RISE OF HINDUISM.

Hinduism is considered one of the oldest religions in the

world. Western scholars regard Hinduism as a synthesis, or
fusion, of various Indian cultures and traditions, with diverse
roots and no stated founder. This synthesis is believed to
have developed after Vedic times, between 500 BCE and
300 CE. However, Vedic ritualism, a composite of
Indo-Aryan and Harappan culture, contributed to the deities
and traditions of Hinduism. The Indo-Aryan Vedas remain
the oldest scriptures of the Hindu religion, which has grown
culturally and geographically through modern times to
become one of the world’s four major religions.During the
reign of the Gupta Empire (between 320-550 CE), which
included the period known as the Golden Age of India, the
first known stone and cave temples dedicated to Hindu
deities were built. After the Gupta period, central power
disintegrated and religion became regionalized to an extent,
with variants arising within Hinduism and competing with
each other, as well as sects of Buddhism and Jainism. Over
time, Buddhism declined but some of its practices were
integrated into Hinduism, with large Hindu temples being
built in South and Southeast Asia.

RISE OF SHAIVITE.
Shiva is the most ancient and original God of Hinduism. He
was worshipped in several prehistoric cultures under
different names.By time the Vedic culture gained
prominence in the kingdoms of the Northwest and the
remnants of the collapsed Indus Valley civilization, Shiva
was already a popular god of many native people and
ascetic traditions of India. With its emphasis upon liberation,
renunciation, and extreme austerities, and inclusiveness
towards all sections of society, Shaivism and its sectarian
movements stood in sharp contrast to the caste and color
obsessed Vedic culture and its ritual traditions.Compared to
Shaivism and other native renunciant traditions, such as
that of the Bhagavathas, Bhaktaas, Ajivakas, and
Samkhyas, which prevailed in India since the earliest times,
and which were predominantly spiritual, Vedism or
Brahmanism was an inferior tradition with its excessive
focus upon elaborate rituals and sacrifices rather than
liberation and self-purification. Many concepts of today such
as karma, liberation, yoga, self-realization, Samsara, modes
(gunas) and realities (tattvas) of Nature, detachment and
dispassion entered the Vedic religion through native
renunciant traditions as part of an internal churning and
found their way into the Vedas and Vedic lore.Prominent
among them was Shaivism, with its broader appeal, a long
history, complex philosophical and spiritual philosophy,
monotheistic and polytheistic features, asceticism, rich
literature and the broader appeal of Shiva both as a
personal God of the microcosm and the Universal God of
macrocosm. The descriptions of Shiva fitted perfectly in the
Vedic conception of Purusha as the Cosmic Being. While in
the initial stages Vedic people showed a clear lack of
knowledge about him, other than finding in him aspects of
the fierce form of Rudra and Kala, for the worshippers of
Shiva he was the lord of the universe, with both pleasant
and unpleasant aspects as the creator, preserver and
destroyer of the worlds.

RISE OF
Vaishnavism 
Vaishnavism​ is the ​worship​ and acceptance of ​Vishnu​.
During a long and complex development, many Vaishnava
groups emerged with differing beliefs and aims. Some of
the major Vaishnava groups include
the​Shrivaishnavas​ (also known as V​ ishishtadvaitins​) and
Madhvas (also known as ​Dvaitins​) of South India; the
followers of the teachings of​Vallabha​ in western India; and
several Vaishnava groups in Bengal in eastern ​India​, who
follow teachings derived from those of the ​saint​Chaitanya​.
Most Vaishnava believers, however, draw from various
traditions and blend worship of Vishnu with local practices.

RISE OF VAISHNAVITE.
Vaishnavism is the branch of Hinduism in which Vishnu or
one of his incarnations (usually Krishna or Rama) is
worshipped as the supreme God. Members of Vaishnavism
are called Vaishnavites or Vaishnavas. Vaishnavism is the
largest Hindu denomination and it has numerous
subdivisions. In addition to the Vedas, Vaishnavites
especially revere the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata
Purana, the Vishnu Samhita and the Gita Govinda, among
others. These texts focus especially on Vishnu or his
incarnations Krishna and Rama.Vaishnavites, like Saivites,
believe that there is only one Supreme God, who
simultaneously permeates all creation and exists beyond it,
being both immanent and transcendent. Like other Hindu
denominations, Vaishnavism acknowledges the existence
of many lower Gods under the Supreme One.