Hinduism is known as the oldest religion in the world. According to ISKCON Educational Services (2004), it is difficult to construct a timeline because Hinduism has no identifiable human founder or specific origin in history. It is so old that its past dates back to prehistoric times. It is extremely diverse, with Hindu people more interested in the meaning of events than in providing first-hand records. Nor is there a clear division between history and myth. Hindu traditions are believed to have originated around 1500 BCE and can be traced to the ancient Aryans during their migration to Southeast Asia. It was at this time that the Vedic hymns were composed. These hymns, called Vedas, were composed by different Brahmin priests and passed down orally between generations. They contained knowledge considered useful at the time and were not based on any one person's religious belief. The Vedas recounted the spiritual thoughts of the Aryas who lived in India (Craig, A., Graham, W., Kagan, D., Ozmet, S., Turner, F., 2011). The Vedas have been classified into four main groups. . The Rig Veda contained hymns or mantras to God recited by the head priest; The Sama Veda contained hymns sung or recited by assisting priests; Yajur Veda contained the proper ways of performing rituals; Atharva Veda contained magical incantations and charms. In addition to their spiritual value, they also gave a good insight into daily life in India four thousand years ago (Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, nd). Researchers have determined that the oldest of the four, Rig Veda, was written in Sanskrit some time later. 300 BCE The Vedas are the oldest and most complete texts in an Indo-European language (Internet Sacred Text Archive, 2010)....... middle of paper ...... no reason to leave on pilgrimage. Some of these include remembering special people (saints); fix the mind on God; for spiritual development; for the purification and atonement of sins; to meet holy people for advice; perform religious rites; and for introspection. Not all holy places are found in India. As Hindus migrated, they established their own sacred places wherever they lived (ISKCON Educational Services, 2004). Hinduism is a mystical religion that allows its followers to seek their own path to enlightenment in order to become one with God. It is extremely rich in tradition and has been called a “way of life”. Today, Hinduism has become the third largest religion in the world, after Christianity and Islam. It has approximately 950 million followers, or approximately 14% of the world's population (Religious Tolerance, 2011).