Thought 134: What is Hinduism

The Greeks pronounce the word “Sindhu”, which is the Sanskrit name of the Indus River (Sindhu River) in the Northwest India, as “Hindu”. When the army of Alexander the Great invaded India around 300 BC, they called all those who lived in the Indian subcontinent on or beyond the "Sindhu" river as Hindus - and from then onwards, we came to be called Hindus. Before that, Hinduism was known as the “Sanaatana Dharma”, which is the real name of our religion.

Hinduism is world’s oldest religion, which originated in the Vedic civilization. There are now nearly 800 million Hindus living in India alone. Many countries in south east Asia, Eastern Africa and the west Indies also have small Hindu communities – which still retain their Hindu identity, worship Hindu gods and follow most of the Hindu traditions and rituals.

The next thought is about “The ancient body of religious knowledge”