HINDU’s SANATHANA DHARMA

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी

“Serene Sunday Reflections”

 

HINDU’s SANATHANA DHARMA

 

HINDU - Religion

The name ‘Hindu’ was used by Persians or such people from outside India who for referring the people living near the river Sindhu (Indus) and its eastwards. Later on, the faith of indigenous people of the region came to be grossly known as Hinduism, and today geographical identity is lost, and the religious identity is kept for the word.

The word Religion is from French (obligation/bond/reverence) and Latin (to bind) and used in Middle English for ‘life under monastic vows’. Today Religion technically refers to a set of hard and fast rules and regulations established written in a holy book which the believers must abide by and have a stern faith in it.  In Urdu/Farsi religion is called ‘Mazhab’ but Sanskrit has no word equal to Religion, as in India we had no religion. Hinduism is not a religion but is a way of life called Sanathana Dharma followed by the people in this part of the world, living beside the river Sindhu, from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean.

Himalayam Samarabhya Yavadindu Sarovaram

Tham Devanirmitham Desam Hindusthanam Prachakshath

 

SANATHANA DHARMA

 

Dharma is; righteousness, duty, morality, holiness, values and virtues; again not well defined. For any individual, he could have his own dharma along with family dharma, professional dharma, social (political/friends/community/cast/etc.) dharma, region (village/town/state/nation/world) dharma and can always have a conflict at various levels. A dharmic person balances all these dharma’s while giving priority from individual to global.

 

Sanathana Dharma has remained for long and is being followed without any stipulated schedules and practices, but it is transferred from generations to generations. The reason being - its life principles were still modern in outlook though were generated millions of years back. Thus, it is called Nithya Noothana (Most Modern) and Chira Purathana (Oldest of the Oldest).

 

In today’s context of global city life and mixing of different culture across the globe, what we as Indians (the people from this geographical region) can carry and spread to the world across is Sanathana Dharma. It is a code of ethics, a way of living through which one may mingle with people around to be happy - moksha (enlightenment, liberation). It is the world's most ancient culture with ever existing socio, spiritual, and religious tradition of the largest inhabitants. Sanathana Dharma teaches a way of life to love the whole world as our own family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam) with a coherent and rational view of reality.

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 2019 May 5 - 190505

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Sanathana Dharma in Vedic Views

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

Sanathana Dharma in Vedic Views

KEY WORDS – Vedic, Sanathana Dharma, Karma, Jnana, Sankalpa, God, Purusharthas

All the Vedic literature starting from Brahmanas until Bhagavad Gita, including Upanishads, Aranyakas, Ithihasas, Puranas and all the studies on all these literature are all dealing with Sanathana Dharma. As Hinduism itself is almost like a synonym for Sanathana Dharma, the way of life in Heritage India. To a large extend it is followed even today.

It explains not just the Eternal Laws which governs the life of a human but also delves with his relationship with the world. Sanathana Dharma is always ready to get redefined based on the demand of activity, place and time and hence it changed over millions of years.

The basic character of Sanathana Dharma is Karma (Action). It is understood that Action comes only from Jnaanam (Knowledge). For example, if someone confuses a rope with a snake, he will not be able to act. As he won’t be able to go forward by thinking it as a snake and might not want to leave the place thinking it as a rope. One must acquire the knowledge to distinguish and thus comes the firm decision making capability.

To proceed not for a short time, but for a long way ahead in life – the path is Dharma  (right decision) - acceptable to larger group around us based on culture and the law of land. It all depends on the way people look at it and could interpret it as they wish; thus, Dharma is undefined, so is Sanathana Dharma, a way of life. Thus, it is all SANKALPA (imagination) – similar to the concept of GOD in Hinduism.

