Indian/Hindu Identity

09-24-2007, 01:02 PM

Not really sure whether the news item should be posted in this particular thread- just felt that since it discussed Hinduism's influences on the two American literary figures and their hindu identities, this thread might be appropriate. However, moderators, please feel free to shift the article to any other thread more appropriate.

QUOTEInfinity Foundation Releases Book on Emerson and Hinduism

NEW JERSEY, September 18, 2007: Infinity Foundation announced the release of "Emerson and the Light of India, An Intellectual History" by Robert Gordon. The Foundation provided the following overview of this and a related book on TS Eliot.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was the first American to pioneer the serious exploration of Indian philosophy, and as his own thinking grew over time, Indian philosophy profoundly influenced the course of that growth. This book thoroughly investigates the ways in which the scriptures of India shaped the maturing Transcendentalism of this great Amerian thinker. In addition, by analyzing in concrete detail the crucial ways in which the scriptures of India influenced Emerson's metaphysical development, the book repudiates the arguments of those who maintain that Emerson abandoned the optimistic faith of his youth. it makes plain that those who ascribe to Emerson a "Fall" from his early beliefs are demonstrably in error, primarily because of their serious misunderstanding of the influence, on Emerson, of Hindu and Buddhist teachings."

Given the central importance of Emerson's Transcendentalist movement in America's intellectual history, and its influence upon a few generations of American luminaries, this book is a important corrective to American history and the role of Indic traditions in shaping it.

A prior book republished in India by Infinity Foundation was, "TS Eliot and Indic Traditions," by Cleao Kearns. This book showed how Eliot's major works, including the poems, "The Wasteland" and "The Four Quartets" were profoundly influenced by Upanishadic thoughts, Gita, etc. In fact, large passages are almost direct translations from Indic sources.

Both Emerson and Eliot were towering figures in American literature, separated by a century. Both went to Harvard where their careers were shaped by immersions in Indian texts and thought. But their relationships with Hinduism evolved in very different ways.

Emerson went back to Harvard years later to make a major address to the Harvard community, in which he publicly resigned as a Christian minister and preacher, explaining how his new philosophy (based on Hinduism) made it impossible for him to continue to preach Christianity. For making this speech, Emerson was denounced by Harvard. A decision was made to block him from ever being allowed to come to Harvard. This ex-communication from a supposedly liberal champion of intellectual freedom lasted till he died.

In Eliot's case, after he wrote some of America's most famous poems under Indian influence, he faced a similar dilemma as Emerson: whether to go all the way and leave behind his Christian identity, or whether to U-Turn back to Christianity. Eliot was under heavy Christian peer influence at Harvard. He eventually made a formal public "conversion" back to Christianity. This, explains Cleo Kearns' book, enabled him to continue studying Hindu texts from the safety of an arms-length relationship. Henceforth, he was secure as a Christian and said he was merely studying Hinduism from a distance as the "other." The post-U-turn Eliot continued to appropriate from Indic traditions and his works have left a permanent shift in Western literature and thought.

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2007/9/23.shtml#2

10-12-2007, 10:58 PM

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /> India takes pride in Nobel Peace Prize
12 Oct 2007, 1834 hrs IST,REUTERS
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Rajendra Pachauri celebrates the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize, outside his office in New Delhi (Reuters Photo)
NEW DELHI: Indian scientist Rajendra Pachauri, who chairs the UN panel on climate change that shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President Al Gore, said on Friday he was overwhelmed by the award.

"I can't believe it, overwhelmed, stunned," Pachauri told reporters and co-workers after receiving the news by telephone at his office in New Delhi. "I feel privileged sharing it with someone as distinguished as him," he added.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this year made the strongest ever link between mankind's activities and global warming -- gaining widespread publicity around the world. "I expect this will bring the subject to the fore," he said. "I'm only a symbol of a much larger organisation, the IPCC, and it's really the scientific community that contributed to the work of the IPCC. They're the real winners of this award."

Asked what he would do now, he said he was going to "have a good sleep", having been travelling extensively.

10-13-2007, 12:25 AM

Check , no mention of Indian.
Al Gore and UN climate change panel win Nobel Peace PrizeQUOTEThe 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded in Oslo on Friday to former US vice president Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Norwegian Nobel committee said.

Gore, a vice president to Bill Clinton and failed candidate for the White House in 2000, has reinvented himself as a champion of climate change with his 2006 Oscar-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth".

The IPCC, a UN body comprised of about 3,000 atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, ice specialists, economists and other experts, is the world's top scientific authority on global warming and its impact.

10-13-2007, 07:15 PM

QUOTE(Mudy @ Oct 13 2007, 12:25 AM)Check , no mention of Indian.
Al Gore and UN climate change panel win Nobel Peace Prize<div class='quotetop'>QUOTEThe 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded in Oslo on Friday to former US vice president Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Norwegian Nobel committee said.

Gore, a vice president to Bill Clinton and failed candidate for the White House in 2000, has reinvented himself as a champion of climate change with his 2006 Oscar-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth".

The IPCC, a UN body comprised of about 3,000 atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, ice specialists, economists and other experts, is the world's top scientific authority on global warming and its impact.
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</div>

Actually, Dr. Pauchari, and some of the Indian media, which announced Dr. Pauchari's 'win' in bold headlines, have gotten it wrong. Unlike his environmentalist counterpart Al Gore, HE (Dr. Pauchari) didn't win anything - the organization for which he worked did. Surely, someone must have broken the news to him by now! Some of the Indian media have though retracted their earlier announcement on his win and corrected their online report.

10-13-2007, 10:05 PM

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' />

Pachauri's IPCC, Gore bag Nobel

Staff Reporter | New Delhi

Issue of climate change may now get priority, says IPCC chief

The prestigious Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chaired by RK Pachauri and former US Vice-President Al Gore may help bring the awardees together to work out new strategies to counter problems originating due to climate change.

"I contacted him over the phone and congratulated him on winning the prestigious award and he said it was a privilege to share the award with the IPCC. We are planning to meet soon and will decide on how we might be able to work together. I was not expecting any awards for my efforts. I feel privileged to share it with Al Gore. I am only a symbolic recipient but it is the organisation which has been awarded," said Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, Chairman, IPCC and Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute.

Stressing on the need to create consensus between the developed and the developing countries in order to tackle climate change, Pachauri warned that one should not get carried away by individual country interests and should view the world as a whole while dealing with it.

"It is an honour that has been bestowed on me by the Nobel Prize Committee. In any case, this is an honour that goes to all the scientists and authors who have contributed to the work of the IPCC", added Pachauri.

He further stated that climate change has the potential to disrupt economic activity and social stability across the world and hence was glad that the Nobel Prize Committee has highlighted the fact. "I hope that the global community would see the urgency of taking action and to that extent the Nobel Prize obviously sends a very powerful message to the global community", said the Padma Bhushan recipient.

Pachauri hopes that the issue of climate change will come to the fore with the IPCC winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

The IPCC, a UN body comprised about 3,000 atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, ice specialists, economists and other experts, is the world's top scientific authority on global warming and its impact.

The panel has been given the award for its efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change, said the Nobel committee.

The TERI office at the India Habitat Centre wore a festive look with dhol beating along with TERI workers distributing sweets to each other with the IPCC winning the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

The IPCC was established in 1988 jointly by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to address the problem of potential global climate change.

Pachauri has been heading the IPCC since 2002 and active in several international forums dealing with the subject of climate change and its policy dimensions.

The five-member Nobel Committee received 181 nominations this year for Peace Prize. The award ceremony will take place on December 10 on the death anniversary of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who had endowed the prestigious prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award in Oslo.

" There is nothing to clear as you can make out from the article. He is the chairperson of IPCC and has every right to bask in it's glory(he is the 1 who receives award on behalf of organisation) and so does the media. The award given to Gore(Gore himself has donated the award to his organisation Alto Paulto) is to emphasize the importance of global warming and it also gives a little uncertainty to 2008 Prez elections of USA: La Nobel.
Basically, it is the same old analogy of saying: Glass is half full or
1/2 empty."

11-19-2007, 12:14 AM

The heathen in his blindness - Asia, The West and The Dynamic of Religion.

The book was published some years ago, but this is the first time I stumbled across the authors blog. The book is downloadable in pdf format.

