The concept of hinduism as a unique religion

It has its origin in the ancient Indo-Aryan Vedic culture and is called by Time Almanac "the oldest religion". In the US alone, 3 million people follow some form of Hinduism. Perhaps the Hindu spirit of unity in diversity is best captured in a line from the ancient Rig Veda: Thus, Hindu thought distinguishes itself by strongly encouraging tolerance for different beliefs since temporal systems cannot claim sole understanding of the one transcendental Truth.

By the 13th century, Hindustan emerged as a popular alternative name of Indiameaning the "land of Hindus". These texts used it to distinguish Hindus from Muslims who are called Yavanas foreigners or Mlecchas barbarianswith the 16th-century Chaitanya Charitamrita text and the 17th-century Bhakta Mala text using the phrase "Hindu dharma".

The term Hinduism, then spelled Hindooism, was introduced into the English language in the 18th century to denote the religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions native to India.

In India the term dharma is preferred, which is broader than the Western term religion. The study of India and its cultures and religions, and the definition of "Hinduism", has been shaped by the interests of colonialism and by Western notions of religion.

Hindu denominations AUMa stylised letter of Devanagari script, used as a religious symbol in Hinduism Hinduism as it is commonly known can be subdivided into a number of major currents.

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Of the historical division into six darsanas philosophiestwo schools, Vedanta and Yogaare currently the most prominent. McDaniel classifies Hinduism into six major kinds and numerous minor kinds, in order to understand expression of emotions among the Hindus.

He classifies most Hindus as belonging by choice to one of the "founded religions" such as Vaishnavism and Shaivism that are salvation-focussed and often de-emphasize Brahman priestly authority yet incorporate ritual grammar of Brahmanic-Sanskritic Hinduism.

This stereotype followed and fit, states Inden, with the imperial imperatives of the era, providing the moral justification for the colonial project.

The early reports set the tradition and scholarly premises for typology of Hinduism, as well as the major assumptions and flawed presuppositions that has been at the foundation of Indology.

Hinduism, according to Inden, has been neither what imperial religionists stereotyped it to be, nor is it appropriate to equate Hinduism to be merely monist pantheism and philosophical idealism of Advaita Vedanta.

All aspects of a Hindu life, namely acquiring wealth arthafulfillment of desires kamaand attaining liberation moksha are part of dharma which encapsulates the "right way of living" and eternal harmonious principles in their fulfillment.

Sanatana dharma has become a synonym for the "eternal" truth and teachings of Hinduism, that transcend history and are "unchanging, indivisible and ultimately nonsectarian". It is viewed as thosee eternal truths and tradition with origins beyond human history, truths divinely revealed Shruti in the Vedas — the most ancient of the world's scriptures.

Hinduism, to them, is a tradition that can be traced at least to the ancient Vedic era. According to Klaus Klostermaier, the term Vaidika dharma is the earliest self-designation of Hinduism.

Smith "[i]t is 'debatable at the very least' as to whether the term Vaidika Dharma cannot, with the proper concessions to historical, cultural and ideological specificity, be comparable to and translated as 'Hinduism' or 'Hindu religion'.

However, the late 1st-millennium CE Indic consensus had "indeed come to conceptualize a complex entity corresponding to Hinduism as opposed to Buddhism and Jainism excluding only certain forms of antinomian Shakta-Shaiva" from its fold. Some Kashmiri scholars rejected the esoteric tantric traditions to be a part of Vaidika dharma.

Many Hindus do not have a copy of the Vedas nor have they ever seen or personally read parts of a Veda, like a Christian might relate to the Bible or a Muslim might to the Quran. Yet, states Lipner, "this does not mean that their [Hindus] whole life's orientation cannot be traced to the Vedas or that it does not in some way derive from it".

Hindu reform movements Beginning in the 19th century, Indian modernists re-asserted Hinduism as a major asset of Indian civilisation, [83] meanwhile "purifying" Hinduism from its Tantric elements [84] and elevating the Vedic elements. Western stereotypes were reversed, emphasizing the universal aspects, and introducing modern approaches of social problems.

Some forms of religious expression are central to Hinduism and others, while not as central, still remain within the category. Based on this idea Ferro-Luzzi has developed a 'Prototype Theory approach' to the definition of Hinduism. Hindu denominations Hinduism has been described as a tradition having a "complex, organic, multileveled and sometimes internally inconsistent nature".

It is a way of life and nothing more".Hinduism believes in a circular rather than a linear concept of time Time is divided into four ages - the Satya yuga (golden age of innocence), Tretha yuga, Dwapara yuga and Kali yuga.

Hinduism Beliefs

Source - boydom. The Atman concept and its discussions in Hindu philosophy, parallel with psuchê (soul) and its discussion in ancient Greek philosophy. Eliade notes that there is a capital difference, with schools of Hinduism asserting that liberation of Atman implies "self-knowledge" and "bliss".

[]. May 03,  · Hinduism is unique as they Don't convert other religion people to Hinduism as Christians and Islam does. Hinduism is Unique as they accept other people's faith, They do respect Jesus or Alah. But in other religion they fume at the Hindu Gods saying they are pagans,patheism.I dnt know why they are timberdesignmag.com: Resolved.

Hinduism, the world's oldest religion, has no beginning--it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is a mystical religion, leading the devotee to personally experience the Truth within, finally reaching the pinnacle of consciousness where man and God are one.

Hinduism, similarly to many previous, past and present religions, has numerous significant beliefs that make the religion unique and essentially special. The foundation of Hinduism is the devoted belief in one supreme being or God, which is commonly known as Brahman within the Hindu religion.

Out of these divine chants and out of the wisdom and spirituality of the sages in the centuries since, has grown the religion known in the world as Hinduism, the faith of more than million human beings in Indian alone.