Hindu Dharma (Hindutva) has been practiced for eons. Yet, Western academics—and some Bharatiya scholars who follow their lead—tend to interpret it through a biased lens. In the strictest sense, it is extremely difficult to translate the word Dharma into English, as the language lacks an equivalent term that fully conveys its meaning.

While the Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are founded upon dogmas and rituals, the scope of Hindu Dharma is far broader. It does not impose a fixed set of rules or doctrines; instead, it allows individuals the freedom to worship in the manner they find most suitable. It is a vibrant and dynamic way of life, followed by over a billion people across the world. However, this freedom does not imply that anything and everything is acceptable—Hindu Dharma provides a broad framework within which its adherents are expected to operate.

The word religion is derived from the Latin term re-ligare, meaning “to bind back.” It thus refers to the act of binding oneself back to one’s creator. Although there is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes a religion, it can be said with certainty that religion concerns itself with the origin of the universe and its creator.

Hindu Dharma differs from the Western concept of religion in several significant ways. The Abrahamic religions each proclaim that theirs alone is the true faith, whereas Hindus view themselves as being one with the universe and, by extension, with its creator. The ancient Rishis sought the truth of existence and realized that the universe—everything within and beyond it—is pervaded by an invisible, conscious essence known as Brahman.

They observed and taught that Brahman is eternal, blissful, true, and the unseen foundation of all that exists, including our own selves. The Mahavakya Tat Tvam Asi (You are That) expresses this unity between the individual self and the universal soul. Hindu Granthas not only explain the purpose of life but also guide seekers toward realizing the ultimate truth.

In contrast, the Western concept of God limits the all-pervading Brahman by depicting that essence as a male being who is separate from creation and characterized by strong preferences and dislikes. Each Abrahamic faith has a revealed manual—such as the Bible for Christians or the Quran for Muslims—that its followers are required to obey. Failure to do so results in divine punishment.

Acceptance of this single ‘true God’ and adherence to prescribed rituals are deemed essential, for those who do not comply are believed to be ‘doomed to eternal damnation’ in hell. The words of God as revealed to Jesus about 2000 years ago or to Muhammad roughly 1400 years ago are regarded as the ‘ultimate, unquestionable truth.’

 Believers are further conditioned to feel fortunate for having been born into the ‘true’ religion. Essentially, these systems employ a combination of reward and fear, the promise of heaven and the threat of eternal hell, to ensure obedience, reinforced by notions such as ‘Judgment Day.’

Abrahamic religions are fixed belief systems that allow no scope for verifying the claims they make. Hindu Dharma, on the other hand, encourages every individual to question and examine such claims, accepting only what satisfies one’s reason and understanding.

If religion is defined as the pursuit of truth, Hindu Dharma certainly qualifies as one; but if religion is meant to act as a barrier separating the creator from creation, then it cannot be considered a religion in that sense. It has long been the least understood and most misinterpreted of the world’s faiths.

It is now time for Hindus to share the profound insights of the Rishis so that people everywhere may benefit from following the timeless wisdom of Hindu Dharma. It is our endeavor to package ancient wisdom in easily understandable articles and kindle interest among Hindus to dive deep in to this ocean of precious treasures and free them from colonial mindset.