11-21-2007, 05:45 AM

London school defines âHinduâ
London: Britain's first state-funded Hindu school has come up with a unique definition of 'practising Hindus.'

Hindus have been defined as those who pray daily, do voluntary work at temples and abstain from meat and intoxication.

The school, named Krishna-Avanti Primary School, is located in the London borough of Harrow, which has the highest concentration of Hindus in any council in Britain: 40,000. The school is promoted by an independent charity organisation, the I-Foundation.

The admission process has started for the intake of the first batch of students in September 2008. Places are limited to 30 and are expected to be heavily over-subscribed. The official faith advisor to the school is ISKCON UK, which will advise on aspects of how the Hindu faith can be integrated and taught within the school.

According to the admissions policy, among the criteria to be used while considering applications are: "Looked after children from Hindu families, ten nominations by Bhaktivedanta Manor of practising Hindu families, children from practising Hindu families, children from Hindu families who are broadly following the tenets of Hinduism.â

The policy defines 'practising Hindus' as those who have daily prayer and deity worship either at a temple or at home, and accept and follow Vedic scriptures, in particular the Bhagavad Gita. They must also be involved in at least weekly temple related voluntary work,

attend temple programmes at least fortnightly and abstain from meat, alcohol, smoking and drugs.
According to the policy, "broadly following" the tenets of Hinduism is defined by at least monthly visits to the temple, attendance of key festival programmes at a local temple, following a vegetarian diet and avoidance of intoxication.

Asked if children of Hindu families who preferred non-vegetarian food or may not be ritualistic or who followed traditions within Hinduism that went against the school's definition of practising Hindus would be ineligible for admission, a spokesman of the I-Foundation told IANS, "the rules do not exclude anyone who does not qualify under the criteria. The policy is not meant to exclude people.â

"Under the rules of funding of faith schools, the school is obliged to have a set of criteria for admission that is relevant to the faith. The criteria, for example, the one about abstention from meat and intoxication, reflect mainstream Hindus in this country.â

"The definition in the admissions policy is a reasonably good way to understand whether a person is a practising Hindu or not. Of course, there are Hindus who prefer non-vegetarian food and drink, and they are welcome to apply if places are available."

He, however, pointed out that a large number of applications were expected for the 30 places. He said the school will "take people on trust" when they claim to meet the criteria of "practising" Hindus or "broadly following" the tenets of Hinduism.

"Obviously we are limited to what we can do. You take people on trust. But if there is a problem, we will look into it. You need to have some criteria and you need to start somewhere," he added.
Applications submitted on the basis of Hindu faith will be required to be accompanied by a form signed and supported by a local temple priest acting as referee.

According to the admissions policy, the school is keen to encourage applications from other faith backgrounds, but since demand for places is expected to be outstrip availability, opening admissions to non-Hindu applicants "at this early stage has been viewed as inappropriate.â

Among the ideals the school seeks to promote are: "Nurturing character and conduct consistent with Vaishnava-Hindu virtues, most notably respect, empathy, honesty, self-esteem, self-discipline, thoughtfulness and appreciation of the divine."

It also aims to promote "pupils' holistic health though the provision of a safe, caring environment, a balanced vegetarian diet and opportunities to practise yoga, meditation and the arts."

As the admission process for the September 2008 intake started, the school announced that since its building will not be complete in time, children will be taught for the majority of the first academic year in portable cabins.

The school's promoter, the I-Foundation, describes its aim as promoting "sustainable projects that are based on Hindu culture and philosophy and integrated within the local community."

**acharya** · 01-24-2008, 04:23 AM

WHAT'S SO MYSTERIOUS?

I belong to an interesting and active mailing list in which the following comment was made:

it is an absolute miracle that India is still, for most part, a single country. When the Brits left, they had absolutely no hope for India. The differences of language, caste, clan, region etc, they believed, would eventually break India into a thousand pieces.

The statement had some support, with one person quoting Mark Tully as saying that "Butter chicken and cricket" hold India together.

But let me rebut that with some thoughts.

The idea that India would not hold together was a "British take" that discounts the role of the majority Hindu community in India in actually giving a sense of oneness despite the often quoted divisive issues (that are a leaf taken out from what the British
described)

Hindus, it was said, are divided by caste and other issues. And that story has been swallowed whole without digging deeper to see where there were fissures and where there are bonds. This is part of the failed sociology of India. There was a case of GIGO (Garbage In-Garbage Out - in terms of how a computer responds to any input) here that is likely to be set straight in coming decades.

The fissures of Hindu India were exposed and defined by the Brits and the educated elite, and everyone now marvels that there is a bond at all, and one more Brit (Mark Tully) is quoted to explain why there is a bond.

One factor that people continuously ignore and discount is that when Hindus were accused of being divisive on caste and communal lines, they (Hindus), for large part relented and accepted that these were true and initiated measures within Indian society to close the fissures. This was the effect of enlightened
Hindu leadership who insisted on a Hindu need to reconcile, and got a large proportion of Hindus to agree because they had no major ideological issues to stop them from agreeing withthe idea.

Nobody seems to mention that the empowerment of middle and lower caste Hindus and the acceptance of that by the vast proportion of higher caste Hindus including the so called "right wing" is leading to a form of Hindu unity that did not exist before. Nobody really wants to see what is openly apparent.

Most often, modern Indian accusations of divisiveness and extremism are an internal Hindu debate with Hindus accusing other Hindus of being that way. (secular vs rightwing) Divisive as that may appear, it remains an area of active debate and "work in progress" of healing and uniting India as a society. How come nobody notices and clings on to outdated British views?

Let us not imagine that there is nothing holding India together and the unity is just a mystery. That is a myth that is popularly propagated by Indian educated elite based on a British view of India. There is a lot binding India together. It seems a mystery only if you discount that Hindus exist in India. The problem may
really lie in both what the so called "Hindu right wing" say and what Ramchandra Guha says.

The "right wing" say that the history of India was distorted.

Ram Guha says that Indians stopped writing history after 1947. Indian history ends in 1947.

It was pointed out by someone as a curious fact that Europe has fewer languages and a single religion (Christianity), but yet consists of 30 odd countries.

I see this statement as a summary of some really deep and complex historic, social and cultural dynamics.

Most of Europe being Christian is the result of both Christianity (and Islam) being practised as "Only me and nobody else" religions.

On a another note I am not at all sure that the Christianity I learned in school in India is the same adversarial Roman Christianity that overran Europe. But it did overrun and and occupy Europe - effectively removing all pagan religions that predated Christianity.

When Islam plundered through vast areas of Europe, Christianity bounced back and virtually eliminated Islam from Europe, just as Islam had eliminated all other faiths in most of the lands that it overran.

But Christianity in Europe split into various factions that fought and fought and fought and fought until Europe became tired and eventually came up with
the treaty of Westphalia. That helped create "secularism" which means absence of religion, but in practice it means separation of Church from state, with the government (state) being secular.

But even a "common religion" (of many factions) did not stop internecine European conflict. Europe battered itself out of world domination and handed
the baton to the US.

India, with less commonality of religion and more linguistic variety is seen as fissionable and "ready to break" based on a Euro-centric view of what lack of common religion or common language should normally do to a land area based on the European
experience.

Valid as this argument may sound, this makes no effort whatsoever to check if there could possibly be other shared traits that have not been picked up by
an essentially Euro-centric view of society, religion and nations.

The fact is that such a commonality was repeatedly recognised and picked up and utilized by Shankaracharya, Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Aurobindo among others. But these names mean little or nothing from the viewpoint of the Macaulay inspired school education that Indian children get. Horror of horrors! Mentioning names like Shankaracharya and Vivekananda in school books might cause great discomfort (it is probably felt) to our Muslim and Christian brothers. It may break the secular fabric of the country to suggest that Hindus may have something to do with Indian unity.

Hence Indians go through life imagining that there is nothing unifying in India. The blinkered forces of needless and misguided "secularism" blunder on, being unable to pinpoint what holds India together.