Living in harmony and limiting life to its bare minimum is what all the Vedas (Rig – Yajur – Sama) prescribes (Adharva is different in its views). Purusharthas (life requirements for happiness) are dealt systematically in Vedic lifestyles, which defines Sanathana Dharma pitching to its root. It is one that you need to run a life that will take you to the ultimate happiness, self-actualization, realization, yoga with God – Samadhi, etc. – It enables to Reach THE ULTIMATE in a Spiritual Path.

 

--- NEXT WEEK  -  19^th May 2019 --- Vedic Ways of Purusharthas ---

 

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Vedic Ways of PURUSHARTHAS

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

Vedic Ways of PURUSHARTHAS

KEY WORDS –Purusharthas, Vedic, Sanathana Dharma, Kama, Artha, Dharma, Moksha, Brahmacharyam, Grahasthyam, Vanaprastham, Sanyasam, Four Stages of LIFE

Purushartha is an objective that deals with ways and feelings which are the results of a human pursuit in a lifespan. Purushartha is based on Sanathana Dharma as it defines the ways of life and is defined in Vedas.

Purushartha describes the starting spark of everyone’s life as Desire (KAMA). To satisfy the KAMA one need to get the ways and means; that is ARTHA (WEALTH - it could be economic, power, position, fame, relationship or any such that can support). DHARMA (righteousness, moral values etc. defined by the space and time as per the culture, law of the land and practices as defined by Sanathana Dharma) is what one must follow in KAMA and ARTHA as prescribed by Veda.

Sanathana Dharma says this way of life should be acceptable to the neighbourhood/environment; which means live for others, as all are the sons of the same Brahma, by spreading happiness around. To do this one has to be happy by self, called MOKSHA (attaining this is only possible through liberation and spiritual values).

Generally, these four aspects are said in the order Dharma – Artha – Kama - Moksha. These Purushartha are to be seen and enjoyed in all the FOUR STAGES OF LIFE – Brahmacharyam (Student), Grihastha (House-holder), Vanaprastha (Retirement), and Sanyasa (Renunciation).

During BRAHMACHARYAM strong KAMA (desire) focused for KNOWLEDGE (Jnaanam) is must; so that he can grow to attain ARTHA to be a GRIHASTHA in his next stage of life. Grihastha Dharma is to attain ARTHA to support self and the family and give back to society. During VANAPRASTHA, one has to be in the family to guide the Brahmachari’s and Grihastha’s to follow Dharmic ways. The last stage of life is when the family responsibilities are done and get to into the society - social service by getting rid of all attachments – SANYASA (ultimate Dharma of being human).

 

-- NEXT WEEK  -  19th May 2019 -- PURUSHARTHA – The Blue Print of Practical LIFE --

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PURUSHARTHA – The Blue Print of Practical LIFE

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी - 26^th May 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

PURUSHARTHA – The Blue Print of Practical LIFE

KEY WORDS –Purusharthas, Kama, Artha, Dharma, Moksha, Satisfaction, Happiness

KAMA is that desire which makes the world to develop. Each human must be unsatisfied in life and must be an embodiment of desires. The more the desire is, the more is the self, family, social and world development. But the desire must be on the basis of Dharma. If the desire is undesirable to the family, society or nature; he who is in desire is not aware of Dharma and gets himself into a selfish desire that will bury him in sadness (NO MOKSHA).

Who doesn’t want happiness?. But, do you want temporary or permanent happiness? Purushartha gives the balanced ways of being happy. KAMA, desire is in fact practically unsatisfaction. Unsatisfied doesn’t mean not happy. One can be unsatisfied and be happy – that is the essence of life and moksha. That state of happiness as he is always love to be in present happiness and aspiring for a better and brighter future – not for the self but for a larger community. Ultimate Desire as a human being as he proceeds for a better life prescribes him to get educated and be creative. A creative happiness-filled balanced-life brings meaning to the spiritual development. Physical fitness, Emotional Balance, Intellectual Sharpness, Socially active too; to gain long term happiness.

