The word “Hinduism” did not exist before. When Darius of the Achaemenid Persians, a near-contemporary of the Buddha, used the word “Hindu,” it was purely in a geographical sense: anyone from inside or beyond the Indus region. “Hindu” is often narrowed down to “Vedic” when convenient, then restored to its wider meaning when expedient. When the medieval Muslim invaders brought the term into India, they used it to mean: any Indian except for the Indian Muslims, Christians or Jews. It did not have a specific doctrinal content except “non-Abrahamic,” a negative definition. It meant every Indian Pagan, including the Brahmins, Buddhists (“clean-shaven Brahmins”), Jains, other ascetics, low-castes, intermediate castes, tribals, and by implication also the as yet unborn Lingayats, Sikhs, Hare Krishnas, Arya Samajis, Ramakrishnaites, secularists, and others who nowadays reject the label “Hindu.” Scholars say that Hinduism has lotsw of elements and consists of a “Great Tradition” and many “Little Traditions,” local cults allowed to subsist under the aegis of the prestigious Vedic line. There is no reason to believe that Sanskrit language was several thousand years old as oldest available Sanskrit manuscripts are written in Tibetan & Brahmi scripts, and not in Devnagri script. 1. Brahma (Universal):
Educated man + no dowry 2. Gandharva (Voluntary union of nymphs with her lover): A love marriage 3. Prajapatya (An educated man's son with his own sphere of influence): A particular strong man who is enticed with wealth and presents to marry their daughter. Looked down upon:- 4. Asura (Unnatural but can be good or bad): A poorer bride’s parents and extended family members are enticed with wealth 5. Daiva (Unnatural with disagreeable characteristics): Parents marry their daughter off to a priest after years of waiting in vain for a suitable groom to turn up Rest are severely, looked down upon:- 6. Arsha (The outdated way): The bride is offered to a poor rishi without any ceremony in exchange for something in return. 7. Rakshasa (Stockholm syndrome with a Demon): The bride’s family members are physically beaten up but the bride does not object to marry. Only a King can escape doing this. 8. Paisacha (Deception): The bride is kidnapped.
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