Conclusion

In sum, Hinduism is a great force in contemporary India but the meaning of Hinduism has constantly been changing from pre-Aryan Hinduism to post-independence Hinduism. As a matter of fact, at any given point of time in Indian history you find presence of different philosophical ideas and practices, sometimes contradicting each other, all considered to be Hindu. Whether Aryans came from outside or were original habitants of India is not the issue, Hindus were always heterogeneous in religious, social, economic and political thoughts and practices. This situation has changed little. It can safely be said that the present day Hinduism is a product shaped by various influences such as primitive tribal influences, feudalism and agrarian ideas, Vedic and Upanishadic influences, Puranic influences, texts like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity and Westernization, even Islam, and the Western secular thoughts. From the point of view of sociology it has acquired a postmodern allusion. Yet, due to its role in society and polity it is a potent and quite an active force.