Education and creativity is the blessings of Saraswathi and Brahma. For any action Artha is must. God of Action is VISHNU; thus got the pair LAKSHMI; the god of Artha (WEALTH). Moksha is the stage of bliss, the samadhi level and what is needed for anyone at that stage is health, energy. Provided and supported by Sakti (Parvati) and Shiva. Thus Purusharthas are the inherent values of the Universe working with the help of trinity.

Assumes I want to go for a site-seeing trip. That desire is KAMA. I have to get the ticket and make all the arrangements. That can be a sponsored trip from my relative/friend, my payment from my savings – what ever is the means is the ARTHA. Assume I am not able to arrange these resources and I am take some wrong ways of making the money needed for the trip, that is ADHARMA. Right ways is DHARMA. In case my means is ADHARMA, even when I have all that best that can make me enjoy, inner feeling will be of the guilt and I will not be enjoying it fully. If my ways are Dharmic, I will enjoy in full. That enjoyment in all action is called MOKSHA.

Let LIFE be Live-In-Full-Enjoyment, where soon after doing anything, let the self not tell to ourself; Oh, I should not have done it – or not doing any action; let self not tell ourself; Oh, I should have done it. RIGHT ACTION at the RIGHT time is DHARMIC, that gives MOKSHA.

 

--   NEXT WEEK  -  2nd June 2019 --  MOKSHA  --

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PURUSHARTHA – The Blue Print of Practical LIFE

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी - 26^th May 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

PURUSHARTHA – The Blue Print of Practical LIFE

KEYWORDS –Purusharthas, Kama, Artha, Dharma, Moksha, Satisfaction, Happiness

Purushartha is Kama-Artha-Dharma-Mokha. KAMA is that desire which makes the world to develop. Each human must be unsatisfied in life and must be an embodiment of desires. The more the desire is, the more is the self, family, social and world development. But the desire must be based on DHARMA. If the desire is undesirable to the family, society or nature - it is Adharmic and he who is in desire gets himself into a selfish desire that will bury him in sadness (NO MOKSHA).

Who doesn’t want happiness? But, should it be temporary or permanent happiness? Purushartha gives balanced ways of being happy. KAMA - desire practically means dissatisfaction. Unsatisfied doesn’t mean not happy. One can be unsatisfied and be happy – that is the essence of life and MOKSHA. It is that state of happiness where he always lives in the present and aspires for a better and brighter future – not for the self but for a larger community. Ultimate Desire for a human being as he proceeds for a better life prescribes him to get educated and be creative. A creative happiness-filled balanced-life brings meaning to spiritual development. Physical fitness, Emotional Balance, Intellectual Sharpness, Socially active too; to gain long term happiness.

Education and creativity are the blessings of Saraswathi and Brahma. For any KARMA(Action), ARTHA is a must. God of ACTION is VISHNU; thus, got the pair LAKSHMI, the god of ARTHA (WEALTH). MOKSHA is the stage of bliss, the samadhi level and what is needed for anyone at that stage is health, energy. Provided and supported by Sakti (Parvati) and Shiva. Thus, Purusharthas are the inherent values of the Universe working with the help of Trinity.

Assume I want to go for a site-seeing trip. That desire is KAMA for which I must get the ticket and make all the arrangements. That can be a sponsored trip from my relative/friend, my payment from my savings – whatever is the means is the ARTHA. Assume I am not able to arrange these resources and I am to take some wrong ways of making the money needed for the trip, that is ADHARMA. If my means is ADHARMA, even after having everything which can make me enjoy, the inner feeling will be of the guilt and I will not be enjoying it fully. If my ways are Dharmic, I will enjoy in full. That enjoyment is called MOKSHA.

Let LIFE be Live-In-Full-Enjoyment, where soon after doing anything, let the self not tell to ourself; ‘Oh, I should not have done it’ – or for not doing any action; let self not tell ourself; ‘Oh, I should have done it’. RIGHT ACTION (KARMA) at the RIGHT TIME is DHARMIC, that gives MOKSHA as prescribed by Purushartha.

