Hinduism is a religion that represents about 14% of the world's population. Hinduism is also known as Sanatana Dharma (The Eternal Law). It is the oldest currently practiced religion. It is estimated to be over 7,000 years old. The exact century of origin is difficult to identify since Hinduism is older than recorded history itself.
Hinduism incorporates a large variety of belief systems and interpretations, including: atheistic, monotheistic, pantheistic, and panetheistic believers.
While there are a variety of gods in Hinduism, perhaps the most popular are the Trimurti (Trinity): Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer or Transformer).
The main Hindu holy book is the Vedas, revealed to the sages perhaps 5000 years ago (different historians will give different dates). It was initially an oral tradition before it was written down. Other important texts include the Upanishads, Tantras, Agama, the Puranas, the Ramayana, and The Bhagavad Gita.