Vedic Religion and Hinduism - The Differences
Vedic Religion and Hinduism - The Differences by mār Enlil Vedicism is very different from Hinduism. Many people believe that Vedicism is “just Hinduism.” In fact, Vedicism is even referred to as “ancient Hinduism.” This is completely false! Vedic religion is Indo-European in origin, stemming from the peoples of the Sintashta (2200–1750 BCE) and Andronovo (2000–1150 BCE) cultures in Central Asia, who conquered India; whereas Hinduism is primarily a local Indian religion, influenced by Vedic religion, yet distinct from it. Vedic religion is based on the Vedas, written in Sanskrit—the oldest written Indo-European language—around 1500 BCE, and consisting of four texts: the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda. Hinduism emerged with the Upanishads and then evolved through yoga, bhakti, and the Puranas beginning around 500 BCE. Vedic religion is a ritual-based faith centered on animal sacrifice, in which the gods are primari...