 

--   NEXT WEEK  -  2nd June 2019 --  MOKSHA  --

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MOKSHA

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी - 26^th May 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

MOKSHA

KEY WORDS :: Purushartha, Karma, Artha, Dharma, Moksha, Yoga, Meditation, LIFE,

In Hindu traditions, moksha is the ultimate aim to be attained through life journey through Dharma, Artha and Kama; called Purushartha.  Moksha is a psychological – emotional stage understood by Religious Philosophical discussions as related to death.

Moksha in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism discusses on release from karma (not to mean NO ACTION, but take it easy and be devoted), liberation from Dharma (It is being for Self-Family-Social-Whole World; realizing you are part of the single entity – GOD and again devoted), emancipation from life (Samsara/Prarabhda is only a temporary stage and all have to go one day, understanding it is temporary is the best to get relief), and self-realization self-actualization or self-knowledge or enlightenment. Happiness / Liberation / Freedom reached in LIFE is practically Moksha / Jeevanmukti / vimoksha, vimukti, kaivalya, apavarga, mukti, nihsreyasa and nirvana built around the theme of “Moksha Now” as life’s greatest pursuit is not happiness; LIFE itself is Live In Full Enjoyment.

According to Hinduism, Moksha (Physical – bhautika,  Mental – manasika, and Spiritual – adhyatmika) is a result of past karma, own actions, and God’s grace.  The impediments on Moksha are actions (karma), desires (kama) egoism (aham), ignorance (avidya), impurities (malas), delusion (maya),  and attachments (pasas). Many ways of circumblending these impediments are chosen by variety groups under Hinduism based on selected paths. These paths are called Yoga Paths. Yoga is ultimate union in bliss, that is Moksha.

Raja Yoga or Ashtanga/Classical Yoga with eight-limbs; 1. Yama- Morals 2. Niyama- Ethics 3. Asana- Posture 4. Pranayama- Control of the breath 5. Pratyahara- Control of the senses 6. Dharana- Concentration 7. Dhyana- Meditation 8. Samadhi- One-pointed absorption is another strong way to be in Moksha. Samadhi these days are mostly understood as Meditation and a silent inactive state, but in Vedic structure samadhi is Meditative Action.

Bhagavad Gita prescribes Karma Yoga or the Path of Action, Bhakti Yoga or the Path of Devotion, and Jnana Yoga or the Path of Knowledge. Leading to Creative Brahman that is the ways of yoga in action (Karma). Most popular brief – end of all the chapters  as an essence it says - Upanishatsu Brahmavidyayam yogasastre Sri Krishnarjuna samvade ….. Thus the ‘Sri Mad Bhagavad Gita’, leading to MOKSHA Sanyasa Yoga.

 

-----  Next Week 9^th June 2019 – MOKSHA & SWARGAM : POORTHA & ISHTA -----

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MOKSHA & SWARGAM : POORTHA & ISHTA

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 9^th June 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

 

MOKSHA & SWARGAM : POORTHA & ISHTA

 

KEY WORDS :: Sanathana Dharma, Swarga, Moksha, Ishta, Poortha, Dharma, Karma

 

Bharatheeya Dharma talks about two activities; Ishta and Poortha; Or to be precise Sanathana Dharma is Isha-Poortha. Ishta will take people to swarga and poortha can give moksha.

ishtathelabhathe swargam poorthe mokshamavapuyeth

 

Ishta karma is the activity that one does for the self, salvation, piece, better life, prosperity, what so ever.

agnihothram thapa sathyam vedaanaam chaanupaalanam

aadithyam vaisyadhevam cha ishta ithyabhitheeyathe

Agnihothra (Fire Offering), Thapa (Penance), Reading Vedic Texts, Welcoming Guests, Developmental Activities in Society are all ISHTA Karma.

