Origins and history
Scholars usually trace the earliest roots of Hindu tradition to the Indus Valley Civilization. More directly, they trace it to the Vedic period, around 1500–500 BCE. During this time, the Vedas were composed. The Vedas are Hinduism's oldest scriptures. Communities in northern India passed them down by voice. Over the next centuries, Vedic ritual religion grew alongside new ideas written in the Upanishads. Later, the great epics — the Mahabharata and the Ramayana — and the Puranas were added. These texts shaped much of the devotion and mythology found in Hindu practice today.
Newer parts of Hindu history did not replace the older parts. Instead, they were added on top. This includes devotional (bhakti) movements, regional temple traditions, and different schools of philosophy. This is part of why Hinduism today holds such a wide range of beliefs side by side.
Core beliefs and philosophy
Some ideas come up again and again in Hindu traditions. Different schools and communities understand them in different ways. These ideas include dharma (duty, or "doing the right thing," which can mean different things depending on your stage of life), karma (actions have results, even across lifetimes), samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth), and moksha (freedom from that cycle).
Hindu traditions also think deeply about the nature of God. Many Hindus recognize a large number of gods. Some see these gods as different forms of one deeper reality, often called Brahman. Other Hindus focus their devotion on one supreme god, such as Vishnu or Shiva. Major schools of philosophy — such as Advaita Vedanta, Vishishtadvaita, and Dvaita — have debated the exact relationship between the soul (atman) and ultimate reality for over a thousand years. No single view speaks for all of Hinduism.
Practices and worship
Hindu worship takes many forms. There is no one required ritual. Puja is one of the most common practices. It means offering worship to a god, at home or at a temple, often with flowers, food, water, or light. Other common practices include pilgrimage to holy places, following festivals tied to the moon or sun calendar, chanting, meditation, and yoga (in its many forms — not only the physical poses known outside South Asia). Which of these a person focuses on depends on region, family tradition, caste background, and personal devotion.
Many Hindu communities also mark big life events with special rites. These are called samskaras, and include birth, coming of age, marriage, and death. Temple worship is shaped by strong local traditions — in the building's design, the ritual calendar, and which god or gods are worshipped there.
Scriptures and texts
Hindu sacred writing is huge, and built up over many layers. The Vedas — the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda — are seen as the oldest and, in most traditions, the most important scriptures. They were first passed down by voice. The Upanishads are philosophical texts added at the end of the Vedas. They explore the nature of the self and ultimate reality, and form the base of Vedanta philosophy. Alongside these are two great epics: the Mahabharata (which contains the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most widely read Hindu texts) and the Ramayana. There are also the Puranas, a large set of texts about the universe, myths, and the lives of the gods. Different Hindu traditions use this shared body of writing in different ways.
Major traditions within Hinduism
Hinduism is often described using a few major devotional currents. But people and communities often draw on more than one. Vaishnavism focuses devotion on Vishnu and his avatars (forms), including Rama and Krishna. Shaivism focuses devotion on Shiva. Shaktism focuses worship on the Goddess (Devi) in her many forms. Smartism takes a more open philosophical approach, linked to Advaita Vedanta. It honors many gods as forms of one ultimate reality. These currents are not separate, closed-off groups the way different religions might be. Many Hindu worshippers and temples honor more than one god, without sticking strictly to just one.
Symbols and iconography
Several symbols are well known across Hindu traditions, though their use can differ by region and family line. Om (ॐ) stands for the first sound of the universe. It is often chanted at the start of prayers, mantras, and rituals. It appears at the start of most Hindu holy texts, and is itself seen as a form of meditation. The swastika is an old and widely used symbol of good luck, success, and the cycle of life. It is common in Hindu rituals and decoration. This meaning is completely different from — and many centuries older than — its use by Nazi Germany in the 1900s. The lotus flower grows out of mud but stays clean. It is a common symbol of spiritual purity, closely linked to gods like Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Many Hindus also wear a tilaka, a mark on the forehead made with sandalwood paste, ash, or colored powder. Its shape often shows which tradition or family line a person follows.
Ethics and moral life
Hindu ethical life is often built around four goals, called purusharthas: dharma (duty and right conduct), artha (wealth, earned honestly), kama (fair pleasure and enjoyment), and moksha (freedom). Dharma is usually seen as the frame that holds the other three together. Ahimsa, or non-violence, is a widely held value. It is why many — though not all — Hindus are vegetarian. But ahimsa is not an absolute rule in Hinduism the way it is in Jainism.
In the past, Hindu society was also organized by the varna and jati systems, broadly known as caste. These systems assigned duty and status by birth. Caste discrimination is now against the law in both Nepal and India. It remains a debated and changing part of life in South Asia. This article does not try to settle that debate.
Festivals and the religious calendar
Hindu festivals follow the moon or a mixed moon-and-sun calendar. They differ a lot by region, god, and community, so no single list can cover every tradition. In Nepal, Dashain is generally seen as the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. It is a fifteen-day festival honoring the goddess Durga's victory over evil. Families gather, fly kites, and receive tika and blessings from elders. Tihar follows soon after. It is a multi-day festival of lights that also honors crows, dogs, and cattle. Its main day celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
Other widely celebrated festivals include Holi (welcoming spring with colored powder), Krishna Janmashtami (marking the birth of Krishna), Teej (observed mainly by women), and Maha Shivaratri (dedicated to Shiva). Many more festivals are specific to certain regions or communities.
Hinduism in Nepal
Hinduism has a long history in Nepal. It is woven closely into festivals, temple life, and daily practice, especially among the country's largest population groups. Nepal's constitutions of 1962 and 1990 called the kingdom a "Hindu state." This did not make Hinduism the only state religion. This label ended after political changes that began in 2006. That year, Nepal's parliament declared the country secular. This was confirmed again by the Interim Constitution of January 2007, the 2008 declaration of a federal democratic republic, and Nepal's current constitution from 2015. Nepal's religious identity is still debated in politics today.
The Kathmandu Valley shows a long history of close contact between Hindu and Buddhist communities. This is especially true among the Newar people, whose religious life has long drawn on both traditions rather than keeping them fully separate. Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most important Shiva temples in the Hindu world. It sits on the Bagmati River in Kathmandu and is a major place of pilgrimage.