Nepali Wanderer

Hinduism is considered the oldest religion on earth. However, if you ask some of its followers, they might say, “Hinduism is not even a religion.” To understand this statement, let’s first delve into the word “Hindu.”

The followers of Hinduism are generally known as Hindus. Historically, the word “Hindu” referred to the geographical region around and beyond the east of the Indus River. The term originated from the Sanskrit word for the Indus River, “Sindhu.” Mispronunciations led to “Hindu” in Persian and “Indus” in Greek. When Islamic invaders arrived in the subcontinent, they called the inhabitants “Hindus” to distinguish themselves. Thus, the term “Hindu” has geographical, cultural, and religious connotations.

The religion practiced by most inhabitants became known as Hinduism or Hindu “Dharma.” In Sanskrit, “Dharma” means “living in the right way.” For many in the subcontinent, Hinduism was (and is) simply their way of life, believed to have existed forever. This ties into the mythological idea that the Vedas, considered eternal and ever-present, represent eternal truths. Hence, Hinduism is also referred to as “Sanatan Dharma,” meaning the eternal way of life.

While the Vedas overall were pivotal in shaping Hindu rituals, the Upanishads (the final component of the Vedas, also known as Vedanta) had a massive impact on shaping its philosophy.

Hinduism, at a general glance, seems like a polytheistic religion with many gods and goddesses. However, on a deeper level, particularly in the Upanishads, Hinduism follows Henotheism, which involves worshipping a single overarching god while not denying the existence of other deities.

The Upanishads discuss two important concepts: Brahman and Atman. Brahman refers to the universal soul, while Atman represents the individual soul, made from Brahman. All worldly entities, including humans, animals, and even gods, are considered different forms of Brahman. Therefore, Hindu gods and goddesses are seen as different avatars of Brahman, with Brahman being the sole supernatural entity.

The three main gods of Hinduism — Brahma the creator (not to be confused with Brahman), Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer — are also avatars of Brahman. The unification of these central gods with various other Vedic gods, local deities, and other gods and goddesses formed the Hindu religion known today.

The philosophy of Hinduism remains central to the lives and beliefs of its followers. To understand this influence, we need to grasp four important Vedic concepts: Samsara, Dharma, Karma, and Moksha. Hindu philosophy believes in reincarnation, where the current life is one of many lived or yet to be lived. This continuous cycle of birth and death is known as Samsara. Dharma means living the right way. The belief that current actions (Karma) determine future outcomes (future lives) is known as the law of Karma. The ultimate goal for every soul is to liberate itself from Samsara and unite with eternal bliss (Brahman), known as Moksha.

Concepts like Karma, Samsara, and the pursuit of Moksha have driven many Hindus to live righteously and follow spiritual paths. Even my grandmother sees Karma as a form of morality. (Interestingly, “Karma” has become a global term for the idea that actions bring about good or bad luck.)

But wait, the story doesn’t end here. Even during the Vedic era, not everyone felt content with the endless cycles of Samsara. Enter a figure that sought a different path to liberation from Samsara. Little did he know that his pursuit would lead to the birth of Buddhism, a philosophy whose influence would transcend far beyond the Indian Subcontinent.