Oldest religion

Start writing...The Indus Valley Civilization is about 5000 years old where Hindu symbols like Swastika and Shiva lingam are discovered. Suffice it to say, Hinduism is more than 5000 years old, making it the oldest religion in the world. According to the latest research, it might be even 8000 years old.

Sanatana Dharma is a set of duties and a way of life. There was no concept of religion at that time. Dharma means a set of duties that apply to all human beings. The word Hinduism is coined by foreigners to address the people living in the vicinity of the river Sindhu.

Several major religions of the world like Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism are linked to a prominent spiritual leader or prophet who laid the framework of the faith. The origins of such religions are usually traced to the lifetime of these prophets. Others appear to have risen out of an amalgamation of spiritual beliefs and ritualistic practices of a section of people which have been promoted by one or more spiritual leaders. Most traditional religions have such an origin.

Although it’s impossible to decipher the exact date of the founding of any religion, Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion in the world.

Religions have existed since ancient times, and it has evolved over time. It is a way of living for many people, believed to exist since the dawn of humanity.

The foundation of several major world religions, including Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity, was established by a well-known spiritual figure or prophet. These prophets' lifetimes are often where these religions have their start. Others seem to have emerged through a fusion of spiritual doctrines and ceremonial customs of a subset of people that have been supported by one or more spiritual authorities.

But, according to scientific and archaeological data, Hinduism is considered the oldest religion in the world. Although, there is no specific date of origin or founder of the religion.

According to some scholars, Hinduism is a synthesis of several Indian traditions and civilizations. The devotees of this religion are influenced by a wide variety of ideologies. Within Hinduism, there are several divisions and schools. All of them fall under the banner of Hinduism because they have comparable rites, the same literary materials, related beliefs, and common pilgrimage destinations.

The "Vedic Period" refers to the early years of Hinduism when the Vedas governed the way of life. The four Vedas- Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda- are considered to be its most significant writings. The Vedic literatures were written somewhere around 1500 BC and 500 BC.

The Medieval Period, which lasted from 500 to 1500 A.D., saw the glory of Hinduism, along with Buddhism, the faith also spread during this period throughout Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and India. India is thought to have gone through a "golden period" up to 650 AD when the Gupta dynasty was in power. During this period, several monasteries and institutions that supported both Vedic and non-Vedic education were also constructed, along with the earliest stone Hindu temples. This is the period when the earliest Puran texts were penned, which significantly enlarged the mythologies of Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi.

The religion collapsed along with the fall of the Gupta empire.

Islam has had a significant influence on India's history and religions. Between 1200 and 1757, Muslim invaders imposed restrictions on Hinduism, demolished temples, and forced many people to convert to Islam.

When the British took control over India, Hindus were permitted to practice their faith with little restriction from 1757 to 1848. However, Christian missionaries tried to convert Hindus and modernize Indian culture during the latter years of British rule.

Only in the 19th century did Hinduism begin to get a scholarly investigation, which was when the belief was first made known to Europe and the West.

Now, although Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world, it is mostly confined to Southeast Asian countries. However, the devotees of the religion are quite widespread.