There is a lot of misinformation about Hinduism because people in India believe Hinduism is a continuation of Sanatana Dharma because of a lack of knowledge and information.
People are not aware of the fundamentals about Vedas, and Upanishads with a deeper understanding.
So, people are always deprived of immense knowledge of ancient Santana Dharma and ancient Vedas.
The word Hindu was used initially to describe the people of India; it was never used to describe religion. Thus, Hinduism is not a religion it is the way of life of Indian people with different castes, creeds, cultures, traditions, and ideologies of different parts of India under a single roof.
Hinduism is not a Vedic religion or Sanatana Dharma.
Dharma is a very complex word. The concept of dharma is verily the core of our religion. In fact, the right name for our religion is 'Santana Dharma' which means 'Eternal Dharma'.
In Tattireya Upanishad:~ "satyaM vada. dharmaM cara ." Speak the truth, and practice dharma. Now if you want to practice dharma, you should first know what it means. (1.11.1)
The word, “dharma “is found in the karikas, which means Atma in Advaita Vedanta. Spiritually the word dharma is used for Soul, the 'Self', not for religion.
The word 'Hinduism' has become a common word in the modern world. The real fact is that words like Hinduism, Hindu, etc. never appear in any of the ancient scriptures! So to know our religion, the first step is to know what dharma means.
To be considered an orthodox Hindu one need only accept the authority of Shruti, however, there is no universal agreement among Hindus on what constitutes Shruti. Vedantins consider the Vedanta, i.e., the Upanishads as Shruti but also include the Bhagavad Gita and Brahma Sutras as authoritative. For some Vaishnavas, the Bhagavata Purana is to be considered Veda. Some consider the Tantras to be Veda. Thus we find that there is ample scope for different philosophies and practices under the very broad umbrella of Hinduism. Hindus indulge non-Vedic beliefs such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priestcraft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability, and child marriages.
All these lack Vedic sanctions, therefore, Hinduism is not the Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma. All Hindus indulge in non-Vedic practices barred by the Vedas introduced by the different founders of the different sects of Hinduism at different times, whereas the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma is ancient and has no founder.
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Thus to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the seeker has to realize his inherited religion is adulterated in the past and it becomes a great obstacle in realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman.
People of India have to be liberated from the stranglehold of casteism to realize their original religion is not Hinduism which is full of different castes and creeds but Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.
The people should be educated about the historical truth of the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma in order the caste system was created by the British rulers to divide and rule for their own convenience
The caste system which is so integral to Hinduism was also not practiced in the Vedic era. There is hardly any evidence of a rigid caste system in the Vedas. The Vedas, however, speak of various classes of people, which appear to have been names of professions, and they were not hereditary.
It is argued that the purushasukta hymn of the Rig Veda (X.90) which is often referred to to give a religious sanction to the caste system was a later interpolation.
Rigveda prohibits the very concept of castes by birth, upper/lower castes, superior/inferior castes, outcastes, untouchables, and Dalits.
Bhagavata clearly says in 7.11.35 that: ~ “Just because one is born to a Brahmin doesn’t automatically make him a Brahmin. But he has more chances of becoming a Brahmin by acquiring Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the only qualification of Brahmin to become a Brahmin. If a person born to a non-Brahmin who acquires Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana possesses he/she should be immediately accepted as a Brahmin.”
In the Vedic era, a Brahmin was a person who had acquired Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana Atma Gnana. This was an extremely difficult path of the discipline of body, mind, and intellect, and people irrespective of their birth or class, who were dedicated to such an austere life, were recognized as Brahmins.
A great example of this tradition (that a person becomes a Brahmin, rather than born as one) in the case of Vishwamitra, a warrior (Kshatriya), who became a Brahmin after attaining Atma Gnana or Self-Knowledge.
A Smritis or code of conduct composed by sage Atri defines Brahminhood very clearly.
By birth, every man is a Shudra (an ignorant person). Through various types of disciplines (samskaras), he becomes a dwija (twice-born). Through the studies of scriptures, he becomes a vipra (or a scholar). Through the realization of supreme spirit (Brahmajnana), he becomes a Brahmin.”
The belief that people born in Brahmin caste, automatically become Brahmins, is a much later concept in very ancient India. Thus, Brahmin means not a caste but one who has attained Atma Gnana or Brahma Gnana.
By birth, everyone is Shudra only with Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Brahma Gnana it is possible for every Shudra to become a Brahmin. Those who identify themselves as Brahmins caste without Brahmajnana are not Brahmins.
Religion caste and creed are nothing to do with God. Humanity itSelf is a religion. Love and peace and equanimity are much necessary to discard the religion and sect which breeds hatred, violence in the name of God and religion.
Santana Dharma deserves to be treated on its own as a distinct religion with its own sacred texts and practices without interlinking it with Hinduism.:~Santthosh Kumaar
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