Hindu is a Vedic Term After All

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hinducivilization, "S. Kalyanaraman"

<kalyan97 wrote:

 

The word Sindhu in Rigveda has the meaning 'natural ocean frontier'.

The cognate term, 'hindu' is thus, a geographical connotation for a

rashtra. This makes the term, in spoken Saurashtri as: 'hindu' as old

as the vedic times. See Vaagaambhrinee sukta by Rishikaa

vaagaambhrinee in Rigveda: aham rashtree sangamanee (I am rashtra...)

The article by MH Pahoja is lucid, precise and well-referenced.

kalyan

Antiquity and origin of the term 'Hindu' by Dr. Murlidhar H. Pahoja

(2007) http://sarasvati95.googlepages.com/antiquityhindu.pdf

Excerpts:

The anti-Hindu historians like Romila Thapar 1 and D.N. Jha 2 have

opined that the word 'Hindu' was given currency by the Arabs in the

8th century. They however, do not explain the basis of their

conclusion nor do they cite any evidence in support of their claim.

Even Arab Muslim writers do not make such an extravagant claim 3.

Another theory propounded by European writers is that the

word 'Hindu' is a Persian corruption of 'Sindhu' resulting from the

Persian practice of replacing 'S' with 'H'. Even here, no evidence is

cited. In fact the word Persia itself contains 'S' which should have

become 'Perhia' if this theory was correct. The present paper

examines the above two theories in the light of epigraphic and

literary evidence available from Persian, Indian, Greek, Chinese and

Arabic sources. The evidence appears to support the conclusion

that 'Hindu' like 'Sindhu', has been in use since the Vedic age and

that although 'Hindu' is a modified form of 'Sindhu', its origin

lies in the Saurashtran practice of pronouncing 'H' in place of 'S'.

1. Epigraphic Evidence :

The Hamadan, Persepolis and Naqsh-I-Rustam Inscriptions4 of Persian

monarch Darius mention a people 'Hidu' as included in his empire.

These inscriptions are dated between 520-485 B.C.4 ..Xerexes,

successor of Darius, in his inscriptios4 at Persepolis, gives names

of countries under his rule. The list includes 'Hidu'. Xerexes was

ruling between 485-465 B.C.4 On a tomb in Persepolis, another

inscription assigned to Artaxerexes (404-395 B.C.)4, there are three

figures above which are inscribed 'iyam Qataguviya' (this is

Satygidian), 'iyam Ga(n)dariya' (this is Gandhara) and 'iyam Hi(n)

duviya' (this is Hi(n)du)...

The Asokan inscriptions (3rd century B.C.)5, repeatedly use

expressions like 'Hida' (fgn) for 'India' and 'Hida loka' (fgn yksd)

for 'Indian nation'. 'Hida' and its derivative forms are used more

than 70 times in the Ashokan inscriptions. For instance in the

Jaugadha, separate rock edict II, the lines 3 &4, read,

sava munisaa me pajaa. atha pajaaye ichaami kinti me saven.aa

hitasukhena yujeyu

atha pajaaye ichami kinti me savena hitasukhena yujeyu hidalogika

paalalokiken.a hevameva me icha savamunisesu

(All men are my people. I desire for my people that they may be

provided with all welfare and happiness. I desire for my people,

including the people of Hind and beyond and I desire for all men.)

The Edict further, says in lines 7 & 8,

mama nimitam ca dhammam cale yoo ti hidalogam ca paalalogam ca

aaladhaye yoo

(Dhamma may be followed and and the people of Hind and beyond may

be served.)..

2. Evidence from Pahlvi Avesta :

In the Avesta, Hapta-Hindu is used for Sanskrit Sapta-Sindhu7, the

Avesta being dated variously between 5000-1000 B.C. This indicates

that the term 'Hindu' is as old as the word 'Sindhu'. Sindhu is a

Vedik term used in the Rigveda. And therefore, 'Hindu' is as ancient

as the Rigveda.

