Hinduism
Statue of the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi
History
Hinduism has evolved from a mixture of beliefs practised by people living along the river Indus in India and Pakistan from as far back as 7,000BC. The Hinduism of today took shape during the second millennium BC, when the Aryan people, a nomadic tribe from the Baltic region, arrived in India. They brought with them the Sanskrit language and introduced the caste system, which soon became associated with Hinduism.
Buddhism and Jainism broke away from Hinduism around 800-600BC, leaving it weakened in India for several centuries. It then grew during the early part of the first millennium AD, mostly at the expense of Buddhism, until the introduction of Islam in the 7th century.
The Turks fought hard to conquer India during the 11th and 12th centuries and achieved great success in the areas that are now Pakistan and Bangladesh. Partition of the subcontinent in 1947 was, broadly, along religious lines, and Pakistan and Bangladesh remain predominantly Muslim today.
Christianity made an impression in India, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries, but failed to have the same impact as Islam. Hinduism regained ground in the 18th and 19th centuries and currently has 900 million followers around the world, 90% of whom live in India.
Beliefs
Hindus believe Brahman is the supreme spirit and creator of the universe, who is formless, eternal and an intrinsic part of the soul. Other figures are worshipped too, but they are different manifestations of Brahman and not equal in esteem. Hindus fall into three groups, according to the form of Brahman they worship: Vishnu (the preserver), Shiva (the destroyer) and Shakti (Mother Goddess).
Belief in reincarnation is fundamental to Hinduism and Hindus can follow three paths to improve their chances of an upgrade next time around – knowledge (jnana), work and religious performances (karma) and devotion (bhakti). There are several holy scriptures to assist Hindus break out of the cycles of life – the Vedas (most ancient) the Mahabharata (the longest poem in the world) and the Ramayana (one of India's best-known Sanskrit poems in which good overcomes evil) – all of which were passed down the ancient generations by word of mouth.
