No, Hinduism is a religion that absorbs other cultures and religious and scientific developments. Whereas the basic principles of Hinduism have not changed, some of the social aspects have. For instance, the caste system, which was a part of Hinduism from its beginning, was abolished in India in 1949.
Yes, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism are several religions that began with Hinduprinciples. Other sects of Hinduism have developed in the United States such as the Vedanta Society and the Hare Krishnas.
Yes, the Hindu scriptures are written in the ancient language Sanskrit. Some scholars believe that English words such as mother and father came from the Sanskrit words mata and pitha. Sanskrit is also the source from which all sixteen Indian languages emerged.
No, Hinduism does not have a founder like Christianity and Islam. Hinduism evolved from a mixture of cultures in India, especially the Aryan and the Dravidian cultures. Hinduism as a religion was officially started with Rishis, “teachers of humankind” who heard the eternal truths and then telepathically taught their disciples.
Hinduism was originally called Sanathana Dharma, which means righteousness forever. The Persians, who invaded India in the sixth century BC, gave Hinduism its name from the root word Indus.
