As Shivaratri passed by and I sat listening to Shiva-stuti songs and meditating upon him, I realized how deeply mature Hinduism as a religious order was. There is no concept of conversion to Hinduism, for the simple reason that it does not matter. You may follow it if you wish, or any other religion (or not), if you will. The path to salvation are many. And this is the reason why Hinduism kept reiterating that it really was just a way of life. A way of life that any other religion can equally well teach you. A way of life to lead a satisfactory, happy life. A way of life, above all, to fulfill your role and move closer to salvation.
In its earliest Vedic knowledge, Hinduism stressed that understanding our creator is complex. It won't be easy to accept that we are, in the end, our own creator. That just a set of rules keeps running this endless cycle. The law of Karma. Hinduism learnt that the ordinary person needs someone to look up to; a guide, a role model. And thus came the concept of the God-symbols.
With the prominence it gave to constant inquiry (if unto itself), Hinduism had advanced in ancient times, in every form of knowledge. Sad but true that the political powers that be, over centuries, did not cultivate or protect it. Worse still, they twisted its learnings to their own benefit by doctrines like the caste-system-by-birth. Hinduism originally espoused that a Brahman (religious priest/spiritual head) is one who understands Brahma. It need not necessarily be a Brahman's son. That is, your inclinations (determined most by your Karmas, of this birth and past) should lead you to efforts and make you what you become. For obvious reasons, the higher powers twisted these original thoughts to their own benefit...and Hinduism has been misunderstood since..
Slowly over time, pushed into defense by repeated manipulations, Hinduism titled itself as a religion, in the name of retaining identity and ensure survival. If the very concept of religion were not introduced, the world today might have been one..
