How was Hinduism formed?

Answer 1

Some historians say that Hinduism had its roots over 5,000 years ago in a wave of migration that brought a pale-skinned, Aryan people down from the northwest into the Indus Valley, now located mainly in Pakistan and India. From there they spread into the Ganges River plains and across India. Some experts say that the religious ideas of the migrants were similar to ancient Iranian ( devas and asuras)One thread common to many cultures and also found in Hinduism is a flood legend.By a process of inter mingling with all the philosophies that includes vedic, non vedic, indigenous folk religion of the time and region. Hinduism was formed.

Tribes who were present in India before arrival of proto Vedic tribes:

Before arrival of protoVedic tribes, there were mainly three major groups.

(*proto Vedic: period that was before classical Vedas,Vedas and Vedic people in its classical form resulted after assimilating Indian sub continents thoughts and people respectively)

1. Meenavars

(Meena tribes of north India, Matsya or Machcha kingdom of vedic age, pandiyas of south are their **cultural descendents)

2. Villavars

(Bhils of north India, illavars of srilanka, cheras, munda dravida tamils, Billavas of Tulunadu of Karnataka, izhavars of kerala are their cultural descendents)

3. Nagas

(Pockets of people spread over Nepal , bunts, Naga people of Sri Lanka, north eastern countries, nairs of kerala , nagavanshi of north India, naidus of Andhra etc are their cultural descendents),

Also look Book: The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago By V. Kanakasabhai

Meenavars and Villavars were allies and spread south of Iran and Afghanistan in prehistoric times. [There are still pockets of Dravidian speaking groups in these areas. (Brahui)]

After that Naga tribes came. Villavars and Meenavars were fighting against (or not considered friendly) Nagas; but were gradually pushed to the southern parts of peninsula. This was achieved by Nagas with the help of new tribes called protoVedic tribes popularly known as Aryans.(Migrated from Russia, andranova, -Iran to India.)

After the arrival of proto Vedic tribes:

ProtoVedic people mixed with local population assimilating their culture and people. But, retained their proto Vedic background; notably, the importance given to priesthood. They can be called as Vedic tribes

Relation between Nagas and Vedic tribes were mixed in the sense if they were allies or not. As at some point of time they were allies like at the time of hostility between Meenavars and Villavars. But some time both Nagas and Vedic tribes were hostile.

Indraprasta ( capital city o pandavas) was made after displacing Naga people who was inhabited there before. They might have been trying to regain their territory from Vedic people, as we can read from Mahabharata that Parikshit is killed by a Naga warrior Takshaka who came to his court in disguise.

(Alliance between Nagas and yaadavas:

To protect Krishna from Kamsa; Vasudeva, with the help of chief of Naga warriors named Ananta, took Krishna to Vrindaavan.)

Tribes who were present in India before Meenavars, Villavar and Nagas.

This of migration process might have happened before, as there was other indigenous tribe who were present before Meenavars Villavar groups, probably Australoid people, can be present 'tribes' of Orrisa, Bengal, kerala etc. (though cannot be tell for sure, and as mixing of population had occurred).

But the Andaman tribes are considered the oldest tribes who came to India even before the Australoid people.

Some of the proofs of this can be seen from below:

Santals tribes of Orrisa believed in a religion called santhal. They believe in the supreme deity, who ultimately controls the entire universe (Thakurji). And the most important spirit is Maran Buru (Great Mountain) is that mount Meru of Africa?

Different path of Evolution of people, culture, language, script:

Evolution of people, culture, language, script, will not be in same path. Tamillanguage and script are evolved from different source. (Modern Tamil language from proto Dravidian, script from brahmi belonged to Phoenicians)

Like that cultural descendant may or may not be genetical descendant.

Some time culture goes away, people, language stays. Some time language stays in a region, but people, culture, script migrates away.

For example the people of Brahui in Pakistan and Afghanistan speak a Dravidian language. The people (with exceptions) are not Dravidian people, but the area belonged to the Dravidian speaking people in prehistoric time

Examples for that can be seen in present time. For example people of South Africa now speak non native English language which is foreign and was not evolved with them.

