shivakannan
Member
There is no religion such as "Hinduism". Due to Bharat being east of the Sindhu river, Persians gave the people who lived east of the Sindhu, the name "Hindu" as "sa" in sanskrit becomes "ha" in their ancient Persian language.
Later on, when the British came to Bharat, they saw so many different cultures, languages, customs, traditions, and religions. For example, some of the many religions they saw were Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, ... All these are different religions. They may have similarities and accept the Vedas but they are different religions. Can you say all religions that accept the belief that "killing is wrong" are one religion? No. Similarly, just because these various religions accept the Vedas, you can not call them one religion. Their customs, traditions, and lifestyles vary vastly.
The British were used to thinking everyone should be one religion, and may have expected every land to have one religion. Many Christians destroyed temples built by the Ancient Greeks. They erased various faiths such as the Mayan faith in Mexico. This is due to their belief that everyone in the world must practice their religion. The British hence expected Bharat to have one religion but in Bharat, we have a habit of not cutting each others' heads off or paying each other to throw away their traditions and follow ours. Hence, so many religions exist.
If you search up Hinduism on the internet, chances are you will see descriptions such as "Hinduism believes that Brahman is the supreme being who is formless and all other gods are manifestations of Brahman". Vaishnavites do not believe this. They firmly oppose this as they believe Shriman Narayana with his Shankha, Chaklra, Gada, reclined on Adisesha is the supreme being. Shaivites believe Shiva in his form we worship him, is the supreme reality. Advaitis accept the principle of formless Ishvara.
Advaita and Dvaita should be considered different religions, their differences are many in number. In the name of Hindu unity, we can not destroy our diversity. Why should we call ourselves "Hindu"? What is the purpose? If we respect each others' sampradayas, that itself will keep us in harmony.
Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara
Later on, when the British came to Bharat, they saw so many different cultures, languages, customs, traditions, and religions. For example, some of the many religions they saw were Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, ... All these are different religions. They may have similarities and accept the Vedas but they are different religions. Can you say all religions that accept the belief that "killing is wrong" are one religion? No. Similarly, just because these various religions accept the Vedas, you can not call them one religion. Their customs, traditions, and lifestyles vary vastly.
The British were used to thinking everyone should be one religion, and may have expected every land to have one religion. Many Christians destroyed temples built by the Ancient Greeks. They erased various faiths such as the Mayan faith in Mexico. This is due to their belief that everyone in the world must practice their religion. The British hence expected Bharat to have one religion but in Bharat, we have a habit of not cutting each others' heads off or paying each other to throw away their traditions and follow ours. Hence, so many religions exist.
If you search up Hinduism on the internet, chances are you will see descriptions such as "Hinduism believes that Brahman is the supreme being who is formless and all other gods are manifestations of Brahman". Vaishnavites do not believe this. They firmly oppose this as they believe Shriman Narayana with his Shankha, Chaklra, Gada, reclined on Adisesha is the supreme being. Shaivites believe Shiva in his form we worship him, is the supreme reality. Advaitis accept the principle of formless Ishvara.
Advaita and Dvaita should be considered different religions, their differences are many in number. In the name of Hindu unity, we can not destroy our diversity. Why should we call ourselves "Hindu"? What is the purpose? If we respect each others' sampradayas, that itself will keep us in harmony.
Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara
