The genesis of the word `Hindu'.+

The people on the Indian side of the Sindhu valley were called Hindu by the Persians and the later Western invaders. That is the genesis of the word `Hindu'.

When we think of the Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to define the Hindu religion or even adequately describe it.

Unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship anyone God; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow anyone set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more.

Hinduism seems to be a name without any content. Is it a museum of beliefs, a medley or rites, or a mere map, or a geographical expression?

The Vedas as a body of scripture contain many contradictions, and they are fragmentary in nature. For most Hindus of today, scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas are more attractive and appealing than the Vedas.

The Gods and Goddesses they worship differ considerably from the Vedic ones. The collection of hymns called Vedas that are written in praise of certain deities by poets over several centuries does not seem to have much significance for the Hindus of today.

Hinduism is ‘Puranic based on mythology. Hinduism is based on myth because it believes in mythological Gods. Vedic Gods like Indra, Varuna, Agni, Soma, and the like, whom the Vedic people worshiped, hardly have any significance in present-day Hinduism.

Rig Veda 1/164/46: ~ “They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, or the heavenly sunbird Garutmat. The seers call in many ways that which is One; they speak of Agni, Yama, and Matarishvan.

Rig Veda 8/58/2:~ Only One is the Fire, enkindled in numerous ways; only One is the Sun, pervading this whole universe; only One is the Dawn, illuminating all things. In very truth, the One has become the whole world.

The Gods and Goddesses important to the Hindus of today are Ram, Krishna, Kali, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the respective consorts of the last three, namely, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Shakti. None of these deities figured prominently in the Vedic pantheon, and some of them are clearly non-Vedic. The major Gods of Hinduism like Vishnu and Shiva are non-Aryan in origin. Though they may have belonged to the Vedic tradition, they played no major role in the Vedas.

Thus, it is important to bifurcate Hinduism from the Ancient Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma the importance of ‘going back to the Vedas to realize the Vedic religion has nothing to do with Hinduism, which is based on the diverse beliefs in non-~Vedic Gods, dogmas, ritual, and worship of human being, which is barred by Vedas.

Indian people are sentimentally attached to religion because they have inherited an adulterated version of Vedism, and they call it Hinduism. Hinduism was founded by different founders of sects and castes from time to time.

Thus, understanding Hinduism is very much necessary to realize the ancient Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma, which existed prior to Buddhism, and Jainism had nothing to do with the present Hinduism. Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma was caste-free, temple-free, priest-free, and free of dogmas.:~Santthosh Kumaar