What makes one a Hindu? Who is the founder of Hinduism?
Sri Sri Swamiji: Hindu is not the right name for the Sanatana dharma that is lived here. A name has to be given only to differentiate it from another of its kind. This religion of ours was the only one that existed throughout the world. Thus, the need to have a name for it did not arise. When other religions and faiths sprouted up, the need to give a name for this religion arose and westerners have christened this ancient religion as Hindu. It is commonly found that a civilization grows beside a river, as agriculture is the basis for existence. Thus, those who entered the Country from river Sindhu side named the civilization found there as Hindu. The westerners had referred to the religion in this Country as Sindhu. It later came to be known as Hindu. If you take any religion of the world, we find definitive answers to three basic questions about that religion: • Who is the founder of the religion? • When and where was the founder born? • What is the religious text for the religion and
