A Hindu ( pronunciation (help·info), Devanagari: हिन्दू) is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti ("remembered"), lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs, which primarily include dharma, karma, ahimsa and reincarnation.
Hinduism is regarded as one of the world's oldest religions[1] and Hindu mythology and philosophy has had a profound impact in many parts of the world, especially southern Asia. With more than a billion adherents, Hinduism is the world's third largest religion. Vast majority of Hindus, approximately 940 million, live in India.[2] Other countries with large Hindu populations can be found in various parts of the world.
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