5

I have seen in many answers here that a lot of people have this notion that Hinduism is a way of life (as opposed to a well-defined religion. I find this notion amusing because I think Hinduism is just opposite.

All the Abrahamic religions are ideal way of life religion because ethical and moral activities are governed by the scriptures like what to eat and how to pray, when to pray.

Do any Hindu scriptures say that Hinduism is a way of life?

Say No To Censorship
  • 30,811
  • 17
  • 131
  • 257
  • 1
    There are rules in Hindu Scriptures too which say how to live, what to eat, how to eat etc., how to pray, what to pray. Why do you think Hinduism is not an ideal way of life and Abrahamic religions are? – Sarvabhouma Nov 22 '17 at 07:32
  • then what is unique about it? –  Nov 22 '17 at 07:37
  • are you unfamiliar with Hinduism? – Swami Vishwananda Nov 22 '17 at 08:19
  • 2
    @SwamiVishwananda yes but this does not stop me from asking questions does it? –  Nov 22 '17 at 08:21
  • 2
    Every aspect of life from rising in the morning till sleeping to eating to breathing for the individual has scriptural guidance in Hinduism. Every aspect of social, political, economic and liturgical, anthropological, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of life are well-defined in theory and practice in Hinduism. What makes you think it is not a way of life? In fact, it is not JUST a way of life. You probably see Hindus around who have chosen not to live life by scripture and that is what amuses you. You are misinformed. –  Nov 22 '17 at 10:27
  • @moonstar2001 show me a verse from any vedas which says so –  Nov 22 '17 at 12:28
  • @shanu you have not replied to my previous comment. What exactly do u want to be proven from the Vedas? For example suppose if i prove- Vedas want us to earn money in the right manner and condemns the opposite behavior- will that sufficiently prove something in the context? Also why only the Vedas? – Rickross Nov 22 '17 at 17:52
  • @Rickross ok take liberty to specify a verse from Vedas which say whatever is the right way to earn money. You may use Bhagavat Geeta as well –  Nov 23 '17 at 04:56
  • 1
    The word Hinduism is coined by foreigners and adopted by those in current India who forgot vedic lifestyle. Anybody looking for scriptural answers for such a questions might as well figure out what came first (chicken or egg)!. In fact Hinduism.stackexchange is the wrong name for this forum. Soon people will start quoting lines from Bollywood movies to justify our vedic scriptures. I see that happenning already in some ways. – Rama27 Nov 23 '17 at 06:57

2 Answers2

7

I find this notion amusing because I think Hinduism is just opposite.

Yes, what you think is right.

So, no Hindu scriptures say that Hinduism is just a way of life.

But. having said that i need a more precise definition of- way of life vs religion.

If way of life means something like - not much restrictions, plenty of options to choose from, no clear cut instructions as regards what to do and what not to do, how to lead a righteous life as per Dharma and what to be shunned as unrighteous, etc then that's not true.

All scriptures like the Smritis, PurAnas and the Tantras are full of SadAchAra principles and Dharma-Adharama Nirupunam (determination of what's righteous and what's not).

What to be eaten, what not be eaten, how to eat, which mantras to chant before commencing the act of eating etc are also laid down quite elaborately in the aforementioned scriptures.

So, the answer to your currently poised question is No. But there's no way of proving that no.

Also, upon seeing one of your comments under the question, it seemed to me, that you are of the impression, that Vedas don't talk about righteous-unrighteous, moral-immoral at all. Then, that is not true.

I have collected few mantras from the Atharva Veda:

The path of truth should be followed:

rtasya panthAm anupashya sAdhu

.....

O sAdhu, look (inside) and follow the path of truth.

AV 18.4.3

One should always speak the truth and not falsehood; one should speak pleasantly:

Satyam vakshyAmi na anrtam

...

I will speak truth always, not falsehood.

AV 4.9.7

Madhumatim vAcham udeyam

....

If you speak, speak only pleasantly.

AV 16.2.2

Money should only be earned by legal means:

RamantAm punyA lakshmir, yAh pApih tA aninasham

.....

