HINDUISM is the oldest religious faith in the world that is practiced today with a Philosophy and rituals just as it was done in the ancient times. It is followed and practiced in one form or other by about one-fifth of the population of the world, over 900 million people. It is often said that the name "Hindu" was originally given about 500 years back, by the Persian rulers who invaded the Northwestern India, to the people and civilization of "Sindhu" river valley. Later the Western researchers and historians used the same name to the civilization of the "Aryan" people, settled in the Indus Valley about 6000 years back. Some modern Hindu scholars have quoted ancient works to show that the name was mentioned several thousands of years back for the land and people living between "Hi-malaya" and "Bi-ndu Sarovar" [Indian Ocean]. Perhaps "Sindhu river" and "Indus valley" were derived from this name and used by the Persians who came much later.

Western researchers had often mentioned that the faith originated from the "Aryan" tribes who came from Central Europe. However, most modern Hindus do not accept this theory. There were never any "Aryan" or "Dravidian" race that came to India from outside and brought the faith to the Indus Valley. These people and their religion existed here even when there was no civilization in Central Europe. There were many groups of nomadic tribes and many civilizations to the West of Indus river up to the areas of Persia as well as to the East of Indus Valley, all over the Indian Peninsula. All of them followed similar faith and rituals though they were fighting among themselves. It was called the "Hindu Dharma". However, many Scholars referred to it as the "Brahmanical Faith", for, to seek, reach and join the "Brahman" or Almighty, is its ultimate aim. Most Hindu Philosophers prefer to call it as "Sanathana Dharma" or Perennial Philosophy. The Vedic scholars refer to this as "Vaidheeha (Vedic) Dharma" because of the ritualistic practice of the faith as given by the Vedas. From Ancient times Philosophy has saved the Hindu Devotee from religious bigotry and religious rituals have saved him from ivory tower attitude of mere cold intellectualism.