Hinduism is a diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to the Indian subcontinent. Unlike most world religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. It is often described as a family of traditions rather than a single religion.
Hindu traditions share certain core concepts: dharma (ethical duty), karma (the moral law of cause and effect), samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth), and moksha (liberation from this cycle). Major devotional paths include Vaishnavism (devotion to Vishnu), Shaivism (devotion to Shiva), and Shaktism (devotion to the Divine Mother). Philosophical schools range from strict monism (Advaita Vedanta) to dualism (Dvaita) to devotional theism (Bhakti).
Sacred texts include the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and the great epics (Mahabharata and Ramayana). Hindu practice encompasses temple worship (puja), yoga, meditation, pilgrimage, festivals, and elaborate ritual traditions. Some Hindu-derived movements, particularly those that have attracted Western followers, have faced scrutiny regarding guru dynamics and organizational control.