Given these two sides what is the truth of this great ancient religion? 

The first thing we discover as we inquire into this issue is that the term Hinduism is not found in any of the classical teachings of the so-called Hindu religion. It comes from the Persians and was adapted by the Greeks as a name for the people of India, which they contacted mainly along the banks of the Indus river.

Persian Hindu is Greek Indus, the name of a river, nothing more. It is a geographical term. The religion we call Hinduism is itself largely a religion without a name. It teaches that truth is beyond names and forms and all paths that lead to the Divine are good. As the oldest of religions, the mother of all religions, it accepts all religions. In its long history, going perhaps into prehistoric times, it has seen many other religions come and go.

[ David Frawley ] [ Up ] [ Next ]