Encyclopaedia of Hinduism (Volume 1 to 15)

Hinduism is, in many respects a unique phenomenon in the History of World Religions. Unlike other religions, Hinduism does not regard the concept of God as being central to it. It is neither a system of theology nor makes any dogmatic affirmation regarding the nature of god. Hinduism does not insist on any particular religious practice as being obligatory nor does it accept any doctrine as its dogma. As a religion. There is no dogma or practice which can be said to be either universal or essential to Hinduism as a whole. Yet Hinduism has persisted through centuries as distinct religious entity. Hinduism is, in a sense, an ethnic religion. The Hindus are verily born and grown in Hinduism, and this condition of birth is so compulsive that many persons who are born of Hindu parents generally conform to Hinduism though they may not believe in many of its doctrines and practices.Belief in the absolute validity of the Vedas is often mentioned as distinctive attribute of a Hindu. Strictly speaking, Hinduism as a religion must be distinguished from Hinduism as a social organization. If one might at all speak of any distinctive features of Hinduism, one cold mention the belief in the ideological complex of “Karma—Samsara—Moksa” on the metaphysico-ethical plane and the acceptance of the caste system on the socio-ethical plane.The true glory of Hinduism consists in presenting all these polarities and paradoxes as also various levels of doctrine and practices as constituting a single well co-ordinated religious system.