History timeline

Hinduism

22 periods and events, 1501 BCE – 1992.

Periods and events

When	Period or event	Kind	Source
1501–1201 BCE	Rigveda composed《梨俱吠陀》编成 Oldest Vedic Sanskrit hymns, composed orally in the northwest of the subcontinent; earliest layer of Hindu scripture.	Religion	Source
1201–801 BCE	Later Vedas and Brahmanas后期吠陀与梵书 Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda and the Brahmana ritual commentaries; Vedic sacrifice and the priestly order mature.	Religion	Source
801–501 BCE	Early Upanishads早期奥义书 Philosophical texts on Brahman, Atman, karma and rebirth; foundation of Vedanta.	Religion	Source
601–401 BCE	Shramana movements challenge Vedic ritualism沙门思潮挑战吠陀祭祀主义 Ascetic traditions including Buddhism and Jainism arise; Brahmanical religion responds and absorbs ideas such as ahimsa.	Movement	Source
401 BCE – 400	Mahabharata and Ramayana composed《摩诃婆罗多》与《罗摩衍那》编成 The two Sanskrit epics take shape over centuries; central to Hindu narrative, ethics and devotion to Krishna and Rama.	Literature	Source
201 BCE – 200	Bhagavad Gita《薄伽梵歌》 Dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna within the Mahabharata; synthesizes paths of action, knowledge and devotion.	Religion	Source
201 BCE – 200	Manusmriti (Laws of Manu)《摩奴法典》 Influential Dharmashastra codifying duties by caste and life stage.	Literature	Source
320 – 550	Classical (Puranic) Hinduism under the Gupta Empire笈多王朝时期的古典（往世书）印度教 Puranas compiled, Vishnu and Shiva worship consolidated, first stone temples; often called Hinduism's golden age.	Religion	Source
500 – 900	Tantric traditions emerge密教传统兴起 Shaiva and Shakta tantras develop esoteric ritual, mantra and goddess worship; later influence Buddhism and Jainism.	Religion	Source
600 – 900	Bhakti movement begins in South India (Alvars and Nayanars)虔信运动在南印度兴起（阿尔瓦尔与纳衍纳尔） Tamil poet-saints devoted to Vishnu and Shiva make personal devotion, in vernacular song, the heart of Hindu practice.	Movement	Source
788 – 820	Adi Shankara and Advaita Vedanta商羯罗与不二论吠檀多 Philosopher who systematized non-dualist Vedanta and founded monastic centers across India; dates traditional.	Religion	Source
1017 – 1137	Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita罗摩奴阇与制限不二论 Vaishnava theologian who gave bhakti a philosophical basis in qualified non-dualism.	Religion	Source
1113 – 1150	Angkor Wat built (Hinduism in Southeast Asia)吴哥窟建成（印度教在东南亚） Khmer temple dedicated to Vishnu, the largest religious monument in the world; later converted to Buddhist use.	Religion	Source
1336 – 1646	Vijayanagara Empire毗奢耶那伽罗王朝 Last great Hindu empire of South India; patron of temple architecture and Sanskrit and Telugu literature.	Dynasty or era	Source
1440 – 1623	Bhakti spreads to North India (Kabir, Chaitanya, Tulsidas)虔信运动传播至北印度（迦比尔、柴坦尼亚、杜勒西达斯） Vernacular saint-poets spread devotion to Rama and Krishna; Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas becomes the Hindi Ramayana.	Movement	Source
1828	Brahmo Samaj founded (Ram Mohan Roy)梵社成立（罗姆·摩罕·罗易） First modern Hindu reform movement: monotheism, opposition to sati and idol worship.	Movement	Source
1875	Arya Samaj founded (Dayananda Saraswati)雅利安社成立（达耶难陀） Reform movement calling for a return to the Vedas; rejects caste by birth and image worship.	Movement	Source
1893	Vivekananda at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago辨喜在芝加哥世界宗教大会演讲 Disciple of Ramakrishna introduces Vedanta and yoga to the West; founds the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.	Religion	Source
1925	RSS founded (Hindu nationalism)国民志愿服务团成立（印度教民族主义） Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organizes Hindutva ideology; parent of today's BJP.	Politics	Source
1955 – 1956	Hindu Code Bills印度教法典法案 Independent India codifies Hindu marriage, succession and adoption law, overriding traditional Dharmashastra.	Politics	Source
1966	ISKCON founded in New York国际奎师那知觉协会在纽约成立 Prabhupada's Hare Krishna movement carries Gaudiya Vaishnavism to the West.	Religion	Source
1992	Babri Masjid demolished at Ayodhya阿约提亚巴布里清真寺被拆毁 Hindu nationalist mobilization over Rama's claimed birthplace; sparks nationwide riots.	Politics	Source

Side by side

World Religions Timeline1800 BCE – 1992

Also in World

Judaism1800 BCE – 1948
Christianity4 BCE – 1965
Islam570 – 1924
Buddhism563 BCE – 1959