• The definition "Hinasti doshan sa Hinduh" is a floating one of unknown origin and date.

But in my
opinion it serves as a good starting point for any debate on Hinduism.

• The second definition "Himsaya duyate sa Hinduh" with two sub clauses: "sadacharana tatparah" and
"veda-go-pratima sevi" comes from a Dharmashastra text called "Vriddhasmriti" from medieval period.

I have found few more definitions of Hindu and its connection with Hindusthan. I provide them below for
your reference. Most of the texts cannot be dated before 800.

Six definitions of Hindu By Shrinivas Tilak

In most scholarly accounts of Hinduism (and in courses on Hinduism taught in Western universities) the
term Hindu is generally explained in the popularly accepted sense as a derivative of Sindhu. Persians are
said to refer to the people who inhabited the region along the river Sindhu as 'Hindu.'

How Hindus themselves traditionally explained and understood the term Hindu is not discussed.
Etymology of Hindu can be accounted for internally, from within the tradition, on the strength of a rule laid
by Panini in his Asthadhyayi "sarhyapicca" (3:4.57). The sibilant 'sa,' states Panini, 'may optionally be
replaced by aspirant 'h.' Many later Sanskrit lexicons or literary texts also provide various definitions of
Hindu ranging from universal and ethical to more sectarian and religious (see "Arya Sanskriti" by Shridhar
Swami; Mumbai K.B. Dhavale & Co, 1991: 12-14).

(1) Hinam dushyati iti hinduh - Hindu is any one who categorically rejects all that is inferior and crude1.

(2) From Adbhutakosha2: The two forms of the term Hindu (written with a short or long 'u' ) imply enemy
of antigods (daityas), harasser of the wicked, and handsome/beautiful to behold (Hindur hinduscha
pumsi dvau dushtanam ca vigharshane; rupashalini daityarau).

(3) From Ramakosha2: A Hindu cannot be evil, ignoble or untrustworthy. As follower and protector of
shruti and dharma, he/she aspires to be sagacious and discerning (Hindurdushto na bhavati nanaryo
na vidushakah; Saddharmapalako vidvan shrautadharma parayanah).

(4) From Kavikosha2: Any devotee of Narayana and other deities may be identified as a Hindu (Hindurhi
narayanadidevata bhaktah).

(5) From Parijataharana Nataka2: He/she who (1) eradicates all defects and evil from the body and mind
by engaging in ascetic practices and (2) destroys the wicked enemy with sharp weapons is Hindu
(Hinasti tapasa papan daihikan dushtamanasan; hetibhih shatruvargam ca sa hindurabhidhiyate).

(6) From Madhavadigvijaya2: He/she is Hindu who (1) acknowledges the sacred 'aum' to be the root of all
mantras; (2) firmly believes in rebirth; (3) adores the cow; (4) venerates the tenets of [Bharata]
dharma as the supreme guru; and (5) abhors and abjures all violence (Omkara mulamantradhyah
punarjanma dridhashayah; gobhakto bharataguruh; hindurhi himsadushakah). The Brihaspati Agama
posits an organic relation between Hindu and Hindusthana. The landmass of India (Hindusthana) is a
divine creation that extends from the Himalayas to Indu Lake (near Kanyakumari): Himalayam
samarabhya yavadindu sarovaram; tam devanirmitam desham hindusthanam prachakshate)

References:

1. Sanskrit dictionary compiled by Raja Deb (1784-1867) and edited by Karunasindhu Vidyanidhi
2. Medieval Sanskrit text
Hinduism: Who Is A Hindu
By Sri Swami Sivananda

Who Is A Hindu
In a meeting of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Lokamanya Tilak said: - A Hindu is he who believes that
the Vedas contain self-evident and axiomatic truths. -
The Hindu Maha Sabha has given another definition: - A Hindu is one who believes in a religion which
has originated in India. -
- Those who burn the dead are Hindus. - This is another definition given by some.
- He who protects the cows and the Brahmins is a Hindu. - This is another definition given by some.
Some define: - A Hindu is one who regards India as his motherland and the most sacred spot on earth. -
Some others define: - He who calls and considers himself a Hindu is a Hindu. -
Some define: - He who accepts the Vedas, the Smritis, the Puranas and the Tantras as the basis of
religion and of the rule of conduct, and believes in one Supreme God (Brahman), in the Law of Karma or
retributive justice, and in reincarnation (Punarjanma), is a Hindu. -
- He who follows the Vedic or Sanatana-Dharma is a Hindu. - This is the definition by some.
- He who is a follower of the Vedanta is a Hindu. - This is another definition given by some others

According to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindus are all those who believe, practice, or respect the
spiritual and religious principles and practices having roots in Bharat. Thus Hindu includes Jains,
Baudhhas, Sikhs and people of many different sects within the Hindu ethos.
In most scholarly accounts of Hinduism (as well as in courses on
Hinduism taught on North American campuses)the term Hindu is usually
explained as a derivative of Sindhu. It is said to refer to those who
originally inhabited the region along the river Sindhu. How Hindus
themselves have traditionally explained or understood this label is
not discussed.