**acharya** · (This post was last modified: 01-26-2008, 07:22 AM by acharya.)

Who is a Hindu?
18/01/2008 14:33:14 Dr. Shriharsha Sharma
http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HkPage.aspx...EID=5367&SKIN=B

Who is a Hindu ? This question arises all the time in various situations and Hindus are unable to answer it exactly , precisely , satisfactorily and with confidence.I have asked this question to many people including eminent Hindu scholars, Sadhus, religious leaders, professors and Pandits but without a satisfactory reply. Fortunately I have found the most fitting, exact, precise and above all satisfying definition of a Hindu by a great revolutionary, author, orator, poet and patriot Veer Vinayak Rao Damodar Rao Savarkar. In 1905 while in the prison at Andamon- Nicobar Islands he thus wrote

Asindhu Sindhu Paryanta yashya Bharat Bhoomika,
Pitribhu Punya Bhuschaiva Sa vai Hindu Riti Smritah [1]

There is a vast land between river Sindhu and Hind Mahasagar called Bharat and those who accept that this is their fatherland or / and a holy land, land of pilgrimage are all Hindu.

This definition includes Sanatanis, Saivas, Vaishnavas, Buddhists, Jains, Zorostrians [Parsis] , Arya Samasis, Sikhs, Harijans, members/followers of International Society of Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON, Vanvasis, Tribes , Yogis , Sadhus, Dalits, followers of Swaminarayan, followers of Shri RamkrishnaParamhans, Panthis, Pagans, atheists and various other sects without exception are all Hindus .This is the first lesson the Hindu parents can give to their children. Parents, teachers, Sadhus and leaders must learn this definition and convey and spread the correct information to children and people to unify the Hindu society.

This is worth mentioning that acceptance of the Vedas with reverence, recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and realisation of the truth that number of gods to be worship is large, that indeed the distinguishing feature of the Hindu Religion.--- Shri Balgangadhar Tilak.[ Quoted by Supreme Court of Bharat on 2 July 1995.]

Hindus believe in One God. There is no god but God .Hindus are truly monotheist but worship many gods and goddesses and see the same God in them. This needs to be realised at intellectual level by others but they have failed to understand this fact. For example snow, ice, icicle, dew, and vapour are all forms of water but we call them by different names similarly Hindus see the same God in all the gods and goddesses as well as in all the living and non living things this is the most simple thing , Hindus understand this and appreciate this. Hindu scriptures say it boldly, clearly, distinctly and most beautifully

Ekam Sadhvipra Bahuda Vadanti [2]

means that He is one but we call Him by various beautiful names.

Further to this it may be appropriate to mention the following verse which also gives clear message that Hindusthan means place[ sthan] of Hindus or land of Hindus or Hinduland [e.g. England ,land of English people, Ireland , land of Irish people ] .Hindusthanâs ancient name is Bharatvarsh.

Uttare cha Samudrashya Himadreshu cha Dakshinam,
Tadvarsha Bharat Nama Bharati Tatra Santati. [3]

The land which is north to the Hind Mahasagar[ Indian Ocean] and south to the mighty, magnificent Himalayas is Bharat, sons and daughters of this ancient land are called Bharati or Bbharatiya[Hindusthani]

Bharat also means knowdge or Gyan means away from ignorance or away from darkness so Bharat means land of source of light or knowledge. True knowledge is in the Ved so Bharat is also known as Ved Bhoomi.

Bhayam Ratam Bharatam [4]

means Bharat is submerged in light or is full of light so foundation and backbone of Bharat is knowledge where life is led by knowledge therefore ignorance and superstitions have no place in the land of Hindus.

What unite us are our spiritual and cultural heritage and its inner and most powerful strength since beginning of our civilisation.

Our heroes and heroines are supreme who inspire and guide us just remembering their names provide new and instant energy, strength, courage, hope and peace to name a few e.g. Raam, Krishna, Arjun, karn,Bhishma, Mahaveer, Buddha, Sri Raamkrishna, Dhruva,Prahalad, Hanuman,Sita, Radha,Tiruvallavur, Adi Sankaracharya, Guru Nanak, Samarth Guru Raamdas,Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Bhamasah, Sant Yogeshwar, Swaminarayan, Meera Bai, Tulsidas, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Govind Singh, Valmiki, Vedavyas, Kalidas, Swami Dayanand, Swami Vivekanand, Ramana Mahirishi, Srila Prabhupad, Valmiki, Soordas, Kabir,Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudi Ram Bose,Bhagat Singh,Chandra Shekhar TiwariAzad,, Bankim chandra chattopadhyaya, Sri Aurvindo, Dr.Hedegewar, Mangal Pandey,Sardar Ballabha Bhai Patel, Veer Savarkar, Dr. Ambedkar , Yogi Yoganand, Srila Prabhupad, Swami Chinmayanand, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,Sivaya Subramaiyaswami, Sai Baba, Sri Sri, Sri Ravishankar, Swami Ramdev, Swami Satyamitranand Giri, Sadhavi Umashree Bharati,Shri RameshBhai Oza and Sadhavi Ritambhara there is no end to this list and we are proud of them.

We recite the following Slok while bathing which is so satisfying and unifying us from Himalayas to Hind Mahasagar and all the Hindus living anywhere in the world

Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswati,
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesminsannidhim kuru.[ 5]

A Hindu while chanting this Slok prays to sacred rivers e. g. Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada,Sindhu and Kaveri to come and join in the water being used for bath or shower. It is a unique and enlightening experience and at the same time so unifying which inspires me to say that one Hindu is for all and all Hindus are for one.

Origin of the word Hindu has been traced from an ancient scripture called Brihanardi Puran in which there is a verse

Himalayan Samabhya Yavat Bindusarovaram,
Hindusthanmati Gyatam Hii Antarakshar Ayogatah.[6]

It means the country between the Himalayas and Bindu Sarovar is Hindusthan so combining the first letter Hi of Himalayas and last compound letter Ndu of word Bindu forms Hindu so purely and simply this is a Sanskrit word. Our ancestors wrote so much including two largest epics Raamayan and Mahabharat and foreigners gave us the name Hindu cannot be accepted .This verse is also mentioned in the Nardeeya Puran Which is a short version of original Brihannardi Puran.

Hinam Nashyati Iti Hindu[ 7 ]

means those who uphold righteousness and fight ignobleness are Hindu.

Our motherland is also known as OM Bhoomi, Ved Bhoomi, Avatar Bhoomi, Devi Bhoomi, Devata Bhoomi, Punya Bhoomi, Rishi Bhoomi, Teerth Bhoomi, Gurukul Bhoomi, Guru Bhoomi, Sanskrit Bhoomi, Sanskriti Bhoomi,Sabhyata Bhoomi, Sant Bhoomi,Van Bhoomi, Veer Bhoomi,Raam Bhoomi, Krishna Bhoomi, Ras and Raas Bhoomi and Mahaveer Bhoomi, Buddha Bhoomi,Tiruvallavur Bhoomi, Kavi Bhoomi,Kavya Bhoomi, Sangeet Bhoomi,Nritya Bhoomi, Maharana Pratap Bhoomi, Shivaji Bhoomi, Lakshami Bai Bhoomi,Guru Nanak Bhoomi, Hedegewar Bhoomi, Sardar Patel Bhoomi, Veer Savarkar Bhoomi and above all Matru Bhoomi which inspired Shri Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya who wrote Vande Mataram.

I am a Hindu, my ancestors come from Hindusthan and my holy places or places of pilgrimage are in Hindusthan. In Hindusthan over many thousands of years the Dharma, culture, civilisation, traditions, philosophy,Yog vidya, Ayurved, music, literature, arts , fine arts, dance, and languages had developed without outside compulsion and force in total harmony with nature and eternal laws that is why it is so pure and unique and if you approach with open mind then you will love it and you will find vast treasure in it and that is the experience of many people around the world , so try to know more about it you will be spiritually, morally and culturally richer and peaceful.

Everything in Hindusthan is attached to word Hindu and greatest strength of Hindus has been the freedom of expression in thought, talk and action .The culture of this country is Hindu Culture, the history of this country is the history of Hindus, so is the architecture, literature, sculpture, folklore, poetry, dramas, stories, comics, sorrow and laughter, music, languages and heritage around us is all Hindu. Where ever Hindus went they took their culture and religion and people were attracted so adopted without compulsion or force so south east Asian countries fell in love with Hindu culture and the influence can be seen in these countries from Mangolia to Burma to Luthvania and now in Europe and America.

