Origin & founders of hinduism
Hinduism is the major religion of India, and commonly thought to be the oldest religion in human civilization. There's no identifiable founder, no strong organizational structure, and no creed to define and stabilize its beliefs. It's said that the Hindu religion formed around 2000 B.C.E. and originated in India. The tradition is said to be timeless and always to have been existing. The exact beginning of the Hinduism religion is impossible to figure out because they've evolved as time and culture impacted the religious ideas of early India.
According to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years ago. The name, "Hindu," is derived from the Indus River, which flows through northern India. It's believed that the basic principles of Hinduism were brought to India by the Aryans who invaded the Indus River Valley around 2000 B.C.E. This theory has now been proven to be only a myth, however. Scholars believe that the Hinduism evolution is divided into three period: the ancient, the medieval, and the modern.
In Michael Molloy's fifth edition of Experiencing the World's Traditions, archeological workers uncovered ancient culture in the Indus River Valley. Workers discovered flourished old culture that flourished before 2000 B.C.E. and is named the Harappa culture, which is named after one of its ancient cities. The cities were said to have regular streets and solid brick houses. Pots, coins, evidence of running water used for toilets and baths were discovered on the location. Property owners marked their belongings with seals having images of animals (bulls, tigers, and rhinos) and men and women, which is still shown in contemporary Indian culture.
THE Vedic period
Scholars came up with the theory that Aryans moved to present-day southern Russia about 2000 B.C.E. into two directions (west towards Europe and east towards Iran and India). By entering these lands, people believe that they carried their own language and religion with them. At first, scholars theorized that the Aryans forced their society with violence in the older culture, which is known to be the "Aryan invasion theory." Another theory is said to be "newer" than the other. The theory, known as the "Aryan migration theory," says that there were repeated waves of migrations into Pakistan and northern India, and the contact between foreign and indigenous cultures is what started the Vedas. This theory is still commonly held, but any scholar assumes influence from outside India to be a continued relic of Western cultural imperialism.
"Theories About the Origin of Hinduism." about religion. Accessed Feb. 21, 2015.
http://hinduism.about.com/
"Hinduism." Patheos Library. Accessed Feb. 21, 2015
http://www.patheos.com/
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2010. Print.
http://hinduism.about.com/
"Hinduism." Patheos Library. Accessed Feb. 21, 2015
http://www.patheos.com/
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2010. Print.