Hindu Origins: The Indus Valley and the Vedic Age

Hinduism has no single founder or founding date; it grew over thousands of years from many sources in South Asia. Some scholars see possible early links in the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE), whose cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro left seals showing animals and figures, though its script remains undeciphered and any religious meaning is debated. Clearer evidence comes from the Vedic period (c.

1500–500 BCE), when Sanskrit-speaking communities in northern India composed hymns to deities such as Agni (fire) and Indra, and priests performed elaborate fire sacrifices. Most historians link the Vedic culture to the arrival of Indo-Aryan speakers, while some Indian scholars argue for a more local origin, and this remains an active debate. Over time Vedic ritual blended with local practices and new philosophical ideas. Many Hindus call their tradition Sanatana Dharma, the 'eternal order', emphasizing timeless truth rather than a historical beginning.