Humanity was first recorded practicing a religion in Egypt around 4000 BCE. Hinduism is said to be older than the beginning of written history. Most people agree that Hinduism originated in northern India. (Lynne Gibson) Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, but it is much more than that. Hinduism is described more as a way of life than a religion. This makes Hinduism very complex. Hinduism itself is divided into four main faiths, each with different beliefs. Many aspects of other religions come from Hinduism. Nirvana in Buddhism comes from Enlightenment in Hinduism. To begin to understand Hinduism, we must examine its core beliefs, Brahman, the Vedas, karma, reincarnation, one's purpose in this life, and Enlightenment. There are nine fundamental beliefs of the Hindu faith. The first belief is that there is an omnipresent Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and unmanifest Reality. Then we have the divinity of the four Vedas followed by the belief in reincarnation. Hindus also believe that t...