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