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The history of Hinduism covers a wide variety of related religious traditions native to the Indian subcontinent. [1] It overlaps or coincides with the development of religion in the Indian subcontinent since the Iron Age , with some of its traditions tracing back to prehistoric religions such as those of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation .
[140] [note 19] Pennington, while concurring that the study of Hinduism as a world religion began in the colonial era, disagrees that Hinduism is a colonial European era invention. [141] He states that the shared theology, common ritual grammar and way of life of those who identify themselves as Hindus is traceable to ancient times. [141] [note 20]
Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India and, as such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion" [8] or the "oldest living major religion" in the world. [9] [10] [11] [12]
The Puranas have been used by some to give a tentative overview of Indian history prior to the Bharata War. [13] Gulshan (1940) dates the start of the reign of Manu Vaivasvata at 7350 BCE. [ 13 ] According to Ganguly, the Puranic gives 95 kings between Shraddhadeva Manu (aka Manu Vaivasvata), the progenitor of humanity, and the Bharata War . [ 27 ]
Religious tradition founded Historical founder(s) Life of historical founder Of Divine origin (Hinduism) Hinduism: The Saptarishi: c. 15th century BC to 10th century BC Abraham (covenant with God) Moses (religious law) Judaism: Yahwists [n 1] c. 13th [1] [2] [3] to 8th century BC [n 2] Laozi: Taoism: Zhuang Zhou: 369 BC – 286 BC
It is notable that Hinduism largely followed an oral tradition to pass on knowledge, for which there is no record of historical dates. All dates here given ought to be regarded as roughly approximate, subject to further revision, and generally as relying for their validity on highly inferential methods and standards of evidence.
Though many religious Hindus implicitly acknowledge the authority of the Vedas, this acknowledgment is often "no more than a declaration that someone considers himself [or herself] a Hindu", [238] [note 24] and "most Indians today pay lip service to the Veda and have no regard for the contents of the text."
Hinduism (/ ˈ h ɪ n d u ˌ ɪ z əm /) is an umbrella term for a range of Indian religious and spiritual traditions (sampradayas) [1] that are unified by adherence to the concept of dharma, a cosmic order maintained by its followers through rituals and righteous living, as first expounded in the Vedas.