Hinduism: once was: RAJARAM EPISODE

[Ven. Tantra]

Vidyasankar Sundaresan wrote:

<<...does anyone have a consistent and comprehensive
statement of Hindu-ism as defining *a* religious
community? If so, I would very much like to know what
it is.>>

Dear Sir,

Echoing the sentiment of Santosh N. Desai in his
_Hinduism in Thai Life_ (Bombay: Popular Prakashan,
1980), 2-3, n., I would submit the following � if only
a gambit � in attempt to formulate a consistent and
comprehensive statement on Hindu-ism as defining a
religious community:

The term �Hindu� can only be used in a broad
cultural-anthropological sense vis-�-vis artifacts
derived or developed from the civilizations east of
the Indus River, particularly before the arrival of
Islam. This definition would include Aboriginal as
well as non-Aboriginal components, Aryanism and
non-Aryanism, Vedism, orthodox Braahmanism, the Bhakti
traditions as practiced in Vai.s.navism and Zaivism,
and the Zakti-cult as well. The "heterodox"
philosophies of Jainism, Buddhism, et al, would also
form part of it.

Most civily yours,

Ven. Tantra

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