We must go a bit back and deeper and infact it has all its source from Sanatan Dharma. All the religions of Hindusthan are branches of Sanatana Dharma which is generally known as Hinduism .Hinduism has the capacity and capability to accommodate all those who believe in the freedom of individual in thought, talk and action following the eternal laws of equality, justice and freedom in development of humanity.

The time has come that Hindus must rename India officially as Hindusthan which is long over due, this will bring a new energy in Hindus and make them feel proud, bold, assertive, responsible and courageous. This is the demand of majority Hindus and cannot be ignored anymore.

A very simple fact I would like to mention here is this that anybody can become a Hindu according to the above definition so you do not have to be a born Hindu. Swami Dayanand Saraswati first started conversion of Muslims and Christians who were converted from Hindus and later Swami Vivekanand came in favour of this and promoted this and recently Swami Chinmayanand, Sivaya Subramaniya swami came in favour of this.

Can a Hindu boy marry a non-Hindu girl? The answer is yes but he must convert her as a Hindu by giving her a Hindu name and introducing her to Hinduism so that children have no confusion in their identity and bringing up.

Can a Hindu girl marry a non-Hindu boy? The answer is yes .The Hindu boys and girls must be bold, assertive, progressive and strong in their character. They must learn about their religion, culture and traditions only then it is possible and here the parents and guardians of society must play their roles with farsightedness and responsibility to teach them to survive and preserve the interest of their culture.

The reconversion work is going on in Hindusthan and all over to get Hindus back where they truly belong. This is a sacred duty of every Hindu to welcome these brothers and sisters whom we had lost and create a society so that we do not lose them to foreign faiths because we have been divided by these foreign faiths as a result our motherland was divided. Before the arrival of these invaders, Muslims and Christian we were the most prosperous, happy and peaceful this is the fact we must know.

I wish to quote a speech of Lord Macaulay given in British Parliament in 1835 regarding greatness, superiority and civilisation of Hindus.

âI have travelled across the length and breadth of Hindusthan[ India ] and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief, . Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we
would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore , I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system , her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own , they will lose their self-esteem, their native self- culture and they will become what we want them, a truly a dominated nation.â

This was the most unfortunate strategy adopted by British government and they destroyed everything good in India which had taken her to develop thousands of years.

So India was looted, plundered, cheated, betrayed and divided by British rule. The conversion to Christianity of Hindus and tribes people began by Christian missionaries, moral values declined, people were divided on castes, race and religion for the benefit of British. English schools, universities were started to teach that everything native is inferior to English and a new class of people were trained to help the British to rule over India but none of them ever reached to the highest post. The English became the main language for administration ,education and elite .Everything native was pushed in the corner and people were forced to feel inferior comparing English or white and this mentality existing even today such has been the effect of foreign rule on Indians.
The British rule further divided the already divided people and created new castes of Anglo- Indian Christians and Christians were the most favoured in key jobs, and promotions.

Macaulay did the incalculable harm and succeeded in his plan to rule by destroying native way of life through English education in India but this poison is doing the harm to India even today so in order to reverse the process and make India great again we have to organise, plan and bring back the lost values, morals by establishing faith in our native culture and spiritualism. The key to bring good values in the society is to introduce Sanskrit and native languages in all schools and colleges that is where our ancient teaching are. It may take time but it is within our capacity and capability. We must take words of Sri Aurobindo and save ourselves by saving Sanatana Dharma/ Vaidic Dharma/ Hinduism and remember Dharmo rakshati rakshite means protect your Dharma and Dharma will protect you.

India would rise with rise of Sanatana Dharma, that India would Sink if Sanatana Dharma sank, and that India would die if it were at all possible for Sanatana Dharma to die. ------Sri Aurobindo.

This is the history that whoever came to our country until 8 th. century they all accepted Hinduism and our way of life and became Hindu without force and wherever we went we took our culture and message of Hinduism, they accepted it as a great gift and these countries became Hinduised and this is visible even today in South East Asia.

Buddhism a branch of Hinduism spread and established in Sri Lanka , Burma, Thailand, Vietnam , Bourneo, Java, Sumatra, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Tibet and China where it established without a single conflict ,war or killing .Taoism,Confucianism and Buddhism have lived and progressed side by side for thousands of years without violence , so what is the secret of these great religions and cultures, because they have developed naturally following the eternal laws respecting each other and do not go for violence to convert or prove superiority . This is recorded that Buddhism had established itself in each and every village of China by year 65 A. D. without any force, violence or threat but with love, respect , help and understanding each others concerns for the sufferings around , to reduce or minimise the sorrow in order to make the world more peaceful and trouble free. Now Buddhism has spread in all the continents and so has Hinduism.

The world has changed a lot and for Hindus to survive they have to put a stop to conversion of Hindus to Islam and Christianity which has been going on in Hindusthan by force, cheating and all the dirty tricks by Muslims and Christians . First it happened during Islamic invasions and rule and now happening by the force of petrodollars . Later the conversion of Hindus started by Christian [ French, Portugguege, Dutch, English ] invaders and rulers. These conversions have been going on since arrival of Islam as invaders, later joined by Christians destroying everything native. The time has come to pass a law to stop conversion of Hindus. This is a great game of numbers and everyday Hindus are decreasing in number and if this goes on unchecked then Hindus would be in minority, this is a grave situation. This process can be controlled and reversed by the followings

One civil law for all without exception, One couple one child without exception, expel all the illegal immigrants, severe all the contacts with Pakistan and Bangladesh and expel foreign Christian missionaries, if you really wish Hindustan to be healthy, wealthy, strong, peaceful and developed .

bindu
25/01/2008 05:01:12 who is hindu
HAINDAV WORLD PARLIAMENT TO SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS OF HINDUS ......, TO UNITE ALL HINDUS FROM TRIBES TO BRAHAMAN.......,TO KILL CASTISM....TO REMOVE ALL KIND OF discremenances....UNDER ONE UMBRELLA....Hindus must have the parliamentary system
Hindus must have an elected representative body. But what is the way?
First form an EXECUTIVE BODY, then define ward circle, village-city circles,taluk circle , district circle ,state circle, nation circle,continetal circle, lastly world circle. Then give memberships. To give memberships we need the definition of HINDU. Prepare the electoral list by giving memberships to all who come under the definiton. Then form election commission, conduct election. Lastly form the Parliamentary system for Hindus. Now bring all the properties, temples and all those connected to Hindus under this single administrative body. Then DREAM KRITH-YUGA AND ALL UNITILLY WORK FOR IT.
INSTAEAD OF KEEPING ALL RESPONSIBILITIES ON SINGLE HEAD, LET ALL THE LEADING HINDU ORGANISATIONS MAY TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

DEFINITION OF HINDU: -

HINDU IS ONE, WHO HAVE

1) BHARATHA PAITHRUKAM(HERITAGE) / BHARATHA RASHTRA CHINTHA,
2) ATMA CENTRIC LIFE-STYLE,
3) REBIRTH FACT,
4) ATMA-SAKSHATKAR SADHANA,
5) MOKSHA JNYAN,
6) EQUALITY , UNITY & INTEGRITY IN DIVERSITY
7) GURU PARAMPARYAM,EVER LASTING CARE OF SUPREME SOUL,

is known as HINDU.