Contrary to that Konkani people of kerala though foreign, speak native Malayalam

Process of pushing:

This process of "pushing" of one tribe from their native lands was not swift. As we can see the culture, language and people of proto Vedic tribes and the other tribes migrated to India before them mixed so well that is difficult to distinguish.

(For example: Mother of Vyaasa, Satyavati belonged to matsya kingdom. The Matsya tribes who were there before proto Vedic people)

Proofs:

Languages:

Take Sanskrit the Retroflex phonemes (as in peet'ham, or mangalam is not common in indo-Iranian languages like Avesta (close cousin of proto Sanskrit). Also words like 'iti', kumāra in Sanskrit, which show the influence of Dravidian language on Sanskrit

Genetical studies:

Genetical studies also show thorough mixing of these people over centuries so that it is unable to differentiate

Belief systems

Take the beliefs proto Vedic people gave more prominence to devas and asuras. Siva and kali was a god of prehistoric India and Indus valley people, naagaaradhana was predominant among Naga people. But later trimoortis got more importance and devas became semi gods.

It is to be noted that the 'first' avatar of Vishnu occurred in south India or among Dravidian tribes (in fact the story of matsya purana is same as story of Noah's arkin bible. the story belonged to whole human tribes in the form of Deluge myth)

But all were revered irrespective of cultural back ground. All these show that, they have been together for a long time. This may be due to the fact that in early times there was no reluctance among cultures to mix.

We can still see this phenomenon in Nepal, were Hinduism and Buddhism is not separated in to two groups.

Name Krishna

There were many people with name 'Krishna- "the black one" in Mahabharata, Ramayana and puranas suggesting that the Vedic people had lived along with indigenous population in harmony. Some prominent ones with name that indicate their colour as you know are Vaasuseva Krishna, Draupati (also Krishnaa), Vyaasa (Krishna Dvaipayana), Ishvara Krishna ( samkya philosopher)

Caste system in India.

Different groups or tribes came to a place at different intervals under the influence of Caste System labeled as different castes. One interesting pattern is that the one who came last would become higher caste.

For example izhawars of kerala were actually come from three sources.

One group was Muda Dravidian Tamils. Second one was the Buddhist people who came from Magadha during the period of emperor Ashoka and his successors. The other was Sinhala warriors who came to help chera kings, who were also the Villavar tribes (Izhawars). The community had farmers, physicians (vaidyars) warriors (kalari), rulers (chera rulers) and priests.

But as the Naga people came and defeated Villavars, power shifted to Nagas. The titles of Cheraman were then awarded to Nagas (which were the title given to Villavar rulers earlier.).

Things again changed when Brahmins came to kerala, society got divided in to caste system.

But many prominent families of Nagas and Villavars were absorbed or converted in to Brahmin class and class Kshatriya (also in the reverse order) at early stages of migration. But later caste system became strong and the divide became clear and unable to cross over as it happened in other parts of India.

(See other example, Bhils of north India is considered as Kshatriya were izhawars of south as lower class though belonging to same stock.)

Thus to some extend caste system is the preservation of groups migrated to a place at different times.

Traditions other than Vedic tradition:

Hinduism in its present form is rooted on 10 philosophical schools and 2 unorganized philosophies namely

1.Sankhya school-

"consciousness, in an evolving primordial Matter, trying to achieve a higher equilibrium(satva) defying inertia ( tamas) by using active forces ( rajas)"

2.Yoga school,

A school emphasizing meditation closely based on Samkya ( in later stages) It concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation (dhyana) to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.

3.Nyaya school or logics

It believed that obtaining valid knowledge was the only way to obtain release from suffering

4.Vaisheshika school:

school of atomism says universe is build by minute particles which is being controlled by universal consciousness

5.Mimamsa school, Emphasised on the ritualistic vedic tradition

6.Vedanta school, Emphasised on the philosophical vedic teachings, notabily monoism and non duality, the goal of Vedanta is a state of self-realization or cosmic consciousness

7.Buddhist school: (Shramana school) Emphasis on karma, liberation from suffering, Noble Eightfold Path and middle way.

