Significance of Hindu and Hindu dharma (Hinduism)

There is a tendency on the part of some scholars to indicate that the word Hindu might have been created from Sindhu (in Sanskrit meaning ocean or river, especially in the west of India) due to lack of certain letters in old (Vedic) Sanskrit. Another misconception is that when certain foreigners (Greeks, Arabs and Persians) first arrived in India, they were unable to pronounce the word Sindhu properly and their mispronunciation of Sindhu led to the creation of Hindu. Thus it is quite common to come across different stories about the origin of the name Hindu. This article discusses why Hindu could not have evolved from Sindhu and looks into other explanations for Hindu and Hindu dharma.

It is difficult to imagine that Vedic Sanskrit, due perhaps to a lack of certain letters and sounds in its alphabet, caused Sindhu to change into Hindu. Since the letters (sounds) 's' and 'dh' in Sanskrit have existed right from the outset, there would be no need to replace them, respectively, with 'h' and 'd' thus transforming Sindhu into Hindu. Moreover, because the words Sindhu and Hindu continued to coexist simultaneously even after the supposed transformation, clearly indicates that such change never occurred. Had such a substitution really taken place, the word Sindhu would most likely disappear. Thus it is clear that the word Hindu was not derived from Sindhu due to any deficiency in the Sanskrit alphabets.

The idea that the word Hindu was used for the first time by Alexander the Great and his soldiers during their invasion of India seems quite absurd. It is said that the invading Greeks and Macedonians found it difficult to pronounce the word Sindhu, and therefore dropped S at the beginning of Sindhu in favor of H giving rise to Hindu. It is hard to believe that any native speaker of Greek, a language having at least the letter Sigma for 's' sound, would experience any difficulty or uncertainty in pronouncing Sindhu with 's' sound. Moreover, these foreigners must already be familiar in the use of structurally, linguistically and phonetically more complex words (names) in their native Greek than the simple Sindhu. Thus they would have no reason or need to invent the word Hindu, accidentally or otherwise.

Similarly Muslims (Arabic or Persian speakers) would not suddenly, upon their arrival in India for the first time, start calling Sindhu River as Hindu River. Being quite familiar with 's' sound (expressed by letters Sad and Sin in their native languages), they would have no problem correctly pronouncing the word Sindhu.

Note that whenever a person goes to a different place or a country, his first communications with the locals are generally of verbal nature using words and sounds. These utterances (indicating names, places etc.) are usually imitated or copied while trying not to distort the original words in any manner. Therefore a foreigner (ancient Greek, Arab or Persian), who was quite familiar with 's' sound, would not be confused or encumbered into pronouncing Sindhu as Hindu after arriving in India and hearing it from the locals.

Thus it is clear from the above that the word Hindu has been there for a long time (perhaps since the beginning) and was not derived from Sindhu, and its roots lie elsewhere in ancient rituals and yajnas. The Moon (also known as Indu) and its light, for example, long ago used to be considered as the enhancer (or catalyst) of quality (taste and aroma etc.) and quantity of juices in plants -- including those from which Soma-juice was derived. Indu was thus a name given to Soma-juice+ and nectar in addition to being used for the Moon. As several Vedic hymns suggest, Soma-juice (Indu) was also the libation for Vedic rituals, yajnas and worships. It was offered to God, and consumed afterwards by people (worshippers etc.) for health, life, prosperity and progeny. Moreover, its use would imply propitiation for the user or Hindu -- a person propitiated by Indu (the Vedic libation). Note, Hindu -- a compound word with Sanskrit roots (i.e. H + indu) -- indicates a liaison between H (sounding 'H' as in Hut, and implying auspiciousness or delight) and Indu or indu (meaning Vedic libation).

Thus note that indu was a normal soma juice. Offering it (indu or soma juice) as libation to God (during a Vedic yajna or sacrifice) made it auspicious, and its use (drinking / accepting by people) afterwards signified a person as Hindu . someone propitiated by indu (Vedic libation).

Similarly, dharma was considered long ago as a person's duty or commitment. Moreover, he would undertake or try to fulfil (properly complete) his obligations preferably in the witness of or as a dedication to a deity (such as indicated also in the Gita: Ch. 18 - V. 66). This association with deity most likely gave rise to the divine aspect in one's dharma. Note also in this regard that religion essentially involves relying on or being in obligation to god and living and acting accordingly. Thus, dharma and religion seem somewhat similar in meaning and function, and may even be used interchangeably.

Religion (dharma) based on the Vedas (and involving Vedic rituals, practices, customs and way of life since the very beginning of civilization) has long been identified as the Vedic dharma. Moreover, note that as the knowledge contained in the Vedas has withstood the test of time, it is considered eternal (sanatan): these scriptures are therefore considered as divinely inspired and dharma based on them as the Sanatan dharma (eternal religion). There have also been other names used for this religion. For example, it was once also called Bhagvata dharma after the Vedic god Bhaga or Bhagvan -- the bestower of auspicious blessings and possessing the power of goodness (Ref.: Indian Philosophy, Vol. 2, S. Radhakrishnan, Oxford University Press, 1999, p. 667). Similarly, it is known as Hindu dharma (Hindu religion or Hinduism) because of its association with Hindu (people expiated by Indu -- libation in Vedic rituals and practices). Needless to say, Hindu dharma (dharma associated with Hindu) has its roots in the Vedas and is truly the Vedic dharma. It is clear therefore that Vedic dharma (dharma according to the Vedas), Sanatan dharma (dharma based on the Sanatan or eternal knowledge of the Vedas) and Hindu dharma (dharma representing the Vedic dharmic rituals, practices and expiation etc.) are interchangeable expressions.

Finally, it is clear from the above that the word Hindu (not signifying any particular area or region) was in existence for a long time before the foreigners arrived in India. Moreover, even the word Hindustan (meaning the area or land belonging to the Hindu) could have been easily created by the locals (living in the present-day India) or the outsiders by simply adding stan or sthan (area) to the pre-existing local word Hindu. Likewise, the word Hind (or the land of Hindu) was most likely also rooted in the word Hindu -- with u (sounding as 'oo' in tooth) dropped from it.
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Notes:

Note - 1:

+ Soma (Indu)

Hymns dedicated (in Rig Veda etc.) to Soma indicate that Soma (Indu) basically was a juice derived from a special tree (shrub) -- definitely not the wild mushrooms or any other plant in the class of ephedra, hemp, cannabis or ganja etc. -- by using stones to press (crush and squeeze) its bark, wood and pith to get the sap. This needed strong men to do the extraction, i.e. crushing the bark etc. and getting the juice. Note, perhaps the tree yielding the Soma juice could even be the same or similar to that producing the cinnamon now. Soma was a physically and mentally stimulating drink and not just an intoxicant. Consider the following Vedic hymns for example.

"On all sides, Soma, thou art our life-giver: aim of all eyes, light-finder, come within us.
Indu, of one accord with thy protections both from behind and from before preserve us." RV (Book 8 - Hymn 48.15)

"Give us our portion (Soma) in the Sun through thine own mental power and aids;
And make us better than we are." RV (Book 9 - Hymn 4.5)

"The Tree whose praises never fail yields heavenly milk (juice) among our hymns,
Urging men's generations on." RV (Book 9 - Hymn 12.7)

"With stones they press the Soma forth, the Strong conducted by the strong:
They milk the liquor out with skill." RV (Book 9 - Hymn 34.3)

"Whose coloured sap they drive with stones, the yellow meath-distilling juice,
Indu for Indra, for his drink." RV(Book 9 - Hymn 85.8)
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By: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Email:
[email protected]
Date: Nov. 3, 2003

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