Beliefs:
The third largest religion in the world, Hinduism is based on the idea that reality is all essentially one thing. That means that everything--a god, you, a fish, a teapot--is really all part of one divine, impersonal essence, called Brahman.

The ultimate goal of an individual is to be united forever with this divine essence, an experience known as Moksha. Moksha cannot be reached over the course of one lifetime, but after several lifetimes, it can be achieved. Hindus believe in a cyclical cosmology, meaning that time is not linear, but cyclical.

The world undergoes periods of creation, followed by periods of destruction, and this is true for all individuals as well. However, reincarnation is not random. Hindus believe that a person's conduct during his or her life will determine what they are reborn as next time around, an idea known as karma.

History:
According to historians, Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world and was formed between 1500 - 1300 B.C.E. Though there is no specific founder of the Hindu religion, much of the faith is based on old Sanskrit texts, like the Vedas--a collection of spiritual rules.

Today:
Approximately 970 million people are followers of the Hindu faith. It is common for households to have a shrine to the deities they have chosen to worship. These shrines may contain statues or images of the deities, but these idols are not worshipped. Hindus also gather together at a temple for services led by a priest or to celebrate festivals in honor of the different gods.

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