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About Aupmanyav
Expertise
High ratings though I have joined the panel recently. My answers would be consistent with science and practicality. So, ask me questions about life. I like to discuss Vedas, Advaita, Upanishads, Geeta, Gods and Goddesses. I also like to discuss Religious History, Aryans, Dravidians, Aboriginals.
Experience
I am interested in this since my childhood when I used to discuss things with my grandfather who, as per my best knowledge, is the writer of the latest smriti in hinduism. Life has taught me many things.
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You are here: Experts > Cultures > Indian Culture > Hindus > Hindu
Expert: Aupmanyav
Date: 7/10/2008
Subject: Hindu
Question
I know vedas are the oldest text in the world but how old is hindu religion. When did people start praying gods (i.e. Vishnu, Brahma etc.). Vedas never talk about any god like Vishnu, Shiva, right?
Answer
Dear NS,
Hinduism is as old as humankind in India, approximately 70,000 years, since when they came out of Africa and populated India. Hinduism is sum of all aboriginal beliefs in India which survived and developed into a many splendored thing with a bewildering variety. Even the beliefs of Aryans who migrated from Central Asia were welcomed into the mix by giving respect to Sanskrit and the Vedas.
Vishnu was a minor God in Vedas and, Shiva was not known to Aryans. They had a storm God in Rudra (literally 'the howler', father to Maruts, the winds - indicating that the winds were strong in vast steppes of Central Asia from where they had come) and considered the Earth as mother (Dyava Prithvi). India had a plethora of Gods in Matsya, Kurma, Varah, Nrisimha, Vamana, Parashuram, Rama, and Krishna, each perhaps in different regions. They also had many village Gods and Mother Goddesses.
Hinduism is a story of assimilation. Everything was accommodated. What the Indian genius did, was to 1. Take up all village Gods of India (Bhairavas - ferocious Gods) and made them the 'ganas' (soldiers) of Shiva, 2. Merged the innumerable Mother Goddesses of India into one Durga, 3. Consolidate all Indian Gods in the person of Vishnu as his avataras, and 4. Merged Rudra into Shiva. Indra, the chief Aryan God, Agni, Surya, etc., however, faired badly in the new arrangement and were relegated to secondary positions.
Vedas, sure, are the oldest literary and religious texts in the world, but Ramayana and Mahabharata are also equally old. The stories were being recited in India from time immemorial in local languages, only that they were given their present shape in Sanskrit by Valmiki and Vedavyasa later. With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Aupmanyav
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