Download Hinduism evolved as a combination of various cultures

Hinduism evolved as a combination of various cultures and traditions,
including Vedic ritualisms and the Upanishad texts.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Explain the evolution of hinduism
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
The Upanishads are a collection of Vedic texts particularly important to Hinduism that contain
revealed truths concerning the nature of ultimate reality and describing the character and form of
human salvation.
The Vedic religion was influenced by local cultures and traditions adopted by as Indo­Aryans as
they spread throughout India.
The Vedas describes deities and mythology and instructions for religious rituals.
Vedic ritualism heavily influenced the rise of Hinduism, which rose to prominence after c. 400
BCE.
TERMS [ edit ]
Samhita
Mantras or hymns of praise
moksha
Human salvation
Upanishads
A collection of Vedic texts that contain the earliest emergence of some of the central religious
concepts of Hinduism,Buddhism and Jainism
deity
A supernatural being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred
brahman
Truths concerning the ultimate nature of reality
Brahmanas
Instructions for religious rituals
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The Upanishads
The Upanishads are a collection of Vedic texts that contain the earliest emergence of some of
the central religious concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. They are also known as
Vedanta ("the end of the Veda") and are one of the sacred texts of Hinduism. The
Upanishads are considered by Hindus to contain revealed truths concerning the nature of
ultimate reality (brahman) and describing the character and form of human salvation
(moksha). The Upanishads are found mostly in the concluding part of the commentaries
onthe Vedas and have been passed down by oral tradition.
Vedic Religion
Aryan religious beliefs and practices were profusely described in their religious literature,
particularly the Vedas. Vedas ("knowledge") were ancient texts written in Sanskrit between
1500 and 500 BCE. There are four Indo­Aryan Vedas:
1. The Rig Veda: contains hymns about their mythology.
2. The Sama Veda: consists mainly of hymns about religious rituals.
3. The Yajur Veda: contains instructions for religious rituals.
4. The Atharva Veda: consists of spells against enemies, sorcerers, and diseases.
Each Veda was further divided into two sections:
1. The Samhita: mantras or hymns in praise of various deities.
2. The Brahmanas: instructions for religious rituals.
The Aryan pantheon of gods is described in great detail in the Rig Veda. However, the
religious practices and deities are not uniformly consistent in these sacred texts, probably
because the Aryans themselves were not a homogenous group. While spreading through the
Indian subcontinent, it is probable that their initial religious beliefs and practices were
shaped by the absorption of local religious traditions. According to the hymns of the Rig
Veda, the most important deities were:
Agni (the god of Fire): the intermediary between the gods and humans
Indra (the god of Heavens and War): protector of the Aryans against their enemies
Surya (the Sun god)
Vayu (the god of Wind)
Prthivi (the goddess of Earth)
Modern Hindu representation of Agni, god of fire
The Rig Veda describes the varied deities of Vedic religion. These gods persisted as Vedic religion was
assimilated into Hinduism.
One of the most important religious rituals that the Aryans performed was the soma,
celebrated in honor of Indra. The soma was a drinking ritual in which the extract from the
soma plant (this plant remains unidentified; perhapsEphedra sinica) was consumed. This
drink was supposed to energize the consumer and in some cases even give him immortality.
Rise of Hinduism
Western scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and
traditions. Hinduism is considered one of the oldest religions in the world, and Vedic
ritualism, already a composite of Indo­Aryan and Harappan culture, contributed to the
deities and traditions of Hinduism over time. The Indo­Aryan Vedas remain the oldest
scriptures of Hinduism. The Sramana movement and success of Buddhism and Jainism
drove the "Hindu synthesis" after the Vedic period, between c. 400 BCE and c. 300 CE. This
new Hinduism and its societal divisions (i.e. caste system) spread to southern Indian and
parts of Southeast Asia. As it spread, Hinduism assimilated popular non­Vedic gods and
other traditions from local cultures.
The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi, the world's largest Hindu temple
Hinduism evolved as a combination of various cultures and traditions, including Vedic religion and the
Upanishad texts.