Talk:Hinduism

Use of Sanskrit

Since this article is about Hinduism, shouldn't the name be written in Sanskrit as well? Shubhsamant09 (talk) 23:29, 26 January 2025 (UTC)

See WP:INDICSCRIPT. Remsense ‥ 论 23:30, 26 January 2025 (UTC)

Yeah but this article is about Hinduism. It clearly states articles related to religions are not included in it. Shubhsamant09 (talk) 00:02, 27 January 2025 (UTC)

See WP:INDICSCRIPT. Going by your logic. I would ask: Do you see the majority of the Hindus fluently speaking Sanskrit? Capitals00 (talk) 02:43, 14 April 2025 (UTC)

So do majority of muslims speak arabic ??? 185.70.54.209 (talk) 19:15, 4 October 2025 (UTC)

Yes, definitely! People back then, practicing Hinduism in the subcontinent, used either Sanskrit, or Tamil majorly. Coskd (talk) 06:44, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

Clarify Sanātana Dharma in Hinduism lead

Clarification of Sanātana Dharma in lead section

Please change the following sentence:

> "...it has also been described by the modern term Sanātana Dharma (lit. 'eternal dharma') emphasizing its eternal nature."

• • to:**

> "...it has also been described by the term *Sanātana Dharma* (lit. 'eternal dharma'), emphasizing its eternal nature. However, the term traditionally refers more specifically to the Upanishadic path of inner inquiry and realization, and not to the full spectrum of beliefs and practices now grouped under Hinduism."

Rationale

This adds a brief but important clarification: *Sanātana Dharma* in classical usage refers to the Upanishadic pursuit of truth, not the entirety of ritual and sectarian traditions later categorized as Hinduism.

Thank you. Shuken Official (talk) 10:28, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Day Creature (talk) 06:22, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

Let it be... No one does ever ask a religious figure before writing articles here. This has been the practice for the pages of all the major religions. All they have got is news paper cuttings and journals as 'reliable sources.' Better you switch to other encyclopedias... Coskd (talk) 06:39, 28 February 2026 (UTC)

Basic error of word usage

At the end of the opening paragraph, the word "endonym(s)" is used, which does not exist in the English language. No doubt the intended word is "eponym(s)". ~2025-43800-70 (talk) 01:13, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

The word endonym certainly does exist in the English language, and is exactly the word meant. General Ization ^Talk 01:18, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

Legal definition?

I think it would make sense to add that the legal system in India deems Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists as Hindus in the lead. Article 25(2), Explanation II says "the reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina or Buddhist religion, and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly." Ar1201u1 (talk) 15:29, 24 June 2026 (UTC)

That's kind of a legal protection for Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists? Joshua Jonathan - Let's talk! 15:48, 24 June 2026 (UTC)

I don't think that constitutes a "definition". It says for purpose of that section, "Hindus" should be construed as such. It is local terminology. -- Kautilya3 (talk) 19:41, 24 June 2026 (UTC)

Yes, as Joshua and Kautilya3 explained, the document seems to clarify the usage of the term "Hindu" in the context of what is stated in "25(2)b" - social reform / access to public Hindu religious institutions - not as a broad religious definition. Asteramellus (talk) 00:03, 25 June 2026 (UTC)

I agree on it being an explanation only

However, the legal system does treat them as Hindus. For example, India has separate marriage and divorce laws for Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and Parsis; but not for Jains, Sikhs, or Buddhists Ar1201u1 (talk) 19:45, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

The personal law is not really dictated by religion, but by customary practices. The "Hindu" (Indic) cultural practices are applicable in all those religions. This is the older meaning of the term "Hindu" which has been around for several centuries before the British arrived and religion-fied everything. -- Kautilya3 (talk) 21:03, 29 June 2026 (UTC)

I see your point and agree. The lawyer is me just wants to mention it as a sidenote though Ar1201u1 (talk) 19:44, 30 June 2026 (UTC)

Since it's a context-specific definition, I don't see a place for it in the lead. It'd be better placed in the Definitions section. Swirlymarigold (talk) 15:44, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

Remove wrong information

plz remove wrong info which in first paragraph that in the 19 th century derived as sanatana dharma, The Word Sanatana Dharma is mentioned in manusmriti, Bhagavata purana and other vedic text not in 19 th century. If you see history about five thousand years ago none of the so called religion existed on earth apart from Sanatana dharma and Tribal religion, the Tribal beliefs are very ancient, they worship mountains, rain forests, ocean, wind etc. Our Sanatana dharma is mentioned in our Vedas and Upanishads. Sanatana Dharma is beyond human history. Hinduism just exonym word

The phrase dharma sanātana occurs in classical Sanskrit literature, for example, in the Manusmriti (4-138)[12] (c. 1st – 3rd century CE) and in the Bhagavata Purana[13][14] (c. 8th – 10th century CE). The phrase dharmāni sanatā is mentioned in the classical Sanskrit literature Rigveda (3.3.1) (c. 1500 – 1000 BCE), which means "eternal duties".[15] In the Atharvaveda (10.8.22) (c. 1200 – 900 BCE), the Supreme Being is called Sanātanam (eternal), and that Sanātanam God is worshipped.[16]

In the late 19th century, the term was revived during the Hindu revivalism movement as a name for Hinduism as a religion in order to avoid having to use the exonym "Hindu" which is of non-native Persian origin.[17][18]

Today, Sanatana Dharma is used as a synonym for Hinduism. @Asteramellus @Kautilya3 @Joshua Jonathan ~2026-37616-57 (talk) 13:40, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

 Not done. The use of "Sanatana Dharma" to mean Hinduism is a 19th century usage, as noted in multiple reliable sources cited here. -- Kautilya3 (talk) 14:49, 1 July 2026 (UTC)

Umm! That would still be considered to remove; I myself has got references to many texts which off course include the term Sanatan Dharma for example,

"..one who has studied the Vedas perfectly, who is a perfect vipra, or knower of the Vedas, And those persons who know the spiritual science of the inner self, speaks about Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person, as one’s sanātana-dharma. " ~2026-41444-33 (talk) 06:30, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

We don't remove multiple mainstream academic sources because believers do not like them. See emic and etic. tgeorgescu (talk) 07:50, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

That's not what I am saying; I am saying the term itself is a part of ancient Hindu scripture, see for ex. tatva.info/shlokas/mb-3-86-1 (the last 3 shloka s) https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/4/24/42/ the last part ~2026-41444-33 (talk) 08:11, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

And used, in those texts, as a synonym for "Hinduism"? Joshua Jonathan - Let's talk! 08:48, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

again Sanatan Dharma is a modern day usage (in mass) to refer modern Hinduism, but the term itself isn't! People before didn't care much to name their religion in India.

Correct that part. 19th century is inaccurate ~2026-41444-33 (talk) 10:15, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

I suggest you read the page on dharma to understand what sanatana-dharma means. -- Kautilya3 (talk) 19:26, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

To be clear religion as a modern usage of Dharma itself is modern; but as the world changes ..you know what I mean!

Sanatan Dharma is used because it refers to same set of ordained eternal duties (also meant in many ancient scripture too) and Vedic Dharma because Vedas are the most referred scripture shruti by the scholars believers, among the most sacred and antique. Therefore 19th century should be removed simply. ~2026-41444-33 (talk) 04:39, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

Yes, "religion" is modern. Bhagavadgita did not talk about religion. So this is all nonsense. -- Kautilya3 (talk) 10:59, 27 July 2026 (UTC)