Hinduism: A religion of India that emphasizes freedom from the material world through purification of desires and elimination of personal identity.
30% of me expected this answer, 65% expected an answer about Cow worship, caste and Krishna... But no.
Hinduism is a tradition more accurately called the Sanatana Dharma which has no specific roots or time.
Hinduism from the 14th century under the influence of Adi shankaracharya developed into as what it seems today with 4 theistic religions, namely Vaishnavism, Shivaism, Shaktism and Smrita religion.
However the term HINDU comes from the Aryan people living along the Indus-Saraswati river basin.
SINDU was named by the Persians who did trade with them but They pronounced it INDU
Hindu is therefore the Ayrans of the Indus valley... Later termed into Hinduism as in the collective faiths of the people of the Indus valley.
Each with very different beliefs and Gods.
In addition, Hinduism included what they called Rational schools that are atheistic and believe only empirical evidence... They only practiced Yoga and enhanced Ayurvedic medicine.
In addition there is the ancient Vedic faith that worshipped the Rig Vedic deities... And performed Yagnas by Brahmins.
There are Pantheistic and agnosticreligions or schools too.
So for the 100th time, it's a collection of religion or more likely a way of life.
It is a COLLECTION OF RELIGIONS... Remember.. COLLECTION.
as in a number of religions grouped into one.
And one of the 4 goals of Hindu life is Kama, along with Dharma, Artha and Moksha, which is fulfilling desire... So, it's not about elimination of desire.
Kshatriya and Brahmin caste had to stick with personal identities as it was crucial for their Dharma.
How is it then removing personal identities?