The person enjoys who gets his money by honest means, the evil one who gets his money by evil means is surely going to be destroyed.

AV 7.115.4

Further mantras are there which can be produced to prove my point. So, DharmAdharma Nirupunam, SadAchAra principles are found in the Vedas too, but not as elaborately as they are found in some of the later-day scriptures.

NOTE- Whenever AV appears in my answer it denotes Atharva Veda.

Rickross
  • 111,864
  • 14
  • 239
  • 439
  • 1
    Actually Rigveda does not talk about what is righteous and non-righteous. However, RV talks about what is truth (rita) and what is not truth (an-arita). So following Aryan folds in rita. Both Karma and Dharma encompass or constitutes rita which a specie follows as per his nature. Like a scorpion is going to bite you because that is his truth to bite someone. However since you are honest in your part I will accept your answer –  Nov 23 '17 at 12:46
3

Source

The term "Hindu" was mostly coined by non-Hindus to refer the people staying around "Sindhu" river. Orthodox scriptures may not be aware of the term "Hinduism", as they were written much before.

Supreme court of India has declared "Hinduism", as a "way of life", due to lack of reference for being a religion. Lately, Indian PM has reckoned the same sentiment.

Verdict: “We will not go into the larger debate as to what is Hindutva or what is its meaning. We will not re-consider the 1995 judgment and also not examine Hindutva or religion at this stage. At this stage, we will confine ourselves to the issue raised before us in the reference. In the reference, there is no mention of the word ‘Hindutva’. If anybody will show that there is a reference to the word ‘Hindutva’, we will hear him. We will not go into Hindutva at this stage,”

Similarities with other religions

"Hinduism" generally refers to collection of cultures, evolved in Indian subcontinent. It has several Dharma-shAstra-s like "Manusmriti" & its derivations like MahAbhArata's "AnusAsana Parva" or even modern day "ChAnakya-niti". Veda-s are the foundation of these scriptures.

Any Dharma-shAstra, basically describes a way of life. i.e. it shows what is Dharma (do-able duty). Similar localised Dharma-shAstra-s are found for Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam also -- which describe what to do and what not do in their societies.

Still not a religion itself

religion = a particular system of faith and worship.

While other religions typically believe in certain singular aspect of God, the "Hinduism" (overall culture) defers on that. People are free to believe in whichever God/Guru they want and they are also free to believe in none of them. Yet they can be practising Hindu.

However Hinduism is surely collection of several religions, which are equivalent to Abrahamic religions. For example, Vaishnava-s believe in supremacy of Vishnu, Shaivaites in Shiva, Devi-worshippers in Devi-s and various other Ishta-Deva-s are also famous. There are numerous belief systems, which are separate religions.

Term "way of life" is not something special

Referring it as a "way of life" is neither a matter of pride nor a matter of disgrace. It's just a term. Since the number of devotees of numerous Indian faiths, are relatively smaller in size & vicinity, all these religions are collected under the umbrella of Hinduism.

Buddhism & Jainism are also similar to Hinduism in that way. Their core philosophies are not particular to any single God, but devotees create their own Gods/faiths out of these philosophies.

Once Islam, Christianity will start evolving like Hinduism, they may also become "way of life". For example, Islam is already having so many sects like Sunni, Shia, Wahabi, Sufi, Vohra, & many more...

