Final answer:
The hearth of Hinduism is India, where it originated approximately 4,500 years ago in the Indus River Valley. It's the third-largest religion worldwide, deeply rooted in India with significant cultural influence in Southeast Asia as well.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hearth of Hinduism
The hearth of Hinduism is India. Hinduism is one of the world's oldest major religions and originates from the ancient Vedic civilization that developed in the Indus River Valley around 4,500 years ago, in what is modern-day northwest India and Pakistan. This predates the influences from major cultures such as ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. With nearly one billion followers, Hinduism's rich tapestry of narratives, rituals, and gods, especially Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, make it the third-largest religion globally.
Furthermore, Hinduism has significantly influenced other regions as well, notably Southeast Asia, through Indianization, where people in countries like Cambodia have embraced Hinduism, as exemplified by the iconic temple complex of Angkor Wat. While it is the primary religion in Nepal as well, the beliefs often blend with Buddhism, and prominent temples and deities are worshipped by adherents of both faiths in the region.
Despite its wide reach and the migration of its believers to other parts of South Asia, India remains the undisputed hearth and spiritual center of Hinduism.