# data[].attributes.body
This is the late Vedic period- Brahmanical religion develops, emphasizing virtual and social obligation.

# data[].attributes.body
Genre of Puranas begins, the sacred genre of Puranas begins in India. They continue to be written many centuries into the common era. These texts are continually edited and updated even through the eighteenth century.

# data[].attributes.body
Hinduism evolves into sectarian groups. Vaishnavism and Shaivism come to be recognized as the first sects within Indian religions

# data[].attributes.body
The Vedas the oldest extant Hindu scriptures are thought to have been composed during this time. Scholars agree that the earliest Vedas are completed by this period.

# data[].attributes.body
The Swastika is the second most important Hindu symbol. Swastikas are considered to be sacred and represent luck and prosperity. A Swastika is drawn on Kalash at the time of Hindu rituals. It is also used in pendents and printed on walls of Hindu temples.

The Saffron colored flag is the official flag of Hinduism. It looks like two partial triangular waves connected to each other in the middle and connected to each other in the middle and flat at the other end. Saffron color represents sacrifices and renunciation.

# data[].attributes.body
The main texts of Hinduism are the Vedas the Upanishads, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana. These writings contain hymns, incantations, philosophies, rituals, poems, and stories from which Hindus base their beliefs. The Vedas describe the elaborate ritual sacrifices that Brahmin priests required. The Upanishads are mystical and highly philosophical works that sought to probe the inner meaning of the sacrifices in the Vedas. Lastly, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana dictate more clearly that action in the world and the detached performance of the caste duties might also provide a path to liberation.

Hinduism views mankind as divine. Because Brahma is everything, Hinduism asserts that everyone is divine. Atman, or self, is one with Brahman. All of reality outside of Brahman is considered mere illusion. The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with Brahma, therefore being able to cease to exist in its illusory form of “individual self.” This freedom is referred to as “moksha.” Until moksha is achieved, a Hindu believes that he/she will be repeatedly reincarnated in order that he/she may work towards self-realization of the truth (the truth being that only Brahman exists, nothing else).

Another religious path that became very popular was Bhakti this form of Hindu expressions sometimes pushed against the rigid caste and gender hierarchies of Indian society by inviting all to an adoration of the Divine (we will get more in depth with bhakti in the worship section).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Upanishads, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana

# data[].attributes.body
Hinduism is one of the oldest known organized religions—its sacred writings date as far back as 1400 to 1500 B.C. Hinduism has no historical founder, rather it grew up over many centuries along with Indian civilization. It is also one of the most diverse and complex, having millions of gods. The three most important ones are Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. These three together form the 'Trimurti'. Hindus have a wide variety of core beliefs and exist in many different sects. Although it is the third largest religion in the world, Hinduism exists primarily in India and Nepal.

# data[].attributes.body
Gupta Empire, also known as the Golden Age of Indian culture, is founded in this time frame

# data[].attributes.body
This is the beginning of the Vedanta system, which is a Brahmanical system where all the power resides in the priest

# data[].attributes.body
The religion of Hinduism spreads to Southeast Asia most likely because of war

and trade.

# data[].attributes.body
Ramayana is written, which is a very important book in the Hinduism religion. Gandhi referred to it as the greatest book in the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Upanishads are written and sutras emerge as complete scriptures. The Upanishads reflect the ideas of karma, as well as reincarnation and dharma.

# data[].attributes.body
The first form of the caste system is recognized, which consists of

Brahmins- which are religious leaders

Kshatriyas- which

are nobles and warriors

Vaisyas-which are artisans and formers

Shudras-also known as unskilled laborers

# data[].attributes.body
Om (or Aum, ॐ) is the sacred sound symbol that represents Universe; the ultimate reality (Brahman). It is prefixed and sometimes suffixed to all Vedic mantras and prayers. Aum is often said to represent God in the three aspects of Brahma (A), Vishnu (U) and Shiva (M).

# data[].attributes.body
For a majority, rituals and poojas form the main part of their worship. Such important rituals and traditions accompany every aspect of life, from birth to death and beyond. Poojas are performed in a sacred corner in a worship room of the home. The most exalted setting for performing puja is the temple. The temple is the house of god and a link between human existence and the divine. It is also the center of social, artistic, intellectual, and religious affairs. Most essentially, for a Hindu, the temple is a place of passage to the non-physical, beyond the process of repeated birth and death.

Havan is translated as "fire sacrifice" or "sacrificial fire." It is also called "homa" or "agnihotra." This procedure is undertaken particularly on festive occasions and for rituals such as initiation and marriage. Some Hindus practice it daily as part of their regular worship. Grains and ghee are offered to through the fire, and with the chanting of various mantras. Particularly notable is the ancient chant "svaha", recited as the grains are tossed into the flames. For some groups, such as the Arya-Samaj, this ancient practice, is central to their worship.

Japa refers to the quiet or silent recitation of a mantra. This is generally performed on amala, a string of 108 beads. The beads are usually made of Tulsi wood (for Vaishnavas) or Rudraksha beads (for Shaivites). Another popular form of meditation is the recitation of the Gayatri mantra, traditionally observed by brahmanas at dawn, noon, and dusk. Japa and other forms of meditation are considered to purify the heart of selfish desires and to invoke love of God.

Prayer is also an important part of worship, and Hindus may either recite standard prayers, or simply express their heartfelt devotions. It is customary to offer words of glorification before asking for some boon or blessing.

# data[].attributes.body
Natural boundaries

This was the normal day-to-day interactions that take place if two cultures are geographically adjacent. That is how the influence of Hindu (and, later, Buddhist) philosophy spread to regions like Tibet, Afghanistan, Myanmar, etc.

Trade Routes
Ancient trade was not the trade we know today. It took many months to finish a trade journey (e.g., from Kolkata or Chennai to Hoi An in Vietnam), and the socio-cultural interactions between the local community and the traders lasted much longer, often for years, before the trader returned home. The propagation of Hindu thought can, quite literally, be traced throughout South-East Asia if one follows the ancient trade routes.

Military expansion
Even though forced religious conversion did not happen, political expansion by Hindu rulers definitely did take place. Once these rulers established their foothold in distant lands, Hindu philosophy followed almost immediately.

# data[].attributes.body
After death, messengers of Yama called Yamadutas bring all beings to the court of Yama, where he weighs the virtues and the vices of the being and passes a judgement, sending the virtuous to Savarga (heaven) and the sinners to one of the hells. The stay in Svarga or Naraka is generally described as temporary. After the quantum of punishment is over, the souls are reborn as lower or higher beings as per their merits

Human souls migrate from body to body over many lifetimes, depending on one's actions. This was the law of karma. Pure actions, appropriate to one's station in life resulted in rebirth within a higher social position. Birth in a higher caste system was evidence of "good karma" offering a better chance to achieve moksha bringing the end to the painful cycle of rebirth.

The Laws of Manu, composed probably in the early C.E centuries, described a divinely ordained social order and articulated a gender system whose ideals endured for a millennium or more. It taught that all embryos were basically male and that only weak semen generated female babies.