Vedas are not the source of Hinduism

Weirdly, some think even after a lot many archaeological proofs Vedas are the source of Hinduism. The fact is that Vedic society had limited presence and that too in Kuru-Panchal and Magadha regions till the 6th century BC. Nowhere else, even in Maharashtra traces are found of the existence of Vedic people or their religion only after the first century BC and in the south, Sangam literature proves that before the third century AD Vedic religion was unknown to them. This only does mean that this religion gradually spread with conversions using missionary practices.

Also, it is a carefully crafted myth that Jainism and Buddhism arose to oppose Vedic ideology. The old Pali and Prakrit cannons of both religions do not support this claim. If you go through Tevijja Sutta, it will appear to you that Buddha has treated the Vedic religion as a distinct body as opposed to Hindus who had several philosophical streams. Idolatry, Devotion, Salvation, and Liberation were never part of Vedicism. The largest philosophical sect in Hinduism at that time was Sramana from which Ajeevkas, Buddism, Jainism, and many other sects sprang. Jina (Nigantha), Ajeevaka, and Vratya were the oldest pre-Vedic philosophical sects and were popular. This was the tradition of renunciation in Hinduism which Vedas oppose. Pancharatrins promoted devotion. Shiva-Shakti worship through Yoga and Tantric rituals were strictly prohibited in Vedic rituals calling them “Vedbahya”. There were numerous Tantric sects (the foundation of Hinduism) centered around the worship of Shiva-Shakti as their chief deity. Shiva is nowhere to be found in Vedas. Common people of those times followed simple idol worship adhering to some or other sectarian ritualistic practice.

Vedics entered India sometime in 1200 BC and by the sixth century, BC did find some space in a few states of northern India. Buddha challenges all the sects and their doctrines including Vedic as well. His mention and opposition to Vedas are as same as his opposition to Ajeevaka and Sankhya Doctrine. Indeed all philosophical sects of Hinduism kept on debating over the soul, salvation, and basic principles of life. Jainism, Ajeevaka, and Buddhism took philosophically independent paths, whereas most of the populace followed their idol worship for its simplicity.

So this does not prove at all that the Vedas are the source of Hinduism. This has been distinct religion and though in a later course, Vedics of the Smarta sect accepted idolatry to some extent during the Gupta era, they tried to Vedicise them by creating easily detectable fabricated myths around Hindu deities. Even so, still, Shiva and Shakti remain non-Vedic and scholars including Dr. RN Dandekar acknowledge this fact. There is no relation between Hindu and Vedic religions. Both have independent sources and different social orders.

Vedic ritualistic practices also are too distinct the way their Gods are. Puja was never part of Vedicism. Had Vedas been source of the Hinduism, Vedas and Vedic gods would have remained dominant even today for the entire Hindu society. But except for Vedics , none follows Vedic ritualistic practices and their Gods. It is ridiculous to consider both religions the same and that Vedas are the source of Hinduism. The socio-cultural history does not support this claim!