Hinduism is a term denoting a broad family of religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent, encompassing diverse beliefs, practices, deities, and schools of thought rather than a single creed or institutional structure. The term itself is of relatively recent origin, derived from a geographic and ethnic designation rather than a doctrinal one, and scholars and adherents differ on whether “Hinduism” accurately describes a unified religion or is better understood as a category imposed retrospectively on a heterogeneous set of regional and sectarian traditions; see hinduism-debate-definition-debate. By most estimates Hinduism is often cited as the third-largest religious grouping in the world by adherents, concentrated primarily in India, Nepal, and among South Asian diaspora communities.
Hindu traditions draw on a shared body of texts of varying authority, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, and epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, alongside a wide range of regional, devotional, and philosophical literature. Core concepts referenced across most traditions include dharma (duty or righteous conduct), karma (action and its consequences), samsara (the cycle of rebirth), and moksha (liberation from that cycle), though the interpretation and relative emphasis given to each concept varies considerably between schools. Practice ranges from temple worship and image veneration (murti puja) to meditation, yoga, ascetic renunciation, and devotional movements (bhakti) centered on particular deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, or the Goddess in her many forms. Hinduism has no single founder, central religious authority, or universally binding creed, and accommodates monotheistic, polytheistic, pantheistic, and nontheistic interpretations within different schools.
Contemporary scholarship and practice reflect ongoing debate over Hinduism's internal coherence and historical formation. One major area of discussion concerns the relationship between the religion(s) of the ancient Vedic period and later devotional and philosophical traditions, including the extent to which modern Hinduism represents continuity with, or significant departure from, Vedic religion; see hinduism-history. A related and frequently politically charged debate concerns the origins of the Indo-Aryan languages and peoples associated with the Vedas, particularly whether they originated outside South Asia and migrated in, or developed indigenously; see hinduism-debate-indo-aryan-migration-debate. Modern reform and revivalist movements from the 19th century onward, including the work of figures such as Swami Vivekananda, have shaped how Hinduism is presented both within India and internationally, often emphasizing its philosophical and universalist dimensions; see hinduism-history. Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva, has also become a significant force in Indian political life, raising disputes over the relationship between Hindu religious identity and Indian national identity; see hinduism-controversy-hindutva-controversy.