Religion in the Indian Subcontinent

Hinduism evolved as a synthesis of cultures and traditions, including the Indo-Aryan Vedic religion.

Sramana broke with Vedic Hinduism over the authority of the Brahmins and the need to follow ascetic lives.

After attaining Enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama became known as the Buddha, and taught a Middle Way that became a major world religion, known as Buddhism.

Jainism is a pre-Buddhist religion with roots in the Sramana tradition. It focuses on karma.