Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest religions, dates back more than 4,000 years. It is the faith of the majority of the people of India and also has adherents in other Asian countries, such as Nepal and Indonesia. From a relatively austere (though polytheistic) faith, as set out in the original texts of the four Vedas (approximately 1500 b.c.e.), Hinduism has evolved into a rich amalgamation of many local and regional beliefs and cultural practices. In folk idiom, the Hindu pantheon is often referred to as consisting of 33 million gods.
