Religion and spirituality have existed in some form since the dawn of time. There has long been a need to believe in the existence of something bigger than ourselves and a desire to make sense of the world around us. The result has often been the birth of a religion. Hinduism, though named by a western society that may have oversimplified things, is the product of enlightenment throughout much of India, and other parts of the world. Hinduism is fairly unique in the sense that it is not founded on one unifying principle or doctrine. Rather, it has grown and changed with time; allowing itself to become an almost living breathing entity that evolves with its followers. The religion is comprised of teachings from several sources. The Vedas is one of the oldest collections of scripture attributed to Hinduism. Centuries later the Upanishads were introduced to reinforce the more inward teachings of the Vedas, such as yoga and reincarnation. Unlike most popular religions that are exclusively monotheistic, Hinduism allows for multiple paths to the divine. This gives its followers a lot of flexibility in finding the path that fits their life. A follower may opt to choose a path of the Shaktas, Shaivites, Vaishnavites, or to recognize a genderless deity. Each group typically worships a specific deity, but will also recognize and honor others. Many of the teachings surrounding Hinduism focus on inner peace, reflection, and respect for nature. The Shaktas in particular have a deep connection to feminine deities. These deities are much more accessible than those of many other religions. The local goddesses are believed to have personal knowledge of the local area. The desire to ascend to something greater than an earthly existence is a common thread found in almost every religion; Christians aspire to gain entrance into heaven, the Vikings sought to earn their place in