Those who accept the seed mantra of vedas Omkara as their mantra, who have faith in rebirth and worship cattle and the Ganga, who consider Vedic Maharishis as their Guru, are capable of destroying the violent, and are the upholders of kshatradharma are Hindu. – Madhava Digvijaya
The word Hindu has its origin in our ancient tradition. It is not a foreign word or a derogatory term given to us by Musalmans, as is often understood. Pujyapad Puri Shankaracharyaji helps us gain an understanding of the origin of the word ‘Hindu’ based on our vedas and shastras.
Hundreds of years prior to Mohammad and Jesus, the word ‘Hindu’ was used to describe one who is gentle, beautiful, blessed, virtuous, pious, and capable of defeating the wicked.
Alexander expressed the desire to visit Hindukoot mountain or Hindukush. In the scared text or Parsis or Zoroastrians, called the Shatir, the word Hindu is mentioned. Avesta (sacred text of Parsis), which was written much before Alexander existed, has the use of the word of ‘Hindu’, as well. There are many vedic words in this text.
Balakhnagar (Balkh town in Afghanistan) was called Hindvar.
Ancient references to the word ‘Hindu’
The word ‘Hindu’ has been derived from the call of the cow called ‘hinkaar’. The cow’s hinkaar has given the name Hindu as per the Rigveda. The word ‘Hindu’ has been used as ‘hi’ and ‘ndu’, meaning cow-worshippers. In the same way (as is, in the stated acronym style), this has also been mentioned in the Atharvaveda.
‘Sa’ and ‘ha’ are the same and can be used interchangeably. From this point of view, the word ‘Sindhusthana’ is used for ‘Hindusthana’ and this has been called the country of Aryas (noble people) as per the Bhavishya Purana.
Taking into view, the region from Himalaya (Mansarovar) to Indu Sarovar (Kanyakumari), ‘hi’ and ‘ndu’ combine as an acronym to create the word ‘Hindu’, and define the geographical region is called Hindusthana or Hindustan
The one who overcomes deficiencies, poverty, meanness, pettiness, is a Hindu. This is the yogic meaning of the word.
The one who destroys ‘hinata’ or inferiority, is called Hindu.
The moon is also called Indu and this also gives the name Hindu.
The word ‘Hindvah’ has been used in the Kalika Puran.
In Sharngdhar Padhatti, the word ‘Hindvah’ has been used for people who follow the vedic path.
In the Brihaspati Agama the kshetra or region of Hindusthana has also been mentioned.
In the Ashvamedhika Parva of Mahabharata, the region of ‘Aryavarta’ has been called Hindusthanaa or Sindhusthanaa.
In the ancient text of Bridhasmritti (an ancient text), a ‘Hindu’ is one who is virtuous, distant from violence, capable of destroying unruly elements, and a protector of vedas and cows.
As per the Ramakosha, a Hindu cannot be a wicked person, or not noble (anarya), he cannot be condemned either. The one who abides by his svadharma, and is devoted to the wise and dharma of shrutis, is Hindu.
In the Parijataharan drama, he who uses the heat of his penance to destroy sins and elements that pollute the consciousness, and he who can also destroy external enemies with his weapons, is a Hindu.
In the Adbudkosha, those who appear beautiful and are capable of destroying the wicked are Hindus.
As per the Hemantkavikosha a Hindu is he who worships Narayana and other devatas, through generations.
The Madhava Digvijaya, gives a clear understanding of the word Hindu: Those who accept the seed mantra of vedas – Oṃkara, as their mantra, who have faith in rebirth and worship cattle and Ganga, who consider Vedic Maharishis as their Guru, are capable of destroying the violent, and are the upholders of kshatradharma are Hindu. Going by this definition of Hindu, Sanatani, Arya Samaji, Jain, Bhuddhist, and Sikh can all be called Hindu.
Several ancient texts by Bhagavan Vedavyasaji, puranas, Medanikosha, etc, mention the word ‘Hindu’.
For a detailed study of the word ‘Hindu’ The book गर्वसे कहें- ‘हम हिन्दू हैं authored by Pujyapad Puri Shankaracharyaji is recommended.