REL-1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Vaishnavism, Ganesha
Document Summary
The word hinduism is derived from sind the name of the region (now pakistan) of the river sindhu. The term originally was referred to the religious group of indians that were not muslims. Most hindus do not refer to themselves to hinduism but to their caste, community, or linguistic group. Under indian law the term hindu refers to the hindu denominations, as well as any other person in the territories to which the hindu family act extends who is not a muslim, The concept of religion in the western sense isn"t very applicable to the hindu religion. Some consider the word dharma to come close to religion", but they recognize this in a limited way. Dharma for hindus means righteousness, justice, faith, duty, a religious and social obligation, but for some it does not cover all that is sacred for the hindu.
