Hinduism contains a range of philosophies.
Hinduism is a religion , or a way of life , found most notably in India and Nepal .. India. India. Nepal. Nepal. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world , and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as , `` the eternal law , '' or the `` eternal way , '' beyond human origins .. Scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis of various Indian cultures and traditions , with diverse roots and no founder .. This `` Hindu synthesis '' started to develop between 500 BCE and 300 CE following the Vedic period -LRB- 1500 BCE to 500 BCE -RRB- .. Vedic period. Vedic period. Vedic. Vedic. Hindu. Hindu. Although Hinduism contains a broad range of philosophies , it is linked by shared concepts , recognisable rituals , cosmology , shared textual resources , and pilgrimage to sacred sites .. cosmology. Hindu cosmology. shared textual resources. Hindu texts. pilgrimage to sacred sites. Hindu pilgrimage sites. rituals. rituals. Hindu texts are classified into Shruti -LRB- `` heard '' -RRB- and Smriti -LRB- `` remembered '' -RRB- .. Hindu texts. Hindu texts. Shruti. Shruti. Smriti. Smriti. Hindu. Hindu. These texts discuss theology , philosophy , mythology , Vedic yajna , Yoga , agamic rituals , and temple building , among other topics .. theology. Hindu theology. philosophy. Hindu philosophy. mythology. Hindu mythology. Vedic. Vedic. yajna. yajna. Yoga. Yoga. agamic. Agama ( Hinduism ). rituals. rituals. temple building. Hindu temple. Major scriptures include the Vedas and Upanishads , the Bhagavad Gita , and the Agamas .. Vedas. Vedas. Upanishads. Upanishads. Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita. Agamas. Agama ( Hinduism ). Sources of authority and eternal truths in its texts play an important role , but there is also a strong Hindu tradition of the questioning of this authority , to deepen the understanding of these truths and to further develop the tradition .. Hindu. Hindu. Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs include the four Purusarthas , the proper goals or aims of human life , namely Dharma -LRB- ethics / duties -RRB- , Artha -LRB- prosperity / work -RRB- , Kama -LRB- desires / passions -RRB- and Moksha -LRB- liberation / freedom / salvation -RRB- ; karma -LRB- action , intent and consequences -RRB- , samsara -LRB- cycle of rebirth -RRB- , and the various Yogas -LRB- paths or practices to attain moksha -RRB- .. Dharma. Dharma. Artha. Artha. Kama. Kama. Moksha. Moksha. karma. karma. samsara. samsara. Hindu. Hindu. Hindu practices include rituals such as puja -LRB- worship -RRB- and recitations , meditation , family-oriented rites of passage , annual festivals , and occasional pilgrimages .. rituals. rituals. puja. Puja ( Hinduism ). rites of passage. Sanskara ( rite of passage ). Hindu. Hindu. Some Hindus leave their social world and material possessions , then engage in lifelong Sannyasa -LRB- monastic practices -RRB- to achieve Moksha .. Moksha. Moksha. Sannyasa. Sannyasa. Hinduism prescribes the eternal duties , such as honesty , refraining from injuring living beings -LRB- ahimsa -RRB- , patience , forbearance , self-restraint , and compassion , among others .. ahimsa. ahimsa. Hinduism is the world 's third largest religion , with over one billion followers or 15 % of the global population , known as Hindus .. The majority of Hindus reside in India , Nepal , Mauritius , the Caribbean , and Bali in Indonesia .. India. India. Nepal. Nepal. Mauritius. Mauritius. Caribbean. Caribbean. Bali. Bali. Indonesia. Indonesia