HinduismHinduism, known today as Sanatana Dharma, originated primarily in India and is the oldest religion in history. Unlike Christianity, Hinduism cannot be dated, so it is not known exactly when this religion originated. Hinduism is often divided into three different groups which express Brahman in different forms. Hindus recognize a single God under the name Brahman. Brahman is the creator of everything and is present in everything. Brahman represents many different gods. There are three gods who have a major influence on religion, they are Vishnu, who is the preserver with his three incarnations Rama, Krishna and Narasimha; Shiva, the destroyer; and Sakti, the Mother of Goddesses, also known as Parvati, Mahalakshmi, Durga or Kali. In the past, there were more than these three elements listed above, but over time they lost their influence on the religion and remained only these three elements as the main religious influences of the Hindu religion. As Sanatana Dharma has different sets of beliefs, it distinguishes it from other religious groups and makes it a non-unifying religion. Sanatana Dharma does not impose a set of beliefs on anyone, but it allows the heart to worship, reflect, question and investigate. It is known as the religion of freedom. The Hindu religion is more of an individual act of worship than a communal act like most other religions. Sanatana Dharma has a major influence on Indian culture and society almost as much today as in the past. Due to modern changes in world culture and the evolution of people in general, some Indian families may have children who are not as influenced by the Hindu religion as they might have been if they had been born 100 years ago..... .middle of paper ......the wheel of karma. They call this attaining moksha; the spiritual escape that frees us all from the cycle of life and death; liberation from our existence on earth. With each rebirth, we move closer or further away from possible moksha; the deciding factor being a person's karma. In Sanatana Dharma, the main goal is to live according to the laws and beliefs of one's religion. Always do their best to perform good deeds and never cause bad karma so that one day they will be freed from the miseries imposed on them while living an earthly existence. Referencesbbc.co.uk, (2007), Religion and Ethics- Hinduism, http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/history/history_1.shtml, retrieved September 2, 2007Mary Pat Fisher (2005) , Living Religions- Hinduism (6th ed.), Pearson Education, Inc Retrieved September 2, 2007,