Generally
We can say like this also,
"HINDU IS ONE TO WHOM BHARATH RASHTRA IS Father LAND,Mother LAND,Holy LAND OR GURU LAND AND who not only knows that there is a SUPREME SOUL, Who controls the COMPLETE UNIVERCE by creation , evolution and involution but also who have the science(technique) ,circumstance and support to realize the SUPREME SOUL(salvation, self realization) in this life or in any coming lives(rebirth theory) by their own efforts or by guru/GOD grace is known as HINDU.

good luck to all HINDU COMMUNITY

bindu.773@rediffmail.com
sivakiran12@rediffmail.com
sneharaj
25/01/2008 04:42:22 HINDU DEFINITION
According to this above quoted definition ,You can't call the FOREIGNER WHO BILIEVES IN HINDU ACHARA'S AND FOLLOW HINDU ACHARA SANHITA as HINDU.So its time to grow HINDU globally and get convert the whole world to HINDU.We must think and prepare the definition such that it must accumalate entire UNIVERSE in it.
let me try firstly.....
"HINDU IS ONE TO WHOM BHARATH RASHTRA IS F-LAND,M-LAND,H-LAND OR GURU LAND AND WHO NOT ONLY KNOWS THERE IS GOD ,WHO CREATES-EVOLVES-INVOLVES THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE BUT ALSO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE,SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUE TO EXPERIENCE/FEEL/BECOME THE GOD."

sivakiran12@rediffmail.com
Vaisakhan
20/01/2008 01:47:07 Hindu
A great article. These things should be taught in schools to young impressionable minds so as to retain nationalism and pride of being hindu in them. Hope, if and when BJP comes to power at the centre they will introduce it in schools.
Indian
18/01/2008 22:26:12 What about Buddhists
Whichever dude has written this must be some dumb wit. Does he know HISTORY at all? Tagging Buddhists along with Hinduism is a truly remarkable feat. How many Buddhists temples have been smashed up by Hindu zealots. If you don't have an idea please ask a Buddhist. The Dalai Lama should join the Hindu Aikya Vedi to fight the Chinese...
Hary Nambiar
18/01/2008 12:41:43 Who is a Hindu?
Sorry, my early statement needs a correction. Anyone who believes that he is a Hindu is a Hindu. One does not have to live in Indian subcontinent. One does not have to be of Indian origin. There are innumerable devoted Hindus all over the world, who are not of Indian origin. Could anyone doubt the devotion of George Harrison or Sister Nivedita? Dr. Oppenhimer, the German born US nuclear engineer who oversaw the building of the first atom bomb, studied Sanskrit so that he could read Bhagavad Gita in original. After he witnessed the first experimental atomic explosion he said that he was reminded of the "Vishwaroopa Darshan" in Bhagavad Gita. Even Dr. Einstien, the greatest Physicist ever, had studied Bhagavad Gita very thoroughly and believed in its great revelation. All those Western scholars who took great pains to translate the Vedas and the other Indian scriptures; could anyone deny their devotion to Hinduism? Every Hindu need to learn from the members of the ISCON movement and emulate their devotion to Lord Krishna.
Hary Nambiar
17/01/2008 15:46:10 Who is a Hindu
Any person who lives in the Indian sub-continent who believes that he is a Hindu is a Hindu. You can find more information from the following sources:

You Can read it from the following site

1. www.swargarohan.org/e-Books/Vidur-Niti.pdf (You will find it in Devnagari script - PDF version))
Vidur Niti is part of Udyog Parva of Mahabharat). ??????? ?? ... Vidur Niti. ?????? ?????????? ????? ...

2. http://www.hinduism.co.za
http://www.hinduism.co.za/vidura-n.htm#Vidur%20Niti

Following books are available from the publishers listed below.

Vidura niti (Unknown Binding)
by Vinoda Candra Pandeya (Author)
# Publisher: Siddhartha Pablikesansa; 1. samskarana edition (1992)
# Language: Hindi
# ISBN-10: 8172200307
# ISBN-13: 978-8172200305
Amazon.com USA

Vidura Niti
Urmila Rustagi (Author)
More Information

* ISBN 13: 9788171102129
* Published Date: 15/10/2005
* RRP: Â£37.50
* Publisher: Parimal Publication
WH Smith Publications (K)

Vidura Niti:
Sanskrit Text with English & Hindi Translation
Published in New Delhi
www.saujanyabooks.com
Hebbar
17/01/2008 08:48:25 who is a hindu
Kuchibhotla Subbarao,

Please send me the vidura neeti in word file to hebbarrk@hotmail.com
Rani
17/01/2008 08:33:01 Hindu
Dr. Sharma,

Thank you for such an informative article. I am sending this article to my children and friends who will be enlightened by it.

Sri Subba Rao garu,

I would very much appreciate it if you can send me a copy of Vidura Niti at your convenience to ranivunnam@yahoo.com.

Thanks in advance.

Milind
17/01/2008 08:13:33 Vidura Niti
Mr. Subba Rao
I will be glad if you can send me the vidura niti at milind_a@yahoo.com

Thanks
Sameer
17/01/2008 06:48:44 Vidura Niti and Hindu

I am glad to read this article. Learned a lot.
I would be happy to receiving a copy of Vidura Niti if possible. my email is samdave@gmail.com.

Thx
Sameer
rv
17/01/2008 02:11:19 Vidura neeti
Dear Subba Rao,
please do send me the vidura neeti. My email is rv_nath@yahoo.com

regards,
rv
K.Venugopal
16/01/2008 23:24:27 Advaita
The above is a great essay. But I wish to disagree with your statement, "Hindus believe in One God." I do not think any Hindu has a belief as stupid as this. This is the proposition of the Abrahamic religions. The question arises, who made this statement? If God did it, then such a God is a jealous God, saying nobody should worship Him in any way except as He wishes it. And if it is the believers who make the statement, then they are reducing God to a countable object. What Hindus believe is that everything is in essence God and celebrate this essence by expressing it variously. Moreover, with the Hindus God is not a believe, it is an experience.
Kuchibhotla Subbarao
16/01/2008 22:19:11 Who is the hindu
Who is a hindu and what makes him in his or her behaviour a hindu was nerrated by Sri. Vidua as "Vidura Niti" in the epic mahabharatha. If interested in this material please contact me and I will send twenty pages all of which gives the qualifications to claim to be a hindu which I believe has to read to understand ourselves. Thanks
Kuchibhotla Subbarao
16/01/2008 22:19:11 Who is the hindu
Who is a hindu and what makes him in his or her behaviour a hindu was nerrated by Sri. Vidua as "Vidura Niti" in the epic mahabharatha. If interested in this material please contact me and I will send twenty pages all of which gives the qualifications to claim to be a hindu which I believe has to read to understand ourselves. Thanks

**acharya** · 02-26-2008, 12:12 PM

March 2, 2008

A call to unite Hindus

Sadbhavna Baithak of Delhi and Haryana Prants.

"Leave the mentality of depending upon others, start taking initiatives for the societyâs and countryâs progress,â said Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah of RSS. He was talking to representatives of various communities of Delhi and Haryana assembled at a Sadbhavna Baithak in Delhi on February 15. He called upon the workers to visit the backward localities of their respective areas and start sharing the sorrows and happiness of the people there. âImprove relations with them and meet them at least once a month. Then start some service projects as per their requirements. Only after improving the relations the mutual trust will strengthen,â he added.

The Sadbhavna Baithak was part of the initiative taken by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during the birth centenary year of Shri Guruji last year to bring all sections of the Hindu society closer and to improve social harmony. During the birth centenary year this initiative proved to be a very effective tool for interaction with various communities and the Sangh workers interacted with all the sections of the society.

More than 100 representatives from Akhil Bharatiya Valmiki Sangh, Ravidas Janmotsav Committee, Ramgariya, Akhil Bharatiya Kashyap Mallah Nishad Jankalyan Parishad, Akhil Bharatvarshiya Jat Mahasabha, Delhi Dhobi Samaj, Jhajhar Vikas Parishad, Sindhi Samaj, Vashya Agrawal Sabha, Jain Shwetamber Terapanth and Koli Mahasangh participated in the meeting and gave their suggestions to improve solidarity in the Hindu society. Swami Raghvananda, president of Sanatan Dharma Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, presided over the meeting. Kshetra Sanghachalak Dr Bajranglal Gupt, Kshetra Pracharak Shri Dinesh Chandra, Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Ramesh Prakash, former Prant Sanghachalak Shri Satyanarayan Bansal, Delhi Prant Pracharak Shri Prem Kumar and Haryana Prant Pracharak Shri Suresh Jain were also present on the occasion.

Shri Bhagwat advised the participants to celebrate the anniversaries of the great personalities together as the great personalities belong to the whole nation and not to any particular community. âIt will improve social harmony and people will come together. We need to be careful that no one could damage the unity of the Hindu society. We are one therefore we have to get united. All the ideologies developed in this country have only one ideologyâthe manav dharma. But the ideologies, which came from outside the country believe that only they are right and all others are wrong. Sometimes the liberal people also have to resort to fundamentalism to protect the sovereignty of the nation. If we have to show our greatness to the world, we all will have to move together,â Shri Bhagwat added.

