Hinduism: What is Hinduism?

By Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

What is Hinduism?

Introduction

I will answer it simply, first by first asking if you ever heard of a religion called Jordanism? No, you haven't. But let us juxtapose it to Hinduism. Along the Jordan River Christianity, Islam and Judaism came up. Jordanism could become a modern word to name all three of these religions, which do have similar beliefs and practices. But, like the denominations now under the banner name of Hinduism, they are also three separate religions.

Well, it was the Persian explorers attempting to explain a very complicated set of cultures and values around the Indus River which gave rise to our religion's modern name. They called it "Induism," which later became Hinduism. Hinduism is not really the name of our religion, but that is what it has come to be called in the media, history books, etc. So, we have to accept this. It would be impossible to change. There are four important surviving religions under the banner word Hinduism. These are Vaishnavism, Saktism, Saivism and Smartaism. So, nowadays, we say, "I am a Sakta Hindu...a Smarta Hindu...a Saivite Hindu...a Vaishnava Hindu."

Scriptures are very important to read. The four Vedas are the bible of all Hindus. Use scripture when you feel lonely or sad or not quite perfect. Listen to the wisdom of our forefathers and try to see how they would have faced a situation like yours. Use scriptures to meditate upon. Use scriptures to read on the bus on your way to work, or at night just before sleep. They will be like a compass, guiding you along the right path as you go through your experiences.

Prepared for the July 4th, 1990 meeting of the youth of the Hindu Temple of greater Chicago, by Gurudeva, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami