A Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a major world religion originating on the Indian subcontinent. Here are some key points about Hinduism:
- Origins: Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near the River Indus in modern-day Pakistan.
- Sacred Texts: Hinduism has a rich collection of sacred texts in Sanskrit and vernacular languages. These texts served as a vehicle for spreading the religion to other parts of the world.
- Global Presence: From about the 4th century CE, Hinduism had a dominant presence in Southeast Asia, lasting for more than 1,000 years.
- Adherents: In the early 21st century, Hinduism had nearly one billion adherents worldwide and was the religion of about 80 percent of India’s population.
- Distinctive Regional Manifestations: Despite its global presence, Hinduism is best understood through its many distinctive regional manifestations.