3. Greek Usage

The Greek term 'Indoi' is a softened form of 'Hindu' where the

initial 'H' was dropped as the Greek alphabet has no aspirate9. This

term 'Indoi' was used in Greek literature by Hekataeus (late 6th

century B.C.) and Herodotus (early 5th century B.C.) 9, thus

establishing that the Greeks were using this derivative of 'Hindu' as

early as 6th century B.C.

4. The Hebrew Bible :

The Hebrew bible uses 'Hodu' 10 for India, which is a Judaic form

of 'Hindu'. The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is considered earlier

than 300 B.C.10 Today's Hebrew spoken in Israel also uses Hodu for

India.

5. The Chinese Testimony :

The Chinese used the term 'Hien-tu' for 'Hindu' about 100 B.C.11

While describing movements of the Sai-Wang (100 B.C.), the Chinese

annals state that the Sai-Wang went towards the South and passing

Hien-tu reached Ki-Pin11. Later Chinese travellers Fa-Hien (5th

century A.D.) and Huen-Tsang (7th century A.D.) use a slightly

modified term 'Yintu' 12 but the affinity to 'Hindu' is still

retained. This term 'Yintu' continues to be used till today 13.

6. Pre-Islamic Arabic Literature :

Sair-ul-Okul14 is an anthology of ancient Arabic poetry available

in the Turkish library Makhtab-e-Sultania in Istambul. In this

anthology is included a poem by Prophet Mohammed's uncle Omar-bin-e-

Hassham. The poem is in praise of Mahadev (Shiva), and uses 'Hind'

for India and 'Hindu' for Indians. Some verses are quoted below:

Wa Abaloha ajabu armeeman Mahadevo

Manojail ilamuddin minhum wa sayattaru

(If but once one worships Mahadev with devotion,

One will attain the ultimate salvation.)

Wa sahabi Kay yam feema Kamil Hinda e Yauman,

Wa Yakulam na latabahan foeennak Tawajjaru.

( Oh Lord grant me but one day's sojourn in Hind,

Where one can attain spiritual bliss.)

Massayare akhalakan hasanan Kullahum,

Najumam aja at Summa gabul Hindu.

( But one pilgrimage there gets one all merit,

And the company of great Hindu saints.)

The same anthology has another poem by Labi-bin-e Akhtab bin-e

Turfa who is dated 2300 before Mohammed i.e. 1700 B.C. This poem also

uses 'Hind' for India and 'Hindu' for Indian. The poem also mentions

the four Vedas Sama, Yajur, Rig and Athar...

But it cannot be denied that Hindu is a form of Sindhu. It needs to

be realised that this change from S to H is common in Saurashtra

where Sorath becomes Horath, Somnath becomes Homnath and so on. The

form Hindu is therefore, likely to have come from Saurashtra.

It should also be noted that as per Nirukta rules of grammar, in

the Vedik language, replacement of S with H is permitted 17.

 

 

 

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[Mantrabliss]

My spiritual master Srila Prabhupada has many times talked about this misunderstanding. I will paste some talks regarding this topic. Hari Bol.

Just like from Sindhu, they have called, they have designated the inhabitants of Sindhu-desa as "Hindu." The Muhammadans, they pronounce s as h. So from "Sindhu," it has come to "Hindu." Otherwise, this "Hindu" name is not mentioned in any Vedic literature. It is given by the... This name is given by the other foreigners. Especially the Arabian countries, they used to call this nation, Bharata-varsa...

Actually, Hindu is not a religion. Hindu is a name given by the foreigners. The religion is, of India, varnasrama-dharma, following the institution of four varnas and four asramas. That is varn... Or sanatana-dharma. Sanatana-dharma means eternal, eternal religion.

The Muhammadans from the other side of river Sindhu, they have called us Hindu. Actually, this word "Hindu" you'll not find any Vedic scripture.

Hare Krishna:pray:

<kalyan97 </kalyan97