In a book "Arya Samskrti" by Shridhar Swami (Mumbai: K.B. Dhawale

& Co, 1991: 12-14), however, I came across following definitions of
Hindu derived from traditional Sanskrit lexicons or texts. Scholars
or teachers of Hinduism need to engage with these definitions
supplied from within the tradition in order to provide a more
balanced account of Hindu self-identity and character analysis.
Shridhar Swami begins by observing that assuming that the popular
etymology of Hindu is valid, it still can be accounted for internally
on the strength of Panini's sutra "serhyapicca" (3:4.57)--the
sibilant "sa" may be replaced by the aspirant "ha." He then analyzes
the following definitions of Hindu that seem to reveal a broad range
of religious, moral, and metaphysical nuances. I would request
members of this list to provide more information about the texts from
which Shridhar Swami has culled his information.

(1) From Shabda-kalpa-druma:

Hindu is one who categorically rejects all that is inferior and

crude (hinam dushyatiti hinduh)

(2) From Adbhutakosha:

The term Hindu (with a short or long "u" and in the masculine
gender) implies the enemy of antigods (daityas), harasser of the
wicked, and handsome [?] to behold (Hindur hindusca pumsi dvau
dustanam ca vigharsane; rupashalini daityarau)

(3) From Ramakosha:

A Hindu cannot be evil, ignoble or untrustworthy. As a follower of

shruti and dharma, he/she aspires to be sagacious and discerning
(Hindurdusto na bhavati nanaryo na vidusakah/ Saddharmopalako vidvan
srautdharma parayanah).

(4) From Kavikosha:

A devotee of Narayana and other deities is

a Hindu (Hindurhi narayanadidevata bhaktah).

(5) From Parijataharana Nataka:

He/she who (1) eradicates all defects and evil from the body/mind
by engaging in ascetic practices and (2) destroys enemies with sharp
weapons may be called a Hindu (Hinsasti tapasa papan daihikan
dustamanasan/Hetibhih satruvargam ca sa hindurabhidhiyate).

(6)From Madhavadigvijaya:

He/she ia Hindu who (1) acknowledges the sacred syllable (aum) to

be the source of all the mantras, (2) firmly believes in rebirth, (3)
adores the cow, (4) venerates the tenets of [Bharata]dharma as
supreme guru, and (5) abhors and abjures all violence (Omkara
mulamantradhyah punarjanma drdhasayah / Gobhakto bharatagurur hindur
himsanadusakah).
Born in the former state of Hyderabd, Shridhar Swami (1908-73)
was very popular in Maharshtra and Karnataka and wrote profusely in
Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, and English. If his compilation of the above
definitions of Hindu stands up to scholarly scrutiny, we will have to
revise Wilfred Cantwell Smith's claim that with the exception of
Islam, descriptive labels of major world religions and their
practitioners were supplied by the outsiders.

Shrinivas Tilak

Hinduism - Etymology
Though linguists and historians haven't reached a consensus, the term Hindu is generally accepted to be
derived from the name of the Sindhu (िसन्धु, i.e., the Indus) river, which is known as Hindu in Persian.
The term was used for people that lived around or beyond the Sindhu. In this region, Mohan-jo-Daro
civilization is documented to be around five thousand years old. As evidenced by its structure, this was a
very advanced civilization. Hinduism, in some form, probably existed long before that. In the Iranian
linguistic branch, the /s/ of the Indic branch (as represented by Sanskrit) is cognate with the /h/ sound of
Iranian (as represented by Avestan and Old Persian). In the Rig Veda, the Indo-Aryans mention their
expanse as sapta sindhu (the land of seven rivers). This became the term Hapta-Hindu in Avesta
(Vendidad: Fargard 1.18). Hindu (In-du or In-tu in China) is still used in some languages to denote an
Indian or India. The Greek term "India" was originally pronounced Hindia; /h/ became lost as in later
Greek there was no character for "h". In modern Persian and Arabic, the term Hindustan denotes the
Indian subcontinent, and Hind or Al-Hind is used to denote the Republic of India.
The word Hindu (िहन्दु), possibly due to Iranian influence — in the sense of people of India — is used in
some early-medieval Sanskrit texts like Bhavishya Purāna, Kālikā Purāna, Merutantra, Rāmakosha,
Hemanta-kavikosha and Adbhutarūpa-kosha. India is also traditionally, but unofficially called Hindustan or
Hind in Hindi, Persian, Arabic, etc.. Note that the word Hindustan also has other meanings.
Until about 19th century the term Hindu implied a culture and ethnicity and not a religion. When the British
government started periodic censuses and established a legal system, the need arose to define Hinduism
as a distinct religion, along the lines of Christianity or Islam. Some scholars, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak,
defined it as a religion based on the Vedas, using the analogy of the Bible being the basis of Christianity
and the Koran being the Muslim scripture.
That even an atheist may be called a Hindu is an example of the fact that Hinduism is far more than a
simple religious system; it is actually an extremely diverse and complicated river of evolving philosophies
and ancient traditions.

VHP Definition (http://www.vhp.org.uk/newversion/content/view/64/82/)

Definition of Hindu: The term "HINDU" refers to all those people who believe in, respect and follow
Dharma - a code of conduct based on the eternal and spiritual values of life that have originated in
Bhaarat.
Dharma eva hato hanti
Dharmo rakshati rakshitah
One who destroys Dharma is annihiliated
One who protects Dharma is protected (by Dharma)
- Mahabhaarat, Vana Parva: Canto 313, Verse 128