Hindu Media Wiki

Controversial though it may sound, all are Hindus—whether they know it or not. Some are more sinful, some are more righteous. Some are more knowledgeable, others have none. But, the same Universal laws of Hinduism apply to all of us no matter what religion or path we profess.

• There is an eternal, all-encompassing, ineffable power. Some recognize it and try to name it as Brahman, Ishvara, Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ekam, El, Elohim, Elah, Allah, Yahweh, Amenominakanushi, Atum, Amun, Ek Onkar, Olorun, Mazdâ, Haq, Xwytsau, Supreme Being, the Monad, One, Source, etc. These names differ because languages differ, but each attempts to describe the same ultimate phenomenon. Because that supreme power is beyond all limitation, all names & words fall short of defining it. For, to define something is to place limitation upon it. Even scientific atheists believe in the infinite. In the beginning, they say, the Universe was infinitely hot (chaotic motion), infinitely dense (unified), and opaque. About one second after creation, says modern cosmology, a sound traveled throughout the Universe (baryonic acoustic oscillations) and within the next 9 seconds the Universe became transparent, that is, light shone throughout the Universe. So, there is some universal truth among all serious belief systems. Some practice bhaktí toward a form of the Supreme and other's don't. Such doesn't disclude anyone from being a Hindu.

• The Vedas are the ultimate authority of truth.2 Historically most cultures have not had access to the Vedas. It then follows that they would have been provided with authoritative scripture appropriate to their time, language, and culture. Over time many of these texts have been transcribed, translated, lost, or destroyed leaving most people with incomplete & distorted truths. Shall we call them sinful for doing their best with the tools that remain for them? Or, because they have lacked access to ultimate authority for millennia, shall we find their attempts laudable?

• The Ātman is real, eternal, unchanging, and inhabits material bodies for a time.3 There are a variety of beliefs on this matter. Some are closer to truth than others. But, can we really say that a person's recognition of truth makes them Hindu and ignorance prevents them being Hindu? Ultimately, we are all to some extent ignorant. We all participate in māyā́. Furthermore, we are all one. To differentiate this one as Hindu and that one as non-Hindu is to perpetuate māyā́. My brother's ignorance is my ignorance. 

He who Believes in the authority of the Veda-Vedanga-Upanishad and the Absolute Reality called Brahmm and the indweller Atmann. He is a Hindu. He can be an icon, anicon or idol worshipper. Or a non-dualist. Or a Fire-Worshipper.Philosophically can belong to any of the 6 astika schools.

My definition of Hindu:“Hindu is one who accept oneself Hindu” No adherence or non-adherence to any ritual, belief and/or teaching is required.

Sri Aurobindo "Hinduism ... gave itself no name,because it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up no single narrow path or gate of salvation; it was less a creed or cult than a continuously enlarging tradition of the God ward endeavor of the human spirit. An immense many-sided and many staged provision for a spiritual self-building and self-finding, it had some right to speak of itself by the only name it knew, the eternal religion,Santana Dharma..."

More recently Supreme Court of India Judges

"Religion incorporates the particular belief(s) that a group of people subscribe to. Hinduism, as a religion, incorporates all forms of belief without mandating the selection or elimination of any one single belief," a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana said.

"It is a religion that has no single founder, no single scripture and no single set of teachings. It has been described as Sanatan Dharma, namely, eternal faith, as it is the collective wisdom and inspiration of the centuries that Hinduism seeks to preach and propagate," it added.

By Times of India: “Hinduism cannot even be said to have one single, supreme scripture. It has thrived and evolved over thousands of years because of its secular, global, assimilative character — one where 'any thing goes', be it food, dress, language or even belief. Indeed, Hinduism has exhibited an infinite capacity to contain contradictions and implicitly grant edits 'subscribers' with a democratic right to create mythological hagiographies of their own. 

Heard from a Muslim scholar in Chennai book fair (11.1.2020) say: he quoted Kanchi Periyavar. He said, all Indians irrespective of religion, who live on this side (Indian subcontinent) of the Hindu Kush mountains are Hindus following the same Sanatana Dharma.