The documented history of Indian religions begins with historical Vedic religion, the religious practices of the early Indo-Aryans, which were collected and later redacted into the Samhitas, four canonical collections of hymns or mantras composed in archaic Sanskrit. These texts are the central shruti (revealed) texts of Hinduism. These three ancient religions, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, are seen as the molders of the Indian philosophy.

In modern period, new religions were also established in India. One comparatively new religion in India is Sikhism and it was established in the 15th century and about 2% of Indians are Sikhs. There were other attempts to create new religions in India but they did not always succeed. The Indian religious and social life is driven by the caste system while the same has undergone substantial charges since Independence, especially in towns and cities, but most people in India are still clearly identified as a member of a particular caste group.

Content - Preface, 1. Religion: An Introduction, 2. Modern India: Religion, Law, and Judiciary, 3. The Brahmo Samaj for India's First Religious Reform, 4. Major Movements of Reform in Modern India, 5. Religious Change through the Ramakrishna Movement, 6. Basic Presuppositions of the Divine Life Society, 7. Islam in India, 8. Zoroastrian Religion in Modern India, 9. Singh Sabha Movement in Punjab, 10. Christianity in India, 11. Buddhism in Modern India, 12. Reform Movements in Jainism, 13. The Baha'i Faith in India, Bibliography,  Index