Hinduism
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
India's largest religion, followed by about four in five Indians. Also called Sanatana Dharma, it has no single founder and draws on the Vedas, Upanishads, epics and Puranas.
| Followers (Census 2011) | 96,62,57,353 (79.80%) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Arose in the Indian subcontinent; its roots go back to the Vedic period (2nd millennium BCE, scholarly estimate) and earlier traditions |
Sacred texts
Main festivals
Places of worship and pilgrimage
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
- Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala
- Char Dham: Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram
- Chota Char Dham: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
- 12 Jyotirlingas
- Shakti Peethas
- Amarnath Cave Temple, Jammu and Kashmir
- Sabarimala, Kerala
- Jagannath Temple, Puri
- Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
- Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram
- Somnath Temple, Gujarat
- Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir
- Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
- Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya
Underlined names open their own page.
Key beliefs and practices
- Brahman, the one ultimate reality, worshipped in many forms such as Vishnu, Shiva and the Goddess (Devi).
- Atman, the eternal self, which passes through cycles of birth and rebirth (samsara).
- Karma: actions have consequences in this life and future lives.
- Dharma: right conduct and duty, according to one's stage of life and situation.
- Moksha: liberation from the cycle of rebirth, reached through knowledge (jnana), devotion (bhakti), selfless action (karma) or meditation (yoga).
- Many traditions within one family, including Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta and Smarta schools.