8.Jainist school: (Shramana school) Every living soul as potentially divine. When the soul sheds its karmic bonds completely, it attains divine consciousness. It prescribes a path of non-violence to progress the soul to this ultimate goal.

9.Cārvāka school: Not believed in those which cannot be perceived.

10.Ajivaka school : believes in fate, which dictates one's life.

11(Folk Hindu).Nature worship- saktiyism mother earth goddess, city goddess,snake worship (nagaradhana), mountain gods, kaavu.

12. Ancestor soul worship- (karanavar aatma).believes that a family is protected by ansistors.

All these were both atheistic and theistic (in context of belief in god) at some point or other in history.

Among this the 5 and 6 recognized Vedic authority. First 3 recognized Vedic authority partially (or from some point of time in history.). 7, 8 and 9 don't recognized Vedic authority.

Fusion of above philosophies and beliefs of the other indigenous people like ancestor worships and nature worships resulted in the three main Indian religions in its present form (Hinduism Buddhism and Jainism)

Olden times philosophies of India were broadly classified as Brahmanas ( or Brahmanae by Greeks) (of Vedic tribes) and shramanas or ( Sarmanae by Greeks) (7, 8 &9). Later, by name Smartist (Vedic) and shramanas (non Vedic).

Major characters of Hindu belief:

1. Pre Vedic (folk) - based on local believes

2. Vedic - Based on vedic belief

3. Shramana -based on nonvedic believes.

4. Smartist -based on vedanta,upanishad

5. Puranic- based on stories of puranas, ramayana, mahabharata, bhagavat gita.

6. Karmic -based on karma, duty,yoga etc

7. Bhakti - Based on practice of worship.

Answer 2

Rather a difficult question. We can say that it orginated from Bharath. But what constituted the old Bharath is a doubtful question. Actually "Sanathan Dharma" orginated from the great ancient Scientists (Rishis).

Answer 3

There are no records of who started Hinduism, why, where, how and when.

What all we know is that it started about 4000 years ago in North western India.

Rig Veda is the only written evidence that can throw light on the origin of Hinduism

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEGINNNING OF HINDUISM AND THAT OF OTHER RELIGIONS

Unlike other religions,

1. Hinduism was perfect in the beginning and then started to deteriorate. More precisely, it was theoretically perfect first and to make it practical it was made flexible, which made it more popular but less reliable.

It is for this reason that Rig Veda is considered as the most sacred Hindu book even today.

3. Early Hinduism laid absolute emphasis on facts. This is in contrast to other religions, which consider beliefs as sacred.

4. The only form of worship in early Hinduism was Vedic meditation. Thus, it was portable and secretive.

THE NATURE OF THE PLACE OF ORIGIN OF HINDUISM

Though it is not known in which city Hinduism started, it is universally accepted that it started in northwestern India. This a region where invasions were frequent. It was also an important trade route.

THE NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY AND REVERSIBILITY OF LIFE

Frequent, and extreme changes in entire life of people of that region necessiated a method that enabled them to make their life absolutely flexible and reversible, so that they could appear in different forms to different people. Thus, Vedic mantras were means to create restore points in life, so that before a trade journey or invasion they could create restore points and later restore their life to any of these points.

NATURE OF EARLY HINDUISM

1. Since beliefs make life rigid, early Hindus never had beliefs and thus considered facts as sacred.

2. Early Hindus laid much emphasis on Karma, which would make any attempt to reverse life defective, leading to reincarnation or transformation of an activity every time it was repeated. Moksha just meant absolute reversibility of life.

3. Since the aim was just flexibility and reversibility of life, Rig Veda doesn't make any mention of any ritual. Thus, early Hinduism is not considered as a religion.

4. Brahman, the god who reversed any change, was considered as the most sacred.

As the number of such people became more the secreasy was no more needed and thus Sanatana dharma was replaced with the Hinduism we are familiar with, which has all the features of a religion.