He further said the Sangh swayamsevaks refrain from politics as politics divides and even makes the nearest and dearest an enemy. Commenting on the suggestions made by some leaders at the meeting that the caste system should be broken; he said changing castes or breaking the caste system would not work, as the whole society would not concur with it. He stressed the need to organise such meetings at least thrice or four times a year. âEvery time when we sit, we should discuss what steps were taken based on the decisions taken in the previous meetings,â he added. He said the initiative of such meetings is not to increase the base of the Sangh. It is for the unity of the country as only a united country makes progress. It has been the tradition of this country to get untied during the calamities. But we have to live united during the peaceful time too, as those who create troubles do not discriminate and hit at all.

Earlier presiding over the meeting Swami Raghvananda stressed the need to start from ourselves. âDonât have expectations from others. Start from youself,â he said further adding that the community organisations should think about the problems of their groups instead of having political ambitions. In the beginning Dr Bajranglal Gupt started the discussion. Then representatives of various communities gave their suggestions to improve social harmony. Uttar Kshetra Karyavah Shri Sitaram Vyas conducted the proceedings.
(FOC)

**acharya** · 04-28-2008, 09:00 AM

When was the word HINDU used by Indians to identify themselves ?

Indian is also a label given by foreigners....why don't people get embarassed by this label? Because it is non-religious?

So the real question is: "When was the word Hindu reduced to describing a particular combination of religions/philosophies/communities that arose at different times in parts of this vast land?"

And the answer is: during British rule.

Because for the Muslim invaders the word Hindu described all inhabitants of India, and did not have a religious meaning. Even when they came across people of different races, languages, and religious practices, the Muslims had no hesitation in calling them Hindus, whether it was in the deep south or the far east of India......another testament, if any more were needed, to the geographical unity of India.

As late as in the 18th century Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb described a group of Sikhs in the Punjab as follows:

Quote:
I learn...that nearly 20,000 Hindus, who call themselves the Khalsa of Govind the follower of Nanak, had assembled and gone to the country of the Barakzai (modern NWFP in Pakistan)...and that the Afghans of the neighborhood had fallen on them, so that the party had been killed or drowned. The Emperor orders that the prince (Bahadur Shah) should imprison these misbelievers, and expel them from that district.

Even though Aurangzeb knew of Nanak, and the formation of the Khalsa by Govind as the letter shows, he still called them "Hindus". So before British rule the word Hindu was used to decribe a nationality and not a religion.

**acharya** · 04-29-2008, 01:34 AM

Who is a Hindu?
18/01/2008 14:33:14 Dr. Shriharsha Sharma

Who is a Hindu ? This question arises all the time in various situations and Hindus are unable to answer it exactly , precisely , satisfactorily and with confidence.I have asked this question to many people including eminent Hindu scholars, Sadhus, religious leaders, professors and Pandits but without a satisfactory reply. Fortunately I have found the most fitting, exact, precise and above all satisfying definition of a Hindu by a great revolutionary, author, orator, poet and patriot Veer Vinayak Rao Damodar Rao Savarkar. In 1905 while in the prison at Andamon- Nicobar Islands he thus wrote

Asindhu Sindhu Paryanta yashya Bharat Bhoomika,
Pitribhu Punya Bhuschaiva Sa vai Hindu Riti Smritah [1]

There is a vast land between river Sindhu and Hind Mahasagar called Bharat and those who accept that this is their fatherland or / and a holy land, land of pilgrimage are all Hindu.

This definition includes Sanatanis, Saivas, Vaishnavas, Buddhists, Jains, Zorostrians [Parsis] , Arya Samasis, Sikhs, Harijans, members/followers of International Society of Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON, Vanvasis, Tribes , Yogis , Sadhus, Dalits, followers of Swaminarayan, followers of Shri RamkrishnaParamhans, Panthis, Pagans, atheists and various other sects without exception are all Hindus .This is the first lesson the Hindu parents can give to their children. Parents, teachers, Sadhus and leaders must learn this definition and convey and spread the correct information to children and people to unify the Hindu society.

This is worth mentioning that acceptance of the Vedas with reverence, recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and realisation of the truth that number of gods to be worship is large, that indeed the distinguishing feature of the Hindu Religion.--- Shri Balgangadhar Tilak.[ Quoted by Supreme Court of Bharat on 2 July 1995.]

Hindus believe in One God. There is no god but God .Hindus are truly monotheist but worship many gods and goddesses and see the same God in them. This needs to be realised at intellectual level by others but they have failed to understand this fact. For example snow, ice, icicle, dew, and vapour are all forms of water but we call them by different names similarly Hindus see the same God in all the gods and goddesses as well as in all the living and non living things this is the most simple thing , Hindus understand this and appreciate this. Hindu scriptures say it boldly, clearly, distinctly and most beautifully

Ekam Sadhvipra Bahuda Vadanti [2]

means that He is one but we call Him by various beautiful names.

Further to this it may be appropriate to mention the following verse which also gives clear message that Hindusthan means place[ sthan] of Hindus or land of Hindus or Hinduland [e.g. England ,land of English people, Ireland , land of Irish people ] .Hindusthanâs ancient name is Bharatvarsh.

Uttare cha Samudrashya Himadreshu cha Dakshinam,
Tadvarsha Bharat Nama Bharati Tatra Santati. [3]

The land which is north to the Hind Mahasagar[ Indian Ocean] and south to the mighty, magnificent Himalayas is Bharat, sons and daughters of this ancient land are called Bharati or Bbharatiya[Hindusthani]

Bharat also means knowledge or Gyan means away from ignorance or away from darkness so Bharat means land of source of light or knowledge. True knowledge is in the Ved so Bharat is also known as Ved Bhoomi.

Bhayam Ratam Bharatam [4]

means Bharat is submerged in light or is full of light so foundation and backbone of Bharat is knowledge where life is led by knowledge therefore ignorance and superstitions have no place in the land of Hindus.

What unite us are our spiritual and cultural heritage and its inner and most powerful strength since beginning of our civilisation.

Our heroes and heroines are supreme who inspire and guide us just remembering their names provide new and instant energy, strength, courage, hope and peace to name a few e.g. Raam, Krishna, Arjun, karn,Bhishma, Mahaveer, Buddha, Sri Raamkrishna, Dhruva,Prahalad, Hanuman,Sita, Radha,Tiruvallavur, Adi Sankaracharya, Guru Nanak, Samarth Guru Raamdas,Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Bhamasah, Sant Yogeshwar, Swaminarayan, Meera Bai, Tulsidas, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Govind Singh, Valmiki, Vedavyas, Kalidas, Swami Dayanand, Swami Vivekanand, Ramana Mahirishi, Srila Prabhupad, Valmiki, Soordas, Kabir,Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudi Ram Bose,Bhagat Singh,Chandra Shekhar TiwariAzad,, Bankim chandra chattopadhyaya, Sri Aurvindo, Dr.Hedegewar, Mangal Pandey,Sardar Ballabha Bhai Patel, Veer Savarkar, Dr. Ambedkar , Yogi Yoganand, Srila Prabhupad, Swami Chinmayanand, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,Sivaya Subramaiyaswami, Sai Baba, Sri Sri, Sri Ravishankar, Swami Ramdev, Swami Satyamitranand Giri, Sadhavi Umashree Bharati,Shri RameshBhai Oza and Sadhavi Ritambhara there is no end to this list and we are proud of them.

We recite the following Slok while bathing which is so satisfying and unifying us from Himalayas to Hind Mahasagar and all the Hindus living anywhere in the world

Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswati,
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesminsannidhim kuru.[ 5]

A Hindu while chanting this Slok prays to sacred rivers e. g. Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada,Sindhu and Kaveri to come and join in the water being used for bath or shower. It is a unique and enlightening experience and at the same time so unifying which inspires me to say that one Hindu is for all and all Hindus are for one.

Origin of the word Hindu has been traced from an ancient scripture called Brihanardi Puran in which there is a verse

Himalayan Samabhya Yavat Bindusarovaram,
Hindusthanmati Gyatam Hii Antarakshar Ayogatah.[6]

It means the country between the Himalayas and Bindu Sarovar is Hindusthan so combining the first letter Hi of Himalayas and last compound letter Ndu of word Bindu forms Hindu so purely and simply this is a Sanskrit word. Our ancestors wrote so much including two largest epics Raamayan and Mahabharat and foreigners gave us the name Hindu cannot be accepted .This verse is also mentioned in the Nardeeya Puran Which is a short version of original Brihannardi Puran.

