Thapar states that the phrase Hindu is discovered as heptahindu in Avesta - equal to Rigvedic sapta sindhu, Diamond Painting while hndstn (pronounced Hindustan) is found in a Sasanian inscription from the third century CE, both of which refer to components of northwestern South Asia. The Sanskrit phrase dharma has a a lot broader which means than religion and Diamond Painting Nederland isn't its equal. The protection that we want, in this view, is from our personal minds, as a lot as from external sources of confusion.

To many, it is as a lot a cultural term. This Arabic term was itself taken from the pre-Islamic Persian term Hindū. The artha concept includes all "technique of life", Diamond Painting Nederland activities and sources that enables one to be in a state one needs to be in, Diamond Painting France wealth, Diamond Painting Nederland profession and financial security. The definition of Hinduism in Indian Law is: "Acceptance of the Vedas with reverence; recognition of the fact that the means or methods to Moksha are various; and realization of the truth that the variety of gods to be worshipped is large".

The three Hindu religions are "Brahmanic-Sanskritic Hinduism", "folk religions and tribal religions", Diamond Painting Deutschland and "founded religions". Michaels distinguishes three Hindu religions and four types of Hindu religiosity. In the 18th century, the European merchants and colonists began to refer to the followers of Indian religions collectively as Hindus. Hindu diaspora communities and for westerners who are drawn to non-western cultures and religions. Before the British started to categorise communities strictly by religion, Indians typically didn't define themselves solely through their religious beliefs; as an alternative identities have been largely segmented on the basis of locality, language, varṇa, jāti, occupation, and broderie diamant sect.

Significant numbers of Hindu communities are found in other international locations of South Asia, in Southeast Asia, within the Caribbean, Gulf states, Diamond Painting North America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, and other areas.