In the Vedic times, say, 5000 years ago, the whole world paid respect to one religion – the eternal religion of the Vedas. Of course, locally, people may have had their own modes of worship, still, it was invariably a derivation of the Vedic religions. The gods of the Vikings, the gods of Rome, Greek etc. can clearly be traced back to the Vedic demigods.

Now a days there is the tendency in India to emulate the West, since the West is the leader of the world in economy and technology. Just half a century ago, however, the situation was reverse. India didn’t have to go outside for anything. India already had it all. India was the richest and most advanced nation of the planet, both in terms of material wealth and spiritual knowledge. And what India had was coveted by the rest of the world. Everyone in Europa wanted to go to India for the fabulous opulence of wealth, knowledge, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, architecture, and philosophy available in India.

Later, both Muslims and the British went to India to plunder and subjugate. For instance, the crown jewels of Queen Elisabeth were stolen from temples in India. Also, unlike Christian or Muslim countries, India has never conducted imperialistic wars on her neighbors.

Europe had nothing that India wanted or coveted, It was the Europeans who wanted to go to India. They were very eager to go to India, Initially, Columbus set out for India, only the winds brought him to America instead. When Europe lived in the dark ages, India had already explained advanced mathematics, the decimal number system, and the number 0. In fact, when the Europeans ran around with clubs and lived in caves, the Vedic sages had already described the solar-system and the rest of the universe in minute detail.

Hinduism is also accommodating towards other religions. In India people know, it’s all the same God, anyway, so there is no need to convert anyone. Christianity and Islam, on the other hand, are both exclusive religions, and they see any other mode of worship than their own as the work of devil. That’s why they set out into the world to spread their religion by the sword.

Indians never had that urge to go out and convert people by might, for they understood it’s the same God, just with different names and cultural expressions. But in modern time, Hinduism has become missionary. After Hare Krishna entered the scene of Hinduism, a great mission for the reformation of mankind has begun.ISKCON is converting people from all over the world into Vaishnavas. This reformation is not being conducted by violence and force. Rather, the Hare Krishna mission is being conducted with the sword of knowledge.It is being done in the spirit of the most munificent incarnation of Godhead – Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In former ages Krishna killed demons to bring stability and peace to the planet. In this age Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has come to deliver everyone, which He does by killing the demonic mentality of modern man. He kills their tamasic mentality with the weapon of scientific knowledge of God and existence.

Rupa Goswami says: “O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.” —C.C, Madhya 19.53

Krishna says: Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional service. Even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activities or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as I am.

—Hari-bhakti-vilasa (10.127)  by Sanatana Gosvami