The History of Hinduism:

3250 and 2750 BC:

The earliest evidence of elements of Hinduism date back 3000 BC.

1500 BC:

The Vedic civilization was one of the earliest High Civilizations of the world, with
large urban centers, advanced technical skills and extensive trade connections
with the rest of the ancient world.

These Vedic Aryans worshipped as well nature. Hence many of their deities and
their favorites being Indra (rain), Agni (fire) and Surya (Sun) etc.

500 BC:

The Puranic period saw the emergence of domestic rituals in worship and of
personal devotion to the deities. During this period the movements of Jainism
(There are 2 million Jains in India today. In Jainism salvation is seen in terms of
acquiring god – like “knowing”.) and Buddhism.

323 BC:

For most of its known history India has been divided into a large number of
Kingdoms which feuded with each other. The Mauryas established an Empire in
the Center and North – West of India and supported Buddhism. The Kusanas
who invaded in the first century AD, continued this tradition.

320 – 540 AD:

It was not until the Imperial Guptas that Hinduism experienced resurgence
between 320 and 540 AD. During this period many temples were built and growth
of the Puranas and the cultivation of Sanskrit literature. This period is usually
named the Golden Age of Hindu Culture.

8th – 18th century AD:

A Muslim Empire grew from around the start of the 8th century in India which
lasted until the British abolished it in 1808. During Muslim rule the Vijayanagara
Empire was also established from 1336 its rulers were strong supporters of
Hindu religion and culture. Hinduism suffered from 1565 under the Mogul
Empire.

18th century AD:

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Hinduism with the declared British policy of non- – interference with indigenous
religion started to slowly recover. Western culture and the fundamental beliefs of
Christian missionaries started to have an impact upon Hinduism. Significant
Hindu figures like Rammohan Roy (1772 – 1833) attempted to reform Hinduism,
whilst reaffirming Hindu values. He claimed that all the Christian ethics were
already present in his own Hindu heritage. He organised in 1828 the Brahmo
Samja a society for worshippers of God and classical Hindu scriptures.

Sri Ramakrishna (1836 – 1886) sought in his mystical trances for communion
with the ‘Divine Mother’ and held that there was a universal truth present in all
religions and saw the oneness of God present in many manifestations, as the
Divine Mother, as Sita, as Rama, as Krishna, as Muhammad and as Jesus
Christ.

After his death the Ramakrishna Mission was set up to carry on his missionary,
social and educational work. Vivekananda (Narendra Nath Dutt 1863 - 1902) a
disciple of Ramakrishna founded the mission and impressed the West at the
World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 which resulted in many
Europeans and Americans becoming interested in Hinduism

Indian Independence movement:

Hindu religious ideals provided much of the inspiration for the independence
movement. Mahatma Gandhi one of its leaders, who had been influenced by
Vivekananda, stated, “ My life is my message, for him truth was God, and non –
violence was the way to achieve the realization of God”. Gandhi rejected the
caste system and was particularly concerned about the plight of the
untouchables.

Republic of India:

In 1947 India and Pakistan were partitioned and under India’s first Prime
Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Hinduism saw a major renaissance. However
after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 many Hindus started to
become disillusioned with the Congress Party and Hindu nationalists became
prominent.

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