History of Hinduism

The origins of Hinduism can be traced back to the Indus River Valley in the Indian subcontinent, where its early adherents resided. As one of the world’s oldest religions, evidence of Hinduism dates back approximately 4,000 years. By 1500 BCE, Hinduism had already achieved a sophisticated level of philosophical and religious development that continues to endure today. The absence of a specific founder makes tracing its exact origins and history challenging. Hinduism stands out as a unique tradition, not as a single religion but as a collection of diverse traditions and philosophies. Although the term “Hinduism” was relatively new, coined by British writers in the early 19th century, it encompasses a rich and cumulative tradition of texts and practices, some of which may date back to the 2nd millennium BCE or earlier. If, as some scholars suggest, the Indus Valley civilization (3rd–2nd millennium BCE) was the earliest source of these traditions, then Hinduism is the oldest living religion on Earth.

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