Thus, Hinduism was started as a way of making life flexible and reversible, to counter frequent and extreme changes in entire life.

Answer 4

Hinduism remains a religion with no standardised form of worship, although the Rig Veda is regarded as an authoritative text that is divine in origin. It spans from animism to monism. In other words, there could be said to be no 'one' Hinduism. The origins of Hinduism are lost in the mists of time, originating from the proto-Indo-Iranian beliefs that were held in southern Russia at least four thousand years ago, as also did Zoroastrianism. To answer 'why' a group of people began to evolve their beliefs into the earliest forms of Hinduism is probably not possible after so many millenia.

Answer 5

In a layman's language all those who follows Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Purana etc are called Hindu but when we read these scriptures we will not find any word "Hindu" used in them. Hindu name is just a man made name given to something which is in Vedas mentioned as Varan-Ashram Dharma. So its like you suddenly start calling apple as orange and try to find out when orange started growing on earth but the fact will be that it existed before as well. According to Vedas when God created this materialistic world he Imparted Vedic Knowledge to Brahma who is the first Living being of this Universe and then he created this whole Universe inspired by God. Because Vedas itself contains Varan-Ashram Dharma so in reality Varan-Ashram Dharma(So called Hinduism) exists since the time of creation of this Universe.

Answer2: Hinduism is a different way of understanding life, to which Western values are totally alien. Westerners tend to see life as a chronological line of events in history. Hindus see life as a self-repeating cycle in which human history is of little importance. It is no easy task to define Hinduism, since it has no definite creed, priestly hierarchy, or governing agency. However, it does have swamis (teachers) and gurus (spiritual guides). A broad definition of Hinduism given by one history book states that it is "the whole complex of beliefs and institutions that have appeared from the time when their ancient (and most sacred) scriptures, the Vedas, were composed until now." Another one states: "We might say that Hinduism is adherence to or worship of the gods Vishnu, or Shiva [Siva], or the goddess Shakti, or their incarnations, aspects, spouses, or progeny." That serves to include the cults of Rama and Krishna (incarnations of Vishnu), Durga, Skanda, and Ganesa (respectively the wife and sons of Siva). It is claimed that Hinduism has 330 million gods, yet it is said that Hinduism is not polytheistic. Indian writer A. Parthasarathy explains: "The Hindus are not polytheistic. Hinduism speaks of one God . . . The different gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon are mere representatives of the powers and functions of the one supreme God in the manifested world." Hindus often refer to their faith as sanatana dharma, which means eternal law or order. Hinduism is really a loose term that describes a host of religions and sects (sampradayas) that have developed and flourished over the millenniums under the umbrella of the complex ancient Hindu mythology. So intricate is that mythology that the New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology states: "Indian mythology is an inextricable jungle of luxuriant growths. When you enter it you lose the light of day and all clear sense of direction. The oldest writings are the Vedas, a collection of prayers and hymns known as the Rig-Veda, the Sama-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda. They were composed during several centuries and were completed about 900 B.C.E. The Vedas were later supplemented by other writings, including the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The Brahmanas specify how rituals and sacrifices, both domestic and public, are to be performed and go into great detail on their deep meaning. They were put into writing from about 300 B.C.E. or later. The Upanishads (literally, "sittings near a teacher"), also known as the Vedanta and written about 600-300 B.C.E., are treatises that set out the reason for all thought and action, according to Hindu philosophy. The doctrines of samsara (transmigration of the soul) and Karma (the belief that the deeds of a former existence are the cause of one's present state in life) were expressed in these writings. (fr Watchtower Library)

Answer 6

Hinduism started when people living in South Asia between Stone age and Bronze Age realized that there's much more than to life than agriculture for food.

They realized the importance of rising sun and its effect on the earth.

Answer 7

Hinduism was formed when brahma the supreme lord gave birth to first thousand sons. To cherish the earth with life.

Answer 8

Hinduism has no founder, so it wasn't founded. It was developed from observations that people made to make sense of the world and the universe.

Answer 9

Hinduism is created as the first Religion of this world. To enlighten humans & show them path of life.