1. Why this comparison is important
The words Hinduism and Hindutva sound similar, yet they describe very different things. Hinduism is a many sided spiritual tradition that has evolved over thousands of years. The Hindutva is a modern political ideology that uses Hindu identity as the basis for a national project. (Association for Asian Studies)
On a platform that takes Hindu thought and culture seriously, it is essential to keep this distinction clear. When we mix the two, we risk flattening the depth of dharma into the logic of party politics, or treating an entire religious tradition as if it were only one ideology.
This article offers a side by side comparison.
2. Basic definitions
Hinduism
- A wide family of spiritual paths, rituals, philosophies, and cultural practices broadly rooted in the Vedas, Upanishads, epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and countless regional traditions.
- Concerned with questions like: What is the self? What is dharma? How do we live a life aligned with truth and nonviolence?
The Hindutva
- A modern right wing ethno nationalist political ideology that defines the nation primarily in terms of Hindu identity and seeks to make public life reflect that identity. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
- First systematized by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the early 1920s, especially through his work later published as Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu? (Wikipedia)
So, in simple words:
Hinduism is a dharmic tradition. The Hindutva is a political ideology that claims to speak in the name of that tradition.
3. Origin stories: ancient dharma and modern ideology
3.1 Hinduism’s long evolution
Hindu dharma has no single founder or fixed starting date. It grew over millennia through:
- Vedic rituals and hymns
- Upanishadic reflection on the nature of brahman and atman
- Epic narratives that show dharma in action
- Philosophical schools like Vedanta, Yoga, Nyaya, Samkhya, and others
- Regional bhakti movements, temple cultures, and folk traditions
This slow unfolding allowed a vast range of practices and ideas to coexist within a shared civilizational space.
3.2 The Hindutva as a twentieth century project
The Hindutva emerged in a very different setting:
- British colonial rule
- Competing nationalisms
- New ideas about race, nation, and identity
Savarkar argued that a Hindu is one who regards the land between the Indus and the seas as both fatherland and holy land. In this view, Hindu identity is defined less by personal faith and more by shared ancestry, culture, and attachment to a sacred geography. (Culturism)
Modern reference works describe Hindutva as a political ideology that seeks to define the cultural identity of the nation in terms of Hinduism and to establish a Hindu nation state. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
So while Hinduism stretches back thousands of years, the Hindutva is about a century old and belongs to the age of modern ideologies.
4. Core purpose and focus
We can also compare Hinduism and the Hindutva by asking a simple question: What are they trying to do?
Hinduism aims to:
- Guide individuals toward spiritual growth and ultimately moksha
- Help people live dharmic lives in family, society, and the world
- Offer many valid paths to truth, including devotion, knowledge, selfless action, and meditation
The Hindutva aims to:
- Unite people who are defined as Hindu into a single national community
- Reshape public institutions, laws, and culture so that this community holds a privileged place
- Present the nation as fundamentally Hindu in character
Scholars often describe Hindutva as a form of Hindu nationalism that is distinct from Hinduism as a religion. (Association for Asian Studies)
5. Attitude toward diversity and other paths
5.1 Diversity inside Hinduism
Hinduism has always made room for difference:
- Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta, Smarta, and many other sampradayas
- Monotheistic devotion, qualified non dualism, and strict non dualism all coexisting
- Ritual centered paths and almost philosophy only paths side by side
The tradition also includes voices that speak strongly for religious pluralism and respect for many ways to approach the divine.
5.2 Hindutva’s drive for unity
The Hindutva, by contrast, tends to prefer a more uniform picture of “Hindu culture.” It highlights certain scriptures, heroes, and symbols, and often frames history as a struggle between Hindus and those labeled as outsiders, especially Muslims and Christians. (Wikipedia)
This does not mean every supporter of Hindutva rejects diversity, but the ideology itself works by drawing sharp lines of “us” and “them.” That is very different from a spiritual tradition that sees multiple paths as valid and the whole world as one family.
6. Ethics, power, and the dharma question
From a dharmic standpoint, a central question is not just what an ideology says, but what it does.
Hinduism’s ethical heart
Key values that many Hindus recognize across traditions include:
- Ahimsa – non harming in thought, word, and deed
- Satya – truthfulness
- Karuna – compassion
- Seva – selfless service
- Vasudhaiva kutumbakam – seeing the world as one family
These values limit how we pursue power and how we treat those who differ from us.
Concerns critics raise about Hindutva
Human rights groups, academic studies, and many Hindu thinkers have voiced concerns that some forms of Hindutva politics:
- Encourage suspicion and hostility toward minorities
- Use simplified history and myths in place of careful study
- Turn sacred symbols and deities into tools for mobilization and division (Wikipedia)
Supporters respond that they are defending dharma and cultural survival after centuries of colonization and aggression. (Wikipedia)
For readers of HinduCultureHub, the key is to bring every claim back to dharma:
Does this stance increase compassion, justice, and truthful understanding, or does it deepen fear and hatred?
7. A quick comparison table
You can reuse this table as a visual block on the page, with a link to the separate visual guide article.
| Aspect | Hinduism | The Hindutva |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Religion and philosophical tradition | Political and cultural ideology |
| Main concern | Spiritual growth, dharma, liberation | National identity, power, cultural dominance |
| Historical depth | Evolved over thousands of years | Systematized in early 20th century |
| Key sources | Vedas, Upanishads, epics, many sampradayas | Savarkar and later ideologues, nationalist writings |
| View of paths | Many ways to truth are possible | Strong focus on a single majority identity |
| Relation to others | Often emphasizes pluralism and shared divinity | Often frames others as outsiders or threats |
8. Common questions
Q1. Does criticizing Hindutva mean criticizing Hinduism? No. Many devout Hindus criticize Hindutva precisely because they feel it weakens the ethical and spiritual message of their tradition. It is important not to treat all Hindus as if they share one political ideology. (Rutgers Security, Race & Rights)
Q2. Is every form of Hindu nationalism the same as Hindutva? Not necessarily. Love for a sacred land, gratitude for a civilizational heritage, and concern for the future of dharmic traditions can exist without adopting the full ideological package of Hindutva. The label usually refers to a specific network of organizations, writings, and political strategies. (Wikipedia)
Q3. As a Hindu, how should I relate to this debate? That is a personal choice. The goal here is not to tell you what to support, but to give you clarity. Understanding the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva allows you to engage from a place of knowledge rather than confusion.