Community
  • 1
iammilind
  • 19,793
  • 7
  • 62
  • 145
  • 2
    this is just a misconception that only Hinduism has religions within religion, example Christianity had a schism in 9th century and which further divides into many sect like morons, born again Christians, Lutheran church etc. Same goes for Islam which was many sects like deoband, barlevi in India, and Salafism, Qutabism in Arab countries –  Nov 22 '17 at 08:18
  • 1
    Also, I am not here for what some court or some pm had said. I am here for answers which has some reference from the scriptures –  Nov 22 '17 at 08:20
  • @shanu, I have agreed to your first comment already in my answer. See the para about discussing sects of Islam. However, for now at large, Islam is still limited to Allah & Christianity is to Jesus as son of God. In case of Hinduism, this is not the case as there are numerous accepted belief systems. Regarding scriptures you may never get an answer, because no conventional scripture would discuss "Hinduism" term. The term "Hindu" was coined by non-Hindus as an ad-hoc term to refer the people of India to let them differentiate from other ethnicities. – iammilind Nov 22 '17 at 08:48
  • 1
    @shanu Did you mean 'mormons' (not morons)? :P – Say No To Censorship Nov 22 '17 at 17:42
  • @sv yes :) you are correct –  Nov 22 '17 at 17:44
  • @iammilind What ever you specified is not way of life and it seems way of worship to me. Vedas do not specify which can be said as code of conducts expect few instructions on rituals. Let me give you an example, muslims follow conduct of their prophets which we can not because conducts of our gods lie in extreme ends still we can attain moksha –  Nov 23 '17 at 04:54
  • @shanu, as mentioned in my answer, you may read yourself Manusmriti & AnusAsana Parva, MahabhArata. It describes the minutest details of what to do and what not do in marriage, family, society, economy, ... . What should be punishment if not done correctly and what are the rewards if done correctly. I call that as way of life. Muslims & Christians have the same thing in their holy books. The way of life has not to do with conducts of Gods directly. Gods are for worship & scriptures are for way of life. – iammilind Nov 23 '17 at 05:40
  • @iammilind these day we follow Indian constitution which has many laws which are religion neutral so are you suggesting the Indian constitution is also part of Hinduism? –  Nov 23 '17 at 06:51
  • @shanu, constitution is a modern day Dharma-shAstra, which is established according to overall sentiment post-independence. Probably it may not be agreeable to all, but its position is clear. e.g. Manusmriti or Sharia may give severe punishment for adultery, however according to Indian law (based on constitution), the punishment is not that severe. So constitution overrides the conventional scriptures. Now if you consider "Hinduism" as a religion then constitution is Not part of it, because it's faith neutral. If "Hinduism" is treated as way of life, then Yes; it's a modern part of it. – iammilind Nov 23 '17 at 06:57
  • @iammilind your last line is self-contradictory because if it is a way of life then certain sets of scripture to be followed but if one follows constitution then it ceases to be way of life because now many set of rules are compromised like killing a cow or adultery because it is established on consensus of non-hindus also. Also, For Islam the present constitution is neither fit in religion nor in way of life term because you can not separate Islam from both point of view –  Nov 23 '17 at 07:37
  • @shanu, I don't find any contradiction. Whatever describes [certain] "way of life" is more or less a scripture. Indian constitution is no less a scripture. Whether the set of rules are compromised or not is subjective and as I said in my previous comment, "Probably it may not be agreeable to all". If Sharia is not agreeable to us or Manusmriti is not agreeable to Arabs, that doesn't make them non-scriptures. Similarly, "Constitution" which describes several [if not all] ways of life, but it's not agreeable to you or me, doesn't mean it's not a scripture. – iammilind Nov 23 '17 at 08:39
  • @iammilind may be you can find sharia as non-scripture if I had to live under sharia I would not call the rule as way of life instead it should be a tyrannical rule against my will. Your are just using circular logic to lure me. Anyways I am not satisfied so far what ever you have written –  Nov 23 '17 at 08:51
  • 1
    @iammilind All Hindus believe in Vedas though. – Ikshvaku Nov 24 '17 at 14:14
  • @Ikshvaku, not really. There are many sects who may not be believing in Vedas. Shudras were deprived of Vedas. During Gita, Krishna referred that in certain aspect like Moksha, Vedas don't hold supremacy. e.g. BG 2.45... – iammilind Nov 24 '17 at 14:39
  • 1
    @iammilind The sects that don't believe in the Vedas are nastika schools, which are not part of Hinduism. For example, Buddhism, Jainism, etc. Shudras couldn't read Vedas but could read Smritis, Puranas, epics, Agamas, etc, which re-iterate the teachings of the Vedas. Vedas indeed are not needed in Moksha, but to get to Moksha you need Vedas. – Ikshvaku Nov 24 '17 at 22:24