| Hinduism is vaguely termed as the oldest living religion | | | | Theology. All these scriptures are in fact a guide to the |
| in the world. Holding a unique distension of being the | | | | attainment of the Dharma or the rightful living. The |
| third most followed religion after Christianity and Islam, | | | | Vedas and the Upanishads are the most important of |
| this religion has close to a billion followers worldwide. | | | | scriptures of Hinduism. Ramayana and Mahabharata |
| Predominantly, this religion is followed in the Indian | | | | are the grand epics which forms the base of this |
| subcontinent and parts of south-east Asia. Nepal is the | | | | religion. Every member of the Hindu household |
| only country in the world, which has declared Hinduism | | | | remembers these epics by heart, and the values of |
| as the official religion of the country. The followers of | | | | these are deep inside the core of a true Hindu. And, |
| Hinduism are called Hindu. Hindi language is derived | | | | last but not the least; the Bhagvata Geeta is the |
| from this term only, and the name Hindustan (India) is | | | | scripture, which truly defines the actual essence of |
| the logical fallout of Hinduism. | | | | Hinduism. It is said that Krishna, a Hindu God, himself |
| The history of Hinduism is so ancient, that there exists | | | | narrated Geeta for the benefit of all Hindus. |
| no record of its origin. In some contexts, scholars | | | | One of the main beliefs of Hinduism is the |
| believe that Hinduism existed even before humans | | | | Reincarnation and Karma theory, which has its |
| learned to live in a civilized society. Historically, Hinduism | | | | believers worldwide. Even scientists and philosophers |
| can be traced back to Vedic roots of ancient Indian | | | | have agreed on this principle. According to this, the |
| civilization, with no single founder as such. Many | | | | Human body is nothing but a collection of five |
| traditions and cultures embedded into this religion, to | | | | elements: earth, water, fire, sky and land. The core of |
| give shape to the modern day religion with such a | | | | the human being is the soul, which can not be |
| mass following. | | | | destroyed. The five elements which form the body |
| The scriptures of Hinduism are vastly distributed | | | | eventually get dissolved, leaving the soul to attach with |
| among its followers, and have a very strict relevance | | | | other elements to form another body. This, |
| to the daily activities. The two most common forms of | | | | reincarnation says that until and unless the karma, or |
| scriptures are Sruti (the revealed) and Smriti (the | | | | the deeds are purified, the human body will keep on |
| remembered) texts. The basic fundamentals of these | | | | resurfacing to face the ordeal of the world. |
| scriptures are Sociology, Mythology, Philosophy and | | | | |