Who is a Hindu ?

[Guest guest]

Hinduism (or Sanatan Dharma)is the oldest

religion on earth. All present religions have nothing new

which can not find its roots in Hinduism.<br><br> Often

Hinduism is criticised for certain things like Casteism,

idol worshipping, or treatment towards women...but

most of these things make a part of social evils

prevailing in every society, rather than having religious

basis. For example white people enslaved Africans and

maltreated them, but we can not blame Chrisitanity for this

tyranny! <br><br> Other religions have some fixed dogmas

and doctrines and any one who has to follow that

religion or cult, has to change himself to fit into that

doctrine. But Hinduism has such a vast understanding of

human psyche that it offered spiritual food for any

person at any stage of evolution.<br><br> Hinduism knew

well that a farmer is nore in need of Rain than

Advaita Vedanta, hence a rain god (Indra) was given to

him to worship.<br><br> A simple man with no inner

vision has to start his concentration and he needs an

external symbol. A simple man can not be explained certain

mysteries of manifestations of God, hence he was asked to

worship a special idol, which depicted the qualities of

that manifestation. Our sages knew that concentration

has to be started from external objects and taken

inside.<br><br> some religions may boast that they believe in one

god whereas Hindus worship millions of gods....they

are confused. It was thousands of years ago, that

Hinduism gave the idea of ONE God in Sankhya

Philosophy.<br><br> some religions say they believe in Bhakti and

universal love, but Who but Krishna showed us the path of

universal love !<br><br> In a nutshell, Hinduism has a vast

perspective and Bhakti, Japa, Gyana, Love, Tantra, Pagan,

wiccan, and everything anywhere has its roots in

Hinduism.<br><br> Then what is so special about Hinduism? Hinduism

gives full liberty to a person to enquire and find his

own truth ! Perhaps it is the only religion which

goes a step further and says "You are God

yourself....wake up and find the Truth yourself" !!<br><br> And

once Gandhiji was asked why he liked Hinduism more he

replied," I like Hinduism because it teaches me to

understand and love other religions"<br><br>Hari

Aum<br><br>PS: Please note that the we have respect for each and

every religion on earth and the above note is not to

downgrade any religion but to show the vast perspective of

Hinduism

[Guest guest]

Dear silentsoul,<br><br>Thank you for sharing the

knowledge about Hindu Religion in detail. Feel like sharing

few more concepts about Sanatan Dharma and

Hindu.<br><br>Sanatan: Means that which remains ever new despite being

permanent, eternal and timeless is Sanatan. Only that which

always manifests in a new form will last, e.g. one

should expect a tree to die when no new shoots spring

from it. <br><br>Dharma (Righteousness): Which means

to bear, to support. The word dharma has been

derived from the root ‘dhru’ means Righteousness (dharma)

is that which sustains the people or that which is

adopted by meritorious souls.<br><br>The aim of

establishing a code of Righteousness is to facilitate social

transactions. Righteousness is concerned with the entire

society and by observing it society becomes

righteous.<br><br>Hindu: The holy text the Merutantra defines the word

Hindu means, which destroys the base of inferior raja,

tama components. Thus Hinduism is an attitude. It

means a seeker. If one is a seeker enriched with the

sattva component, which destroys the raja and tama

components, then one is certainly a Hindu. Hence the Hindu

religion in the real sense views all religions with

equality. <br><br>With love<br><br>Sanatan gs.