WHO IS A HINDU
In a meeting of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Lokamanya Tilak said: “A Hindu is he who
believes that the Vedas contain self-evident and axiomatic truths.”
The Hindu Maha Sabha has given another definition: “A Hindu is one who believes in a
religion which has originated in India.”
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HINDU RELIGION
“Those who burn the dead are Hindus.” This is another definition given by some.
“He who protects the cows and the Brahmins is a Hindu.” This is another definition given by
some.
Some define: “A Hindu is one who regards India as his motherland and the most sacred spot
on earth.”
Some others define: “He who calls and considers himself a Hindu is a Hindu.”
Some define: “He who accepts the Vedas, the Smritis, the Puranas and the Tantras as the
basis of religion and of the rule of conduct, and believes in one Supreme God (Brahman), in the Law
of Karma or retributive justice, and in reincarnation (Punarjanma), is a Hindu.”
“He who follows the Vedic or Sanatana-Dharma is a Hindu.” This is the definition by some.
“He who is a follower of the Vedanta is a Hindu.” This is another definition given by some
others.
“He who has perfect faith in the Law of Karma, the law of reincarnation Avatara, ancestor
worship, Varnashrama Dharma, Vedas and existence of God, he who practises the instructions
given in the Vedas with faith and earnestness, he who does Sandhya, Sraaddha, Pitri-Tarpana and
the Pancha-Maha-Yajnas, he who follows the Varnashrama Dharmas, he who worships the
Avataras and studies the Vedas, is a Hindu.” This is the definition given by some highly cultured
men. This is the only correct and complete definition.
ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TERM
That part of the great Aryan race which migrated from Central Asia, through the mountain
passes into India, settled first in the districts near the river Sindhu, now called the Indus, on the other
side of the river. The Persians pronounced the word Sindhu as Hindu, and named their Aryan
brethren Hindus. Hindu is only a corrupt form of Sindhu.
The Hindu Aryans spread themselves over the plains of the Ganga. Then the Persians gave
the name Hindusthan, or abode of the Hindus, to the whole of those districts between Punjab and
Benaras.*
The classical name for India which is used in Sanskrit literature is Bharata-Varsha or
Bharata-Khanda, after the name of Bharata who ruled over a large extent of territory in days of
yore. Manu’s name for the whole central region between the Himalayas and the Vindhya mountains
is Aryavarta, Abode of the Aryans. Another name for the whole of India is Jambu-Dvipa. The
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ALL ABOUT HINDUISM
* Latest historical researches have now proved that the Aryans did not come from outside India, but were the
original inhabitants of India.
Greeks gave the name Indu to the whole of this country. It was on account of this India became
popular as the name of this country throughout Europe.
Hindu is not a mere name. This name Hindu is not only of geographical, but also of national
and racial importance. The whole history of our nation from the very beginning is bound up with it.
All our ideas and ideals are so intimately connected with it that it is difficult to give a simple
definition of it. Poets, prophets and Avataras came to sing the praises and glory of this name. Rishis,
sages and saints took their birth to compile the Sastras and Darsanas for this nation. Heroes and
warriors have fought for its honour and laid down their very lives for it. Piety, nobility, generosity,
philosophy, religious bent of mind, Yoga, religious tolerance, wisdom, devotion, renunciation,
Self-realisation. Ahimsa, Satya and purity are associated with the name ‘Hindu’.
THE SPIRITUAL SOIL OF INDIA
India is the sacred land which has given birth to countless sages, Rishis, Yogins, saints and
prophets. India is the land that has produced many Acharyas or spiritual preceptors like Sri Sankara
and Sri Ramanuja; many saints like Kabir, Ramdas, Tukaram and Gauranga Mahaprabhu; many
Yogins like Jnana Dev, Dattatreya and Sadasiva Brahman; and many prophets like Buddha and
Nanak. Buddha is our flesh and blood.
India is proud of Guru Govind Singh and Sivaji. India is proud of king Bhoja and
Vikramaditya. India is proud of Sankara and Kabir. India is proud of Valmiki and Kalidasa.
Krishna, Rama and all Avataras were born in India. How sacred is India! How sublime is India! The
dust of Brindavan and Ayodhya, the land trodden by the sacred feet of Krishna and Rama, still
purifies the heart of countless people. Even Jesus, during the missing period of His life, lived in
Kashmir and learnt Yoga from the Indian Yogins. Glory to Mother India!
India is a spiritual country. India never conquered territories or annexed dominions.
