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Hinduism has been called the "oldest religion" in the world, [a] but scholars regard Hinduism as a relatively recent synthesis [2] [3] [4] of various Indian cultures and traditions, [2] [3] [5] with diverse roots [6] and no single founder, [7] [b] which emerged around the beginning of the Common Era. [8] [c]
[c] The word Hindu is an exonym, [note 2] and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, [note 3] it has also been described by the modern term Sanātana Dharma (lit. ' eternal dharma ') emphasizing its eternal nature. [note 4] Another endonym for Hinduism is Vaidika Dharma (lit. ' Vedic dharma '). [web 1]
The historical Vedic religion, also called Vedicism or Vedism, and sometimes ancient Hinduism or Vedic Hinduism, [a] constituted the religious ideas and practices prevalent amongst some of the Indo-Aryan peoples of the northwest Indian subcontinent (Punjab and the western Ganges plain) during the Vedic period (c. 1500–500 BCE).
Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India and, as such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion" [8] or the "oldest living major religion" in the world. [9] [10] [11] [12]
Its recitation continues to be a part of Hindu wedding rituals. [134] [135] The Rigveda, in contemporary Hinduism, has been a reminder of the ancient cultural heritage and point of pride for Hindus, with some hymns still in use in major rites of passage ceremonies, but the literal acceptance of most of the textual essence is long gone.
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, it has also been described by the modern term Sanātana Dharma (lit. ' eternal dharma ') emphasizing its eternal nature. Another endonym for Hinduism is Vaidika Dharma (lit. ' Vedic dharma ').
Though many religious Hindus implicitly acknowledge the authority of the Vedas, this acknowledgment is often "no more than a declaration that someone considers himself [or herself] a Hindu", [238] [note 24] and "most Indians today pay lip service to the Veda and have no regard for the contents of the text."
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, it has also been described by the modern term Sanātana Dharma (lit. ' eternal dharma ') emphasizing its eternal nature. Another endonym for Hinduism is Vaidika Dharma (lit. ' Vedic dharma ').