Hinduism is not just a faith, says President Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi, June 23:

is not just a faith,

said on Monday, as he received a copy of the "Encyclopaedia of Hinduism" at an inter-religious gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee complimented Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji of the Parmarth Niketan for undertaking the "massive effort" of bringing out the encyclopaedia.

Swami Saraswatiji is the founder chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation,

The president said that Hindu religious philosophy identified 'dharma', 'artha', 'kama' and 'moksh' as the foremost objectives of a human being, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

Quoting former president and noted philosopher S.Radhakrishnan, Mukherjee said Hinduism was not just a faith, but the union of reason and intuition that cannot be defined but is only to be experienced.

He said the basic tenet of Hinduism was happiness, health and enlightenment for everyone and suffering, pain and agony for none.

The president quoted Mahatma Gandhi to say: "If I were asked to define the Hindu creed, I should simply say: Search after truth through non-violent means. A man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu.

"Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth… Hinduism is the religion of truth. Truth is God. Denial of God we have known. Denial of truth we have not known."

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were BJP leaders L.K. Advani, ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Uma Bharti, Karan Singh, chairman of Auroville Foundation, Swami Saraswatiji and R.K. Pachauri, head of TERI.

Among the religious leaders present on the occasion were Acharya Lokesh Muni, Fr Anil Jose Tomas Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, the vice president of the Muslim Personal Law Board, Giani Gurubachan Singh, the chief Jathedar of Akal Takht, and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.

IANS