Hinduism or the Hindu community and its traditions have grown. The chief factor which brought about the uniformity over a large track of area, has been the migration of the Brāhmaṇas and Brāhmanized people everywhere, and the conquest of some parts of India by the recognized Brāhmanist princes.
This is the summary of events and processes that have been taking place for centuries. But these facts are such as cannot be easily observed by a foreigner, or even by an Indian. And for this reason there are some ideas and beliefs held and spread by ignorant men which have no ground whatsoever. Many people believe that the Hindus are the most conservative people, and haters of everything foreign, and that they do not include foreigners in their fold. Nothing can be further from the truth. Present Hinduism is nothing but a mixture of heterogeneous tribes and their traditions.[1]
But the reason why an inaccurate belief exists and is held
- ↑ I think that the late Sir Alfred C. Lyall is the first European who brought the facts regarding the Hinduization of “non-Hindu" tribes and several other interesting facts regarding "Brāhmanism" to the notice of the Western world. It would surely profit the reader to go over carefully his excellent article on “Missionary and non-Missionary Religions" in his Asiatic Studies, second edition, London, 1884. In fact, this whole book should never be neglected by the students of the Hindu social system. His essay mentioned above contains an idea which seems very curious to a Hindu reader. It says: “Qualified observers have thought that we might at any time witness a great Brāhmanic reforming revival in India if some really gifted and singularly powerful prophet were to arise among the Hindus." This passage shows how the European minds are fettered by the idea that for the progress of the people it is necessary for them to have a "religion” founded by one single prophet. Regarding the future of Hinduism and, in fact, the future of all communities enclosed in "religions," I have expressed my views further in this volume.
