About 80% of the population in India belongs to Hindu religion. Our religion and caste are the same as those of our father, unless we have got converted into another religion. A Hindu might or might not believe in God (an atheist), or he might or might not go to temples, perform Hindu rituals at home or attend Hindu functions, yet he will be included in the Hindu religion unless he specifically wants to be excluded. Although many Hindus know that they belong to Hindu religion, their knowledge about Hindu religion is limited.The purpose of this book is to explore, by giving a brief account of the Hindu religion, the options available and minimum requirements to call oneself a Hindu. The fact that one or both parents of the person belong to Hinduism is sufficient to be called Hindu. For a person to continue to claim to be a Hindu, the person has to observe the laws of the countries he or she lives in. There is nothing that a Hindu is forced to perform as a Hindu except that he should be a law-abiding citizen of the country he is living in. Every Hindu however, will benefit by knowing the minimum beliefs and traditions of Hinduism and then decide for himself or herself, how he or she should behave or act to practice Hinduism.Those who are born to parents belonging to Hindu, Lingaayats, Veerashaiva, Brahmo, Prarthana, Arya Samaj, etc. are all Hindus. Those belonging to Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew religion are not Hindus. The name Hindu is the most commonly used name for this religion although there are other names like Vaidik, and Sanathana. The word Hinduism represents Hindu Dharma. The word 'Dharma' is equal to the word 'religion' for all practical purposes. In fact the names 'Vaidik Dharma' and 'Sanathana Dharma' are the names, which are really more suitable for Hindu Dharma or Hinduism.The names Hindu Dharma and Hinduism are therefore used here to indicate the religion practiced by the majority of the Indians.Hindu Dharma is practiced in India from time immemorial. Those who practice Hindu Dharma are called Hindus (plural for Hindu). The name Hindu is a modern name given to this ancient religion, by travelers and invaders from outside India. Many historians believe that the word Hindu is a derivative of the word Sindhu. Sindhu is a river that flows from the Himalayan Mountains to the Arabian Sea. This River Sindhu is so wide and long that it was initially thought to be the continuation of the Arabian Sea.
About the Author: Om! Mohan is the fourth child born to poor Hindu Braahman parents in the little coastal town of Mangalore in India on the 15th of May 1938. Mohan's father was a grocer and his mother a housewife. His childhood was a happy one. He completed his basic education when he passed the 11th year of study with distinction from the Madras Secondary School Leaving Board in 1954. During these years he was attending the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Shaakha, and later the Arya Samaaj Mandir in Mangalore. At the same time he went to Hindi language classes. His second language of study in the school was Sanskrit. His ability to read and write English, Kannada, Hindi and Sanskrit enabled him to study many books of all religions. Mohan at 16 was free to decide what he wished to become in life and due to his closeness with religion he began to dream of becoming a Sanyaasi. He left home twice to random destinations seeking a Guru under whom he would take up Sanyaasaashram, but found himself unable to fight the worldly desires and lures calling him at his youth. Meanwhile he worked in restaurants, shops and business firms in entry level jobs for 5 years. At last Mohan's brother Venkatesh advised Mohan to undertake further education, and Mohan resumed his studies in the Ramnarain Ruia College, Bombay in 1959. Mohan was a brilliant student and his grades led him to Medicine. He got admission in the Grant Medical College of the Bombay University and he completed his MBBS degree in 1967. Mohan then got married to Lalitha, a village girl from nearby Gurpur. He did General Practice briefly in Mangalore and left for the United States as an Exchange Visitor. Mohan spent over 14 years in the US as an Intern, Resident and then as a practitioner in Pathology or a GP, in two sojourns, once between 1968 and 1977 and again between 1997 and 2003. His first child Preethi was born in India, but the second child Srinath was born in the USA. Mohan had returned to India in 1977 and established his own Clinical Lab in Bangalore, 300 kilometers east of Mangalore. He closed his Lab in 2009 as he wished to do other things that interested him dearly such as expressing his views and visions by writing a book like this one and two others. Mohan also made documentary movies. The materialistic pursuit sans morals or spirituality makes a visionary man unhappy in life. Mohan chose to come back to India for real contentment rather than continue to live in a Western country with illusary delights. Jai Hind!