Talk:Hinduism

C. eliot & lead

With this edit] Khabboos added the following quote:

"More than other religions, Hinduism appeals to the soul's immediate knowledge and experience of God. It has sacred books innumerable but they agree in little but this, that the soul can come into contact and intimacy with its God, whatever name be given him and even if he be superpersonal. The possibility and truth of this experience is hardly questioned in India and the task of religion is to bring it about, not to promote the welfare of tribes and states but to effect the enlightenment and salvation of souls." (Eliot, C. Hinduism and Buddhism. London. Vol 1, Introduction. 1921 quoted Spencer)

What's the use of this quote in the lead? It does not summarize any part of the article, it's outdated, and it's WP:UNDUE. The edit-summary is also splendid:

"I'm being bold with this edit, but if someone feels it shouldn't be in the Lead, please move it (but don't remove it)"

Familiarize yourself with Wikipedia-policies, instead of ordering other editors what to do. Joshua Jonathan -Let's talk! 16:58, 9 February 2014 (UTC)

I was not ordering anyone Joshua. You added the full quote to the mysticism article and so, I thought it should be imported into this article as well. You tell me what to do, since you seem to know the rules better. Please also reply to my question in the previous section (about the reference I used for Aurangzeb's orders).—Khabboos (talk) 17:19, 9 February 2014 (UTC)

The quote is useful at the mysticism-article, since it provides, to my opinion, an example of a specific interpretation of Hinduism, namely Neo-Vedanta. But to use it here may be WP:UNDUE. The problem is, I think, that Eliot is not representative of the current understanding of Hinduism. It needs contextualization: how did westerners understand Hinduism in the 19th and early 20th century, how did this understanding influence (educated) Hindus, how has the understanding of Hinduism developed since then?

Did you read the section on "Definitions", including the notes? There's a lot of info there. Read also Pizza effect; it's interesting. And if you really want to read more: [King, Richard (2001), Orientalism and Religion: Post-Colonial Theory, India and "The Mystic East", Taylor & Francis e-Library]. A pdf can be found at the web.

Best regards, Joshua Jonathan -Let's talk! 19:16, 9 February 2014 (UTC)

Just because something is written in a published book does not mean that it deserves to be included in the article. Kanchanamala (talk) 05:05, 12 February 2014 (UTC)

Sanatana Dharma

The name of this article should be "Sanatana Dharma" which is the collection of inquiry of the Munis, Rishis, Sadhus, & Yogis into Eternal Laws. Hinduism name is given by Persians. Please kindly check these links google results, google books results Ganesh J. Acharya (talk) 03:58, 13 February 2014 (UTC)

The label Sanātana Dharma is a modern coinage coined in response to the name Ārya Samāj coined by Swami Dayananda Saraswati not too long ago in the history of India. Kanchanamala (talk) 03:16, 15 February 2014 (UTC)

It is mentioned now in the article, isn't it? The explanation of this term provided a means to give some counterweight to the "western", analytical approaches and descriptions, describing a little bit of how Hinduism is seen by at least a part of its adherents, while staying "faithfull" to Wikipedia's pillar of WP:RS. Best regards, Joshua Jonathan -Let's talk! 07:51, 15 February 2014 (UTC)

This label is coined in Hindi where the word dharma is used to mean religion. Actually, there is no Indian word for religion. Dharma in Sanskrit means "principle" [as in the expression "a man of principle"] which one adopts and adheres to it [dhāraņāt-dharme-tyāhuh]. The Hindi word is used among a very small group of Hindus from the North. As for the article, I am not inclined to get directly involved in it as an editor. I just provide information for other editors to use. Kanchanamala (talk) 04:10, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

Sanathana Dharma means 'eternal law' and is of relatively new usage. This was sometimes called as Sanathani, to denote followers of orthodox Hinduism. Gandhi popularised the usage of this term Sanathani. Kanga Roo in the Zoo (talk) 06:09, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

I'm surprised to read some more nuances here. I just happened to read Gombrich today, Theravada Buddhism, who's got a similar remark on the relative modern use, or should I say "application", of these terms. Thanks for responding. Joshua Jonathan -Let's talk! 18:10, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

There is no expression like "sanātana dharma" in Sanskrit which is governed by Panini's vyākaraņa. A dharma, which has been adopted through ages, is described as such as "eșa dharma sanātanah". By the way, in Sanskrit, dharma does not mean law, period. Kanchanamala (talk) 06:06, 18 February 2014 (UTC)