Hinduism in the United States

Hinduism in the United States is a religious denomination comprising around 1% of the population, nearly the same as Buddhism and Islam. Hindu Americans in the United States largely include first and second generation immigrants from India and other South Asian countries, while there are also local converts and followers. Several aspects related to Hinduism, such as yoga, karma, and meditation have been adopted into mainstream American beliefs and lifestyles.

Hinduism is one of the Dharmic religions that adheres to the concept of dharma, a cosmic order, and includes the principle of reincarnation. According to the Pew survey of 2018, around 33% of Americans believe in reincarnation, an important concept in Hinduism and Buddhism. Om is a widely chanted mantra, particularly among millennials and those who practice yoga and subscribe to the New Age philosophy.

Historically, American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson studied the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita around 1857 and published a related poem, "Brahma". In 1893, Swami Vivekananda's address to the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago was one of the first major discussions of Hinduism in the United States. In 1925, Paramahansa Yogananda became the first Kriya Yoga teacher to settle in America. In the 1960s, Beatles member George Harrison played songs that included Hindu mantra Hare Krishna, and helped popularize Hinduism in America.

After the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the Hindu community in the US began to grow with immigrants from South Asia. As a result of US immigration policies that favored educated and skilled migrants from India, Hindu Americans are the more likely to hold college degrees and earn higher incomes than other denominations. Recently, Hindu Americans have also become active in state and national politics, including notable personalities such as Tulsi Gabbard and Vivek Ramaswamy, among others.