Is "Hinduism" a relgion or is it "Sanatan Dharm"? and Hindu relates to native of Hindusthan?

Answer 1

Sanatan Dharma means Eternal Dharma. Hinduism is collectively all religious philosophies born in India. They are inter related even if highly diverse. Buddhism, Jaininsm, Sikhism , all are branches or sects of Hinduism.

Hinduism never rejects any older theory about God , only modifies it and incorporate newer ideas. So you ger mother goddess worship, Annimism to Upanishads , Buddhism to Krishna worshippers. You will find even Hindu Atheist.

Thats why it was called Sanatan Dharma.

"Hindu " word literally meant Indian. The name was given by persians. and original word was Sindhu but they had no "s" sound or something. Then it reached Greece and Greeks turned the word in "Ind" and added customeary "ia" to it and the word India came into existence.

So Indian and Hindu were synonums till Semetic religions like Islam entered India.
regarding flameslivewire post:

Well you should not learn Hinduism from Islamic sites. We know there is no mohammad in Vedas and Hinduism does not forbid Iconworship. It says it is first step towards meditation.

Yes, we believe in one god that is formless , yet we also believe god is in ever one and everywhere. Only non Hindus confuse it with polythiesm. even uneducated Hindu villager will tell you there is only one god.

Muslims use symbols too moon, kaba , black stone situated there and Kuran and number 786, so does christians. Cross is very much a symbol.

We are just honest enough to accept we need symbols to worship god.

Answer 2

Hinduism is no such religion. The term 'Hindu' was first used by the Britishers to describe the people that live beyond the river Indus or Sindh.

Geographically, anyone living in India is a 'Hindu'.

But those who associate themselves to a religion called 'Hinduism', have mis-labelled it. Such people should call themselves as "Vedantist". As the followers have to follow the Vedas.

But the real problem is that no one gets to know the Real Vedic teachings.

For instance, It is clearly stated in Saam Ved about GOD as "Ikkum ivadittiyam" meaning "GOD is ONE, without a second"
It further states "Na kasiya kasij janita na chandipa"
Which means, "OF GOD there are no parents, and HE does not have Children"

But where do we find a Hindu who believes in the true philosophy of the Hindu religion? Infact, The Vedas have forbidden Idol worship! Yet millions do it, in the name of religion.

Again, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)'s name is mentioned as "Narashansa" which is exactly the same traslation of the Arabic word Muhammed in Sanskrit. He is also referred as "Kalki Avatar". Even his parents name can be found in the Vedas which exactly fit the respective Arabic names.

Yet people are still ignorant. I call people to come to the real teachings of Hinduism

Answer 3

Hinduism is normally considered a world religion. Words mean what people agree that they mean. God does not come tell us what words mean. Hinduism is a religion that is very integrated with the life of the practitioners. Hinduism has three energies, create, sustain, destroy. They have names like krishna, vishnu etc. This is the level of my knowledge. Recently browsed "Hinduism for dummies" and went to a hindu exhibit at the smithsonian.

Answer 4

I know hindu refers to someone who practices Hinduism and hindi refers to hindustanis aka Indians

Answer 5

YES.
The correct name is sanatan dharma.
This is more of a statement than a question.

Answer 6

you got it right... you are so correct....
your the man....
(can i have the 10 points now)