 

The Poortha dharma is more of a Social Commitment, Caring the Environment, Respecting Earth for Future Resource etc. Service comes under “poorth dharma” and it includes digging wells and ponds, feeding the poor, building temples for the spiritual well-being, laying out gardens. Excavating wells and ponds has been mentioned first. Annapradhanamudhyannam means Fruit Bearing Trees – That means One should plant fruit bearing trees that will serve all animals, flies, birds apart from human – must be planed to get Mokhsa.

vaapee koopa thadakaani dhevathanayathanani cha

anna pradhanamudyannam poortha ithyabhitheeyathe

 

Swargalokam - heaven is the place of world after death for the good people and naraka – hell for the bad ones. The swargaloka is not the place of gods. The gandharvas used to be some time at the swarga loka too as guests from their gandhrvaloka.

 

Moksha (Freedom or Salvation) from the cycle of birth and death is the ultimate goal of Hindu religious life. Moksha is the state of supreme bliss and there is no quest beyond it. Moksha is release from all attachments. It is a state in which the self remains ever in untrammeled freedom and blessedness to be in bliss. The chief purpose of religion is to teach us how this supreme state may be attained.

 

The mention of feeding and educating are not seen as poortha karma directly, but had given much importance and could be rated as higher than many of the other karma. Thus reading between the lines and analyzing the relevance in today’s context poor feeding and educating are to be considered as the greatest Dhana Dharma and added into the Poortha Dharma.

 

-----  Next Week 16^th June 2019 – PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering  -----

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PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering

 श्री  गणेश  मंदिर   -  शिक्षा वाणी – 16^th June 2019

Serene Sunday Reflections

 

PARAM DHAANAM – Best Offering

KEYWORDS :: Dhaanam (offering), Annadhaanam, Vidyadhaanam, Food, Education

 

Last SUNDAY we reflected on ISHTA POORTHAM and made it clear that POORTHA karma is important as it is serving others. Among the Best Service, here we are reflecting on PARAM DHAANAM – analyzing the merit of Annadhaanam (Offering Food) and Vidyadhaanam (Educating).

 

Annadhaana or the gift of food is one kind of service (paropakara). We talk of service to the poor, social service and so on. Today all this is done with much fanfare and publicity. In the past, the needy were served naturally, without making any advertising and was an everyday routine. Earlier before closing the kitchen, mothers were supposed to go to the entry gate and ask loudly “is there any around who require supper?”.

Many slokas indicate the importance of annadhaanam. It says annadhaanam is greater than donating many horses, elephants, gold ornaments, vessels, land, kanyadhanam etc.

Gaja turaga Sahasram Gokulam koti danam
Kanaka Rajatha patram Methini sagarantham
Upaya kula vishuttam Koti kanya pradanam
Nahi nahi bahu danam Annadanam samanam

 

Feeding is a good philanthropic activity. But educating is much higher. The food will get digested soon. Education will remain for the whole life.

अन्नदानं महादानं विद्यादानमतः परम् ।
अन्नेन क्षणिका तृप्तिः यावज्जीवञ्च विद्यया ॥

This probably was the source for the saying 'Give a man a fish, you feed him once. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for life'.

 

With the education, we purify our intelligence, with meditation we purify our mind, with shlokas or poetry we purify our speech, by exerting ourselves in the service of others one must purify the physic or body; that is why the DasaMahaVidya is prescribing Dasami / Navarathri (10 days / 9 nights) rituals. The Tenth Day (Dasami) is for Saraswati with Education and Learning, everyone at home sits together to demonstrate their learning.

 

Rituals has been so mechanical these days in the religious activity. Many of the offerings are done without even knowing the meaning. The word ‘ritual’ itself became a synonym for anything we do with out proper understanding. Thus giving knowledge and gaining knowledge (VIDYADAANAM) is the best offering that will be leading to best RITUAL.  Understanding the inner meanings of RITUALS as offering will be our next week’s reflection.

 

Slokas are referenced from Subhashita Ratnakara

----- Next Week 23^rd June 2019 - RITUALS –-----

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