Indus Valley Civilization
Proto-Hindu practices emerge in cities like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Ritual baths and fire altars suggest early religious activity.
Vedic Period Begins
Indo-Aryan peoples bring the Vedic religion to the subcontinent. The Rigveda — the world's oldest religious text still in use — is composed.
Upanishads Written
Philosophical texts that explore the nature of Brahman (universal soul) and Atman (individual soul), forming the basis of Hindu philosophy.
Bhagavad Gita Composed
Part of the Mahabharata epic, the Gita records Krishna's teachings to Arjuna about duty, devotion, and liberation. Becomes the most read Hindu text.
Mahabharata & Ramayana
The two great Hindu epics are written and compiled, embedding dharma, karma, and devotion into popular culture across South Asia.
Puranas Composed
A vast body of texts detailing creation myths, genealogies, and devotional stories of Vishnu, Shiva, and other deities.
Adi Shankaracharya Born
Philosopher and theologian who consolidated the Advaita Vedanta school, teaching that Brahman alone is real and the world is maya (illusion).
Bhakti Movement Rises
A devotional movement that swept India, emphasizing personal love of God over ritual and caste. Poets like Mirabai and Kabir lead this wave.
Swami Vivekananda Born
Reformer who brought Hindu philosophy to the West, famously representing Hinduism at the 1893 Parliament of World's Religions in Chicago.
Indian Independence
India gains independence. Hinduism becomes a major force in shaping the new nation's identity, politics, and constitution.