There are many gods but every person chooses a limited number. So that should not be a limitation. Basically Hinduism does not believein conversions. One has to be born into Hinduism. Christianity assumes that non-Christians arein need of enlightenment for which they need to be converted. Islam believes that there is  only one Almighty and that is theirs. So others should convert or have no reason to be alive (in extreme cases). Hinduism was and is a non expansive religion.

Jincy Aby wrote:

vijay wrote:

Perhaps what Jincy meant was that Hinduism reached Africa in form of indentured Hindu labour by the British during the colonial period. They settled there and thus Hinduism exists. Hindus do not spread it like Christians and Islam do by inducements or forcing people to convert. That is the strength and also weakness of Hinduism.

Yes, you are right. the prime reason for reaching of Hinduism in Africa is the recruitment of Indian people in their African colonies. There are so many Gods in Hindu religion. Worshiping and satisfying all these Gods are not easy. This is a complicated process. It may be one of the reasons why Hinduism do not spread like Christianity and Islam. 

 

In fact the best feature of Hinduism is that you are neither expected nor forced to worship all the gods that become part of the religion unlike in other religions where a believer is supposed to worship so many times a day or week...

As far as the number of gods is concerned, there are only three major gods who depict birth, life and death - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva , very practical since our life revolves around the three ! The rest are their consorts and their family and the Ashta- dikpalakas who look after the eight corners of the universe, again to me this seems very practical way of labor division ! Either way there is no compulsion in Hinduism as far as worship and faith is concerned which is the reason why Hinduism has not spread like other religions

Hindu is oldest religion of the world. During Mahabharta period Pandav visit other countries like Indonesia Jawa and more. Religion of Indonesia is Islam but they said that Hindu is their for fathers.

anil wrote:

Hindu is oldest religion of the world. During Mahabharta period Pandav visit other countries like Indonesia Jawa and more. Religion of Indonesia is Islam but they said that Hindu is their for fathers.

In Many far Eastern countries like Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand still have a lot of Hindu influence inspite of spread of Islam. They have names that are very Indian and also have plays based on Ramayan which are very popular with the masses !

usha manohar wrote:

anil wrote:

Hindu is oldest religion of the world. During Mahabharta period Pandav visit other countries like Indonesia Jawa and more. Religion of Indonesia is Islam but they said that Hindu is their for fathers.

In Many far Eastern countries like Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand still have a lot of Hindu influence inspite of spread of Islam. They have names that are very Indian and also have plays based on Ramayan which are very popular with the masses !

yes it is right, Once ex PM Vajpayee said that Indonesian said that we change our religion but not our forfather.

The essence of Hinduism is its plurality. Any attempts to regulate it into a singular form will make it lose its appeal. Hinduism is like a vast ocean capable of absorbing all incoming rivers. Other religions are like singular rivers too narrow in their identity, but that is their strong point.

I feel that Buddhism in China, Japan and some other countries also has root in Hindu religion. 

Buddhism in these countries was introduced by Indians and they went from Srinagar, Kashmir which till eighth century was a very strong Buddhist center. 

Jincy Aby wrote:

rambabu wrote:

Interesting link sir. As far as followership is concerned, Hinduism has a mind boggling 14 % of the World population. It has many followers  in the countries like  Nepal, Fiji and even in some African Countries.

Hindus are in African countries! This is a new and surprising news to me. How Hinduism reached in Africa? I thought that Hindu religion is only in India and Nepal and people in Africa are Christians. 

                                 hndus are in large numbers in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. In fact at one time the Kenya hockey teal                                      had 7/8 sikhs

MG Singh wrote:

Jincy Aby wrote:

rambabu wrote:

Interesting link sir. As far as followership is concerned, Hinduism has a mind boggling 14 % of the World population. It has many followers  in the countries like  Nepal, Fiji and even in some African Countries.

Hindus are in African countries! This is a new and surprising news to me. How Hinduism reached in Africa? I thought that Hindu religion is only in India and Nepal and people in Africa are Christians. 

                                 hndus are in large numbers in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. In fact at one time the Kenya hockey teal                                      had 7/8 sikhs. 

India was hub of international trade in anicient time. So many Indian migrate to different countries including African country. Family which migrate to African countries before 60 to 70 years, member of that family multiply many times.