| Hindus are concentrated in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka | | | | of ancient India, comprising of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, |
| and these places have been the hot spot of this | | | | Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc.Unlike the earlier |
| culture since time immemorial. Unlike other religions, | | | | Islamic invaders, known for violent way of promoting |
| Hinduism does not recognize a single prophet and has | | | | their religion by invading and destroying the local |
| multitude of gods and goddesses, mythologically | | | | cultures and Christianity which is known for aggressive |
| numbering at around 30 millions! Such a figure is given | | | | promotion through missionary activities, Hinduism is |
| in mythology by people of wisdom who have included | | | | never known to have been promoted aggressively or |
| all such perceptible forms as things of worship, so that | | | | purposively.Hindusim or people of the ancient culture of |
| man can see god in them and respect the existence | | | | India have allowed religions like Buddhism to take root |
| of such all forms (plant, animal, stone, sky, stars, soil, | | | | in India. In act Buddhism has not been promoted in |
| water, rain, fellow human being, etc.While failing to | | | | other countries by Indians who traveled abroad, but it |
| appreciate such deep meaning of the practices and | | | | has been taken by those people from other countries |
| beliefs, few people from within and outside have | | | | who have traveled to India and back to their |
| started criticizing negatively the Hindu way of life as | | | | countries.Another great aspect of Hinduism is that it |
| something of superstition and irrelavancy.The same | | | | has promoted spirituality and recommended restraint in |
| people have done precious little in appreciating the | | | | becoming overly materialistic. The knowledge gained |
| basic tenets, principles, thoughts, etc. of Hinduism while | | | | by learned people, has been used for general good of |
| magnifying the seemingly negative and negative | | | | the public (such as Ayurveda, Yoga etc). I believe, no |
| things.Also, Indian communists never miss an | | | | other religion or religious literature has such copious mix |
| opportunity to point out that the name 'Hindu' or | | | | of spiritualism and knowledge related to daily life |
| 'Hinduism' is not ancient and that the name has been | | | | applications.Even many traditional practices, have a |
| given by Persian invaders. Yes, it might me true, but | | | | scientific background relevant either to the olden times |
| the way of life, its culture being followed since | | | | or even the present day. For example cow dung |
| thousands of years in India, Nepal and in earlier days, in | | | | mixed with water is sprinkled in the front yard daily |
| many other countries surrounding India, does not cease | | | | after sweeping and even the mud floors are applied |
| to exist, just because it does not have a indigenous | | | | with a dung paste periodically. Sprinkling dung mixed |
| name. For example, though coconut and rice are | | | | with water is known to be germicidal.Die hard |
| predominantly grown in south of India, they are | | | | detractors of Hinduism (read communists of India), |
| mandatory for religious purposes in all parts of the | | | | should note that the good old traditions cannot be |
| country. Lord Srirama or Sri Krishna, though are | | | | looked with oversight and that Hinduism is not |
| believed to hail from the northern India, and are | | | | equivalent to casteism alone, which they frequently |
| worshipped through out all the three nations.The Jains, | | | | refer to.Explaining the Hindu way of life (Dharma)in an |
| Sikhs and Buddhists, though follow their own religions | | | | article such as this, though may not do justice, it will |
| are still part of the Hindu way of life in that they | | | | give insights for further research and understanding the |
| worship the Hindu gods and goddesses and even | | | | ancient Indian way of life.Ravikumar Uppaluri holds a |
| name themselves after the Hindu names. Thus the | | | | Masters degree in Agricultural Sciences and is |
| term Hinduism, irrespective of the time and origin, | | | | cofounder of an organization involved in Nature |
| represents the much older native culture and traditions | | | | conservation and sustainable development. |