedic period, the concept of Brahma as the ultim...

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... whose mind is always free from attachment, who has subdued the mind and senses, and who is free from desires, attains the supreme perfection of freedom from Karma through renunciation.”

Although Hinduism can be said to have emerged from Vedic religion, most of the sophisticated theological thought which characterized it was yet to develop. This proposition is generally valid, substantiated by the ideas of Brahma and karma, which are interconnected as the single life force is within everything and are hinted at in the Vedic religion and further developed after it. However Hinduism’s term of dharma was not insinuated in the Vedic religion. By and large, Hinduism is a unique not only religion, but also social order; its intellection behind its unique beliefs are mostly emerged from the Vedic period, and explicated further if not primarily developed after it.