When did Hinduism originate? This question has puzzled scholars for centuries, and there is no one clear answer. Hinduism, which is the largest religion in the world, is composed of many different religious traditions and beliefs. So where did it all start?
Some historians argue that Hinduism originated in the region now known as the Indus Valley Civilization. This area, which is located in present-day Pakistan, was home to a highly advanced culture that was likely originated around the fourth millennium BC. The people of this civilization worshiped a number of gods and goddesses, and they constructed some of the earliest known temples.
Other historians believe that Hinduism was actually created by a group of prophets who lived in the region of present-day Afghanistan around 1500 BC. This group of prophets is commonly referred to as the Vedic poets. The Vedic poets are believed to have composed the first set of religious texts known as the Vedas. These texts are still used today by Hindus as religious scripture.
It is likely that Hinduism began to take on its present form around 500 BC. This is when the first Hindu temple was built in present-day India. At this time, Hinduism was a religion that was focused on the worship of a single god. Hinduism began to spread to other parts of the world over the next few centuries, and by the beginning of the Common Era (CE), it had become the largest religion in the world.