The Religions Book

90

A

lhough Hinduism could
arguably be called the
oldest of living religions,
the term itself is a relatively modern
one, which gives a misleading
impression of a unified faith with
a single set of beliefs and practices.
Hinduism can trace its origins
to the Iron Age, but it is in fact
more a convenient umbrella term
covering most of the indigenous
religions of the Indian subcontinent.
Although these religions share some
characteristics, they vary greatly
in practice and encompass a wide
range of different traditions. In
some of these traditions, the
faith has remained substantially
unchanged since the earliest times.
While more than three-quarters
of the population of India identify
themselves as “Hindu,” today the
definition of such a range of loosely

connected faiths is as much

sociopolitical as religious. The word

“Hindu” (which shares its roots

with the name of the River Indus,

and of India) essentially means

“Indian.” It distinguishes the native

religions from those introduced to

the country, such as Islam, and

newer breakaway religions

such as Jainism and Buddhism.

The difficulty of defining

Hinduism was summed up in an

Indian High Court ruling in 1995:

“... the Hindu religion does not

claim any one prophet; it does

not worship any one god; it does

not subscribe to any one dogma;

it does not believe in any one

philosophic concept; it does not

follow any one set of religious

rites or performances; in fact,

it does not appear to satisfy the

narrow traditional features of

any religion or creed. It may

broadly be described as a way

of life and nothing more.”

Common beliefs

However, certain ideas have

remained central to virtually all

strands of Hinduism, in particular

the notion of samsara (the cycle

of birth and rebirth of the atman,

the soul) and the associated belief

in the possibility of moksha, or

release from this endless cycle.

The key to achieving moksha is

encapsulated in the word dharma,

which is variously translated

as “virtue,” “natural law,” “right

living,” or simply “appropriateness.”

Inevitably, this is subject to a

number of interpretations, but three

main ways of achieving moksha

have emerged, collectively known

as the marga. These are jnana-marga

INTRODUCTION

1700 BCE

1200–900 BCE

6 TH CENTURY BCE

6 TH CENTURY BCE

6 TH CENTURY BCE

6 TH CENTURY BCE

C.500–100 BCE

Mahavira becomes

a major figure

in establishing

Jainism.

The four Vedas are

written. These are the

oldest Hindu scriptures

and most ancient

Sanskrit texts.

Brahmanic ideas

emerge, based on the

concept of Brahman,

the supreme power.

The first of the

Upanishads is

written, offering a

philosophical approach

to religion.

Vedic tradition

begins to develop

in India, with ritual

offerings made

to the gods.

The poet Valmiki

writes the Sanskrit

epic the Ramayana.

Siddhartha

Gautama, later

known as Buddha,

is born into a

Hindu family.