The varieties of Hinduism perhaps began over four thousand years ago in an ancient, sophisticated civilization. Whether influenced by later invasions or migrations of aggressive Aryan tribes is a point of controversy. The Vedic religion that emerged honored many gods and centered on priests performing sacrifices using fire and sacred chants. During the Axis Age, serious questioning, philosophic inquiry, and religious experimentation produced the Upanishads. These works record insights into external and internal spiritual reality (Brahman and Atman) that can be directly experienced through certain practices. Brahman stands for a monistic outlook that sees one invisible and subtle essence or source of all reality—human, divine, and cosmic. All is ultimately one. Behind, within, and beyond all multiplicity is Brahman. Atman is the innermost spirit within all human beings, which ultimately is identical with Brahman. Maya reflects a sense of magic and mystery and accounts for the perception of different forms or multiplicity in the world. Maya hides or veils the underlying unity of all things.

Karma and rebirth are important aspects of the Hindu worldview. Justice is built into the very fabric of reality. The moral consequences of one's actions will be experienced in this life or the next. Moksha represents the idea of final liberation or freedom from all limitations, especially the round of death and rebirth. Moksha entails going beyond egoism and identifying with the unity and sacredness that everything shares. The mysticism and abstractness of the Upanishads is balanced with practical religious elements that form the everyday spirituality of most Hindus. This synthesis is exhibited in the Bhagavad Gita. One should first strive to meet one's social obligations. Then the Gita recommends four paths, or yogas, that take into account one's caste and personality type. The paths of knowledge, action, devotion, or meditation may be practiced either individually or in combination.

The predominantly rural population of India follows a path of devotion that is centered on temples, home altars, pilgrimages, festivals, prayer, offerings, and hymn singing. A multiplicity of deities is available. But most people focus devotion on one particular god, whether male, female, or with features of androgyny. Hindu tolerance is based on the idea that all gods are really expressions of a single divine reality.

Other characteristics of Hinduism include the importance of the guru, a saint-like spiritual teacher and counselor who discloses his or her divine nature more fully than ordinary people. Animals also have a different status than in the West. They emerge from the same divine source as humans and may become human in future lives. Several gods have animal features or close animal companions.

Abstract religious themes such as multiplicity and unity are expressed in art through such media as stone and metal sculpture and instrumental music. Extensive symbolism is used both in painting and in sculpture. Dance and devotional music evoke religious emotions and more spiritual states of consciousness. The rich culture and religion of India is responding to challenges of the modern world and its conflict with Islam in many ways. Also, through its philosophies and such practices as yoga and meditation, and by producing such influential people as Gandhi, Hinduism is exerting an influence on the world far beyond mother India.