Right from the Vedic age, Hinduism had never been a systematised and organised religion. As Dr Radhakrishnan had pointed Hinduism is more a "way of life," an "approach to," and an " out-look on," problems of life. The very expression 'Hinduism' is not found in any of the Indian texts before the advent of the foreign invaders. 

This expression was coined to distinguish the natives from the 'in coming,' people. Vedic period was known for its liberal out look on the problems of life( Love, marriages within and out side caste, children  born under various circumstances etc. 

There are no references to Hell in Vedas. Pre Aryans were only referred as 'black people.' Yet heir religious and cultural practices were absorbed in the form of Atharvana Veda. The Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabhatatha contain references to the spirit of harmony and Cultural Synthesis.

During the age of Sutras and Shastras, caste became rigid. Taboos in inter-dining and inter-marriages were introduced. The ideal of 'Purity' and 'Purificatory ceremonies,' were adopted. Manu Dharma is classical example of a shastra that perpetuate social discrimination and social injustice. Yet the Manu Dharma recognised the eight types of marriages and twelve kinds of children referred in the Vedas. 

Thus there was no organised persecution even in the age of Sutras and Shastras. During the fifth and sixth centuries the Kshatriyas maintained their supremacy and Brahminical influences received a set back due to the emergence of Jainism and Buddhism. Yet there were no religious persecutions and intolerance. 

Ashoka's Rock Edict no xii, has become world famous due to its advocacy of tolerance and harmony between different religions and cultures. The period of Sungas and Kanvas witnessed a period of Brahminical revival with all its rituals and ceremonies. On the other hand many Buddhist and Jains who could not bear with these revivals migrated to the south. 

The Gupta period was a glorious example of Hindu renaissance, which encouraged both Buddhism and Jainism to thrive. The early southern kingdoms though accepted Hinduism was free from the bigotry promoted by the Shastras and Sutras. Thus Buddhist and Jains contributed to the growth of arts and letters in the south. The Parsis and the Jewish communities were amongst the earliest that discovered India as the Haven of Peace and Harmony. To this day they remain influential communities in India.

More Hindu Temples were destroyed during the internecine wars between the Vira Saivites and Vira Vaishnavites. In general the Hindu rulers were forced to destroy each other's Temples on considerations of military strategy and tactics.

This was because the Hindu Temple was not only a centre of Social and cultural activities but it was also a place where arms and ammunitions were stored and the temple Gopuras (towers) were used as observation posts, and circles of walls around the temple were created in providing to the local communities shelter from the harassment of the invaders.

Besides the Temples were also places as indicators of community's affluence, with all its Jewellery and other precious items of the Temple property. No wonder the Temples attracted the attention of the invaders irrespective of their religious affiliation.

During the Muslim rule examples of harmonious relatiosns and friendly interactions between the two communities existed. This attracts our attention more than isolated examples of intolerance and persecution. It is the British and the Western writers who