The word Hindu was used initially to describe the people of India; it was never used to describe religion.+

Dharma is a very complex word. The concept of dharma is verily the core of our religion. In fact, the right name for our religion is  Santana Dharma, which means 'Eternal Dharma'.

The word 'Hinduism' has become a common word in the modern world. The real fact is that words like Hinduism, Hindu etc. never appear in any of the ancient scriptures! So to know our religion, the first step is to know what dharma means. 

The word Hindu was used initially to describe the people of India; it was never used to describe religion. Thus, Hinduism is not a religion; it is the way of life of Indian people with different caste, creed, culture, tradition, and ideology of different parts of India under a single roof.

Hinduism is not a Vedic religion or Sanatana Dharma.

Origin of the word 'Hindu:~

The word Hindu is derived from the Indo-Aryan and Sanskrit word Sindhu, which means "a large body of water", covering "river, ocean". ... The term 'Hindu' in these ancient records is ethno-geographical and did not refer to a religion. The Arabic equivalent Al-Hind likewise referred to the country of India.

Many scholars and historians have concluded that the word 'Hindu' was coined by the ancient invaders who could not accurately pronounce the name of the River Sindhu. According to Sir Monier Williams, the famous Sanskrit lexicographer, the words 'Hindu' and 'India' evidently do not possess...

Interestingly, the word "Hindu" came into existence because of the mispronunciation of a Sanskrit word by the ancient Persians some 3000 to 4000 years ago. The word "Hindu" is not a Sanskrit word. It is not found in any of the thousands of native dialects and languages of India. Neither is it a religious word. It is a secular word...

Hindu means nothing. Hindu and word Hinduism was given by Irani and Persian people who can’t pronoun Sandhu, so they call people opposite side of river Sandhu as HINDU & Hinduism was given by Britishers. In Reality, Hinduism means Sanatana Dharma. People of Hinduism follow Satvik behaviour. Follow 4 Vedas...

The word 'Hindu' has no meaning, actually. Hindu is derived from the word Sindhu in Sanskrit, the historical local name for the Indus River. The word 'Hindu' occurred first as a Persian geographical term for the people who lived beyond the river Indus. Hindu was a geographical term and did not refer to a religion. 

People on the Indian side of the Sindhu were called Hindu by the Persians and the later Western invaders. That is the genesis of the word `Hindu'.

When we think of the Hindu religion, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to define the Hindu religion or even adequately describe it. Unlike other religions in the world, the Hindu religion does not claim anyone prophet; it does not worship anyone God; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow anyone set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more.

Hinduism seems to be a name without any content. Is it a museum of beliefs, a medley of rites, or a mere map, a geographical expression?

The Vedas, as a body of scripture, contain many contradictions, and they are fragmentary in nature. For most Hindus of today, scriptures like the Bhagavad-Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas are more attractive and appealing than the Vedas.

The Gods and Goddesses they worship differ considerably from the Vedic ones. The collection of hymns called the Vedas,which  are written in praise of certain deities by poets over several centuries, does not seem to have much significance for the Hindus of today.

Hinduism is ‘Puranic based on mythology. Hinduism is based on the myth because it believes in mythological Gods. Vedic Gods like Indra, Varuna, Agni, Soma, and the like, whom the Vedic people worshipped, hardly have any significance in present-day Hinduism.

Rig Veda 1/164/46: ~ “They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, or the heavenly sunbird Garutmat. The seers call in many ways that which is One; they speak of Agni, Yama, Matarishvan.

Rig Veda 8/58/2:~ Only One is the Fire, enkindled in numerous ways; only One is the Sun, pervading this whole universe; only One is the Dawn, illuminating all things. In very truth, the One has become the whole world.

The Gods and Goddesses important to the Hindus of today are Ram, Krishna, Kali, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the respective consorts of the last three, namely, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Shakti. None of these deities figured prominently in the Vedic pantheon, and some of them are clearly non-Vedic. The major Gods of Hinduism, like Vishnu and Shiva, are non-Aryan in origin. Though they may have belonged to the Vedic tradition, they played no major role in the Vedas.

Thus, it is important to bifurcate Hinduism from the Ancient Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma, the importance of ‘going back’ to the Vedas, to realize the Vedic religion has nothing to do with Hinduism, which is based on the diverse belief in non-Vedic Gods, dogmas, ritual, and worship of human beings, which is barred by the Vedas.

Indian people are sentimentally attached to religion because they have inherited an adulterated version of Vedism, and they call it Hinduism. Hinduism was founded by different founders of sects and castes from time to time.

Thus, understanding Hinduism is very much necessary to realize the ancient Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma, which existed prior to Buddhism, and Jainism had nothing to do with the present Hinduism. Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma was caste free, temple-free, priest-free, free of dogmas. :~ Santthosh Kumaar