Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world dating back to 5000 B.C. It is the third most populous religion in the world, with 762 million followers (13% of the world’s population), after Christianity and Islam.

In spite of the large number of followers, Hinduism is not well understood by the non-Hindu population of the world. One reason for this is the existing literature on Hinduism presents a complicated and sometimes apparently inconsistent picture of the religion.

The word Hindu is an incorrect term given to a follower of the Vedas. The true name of the religion is Sanatana Dharma, meaning “the eternal religion”. Ancient Arabians who came to the region coined the word Hindu. The reason for this is that the people the Arabians were referring to were the people who lived along the Sindhu River. The Arabians called this river the Indus River because they were unable to pronounce the S-sound. Thus the people that lived along the river came to be known as Hindus. Technically, all people living in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan are Hindu because the true definition of the word Hindu is the “people of the subcontinent.” A correct term for a follower of Sanatana Dharma would be Vaidaki, a “follower of the Vedas.”

The word Hinduism is also flawed, specifically the suffix “ism”, which connotes a body of set or fixed ideas. Unlike western religions and institutions, secularism, pacifism, multiculturalism, and freethinking are atypical to the Hindu. This allows for the religion and its followers to be more tolerant and inclusive. A Hindu would respect Jesus as a spiritual person and might even think of him equivalent to an Avatar, or an incarnation. Foreign to the “exclusive” religions of the West, this high level of toleration created by this faith has made its practitioner more inclusive. He realizes that religions are paths to the same goal and thus has a deserved reputation of being highly tolerant of other religions. This is what separates him from a Christian, Jew, and Muslim. There is a quote in the Vedas that says “Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti”, which can be translated as “The Truth is One, but different Sages call it by different Names.”

Hinduism is unique because a messiah or a guru did not found it. Hindus believe that the Creator created both the Universe and the Knowledge about it simultaneously. The Rishis, or seers, obtained this Knowledge of Divine Law directly from God, which is now in the form of the Vedas. Another characteristic of Hinduism is that it is not formally organized under any human’s authority. The religious authority has to be earned by one’s own piety and spiritual dedication. And finally, one cannot be converted into Hinduism because Hinduism is a “way of life” in the literal and figurative sense. Thus, if one chooses to lead a life as a Hindu then he will be a Hindu.