The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Hinduism:
Hinduism – predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent.[1] Its followers are called Hindus, who refer to it as Sanātana Dharma[2] (Sanskrit: सनातनधर्मः, lit. 'the eternal law that sustains/upholds/surely preserves'),[3][4] amongst many other expressions.[5][6] Hinduism has no single founder, and is formed of diverse traditions,[7] including a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on the notion of karma, dharma, and societal norms. Among its direct roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India and, as such, Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion"[8] or the "oldest living major religion" in the world.[9][10][11][12]
Osborne, E (2005). Accessing R.E. Founders & Leaders, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism Teacher's Book Mainstream. Folens Limited.
References
^Hinduism is variously defined as a "religion", "set of religious beliefs and practices", "religious tradition" etc. For a discussion on the topic, see: "Establishing the boundaries" in Gavin Flood (2003), pp. 1-17. René Guénon in hisIntroduction to the Study of the Hindu doctrines (1921 ed.), Sophia Perennis, ISBN0-900588-74-8, proposes a definition of the term "religion" and a discussion of its relevance (or lack of) to Hindu doctrines (part II, chapter 4, p. 58).
^The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. Ed. John Bowker. Oxford University Press, 2000;
^The term "Dharma" connotes much more than simply "law". It is not only the doctrine of religious and moral rights, but also the set of religious duties, social order, right conduct and virtuous things and deeds. As such Dharma is the Code of Ethics.[1]Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine The modern use of the term can be traced to late 19th century Hindu reform movements (J. Zavos, Defending Hindu Tradition: Sanatana Dharma as a Symbol of Orthodoxy in Colonial India, Religion (Academic Press), Volume 31, Number 2, April 2001, pp. 109-123; see also R. D. Baird, "Swami Bhaktivedanta and the Encounter with Religions", Modern Indian Responses to Religious Pluralism, edited by Harold Coward, State University of New York Press, 1987); less literally also rendered "eternal way" (so Harvey, Andrew (2001), Teachings of the Hindu Mystics, Boulder: Shambhala, xiii, ISBN1-57062-449-6). See also René Guénon, Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines (1921 ed.), Sophia Perennis, ISBN0-900588-74-8, part III, chapter 5 "The Law of Manu", p. 146. On the meaning of the word "Dharma", see also René Guénon, Studies in Hinduism, Sophia Perennis, ISBN978-0-900588-69-3, chapter 5, p. 45
^D. S. Sarma, Kenneth W. Morgan, The Religion of the Hindus, 1953
^Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia, Merriam-Webster, 2000, p. 751
^in the world.Laderman, Gary (2003), Religion and American Cultures: An Encyclopedia of Traditions, Diversity, and Popular Expressions, Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, p. 119, ISBN1-57607-238-X, world's oldest living civilization and religion
