Originating in India’s Vedic civilization (second and first millennium B.C.), Hinduism is an extremely diverse set of beliefs and practices with no single founder or religious authority. Hinduism has many scriptures; the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita are among the most important. Hindus may worship one or many deities, usually with prayer rituals within their own home. The most common devotion figures are the gods Vishnu, Shiva, and a mother goddess, Devi.
Most Hindus believe the soul, or atman, is eternal and goes through a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) determined by one’s positive or negative karma or the consequences of one’s actions. Religious life aims to learn to finally achieve liberation (moksha) of one’s soul, escaping the rebirth cycle.