Hinduism is a very ancient, diverse religious and philosophical tradition that began in the Indian subcontinent and today is followed by over a billion people worldwide. It is often called Sanatana Dharma, meaning “eternal way” or “eternal law.”

Quick definition

  • Hinduism is not a single, uniform creed but an umbrella term for many Indian spiritual traditions, rituals, philosophies, and ways of life that share core ideas like dharma (righteous order), karma (moral causality), and moksha (liberation).
  • It has no single founder, no single central authority, and no universally binding creed, which makes it unusually pluralistic among major religions.

Core ideas in simple terms

  • Dharma : the moral and cosmic order, and each person’s duty or right way of living in harmony with that order.
  • Karma : the principle that actions (and intentions) have consequences that shape one’s future experiences, including future lives.
  • Reincarnation (samsara) : the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that souls undergo until they attain spiritual realization.
  • Moksha : spiritual liberation from this cycle, experienced as unity with the ultimate reality.
  • Brahman and Atman : Brahman is the ultimate, all-pervading reality; Atman is the inner self, often understood as not different from Brahman at the highest realization.

A helpful picture: many Hindus see life as a long spiritual journey across many lifetimes, where you gradually refine your character and understanding, living ethically (dharma), receiving the results of your choices (karma), until you awaken to your deepest self and are free (moksha).