An Introduction to the Study of Hinduism

Guru Prosad Sen, "An Introduction to the Study of Hinduism"

Thacker, Spink and Co. (1893) | English | ISBN: n/a | 296 pages | PDF | 14.8 MB

The popular notion regarding Hinduism is that it is a religious organization, and essentially poly- theistic in its character, that is, in other words, to be a Hindu and to remain a Hindu, a man must sub- scribe to certain articles of religious beliefs common to all Hindus, must acknowledge the authority of some books (Vedas and Shastras), and the supremacy of certain interpreters thereof. According to this po- pular notion, very generally accepted as correct, with- out examination of the grounds thereof, the Hindu is an idolater, and no one who does not worship the myriads of Hindu gods and goddesses, 33 crores in number, is not, and cannot be, a Hindu. To a super- ficial observer the Hindu rises from bed, eats and sleeps, nay, is born, marries and dies with religious rites, and it would almost be rank heresy to say that Hinduism is not a religious organization. Yet no- thing can be more erroneous than the popular notion on the subject. Hinduism is not, and has never been a religious organization.

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- NO MIRRORS, PLS! -