Hinam Nashyati Iti Hindu[ 7 ]

means those who uphold righteousness and fight ignobleness are Hindu.

Our motherland is also known as OM Bhoomi, Ved Bhoomi, Avatar Bhoomi, Devi Bhoomi, Devata Bhoomi, Punya Bhoomi, Rishi Bhoomi, Teerth Bhoomi, Gurukul Bhoomi, Guru Bhoomi, Sanskrit Bhoomi, Sanskriti Bhoomi,Sabhyata Bhoomi, Sant Bhoomi,Van Bhoomi, Veer Bhoomi,Raam Bhoomi, Krishna Bhoomi, Ras and Raas Bhoomi and Mahaveer Bhoomi, Buddha Bhoomi,Tiruvallavur Bhoomi, Kavi Bhoomi,Kavya Bhoomi, Sangeet Bhoomi,Nritya Bhoomi, Maharana Pratap Bhoomi, Shivaji Bhoomi, Lakshami Bai Bhoomi,Guru Nanak Bhoomi, Hedegewar Bhoomi, Sardar Patel Bhoomi, Veer Savarkar Bhoomi and above all Matru Bhoomi which inspired Shri Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya who wrote Vande Mataram.

I am a Hindu, my ancestors come from Hindusthan and my holy places or places of pilgrimage are in Hindusthan. In Hindusthan over many thousands of years the Dharma, culture, civilisation, traditions, philosophy,Yog vidya, Ayurved, music, literature, arts , fine arts, dance, and languages had developed without outside compulsion and force in total harmony with nature and eternal laws that is why it is so pure and unique and if you approach with open mind then you will love it and you will find vast treasure in it and that is the experience of many people around the world , so try to know more about it you will be spiritually, morally and culturally richer and peaceful.

Everything in Hindusthan is attached to word Hindu and greatest strength of Hindus has been the freedom of expression in thought, talk and action .The culture of this country is Hindu Culture, the history of this country is the history of Hindus, so is the architecture, literature, sculpture, folklore, poetry, dramas, stories, comics, sorrow and laughter, music, languages and heritage around us is all Hindu. Where ever Hindus went they took their culture and religion and people were attracted so adopted without compulsion or force so south east Asian countries fell in love with Hindu culture and the influence can be seen in these countries from Mongolia to Burma to Luthvania and now in Europe and America.

We must go a bit back and deeper and infact it has all its source from Sanatan Dharma. All the religions of Hindusthan are branches of Sanatana Dharma which is generally known as Hinduism .Hinduism has the capacity and capability to accommodate all those who believe in the freedom of individual in thought, talk and action following the eternal laws of equality, justice and freedom in development of humanity.

**acharya** · 06-13-2008, 08:03 PM

The Death of Traditional Hinduism

From Dr. Frank Morales
A tragic occurrence in the very long history of Hinduism was witnessed throughout the 19th century, the destructive magnitude of which Hindu leaders and scholars today are only beginning to adequately assess and address. This development both altered and weakened Hinduism to such a tremendous degree that Hinduism has not yet even begun to recover.

British Attack on Hinduism
The classical, traditional Hinduism that had been responsible for the continuous development of thousands of years of sophisticated culture, architecture, music, philosophy, ritual and theology came under devastating assault during the 19th century British colonial rule like at no other time in India's history.

Innovative Cultural Genocide
What the Hindu community experienced under British Christian domination, however, was an ominously innovative form of cultural genocide. What they experienced was not an attempt at the physical annihilation of their culture, but a deceivingly more subtle program of intellectual and spiritual annihilation. It is easy for a people to understand the urgent threat posed by an enemy that seeks to literary kill them. It is much harder, though, to understand the threat of an enemy who, while remaining just as deadly, claims to seek only to serve a subjugated people's best interests.

Anglicized Hindu Intellectuals
During this short span of time in the 19th century, the ancient grandeur and beauty of a classical Hinduism that had stood the test of thousands of years, came under direct ideological attack. What makes this period in Hindu history most especially tragic is that the main apparatus that the British used in their attempts to destroy traditional Hinduism were the British educated, spiritually co-opted sons and daughters of Hinduism itself. Seeing traditional Hinduism through the eyes of their British masters, a pandemic wave of 19th century Anglicized Hindu intellectuals saw it as their solemn duty to "Westernize" and "modernize" traditional Hinduism to make it more palatable to their new European overlords. One of the phenomena that occurred during this historic period was the fabrication of a new movement known as "neo-Hinduism".

What is Neo-Hinduism?
Neo-Hinduism was an artificial religious construct used as a paradigmatic juxtaposition to the legitimate traditional Hinduism that had been the religion and culture of the people for thousands of years. Neo-Hinduism was used as an effective weapon to replace authentic Hinduism with a British invented version designed to make a subjugated people easier to manage and control.

The Christian and British inspired neo-Hinduism movement attempted to execute several overlapping goals, and did so with great success:

a) The subtle Christianization of Hindu theology, which included concerted attacks on iconic imagery (archana, or murti), panentheism, and continued belief in the beloved gods and goddesses of traditional Hinduism.
b) The imposition of the Western scientific method, rationalism and skepticism on the study of Hinduism in order to show Hinduism's supposedly inferior grasp of reality.
c) Ongoing attacks against the ancient Hindu science of ritual in the name of simplification and democratization of worship.
d) The importation of Radical Universalism from liberal, Unitarian / Universalist Christianity as a device designed to severely water down traditional Hindu philosophy.

The Death of Traditional Hinduism
The dignity, strength and beauty of traditional Hinduism was recognized as the foremost threat to Christian European rule in India. The invention of neo-Hinduism was the response. Had this colonialist program been carried out with a British face, it would not have met with as much success as it did. Therefore, an Indian face was used to impose neo-Hinduism upon the Hindu people. The resultant effects of the activities of Indian neo-Hindus were ruinous for traditional Hinduism.

The Dilemma
The primary dilemma with Hinduism as we find it today, in a nutshell, is precisely this problem ofâ¦
1) Not recognizing that there are really two distinct and conflicting Hinduisms today, Neo-Hindu and Traditionalist Hindu; and
2) With Traditionalists being the guardians of authentic Dharma philosophically and attitudinally, but not yet coming to full grips with the modern world, i.e., not yet having found a way of negotiating authentic Hindu Dharma with an ability to interface with modernity and communicate this unadulterated Hindu Dharma in a way that the modern mind can most appreciate it.

A Confused Existence
Hinduism will continue to be a religion mired in confusion about its own true meaning and value until traditionalist Hindus can assertively, professionally and intelligently communicate the reality of genuine Hinduism to the world.

~~Pandyan~~ · (This post was last modified: 07-09-2008, 12:45 AM by Pandyan.)

Some time ago, I was told that the namesake of Bharatavarsha was not Bharata, son of Dushyanta, but Bharata, son of Rishabha.

http://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/canto5/chapter7.html

Can someone clarify this matter..

07-09-2008, 01:21 AM

--All hearsay and general perception points to bharata, the son of Dushyanta, who conquered many kingdoms.

--It is doubtful whether a "hindu" identity can ever be defined. As far as one can see, the situation is somewhat like this :a cultural "iron grid" is provided by the brahmanas, who absorbed local deities in addition to their vedic practices. It is highly likely that locally, the masses worship only their deities, while giving a short shift to the myths linking their gods to brahminical hinduism. The brahmanas also absorbed the regional shamanic practices and probably systematized them into the tantras, also refining and adding to it.
The aim of a dharmic person is the attainment of moksha/dharma/artha/kama. He is not required to believe anything but find out for himself the path to success and travel along it. In this sense it is highly experimental and importantly, a personal and unique journey. As a result of this the beliefs of each person may vary .
To develop a "hindu" identity, if it exists will require vast amounts of data, and the ability to abstract some guiding principle from even divergent opinions. This task need not be completed in our lifetimes. But the survival of the traditions and practices must be ensured.

Husky · (This post was last modified: 07-09-2008, 06:07 PM by Husky.)

