In the more popular form of Hinduism that is practiced today, the concept and meaning of salvation of the Hindu soul is found in the wisdom and teachings of Hindu sacred literature such as the Purans or the two great stories of Ramayana and Mahabarata, as well as the sacred epics. Hindu philosophical schools are largely based on these sacred texts which stress the relevance of knowledge. Salvation of the Hindu soul always pertains to devotion to God, human representations of God such as the Brahmin, animal representations of the Divine, and the recognition of the sacredness of nature such as mountains and holy bodies of water.

The sacred Vedic texts and other Hindu religious epics are the foundation of the Hindu religion. Moreover, worship to the holy embodiments of God is the way to achieve salvation. Worship comes in the observance of numerous rituals, prayers, and sacred ceremonies. These ceremonies are the cornerstone of the religious and spiritual obligations of Hindu followers. Also, these ceremonies are based on sacred scriptures that shape the earthly lives and the afterlife destiny of Hindu devotees.

Family and ancestors are also very important in the Hindu religion. Homage to them shows love and respect. Reverential worship to them helps in the salvation of the Hindu soul, both the living and the departed. When Hindus revere their departed loved ones and forefathers, they please their souls and alleviate the sufferings of the souls in the afterlife. In turn, when the souls are pleased and happy, they bless the living and surviving families with happiness and abundance.

Modern day Hinduism equates permanent salvation of the soul with the liberation from its cycle of reincarnation or the series of life, birth, and rebirth. The ways of escaping the cycle of endless rebirths are found in Vedic rituals and the path of knowledge stated in the Upanishads. These rituals are grounded on Vedic tradition, requiring the passing down of the knowledge through the teachings of Vedic priests or Brahmin pandits. Since this was largely centered on the elite social classes, a new school of religious thought emerged to include the lower castes in the pursuit of salvation

This new path to salvation which includes all of Hindu devotees is expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, a non-Vedic text. In both schools of religious thought, devotion to God is the overarching means to achieve permanent salvation or escaping the cycle of reincarnation. If one practices the words of God and lives a life reflective of his words, his soul is saved because he would be avoiding, shortening, or hastening the painful journey of the soul in the afterlife (cycle of birth and rebirth) on its way to being with God.

Most importantly, a Hindu devotee unites with God by preserving himself as a devotee. This he should do by sharing or sacrificing the fruits of his material abundance with God. If he chooses to be selfish of the resources that he acquires in his material life, the cycle of births and rebirths or what is known as reincarnation will continue. Hence, the tradition of Hindu afterlife rests on the thought that reincarnation is the result of selfish action. So, to be unselfish is to escape reincarnation.