Hindu
A Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of India (Bharat).
But an adherent of the Sikh or Jain or Buddhist faith may also be recognized and identified as a Hindu, as all three religious systems are inalienably linked with Hinduism, as well as Hindu history and culture.
Jainism and Buddhism and Sikhism, in that order, were originally unbound reform movements in India, growing from but essentially a part of mainstream society that has been identified as Hindu. Jainism and Buddhism sought widespread reform against the oppression of lower social and economic classes, of violence and war in society and in the continent and the domination of life by material causes. Sikhism fought against the oppression of social classes, inter-religious warfare and colonialist domination. It formed an order, an egalitarian brotherhood of men and women that sought to protect the common people's lives and ways against the pogroms of the Mughal and foreign Muslim kings in the Punjab.
The word Hindu was originally a Persian word for "river-dweller", someone who lives around or beyond the river Indus, and meant any inhabitant of the Indian subcontinent, before Islam arose. That even an atheist may be called a good Hindu is an example of the fact that Hinduism is far beyond a simple religious system, but actually an extremely diverse and complicated river of evolving philosophies and ancient traditions.
Who is a Hindu?
Prior to the arrival of Muslims from Arabia and European colonists, there was no distinct definition of religion in India. Reform movements like the Samanas were not far from the Jain and Buddhist orders, and such groups provided the wheels of philosophical evolution and cultural change. While strict social ordering existed in the Brahmanical system, it was never necessary for anyone to worship a particular form of God, perform a particular set of rituals, speak a particular language, or read only one book. Without doing any of these, a person was a common native, citizen of the land, a Hindu. Vegetarianism arose as a reform movement, and was never imposed on all people, which would have divided them. The Buddha did not intend to found a separate religion, but a reform movement. Jainism is considered different only because of the hostility over dogma between the priests of Jainism and Vedic Hinduism; not one cultural or social distinction exists otherwise.
The colonial British government introduced the census as is today, and for legal purposes set worded definitions and distinctions between populations living interwoven for thousands of years. This practice, once established, was exploited for political power by various communities, with distinct religions getting special privileges and recognitions as opposed to members of a sect, reform movement or of the larger mass of people. These bookish definitions fail to alter, however, centuries-old practices and relationships between communities, which though not free of divisive conflicts, are certainly not victims of any schisms.
In India, there live approximately 900 million Hindus. Collective with the global population, the numbers of Hindus come close to 1 billion. The largest Hindu populations outside India live in Nepal, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and growing communities in Australia.
On the island of Bali in Indonesia, the majority of the people are Hindus. They staunchly follow the religion, brought to them by "Bharatiya," or "Indian" merchants, scholars and priests, with indigenous customs and traditions, but are not linked in any way with the Hindus of India. The Hindu epics mentioned above are widely revered in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia, despite their basic affiliations as either Buddhists or Muslims. This is attributed to the widespread Bharatiya cultural influence through trade and travel and the spread of Buddhism prior to the advent of Islam.
Many Hindus identify the Supreme Being as the Lord Vishnu and are known as Vaishnavas; many others believe the Supreme Being is the Lord Siva and are known as Saivites; while some believe in the female Principle Shakti as supreme, and are called Shaktists while in other branches of Vaishnavism and Shaivism, Shakti is God's Power personified. The fourth major group, the Smarta, call the Supreme One Brahman, which manifests into personal forms of God, such as Vishnu or Siva. However, no barrier or distinction or rivalry of any nature exists between any of these. Each naturally respects all gods, only choosing to see the Supreme in one particular form.
For more information upon the religion, society, traditions and philosophies of Hindus, visit the article Hinduism.
Food habits
There are very few actual practices that are common to all Hindus. Some communities are fervent vegetarians, while others regularly consume both red and white meat. The seriousness with which Indians in the past (both Hindus and Muslims) practiced religiously laid out food habits can be gauged by the fact that 1857 sepoy mutiny or first war of Independence was initiated because of British carelessness in honouring Indian sentiments.
Beef
Cow is a sacred animal for the majority of Hindus. Therefore the subject of eating beef is taboo, highly controversial and sometimes inflammatory in Indian society. The origin of prohibition on beef eating in Hindu society is still being debated. Prof. R S Sharma's work on beef eating practices of Vedic Hindus is furiously opposed by certain section of Hindus.
A majority, but by no means all Hindus abstain from eating beef. Among the groups that do not are Secular and Westernized Hindus, as well as Malayalee Hindus. These groups co-exist as Hindus, defying the myth that not eating beef is a hallmark of their religion.
Traditional classification
Satvika : A brahmin diet. No meat, no onion and garlic etc.
Rajasa : A kshatriya diet. Non-vegetarian. Consumption of alcohol.
Tamasa : A shudra diet. Non-vegetarian. Consumption of alcohol.
There is not much difference between Rajasa and Tamasa diets.
The above were only hypothetical classifications and never really practiced by general population with few exceptions. Few Brahmin communities practiced satvika diet. But in reality there are many traditionally non-vegetarian Brahmin communities. Also, there were many non-brahmin communities that were vegetarians and abstained from alcohol traditionally.
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