QUOTE(brahma @ Jul 9 2008, 01:21 AM)--It is doubtful whether a "hindu" identity can ever be defined. As far as one can see, the situation is somewhat like this :a cultural "iron grid" is provided by the brahmanas, who absorbed local deities in addition to their vedic practices. It is highly likely that locally, the masses worship only their deities, while giving a short shift to the myths linking their gods to brahminical hinduism. The brahmanas also absorbed the regional shamanic practices and probably systematized them into the tantras, also refining and adding to it.[right][snapback]83951[/snapback][/right]Cute bedtime scare-story. Though Hindus are familiar with it, having heard it often (never from Hindus, of course). It's but an abridged version of the christohistory that the faithful colonial brits wrote for us.
Nice insert of the always-necessary 'myths' and lowercase 'gods', by the way. And I just love the reference to 'shamanic practises' amongst Indians (in spite of us being non-Finno-Ugric - but then why should facts like this be a domper when they didn't influence the rest of that quoted para). Some minor disappointment about the ommission of the word 'animists', but am still deeply impressed - at the perfect parroting.

None of the older gen in my family had even heard of the concept "brahminical Hinduism" (perhaps they were too busy with their 'shamanic practises'?), but what could they know when the above post has explained Hindus/Hinduism so thoroughly and with so much supporting proof... or rather, with so much allusion to evidence through obviously incontestable use of such elements as "it is doubtful", "highly likely", "probably, "as far as one can see" and my all-time-absolute-favourite: the absence of such terms altogether (which apparently makes the containing statements even more completely irrefutable, assuming anyone dared to be in doubt). Now, that's the way to present indubitable arguments.

And encased in such forceful writing as that of the post above, everyone's given the very democratic 'option' of merely nodding one's head and agreeing that the christobrits' pseudohistory was right: that there is no Hinduism and never was one either. And then the minor marxist corollary - being an essential part thereof - must be accepted as automatic truth as well: "India is no more than a geographic expression" and its christo equivalent that 'there was no India until the christobrits invented it'.

QUOTETo develop a "hindu" identity,OOooh, oooh, oooh, I know this logic! Brings to mind Nehru and his book The Discovery of India. Because, you know, if he hadn't discovered it, it wouldn't exist. (<- It follows when one uses the OTHER math to work it out.)

QUOTETo develop a "hindu" identity, if it exists will require vast amounts of data, and the ability to abstract some guiding principle from even divergent opinions. This task need not be completed in our lifetimes.Hinduism is just so greatly honoured and advantaged to have working for its benefit someone who doesn't even know that since ancient times there was such a thing as Hinduism or that a Hindu identity exists just as it had existed for all that time.

An interesting thing readers auto-infer from the above quoteblock: it doesn't claim to be written by a Hindu. (Most obviously, since Hindus don't think they're mythical or doubt their own existence/identity. Use Normal math/logic for this.)

QUOTEBut the survival of the traditions and practices must be ensured.And... the consistency is gone. Shame, the internal logic (what little there was) had been rattling along so well.
What 'survival'? When the para doubted it existed in the first place? Beats me how anyone could argue that something's 'survival must be ensured' after going on about why its having existed at all was dubious. Oh wait, it requires Other Math again. (Drat that I was never good at complicated Other Math.)

Modernist Indians are ever so entertaining. (My mind's catching the pertinent refrain of that aptly-titled song 'Easy'.) It's like hearing the memorable christocolonial brits speak all over again. :enchanting
Modern puppets have memorised the old tale so well and, more importantly (amusingly), they completely believe it. They have my wholehearted support/condolences. Go Joe!

07-10-2008, 02:50 PM

My previous post looks communistic, but the intent is not. The apparent insults which you point out are no insults at all. My opinions are just opinions and as a follower of my forefathers, I would like to ensure the continuance of the traditions of Bharata.

1) In my view, "Hinduism" definitely has distinct streams. The techniques and the object of worship vary widely between jatis and regions. The same jatis in different regions have different beliefs and practices.The important unifying factor of Bharat is the presence of Brahmanas, who were able to reconcile the legends/traditions of various regions (Tantric) with their Vedic pracitces, which connected them to Brahmanas elsewhere. In addition, the constant migrations of Brahmanas cross disseminated ideas almost all over India, which form the basis of the cultural unity of India. Sabarimala, Kamakhya temples are examples of this absorption.There are tribes which are at various stages of being influenced by the dvija philosophies.

2) How are you sure that there was a Hindu identity all over India since very ancient times. And what was the basis of their identity? Was it the vedic-darshana system of the dvijas or the local practices, which were different? The tantric and some yogic systems detail processes for specific results as compared to the search for truth/ultimate reality and understanding that is embodied in the darshanas.
The histories of Bengal, Assam record the arrival of various beliefs, their kingly patrons etc. Even though the southern regions have had Brahmanas for aeons, they do have temples where the system of worship is not agamic and have non brahmin priests.
In the case of your elders, they may have simply followed the traditions of their forefathers, not caring or being ambivalent about the other jatis.That is not the case with the current generation. We are in a crisis of survival and we need to correctly identify the threats and neutralize them. An accurate understanding of our society and its history is essential to plan the defence,even if the truth is not in accordance with our pre conceived notions.
And it is not necessary that all westerners had an agenda to demean the Bharata-vasis. Many of them were sincere scholars, and in the 1700's and
1800's, were the better minds of their countries, though that may not be the case nowadays.

3) The term shaman is not derogatory as you take it to be. I used it in the sense of the wise man who everyone holds in regard for his knowledge/power/wisdom.

The question of a Hindu identity still remains. In India, the primary identity of a person is his jati, no matter what other allegiances he may profess. A bharata vasi primarily exists as a vehicle to transport his traditions in time, and improve upon them according to his ability and adapt to changing circumstances as required. Those who fail to do so are separated from their jati, though it happens more subtly nowadays, over two or three generations and not in a sudden and public manner as before.Unlike in other countries,where identity is equivalent to belief and ethnicity, the jati is a social construct. Till some time back, it decided what you did, your peers,
and in general provided a roadmap for your life. Even today most Indians retain caste indicators in their names.
We can impose a common Hindu identity only with great difficulty simply because not only are the traditions differentiated by jatis but also by region. Some common themes like dharma, athithi satkar, ahimsa do appear in most traditions but these pertain to actions and it cannot be held that they form the identity of a jati in totality.

Just by collating the common practices and knowledge of modern day Indians,
who have already lost much of their heritage one cant claim to have a "Hindu"
identity.

Bodhi · (This post was last modified: 07-10-2008, 03:42 PM by Bodhi.)

QUOTEreconcile the legends/traditions of various regions (Tantric) with their Vedic pracitces

why do you say tAntrika is non-vedic?

yantra-tantra-mantra: all the three are integral to authentic vedic traditions.

kAmAkhyA pITha: standard, very authentic, vedic-tAntrik-shAkta pITha. what about it?

Husky · (This post was last modified: 07-10-2008, 07:51 PM by Husky.)

QUOTE(brahma @ Jul 10 2008, 02:50 PM)My previous post looks communistic, but the intent is not. The apparent insults which you point out are no insults at all. My opinions are just opinions and as a follower of my forefathers, I would like to ensure the continuance of the traditions of Bharata.[right][snapback]84045[/snapback][/right]And now the use of 'follower of forefathers', 'continuation of traditions', 'Bharata'.
As anticipated and now confirmed, you're playing AI. But we're not your data set for you to train on how to respond to Hindus.
Give it some thought as to why you failed and will keep failing along this line.
Of course, I could just tell you how to get to us, but then, it's so much more entertaining to see people try hopelessly and fail miserably.

QUOTEThe term shaman is not derogatory as you take it to be. <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blink.gif' /> Who is the "you" in this statement? It can't be me.
But Shaman is not at all applicable. I've already stated - and rather clearly too, I see - why it cannot be used in the Indian context.

07-10-2008, 10:04 PM

Huskyji,

The thread is about Indian identity as of today. I see that you are less interested in an exchange of ideas than to nitpick.
So what is the great man's idea of the Hindu Identity.. Why dont you offer some worthwhile opinions/ideas for a change.
Being a net warrior is all okay but will your quality posts actually result in any benefit for the Hindus?

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