Hinduism was the first major religion to develop in South Asia. Along with it, came a rigid caste system and a clear social hierarchy. Hinduism emphasized the importance of karma and people purifying their lives through many reincarnations to achieve holy perfection. Subsequently, Buddhism developed in India and incorporated many of the same cultural and religious practices. A key change was the relaxation of religion regarding social status, as it did not see a person's place in the caste system as a factor in reaching the afterlife. In response to the decline of Hinduism, especially among the poorer classes, Hinduism became more open to accepting these classes and also developed alternative paths of devotion. In summary, South Asian religion has taken on the trend of