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• Attempts to define Hinduism have usually been unsuccessful due to its complex and amorphous nature.
• Instead of a definition, important characteristics of Hinduism are highlighted.
• Hinduism has a long history and has spread across all of India.
• Buddhism, originally a Hindu schism, is now practiced by many in Asia.
• The structural basis of Hinduism is the caste system, which sometimes survives even after conversion to Christianityor Islam.
• The hierarchical system includes the Brahmin and the Untouchable at opposite ends, combining Sanskritic and non-Sanskritic systems of ritual and belief.
• Each caste contains both Sanskritic and non-Sanskritic elements, with varying proportions depending on the caste and region.
• Hinduism includes diverse elements such as worship of trees, rivers, mountains, ancestor cults, village-deities, the profound philosophy of the Upanishads and Vedanta, and the mysticism of the Bhakti Schools.
• Reformist sects like the Jains and Lingayats eventually became castes, creating boundaries but still remaining within Hinduism.
• The caste system allowed a large number of distinct groups with varying cultures, occupations, and beliefs to coexist, respecting each other’s autonomy while ensuring cooperation.
• Throughout India’s history, the idea of hierarchy has been questioned, leading to unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the caste system.
• More frequently, lower groups have tried to improve their status by Sanskritizing their rituals and beliefs.
• Rites and beliefs have continuously undergone Sanskritization, both inside and outside Hinduism.
• Lower castes and isolated communities have been subjected to Sanskritization, incorporating their rites and beliefs into Hinduism.
• The worship of rivers, trees, and mountains, now fully Sanskritized, makes it easier to assimilate the beliefs of lower castes and non-Hindu communities.
• Hinduism is dynamic, continually reacting to political and social forces, influencing and being influenced by them.
• In the last century, reformist movements like the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, and Ramakrishna Mission have emerged.
• Mahatma Gandhi, in his efforts against Untouchability and other reforms, exemplifies the dynamic nature of Hinduism.
• While intellectuals have focused on texts like the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and philosophical systems, for the ordinary Hindu, religious life revolves around feasts, fasts, vratas, pilgrimages, and visits to local temples.
• The Puranas (stories about gods), Itihāsas (epics like Ramayana and Mahābhārata), and stories of local saints play a significant role in everyday life.
• Songs sung by saints also hold a prominent place in the religious practices of ordinary Hindus.