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A Hindu (Devanāgarī: हिन्दु) , as per modern definition, is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, the religious, philosophical and cultural system that originated in the Indian subcontinent. There are approximately 1 billion Hindus, making Hinduism the third largest religion in the world, of whom approximately 890 million live in India. Other countries with large Hindu populations include Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Guyana and Indonesia.Hinduism is believed to be the oldest living religious tradition in the world . Ancient or Epic India was known as Hindustan, meaning the "land of Hindus". Hindustan continues to remain as a popular alternative name for the Republic of India.
Origins of the word Hindu The term Hindu is derived from a Persian transliteration of the Sanskrit word Sindhu (Sanskrit: , the ancient name of the Indus River), located in what is now Pakistan. The Persians, using a slightly different pronunciation of the word "Sindhu" (as "Hindu"), referred to the people who lived near or on the other side of the Sindhu River as "Hindus", and their religion later became known as "Hinduism." Prior to that time, Hindus had called their religion Sanātana Dharma (the eternal religion), Vaidika Dharma (the religion of the Vedas), Ārya dharma (the noble religion), or mānava dharma (the religion of mankind). Eventually the word "Hindu" came into common use among Hindus themselves, and was borrowed by the Ancient Greeks as Indos, Indikos ("Indian"), into Latin as Indianus. and into Sanskrit, as (), appearing in some early medieval texts. An alternative explanation is that the word 'indu' originates from Rigveda with reference to a mythological plant juice offered for oblations, while the 'h' represents auspiciousness or delight, thus implying that one who propitiates by drinking soma is a hindu.* Until about 19th century, the term Hindu implied a culture and ethnicity and not religion alone. The term some Hindus have used for their religious beliefs is Sanatan Dharma ("Eternal Code" - see also Dharma). When the British colonial government started taking a periodic census and established a unified legal system, the need arose to define what constitutes Hinduism as a religion, in order to compare it with the likes of Christianity or Islam. Since then, various definitions have been proposed by scholars like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who tried to define it as a religion based on the Vedas, just as the Bible and the Qur'an are the basis of Christianity and Islam, respectively. Although most Hindus believe in God, even an atheist can be a Hindu. According to Vish Ayengar, all the spiritual traditions of India are inspired by the Vedas. Who is a Hindu? Those who see Hinduism primarily as an ethnicity believe that to be a Hindu one must be born into a Hindu family. In contrast, those who see Hinduism primarily as a philosophy, a set of beliefs, or a way of life generally believe that one can convert to Hinduism by incorporating Hindu beliefs into one's life and by considering oneself a Hindu. The Supreme Court of India has taken the latter view, holding that the question of whether a person is a Hindu should be determined by the person's belief system, not by their ethnic or racial heritage. Some have proposed that a Hindu is defined as a person that believes in the ancient scriptures called the Vedas. This view would probably not be disputed by most people who consider themselves Hindus. However, it is somewhat problematic since even many people of Hindu ancestory may never read the Vedas, preferring instead to read later Hindu scriptures which are based on concepts found in the Vedas. The Vedas are studied by many scholars and priests, but not as much by common people. Ethnic and cultural fabric Hinduism has one of the most ethnically diverse body of adherents in the world. For some, it is hard to classify Hinduism as a religion, as the framework, symbols, leaders and books of reference that make up a typical religion are not uniquely identified in the case of Hinduism. Hinduism, its religious doctrines, traditions and observances are inextricably linked to the culture of India. Then Hinduism is not seen as only a religion or philosophy; it can also be seen as a cultural tradition. ("Sanatan Parampara," the "Eternal Tradition.") Large tribes and communities of indigenous origins, are also closely linked to the earliest synthesis and formation of Hindu civilization. Peoples of East Asian roots living in the states of north eastern India and Nepal were also a part of the earliest Hindu civilization. Immigration and settlement of peoples from Central Asia and peoples of Indo-Greek heritage have brought their own influence on Hindu society. Some of the staunchest defenders of Hindu India against Muslim invaders were the Rajputs of modern Rajasthan. The deities of the Indus Valley Civilization have uncanny resemblances to Hindu Gods such as Shiva. And the ancient Indus valley and Saraswati Valley Civilizations represent the historical continuum of Hinduism. The roots of Hinduism in southern India, and amongst tribal and indigenous communities is just as ancient and fundamentally contributive to the foundations of the religious and philosophical system. Ancient Hindu kingdoms arose and spread the religion and traditions across South East Asia, particularly Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and what is now central Vietnam. A form of Hinduism particularly different from Indian roots and traditions is practised in Bali, Indonesia, where Hindus form 90% of the population. Indian migrants have taken Hinduism and Hindu culture to South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and other countries in and around the Indian Ocean, and in the nations of the West Indies and the Caribbean. Many Europeans, Africans and Americans have adopted spiritual and religious exercises inspired by Hinduism in North America, Western Europe and Southern Africa. The ISKCON is a sect of the devotees of Krishna, specifically, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, mainly in the United States but spreading across the world, embracing people and working in countries completely unassociated with India.The followers of ISKCON "Hare Krishnas" are monotheistically devoted to worshipping Krishna. Linguistics of Hinduism
Ceremonies, observances and pilgrimage Hinduism is also very diverse in the religious ceremonies performed by its adherents for different periods and events in life, and for death. The ceremonies vary depending on the location and local custom. Initiation Many Hindus, may perform initiation ceremonies like Upanayana or Janoy or 'Bratabandha'. These ceremonies have variants depending on the caste, the culture and the region. The Upanayana is akin to the Jewish B'nai Mitzvah. It is very similar to the Navjot ceremony of the Zoroastrians, being of common origin. In a ceremony administered by a priest, a coir string, known as Janoy, is hung from around a young boy's left shoulder to his right waist line for Brahmins and from right shoulders to left waistline by Kshatriyas. The ceremony varies from region to community, and includes reading from the Vedas and special mantras and shlokas. Young females (prepubescent until married) do not have similar ritual passage as young males. However, some young Hindu females, especially those from southern India, may follow annual Monsoon Austerity Ritual of Purification by not eating cooked food for one or two weeks, depending on age of child. This is known as "Goryo" or "Goriyo". Generally speaking, Hindus are free to join an order or inner circle, and once they have joined it they must submit to its rites and way of living. But this type of joining is voluntary and has the possibility of leaving the order at any time without serious objectio | ||||||||||
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