The Hinduism of today is a vast and diverse religion, but its roots can be traced back thousands of years to the Vedas. The Rig Veda is an ancient text that outlines the beliefs of early Hindus, including their pantheon of deities. There are many different types of gods in the Hindu tradition (more than 330 million). Still, some hold special significance in the ancient texts: Rudra, Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva are just some examples.
The word "Hinduism" is derived from Sindhu, which means river. The Indus River flows through Pakistan and the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. The religion is also called Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law) or Bhagavata Dharma (Divine Faith).
Hinduism is the world's oldest living major religion. Ancient India's first civilization developed around 2200 B.C., with its roots in Vedic civilization dating back to 1500 B.C. It has no founder, but various sages have written many religious texts over some time, including Vedas (the hymns), Upanishads (philosophical treatises), Puranas(mythology), Ramayana, and Mahabharata epics, as well as treatises on ethics like Manusmriti.
The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas and one of India's most important ancient texts. It is a collection of over 10,000 Sanskrit hymns that many different poets wrote. The hymns are dedicated to the gods and goddesses of ancient India, including Indra, Agni (the God of fire), Ushas (Dawn), Sarasvati (Goddess of wisdom), Soma (Moon), and Varuna (God).
There are many deities in Hinduism, but they can be broadly categorized into two main groups: Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons). The Devas represent the forces of good, while the Asuras represent the forces of evil; however, there is often an overlap between these two categories. Some well-known Devas include Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), Shiva/Rudra/Pashupati (the Destroyer), Indra/Agni (king of gods who controls rain and thunderstorms), etc. Some well-known Asuras include Vritra ("dragon"), Hiranyaksha ("golden arm"), and Hiranyakashipu ("lord with golden arms"). The names of these deities may vary from region to region depending on which text you reference; for example, Vishnu may also be known as Narayana or Hari among some communities within South India.
