What is Hinduism? Hinduism started out very dependent upon the Brahmin caste.The effect of this Brahmins began to act as the intermediary between gods and the people, conducting Yajnas (rituals involving fire offerings) like the one shown below. This was not a favorable arrangement for the lower castes, and as resentment towards Brahmins grew, Hinduism lost popularity.
Changes: -Hinduism became more devotion-oriented,rather than ritual based - This reworked form of Hinduism told the people that they should be thoroughly devoted to the gods, exciting people with fantastic stories about the gods' heroics. - Brahmins added the promise of salvation for those who followed Hinduism; those who followed their dharma faithfully would find themselves reincarnated into a higher caste.This appeled to those within a lower caste,and eventually Hinduism pushes out Buddhism. -Began to be supported by the Gupta empire,which helped Hinduisms to spread thru all of India