Origin of the Terms, Hindu and Hindustan

Origin of the Terms, Hindu and Hindustan

The following verses are from the book, Indravijaya.

हिन्दुपदेन हिन्दुस्तानपदेन च यदाहुरद्यतनाः । भारतवर्षं तत्खलु नामार्द्धस्यास्य जानीयात् ।
सिन्धुनदोऽयं यद्दिशि तद्दिश्यं भारतं पूर्व्यम् । सिन्धुस्तानपदेन व्यवजहुः सिन्धुपश्चिमगाः ।
अपि पारसीकजातेरस्ति दासतीरनामके ग्रन्थे । पौरस्त्यभारतार्थं हिन्दुपदं सर्वतो पूर्वम् ।
जरथुस्तस्य यदायतमस्त्यस्मिन् पञ्चषष्टितमम् । तत्र व्यासो हिन्दुस्तानादागत उदीरितो भक्त्या ।
व्यासो नाम ब्राह्मण आयातो हिन्दुदेशाद्यः । तत्सदृशो धीमानिह कश्चिन्नास्तीति तस्यार्थः ।
अपि च त्रिषष्टितम आयत उक्तं पुनस्तत्र । व्यासमुनेर्वाह्लीके गमनं गस्तास्पनृपसमये ।
स प्रेत्यभावविषये व्यासात् संवदितुमेव गस्तास्पः । जरथुस्तमाजुहाव च धर्माचार्यं स्वदेशस्थम् ।
गुप्ताश्वापभ्रंश गस्तास्पः क्षितिप इराने । व्यासात् स पुनर्जन्मनि संन्देहं स्वं निराचक्रे ।
गस्तास्पेन तु पृष्टस्तद् व्यवहारानुसारतो व्यासः । हिन्दुस्तानाभिजनं विज्ञापयामास चात्मानम् ।

  • Modern usage of 'Hindu' and 'Hindustan': The terms 'Hindu' and 'Hindustan' are used in modern times to refer to the land known as Bharatavarsha.
  • Reference to 'Sindhustan': The term 'Sindhustan' was used by those west of the Sindhu (Indus) River to describe the lands east of the river, which is Bharat.
  • Persian usage of 'Hindu': In Persian texts, like 'Dasatir,' the term 'Hindu' has always referred to the eastern part of Bharata, the land east of the Sindhu River with reference to them.
  • Zoroaster's mention of Vyasa: Zoroaster (the founder of Zoroastrianism) mentioned Vyasa, a Brahmin who came from the land of the Hindus, and praised his wisdom.
  • Vyasa's journey to Bahlika: Vyasa's journey to the region of Bahlika (modern-day Balkh) occurred during the reign of King Gustasp in 550 BC.
  • Discussion on afterlife: King Gustasp wanted to discuss matters related to the afterlife with Vyasa. Zoroaster called his own religious teacher to engage in the discussion.
  • Vyasa clears doubts: King Gustasp secretly communicated with Vyasa, who cleared the king's doubts about reincarnation and revealed his origin from Hindustan.
English

English

Bharat Matha

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