Historical Vedic religion from c. 500 BCE, declined in India over the 5th to 12th centuries in favor of Puranic Hinduism and Islam. Historical Vedic religion The historical Vedic religion (also known as Vedism, Brahmanism, Vedic Brahmanism, and ancient Hinduism) refers to the religious ideas and practices among Indo-Aryan-speaking peoples of ancient India after about 1500 BCE. These ideas and practices are found in the Vedic texts, and they were one of the major influences that shaped contemporary Hinduism. According to the "Encyclopædia Britannica", in the Hindu tradition and particularly in India, the Vedic religion is considered to be a part of Hinduism.
Is Theosophy a Religion? hence it can give rise to confusion. Nevertheless, from her point of view, Theosophy is presented not as a religion, but as religion itself. This strong assertion assumes that Theosophy is the expression of more sincere religious feeling and more authoritative knowledge and experience than those provided in existing popular forms of religion. Blavatsky feels that Theosophy is able to eliminate the uncomfortable and "distracting social functions of religion," which she considers an "exoteric," and to create an "elite esoteric ideational source," available for qualified, properly trained persons. Thesis author had asked, "What is the theosophical interpretation of 'Religion itself'?"