Military conquest is not her ambition. She wants her children to have Atma-Svarajya or Absolute
Independence. She does not call upon them to rule over others. She wants them to have conquest
over internal and external nature. She wants them to possess brilliant divine virtues, moral stamina
and inner spiritual strength born of wisdom of the soul. Ahimsa is her weapon to have the spiritual
conquest and the conquest of the minds of others.
People of India have Self-realisation as their goal. They do not, generally, bestow too much
attention on material prosperity and advancement. They want Yoga or communion with the
Supreme Being. They practise Ahimsa, Satya and Brahmacharya. They wish to enjoy the eternal
bliss of the Absolute. They are always ready to renounce worldly possessions in order to possess or
realise the inner Atman or Brahman. They will sacrifice anything and everything in order to attain
the immortal Atman. They are always spiritual-minded.
India is the sacred land with several holy rivers and powerful spiritual vibrations. The hoary
Himalayas attract the people of the whole world. It is a land peculiarly suitable for divine
contemplation and Yogic practices. Every country has its own special attractive features. India is
the land of Yogins and sages. This is the special attractive feature of India. This is the reason why
people from America, England and all parts of the world come to India for the practice of Yoga.
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HINDU RELIGION
THE FACTS OF HISTORY
India is the most tolerant country in the world. She has a very expansive heart. She includes
all nations in the embrace of her love.
The Western nations are the descendents of the original Hindus or Aryans. They might have
forgotten their old connections with the Aryans and Hindu culture. They might have forgotten all
about their ancestors. But this cannot be effaced from the annals of history. Mother India, the
repository of Hindu culture, cannot forget her children beyond the seas. They are always dear to her.
Hindu culture and Hindu civilisation were at their zenith in the days of yore. Greeks and
Romans imitated the Hindus and absorbed Hindu thoughts. Even now Hindu culture and Hindu
civilisation stand foremost in the world. No religion has produced so many great saints, sages,
Yogins, Rishis, Maharshis, prophets, Acharyas, benefactors, heroes, poets, statesmen and kings as
Hinduism. Each and every province of the country has produced intellectual giants, poets and
saints. Even now India abounds in Rishis, philosophers, saints and high intellectuals. Even now she
abounds in sages and great souls.
The Hindus had to undergo severe hardships and tortures. They had to face fierce battles and
cruelties and yet they live today. Some mysterious power has preserved them. Some invisible force
has protected them. That power will protect them for ever.
REASONS FOR SURVIVAL OF THE HINDU RELIGION
Hinduism is neither asceticism nor illusionism, neither polytheism nor pantheism. It is the
synthesis of all types of religious experiences. It is a whole and complete view of life. It is
characterised by wide toleration, deep humanity and high spiritual purpose. It is free from
fanaticism. That is the reason why it has survived the attacks of the followers of some of the other
great religions of the world.
No religion is so very elastic and tolerant like Hinduism. Hinduism is very stern and rigid
regarding the fundamentals. It is very elastic in readjusting to the externals and non-essentials. That
is the reason why it has succeeded in living through millennia.
The foundation of Hinduism has been laid on the bedrock of spiritual truths. The entire
structure of Hindu life is built on eternal truths, the findings of the Hindu Rishis or seers. That is the
reason why this structure has lasted through scores of centuries.
ITS FUTURE
The glory of Hinduism is ineffable. It has within it all the features of a universal religion. Its
Dharmas are universal. Its doctrines are sublime. Its philosophy is grand. Its ethics is
soul-elevating. Its scriptures are wonderful. Its Sadhanas or Yoga-Vedantic practices are unique.
Glorious has been the past of this religion; still more glorious is its future. It has a message to give to
a world rent asunder by hatred, dissension and war—the message of cosmic love, truth and
non-violence, the gospel of unity of Self or Upanishadic oneness.
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ALL ABOUT HINDUISM
The more you know of India and Hinduism, the more will you come to regard and love it
and the more grateful to the Lord will you be in that you have got a taste for practising Yoga and that
you are imbibing the teachings and spirit of Hinduism.
Glory to India! Glory to Hinduism! Glory, glory to the Rishis and the seers who have kept
burning the flame of Hinduism with its extreme effulgence and splendour!
CHAPTER 2
HINDU SCRIPTURES
SANSKRIT LITERATURE
Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four secular heads. The six
orthodox sections form the authoritative scriptures of the Hindus. The four secular sections embody
the later developments in classical Sanskrit literature.
The six scriptures are: (i) Srutis, (ii) Smritis, (iii) Itihasas, (iv) Puranas, (v) Agamas and (vi)
Darsanas.
The four secular