Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and third-largest religions, with about 1.20 billion followers globally. It is a broad and diverse religious tradition originating in the Indian subcontinent over 4,000 years ago near the Indus River. It is often called Sanātana Dharma, meaning "eternal dharma," reflecting its nature as a timeless way of life and set of spiritual principles. Key aspects of Hinduism include:

• It is not a single unified religion with one founder or one scripture but an umbrella term covering a wide range of Indian religious and spiritual traditions.
• Central to Hindu belief is the concept of Brahman, the supreme, all-pervading divine reality. Brahman can take many forms, most notably the Trimurti: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).
• The soul or true Self in every being is called ātman, which is eternal and considered a reflection or manifestation of Brahman.
• Core beliefs involve concepts such as karma (actions and their consequences), samsara (cycle of birth, death, and rebirth), and moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth).
• The four aims of human life are dharma (righteousness, duties), artha (prosperity), kama (desires), and moksha (spiritual liberation).
• Hinduism embraces a variety of practices, including devotion (bhakti), worship (puja), sacrifice (yajna), meditation (dhyana), and yoga.
• It accepts a polytheistic framework but with an underlying monistic or pantheistic understanding that all forms of divinity are interconnected.
• Sacred texts include the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad Gita), and Ramayana.
• The religion is pluralistic, allowing for different philosophies and beliefs ranging from monotheism to atheism.
• Hinduism is also described as a way of life or dharma, encompassing ethical living, spirituality, and community traditions.

There are several major denominations within Hinduism, such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Smartism, each worshiping different aspects of divinity but sharing the same foundational principles. In essence, Hinduism is a complex, pluralistic, and ancient tradition offering a rich spiritual and cultural heritage emphasizing the realization of the self and its unity with the divine, ethical living, and devotion.