What does it mean to belong to a religion that doesn’t demand conformity but celebrates diversity in spiritual expression? From ‘cultural Hindus’ to those who wrestle with belief itself, Prof. Pushpendra Kumar Arya, lovingly known as Gurudev Aaryam, answers questions on how Hinduism uniquely makes space for all, showing how dharma, personal integrity, and spirituality connect in surprising ways. Dive into this profound Q&A to discover a faith that embraces unity through difference and seeks to guide rather than bind.
Question: Gurudev, in many other religions, a basic act or basic concept determines whether you are a true follower. A person who prays five times a day is called a true Muslim, and a person who goes to church every Sunday a true Christian. But how come Hinduism lacks a central doctrine?
Gurudev Aaryam: Whichever religions exist, they are not religions but a kind of worship of God. If Christians go to church on Sundays and light candles, or Zoroastrians perform havans, they ultimately achieve the first mantra of the Rig Veda.
ॐ अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् । होतारं रत्नधातमम् ॥ १. १.
Similarly, many religious organizations have modified the Hindu fasting rules according to geological conditions. In many countries of the Middle East and the West, meat is not consumed as it is prohibited. In many countries where there is only sand or only mountains of snow, it is their compulsion to eat meat. They have adjusted their worship rules with meat. Similarly, the dress codes work.
The notion is wrong that Hinduism lacks any defining concept. Hinduism centers its teachings on the Brahma word, ॐ. And if we go further than that, we find that we are people of Shivatava. Where there is Shiva, there is everything. Hinduism is infinite, vast in nature, it can never be bound in any circle.
There are many people in India and abroad who consider themselves atheists. Yet, they present themselves as Hindus. Can an atheist be a Hindu?
Gurudev Aaryam: This is because only Hinduism allows a follower to be an atheist. However, no one can ever be an atheist. Because his faith is in denial. As soon as we create a word for something, our faith in it begins from that very moment. But if we leave the language, we will join Pranava and come in the category of Om or Aum. In the end, we will be called Hindus.
Atheism is a type of escape. Seen deeply, an atheist remembers God more. For some reason, doctors or scientists pray to God even after doing everything in their hand. No matter how much one wants, the facts will always lag behind the truth.
Hinduism sets itself apart by embracing diversity and spiritual freedom, uniting cultural Hindus, atheists, and seekers alike. It celebrates individuality, connecting people through a shared respect for life’s sacredness without rigid rules.
Gurudev, now we come across the term ‘cultural Hindus’ – those who celebrate Hindu festivals, but do not bother with the rituals. Some others are satisfied with the spiritual elements alone. Can a person be spiritual without being religious? Or as you say, spirituality leads to all things. Does spirituality ultimately fill a person with religiosity as well?
Gurudev Aaryam: You cannot be spiritual without being religious. Because if spirituality is a flower, then religiosity is that on which the flower is planted. The seed of every spiritual flower is filled with religiosity only. As far as ‘cultural Hindu’ is concerned, there is a problem. The exhibitionist aspect of Hinduism, the entertainment aspect, is becoming dominant over rituals and spirituality. This is because complexity has been created in simple rituals. Some acharyas and priests are also responsible for this.
That is why we gave the slogan ‘Aaryam Sindhu, we all are Hindus’. We hold around eight events throughout a year in India and abroad, in which all people are included without discriminating on the basis of religion, caste or creed. We get people to perform puja with joy and happiness. For this reason, not only the elderly but also children say ‘Swaha!’ at the time of offering aahuti (oblations).
Many Europeans participated in the Havan (fire sacrifice) we held recently in Switzerland and felt immense peace and happiness. When a wish that has been unfulfilled for years is fulfilled by sitting in a havan, you get a surprise. There is no doubt that puja requires discipline and saatvikta (purity). You cannot remember God after consuming alcohol and meat. Here, spirituality and religion are connected. When a person is part of a religion that teaches him to be saatvik, generous, and love all living beings, that person automatically becomes spiritual.
Gurudev, in today’s time, Hindus in India and abroad are recognizing their religion and trying to understand it in a better way. On the occasion of Diwali, even a person sitting across the seven seas wants to perform havan, or at least wants to thank God by lighting diyas. How do you see this change and in which direction is this moving?
Gurudev Aaryam: This is a good sign. If not today, then tomorrow people will have to choose excellence. Because only through that can a prosperous and happy life be lived. It is because of the teachings of our religion that Hindus can be renunciants and pleasure seekers. An extraordinary balance is established in the lives of people walking on the path of Hinduism, due to which they live in utmost peace in every situation. Hinduism is more than ten thousand years old. So many years ago, there was a system of vedpath (Veda recitation) and gurukuls. It is because of the Aaryam Project that people are moving towards performing havan.
About Gurudev Aaryam
Prof. Pushpendra Kumar Arya is a distinguished journalist, educator, author, Vedic astrologer, and spiritual healer, having written over 6,000 articles and 85 books covering diverse topics. Representing India globally as a cultural ambassador, he has advised leaders like Mukesh Ambani and served with India’s Ministries of Communications and HRD, with Population Services International (USA), and as the Director of Communications for Mauritius.
He is the founder of ‘Aaryam International Foundation’ and ‘Ethnic India’.
Prof. Arya’s impactful career has earned him 45 prestigious awards, including the Hindi Academy Award, the International Vocational Award, and Rashtra Gaurav Samman. He has been recognized as a Hindi scholar in America, South Africa, Oman, Thailand, and Mauritius. His legacy reflects a lifetime of cultural and intellectual contributions worldwide.
For more details: www.aaryam.org
