Hinduism, it would seem, is a religion that does not have a solid all-capturing definition. It is a religion with no strict or all-pervading attribute, something that one can point to and say – this is Hinduism.
Unique characteristics of Hinduism:
(1) No Founder
Unlike other religions, there is no founder of Hinduism. Therefore, Hinduism cannot be traced back to some revered personality – for example, a Jesus or a Buddha. Hinduism is simply a name coined by non-Hindus to refer to the religion practiced east of the Indus River during the Vedic period.
(2) No identifiable foundational event
Related to the above, Hinduism does not have a foundational event. It is a religion that has evolved over more than 10 millenniums through a diverse range of sacred texts, sects and practical needs of the given time period.
(3) Extremely diverse in terms of religious text and beliefs
Most, if not all, religions can claim some amount of diversity in beliefs among its practitioners. However, in most religions, the beliefs emanate from a central core entity (a founder or a central belief system). For Christians, it is the idea of salvation through the descent of Christ. For Muslims, the revelation present in the Qur’an has indisputable status. The dhamma of the Buddha plays a dominant role in the Buddhist belief system.
This above characteristic does not seem to apply for Hinduism. The sheer amount of diversity in the beliefs in Hinduism is not seen in other religions. Many Hindus, for example, believe in a personal god that responds to prayers (bhakti), others may see non-dual Brahman in all beings (Advaita Vedanta), still others may see their body as a divine instrument to seek the higher truth through Yogic exercises etc. There is an overwhelming variety in the types of religious practices and rituals that are performed as well. Interestingly enough, these different (and sometimes mutually contradicting) strands in beliefs and practices, are able to co-exist under one umbrella of Hinduism without any significant tension.
(4) No hierarchical institution of authority
There is no single institution or hierarchical authority structure that can claim to represent Hinduism as a whole. There are undoubtedly numerous religious leaders and institutions, but they are confined to a group or a sect. Brahmans represent the Hindu priesthood who may be sought to perform religious rituals, whereas Sadhus (renunciates), who may or may not be Brahmans, may be consulted for spiritual advice.
(5) No single body of text that defines Hinduism
Unlike Islam, Christianity or Judaism, where there is a central scripture that holds an absolute status, Hinduism does not have a defining scripture. In theory, the Vedas are considered to have close to an absolute status in defining Hinduism. In practice, however, modern day Hinduism can be said to be more tantric, than Vedic (e.g. worship of images of god). Most Hindus also have no, or very little, awareness of the content of the Vedas. There is an enormous collection of scriptures and sacred texts in Hinduism, but the status of these texts vary widely from one Hindu sect to another.
Popular Views About Hinduism
1. The religion of India
While it is true that a vast majority of Hindus live in India, India is also home to a very significant population of Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis.
2. A religion practiced with obsessive fervor
For the vast majority of Hindus (even Hindus who are not overtly religious), religion is intertwined with their daily lives. John Brockington (in his book The Sacred Thread) states that for Hindus, religion is not a separate problem to be solved. The Sanskrit word that comes closest to the meaning of religion (as it relates to Hindus) is dharma, but dharma also includes duty, justice, law, ethics, principled moral behavior etc.
3. A religion based on caste divisions
Caste System became integral to Hinduism as it acquired religious sanctity through the belief that one’s present position in life was determined by the net effect of actions in previous lives (the doctrine of Karma). However, in recent history, various Hindu religious leaders have sought to reject caste barriers, and the caste system is in decline in modern-day Hinduism.
4. A religion that demands vegetarianism and non-violence
Many Hindus are indeed vegetarians, and the doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence) is considered an essential part of Hindu spirituality. However, many Hindus do eat meat, and the history of Hinduism is replete with violent battles among warring states. India today has the second-largest army in the world.
5. A religion that reveres the cow as a sacred animal
The cow is indeed regarded as sacred by the vast majority of (if not all) Hindus. This may have to do with the economic importance of cows in the early period and the doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence). It will also be correct to say that most Hindus do not consume beef. However, cow veneration would seem too superficial an attribute to define Hinduism.
6. A religion that regards the world as an illusion
The outsider perspective that Hindus believe the world to be an illusion comes from the popularity of Advaita Vedanta in the west. However, Advaita Vedanta (albeit the most influential) is only one of several schools of Vedanta. The other schools are more realistic in outlook. Similarly, we see that even outside of Vedanta, Hindu philosophical systems do not categorically deny the world.