Buddhism and Hinduism compared
Buddhism and Hinduism side by side: where each began, what they teach, their scriptures, holy days and symbols, and the beliefs and practices they share.
Buddhism took shape in the Ganges plain, northern India (5th century BCE); Hinduism in the Indian subcontinent (from about 1500 BCE). Of the 24 broad features compared here, they share 8: rebirth, karma, a written scripture, monks and nuns, pilgrimage, fasting, images in worship and non-violence to all life. Only Buddhism: no creator god and a founder or prophet. Only Hinduism: many gods or spirits, priests, rules about food, sacred fire and sacred nature.
Buddhism only
- No creator god
- A founder or prophet
Both
- Rebirth
- Karma
- A written scripture
- Monks and nuns
- Pilgrimage
- Fasting
- Images in worship
- Non-violence to all life
Hinduism only
- Many gods or spirits
- Priests
- Rules about food
- Sacred fire
- Sacred nature
Side by side
| Question | Buddhism | Hinduism |
|---|---|---|
| Where it began | The Ganges plain, northern India | The Indian subcontinent |
| When | 5th century BCE | From about 1500 BCE |
| Founders and key figures | Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha (“the awakened one”) | — |
| Followers today | 324 million (about 4% of the world, 2020) | 1.2 billion (about 15% of the world, 2020) |
| At the heart of it | The Four Noble Truths: There is suffering, It arises from craving, It can cease, A path leads there | The four goals of life: Dharma, right living, Artha, prosperity, Kama, love and pleasure, Moksha, liberation |
| Scriptures | Pali Canon (Tipitaka); Mahayana sutras; Chinese canon; Tibetan canon | The Vedas; The Upanishads; Mahabharata and Ramayana; The Puranas |
| Main branches | Theravada, Mahayana | Classical Hinduism |
| Holy days | Vesak, Asalha Puja, Obon, Kathina, Bodhi Day, Losar | Makar Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Janmashtami, Navaratri, Diwali |
| Symbols | Dharma wheel, Lotus, Bodhi leaf, Stupa | Om, Lotus, Trishula, Diya |