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 was born. Hinduism is often divided into three different groups that express Brahman in different forms. Hindus recognize a God known to them as Brahman. Brahman is the creator of everything and is present in everything. Brahman represents many different gods. There are three gods who have a great influence on religion, they are Vishnu, who is the preserver together 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 listed above, but over time they lost influence on the religion and left only these three as the major religious influences in the Hindu religion. The fact that Sanatana Dharma has different sets of beliefs distinguishes it from other religious groups and makes it a non-unifying religion. Sanatana Dharma does not impose a set of beliefs on any person, but allows the freedom of 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 rather than a communal act like most other religions. Sanatana Dharma has almost as much influence on the culture and society of India today as it has 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 were born 100 years ago... .middle of paper.. ....the wheel of karma. They call it 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 eventual moksha; with the deciding factor being a person's karma. In Sanatana Dharma the main goal is to live life according to the laws and beliefs of the religion. Always try your best to perform good deeds and never cause bad karma so that one day they will be free from the miseries inflicted on them by 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 2 September 2007, Mary Pat Fisher (2005), Living Religions- Hinduism (6th ed.), Pearson Education, Inc Retrieved September 2, 2007,