Hinduism

Distribution of Hinduism by country

Hinduism, which originated in India, is the third largest religion on Earth after Christianity and Islam, with around one billion followers (2010). However, it is not a uniform system, but stems from different traditions in which, however, the belief or knowledge of reincarnation and karma is firmly anchored. The caste system still plays a major role today. The followers of Hinduism are called Hindus; this comes from the Persian and refers in the singular to the river Indus (which in turn is called Sindhu in Sanskrit). The main branches of Hinduism are Vishnuism, Shivaism and Shaktism.