Hindu dharma known as Sanatan Dharma or Eternal Dharma is over 8500 years old is world's oldest living religious philosophy and way of living has tolerant, resilient and peace-loving whose root lie in the Indian subcontinent, in the Indus (Sindhu) valley which had 300 advanced settlements as early as 5000 BCE. This has no founder, word Sanatan implies that it always existed. Practically it accepts different modes of worship.
This believes in harmony of religions accepting that all true religions lead to the same goal. Respects all great teachers and prophets of all religions, respects their teachings as the same truths adapted for needs of variant peoples at different times. Hindus do not seek to convert. They stand for Non-violence, non-injury and non-killing (Ahimsa). It's principal of Equality of entire human beings, regardless of caste, color and creed and Respect womanhood as basic teachings of this religion.
Belief in the doctrine of Karma and rebirth dominates their thoughts and Ignorance is taken as cause of bondage so mean all things and beings are the manifestation of one Supreme Being. When the mind is transcendent through spiritual experience, the Universal spirit is seen as the sole essence of the universe. It all also believes that whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, God incarnates himself on earth to restore righteousness and good moral and ethical practices Includes all duties -- individual, social and religious.
So essence of all living things and beings is Atman, infinite, eternal, unchanging and indivisible. True nature of individual is the Atman, which is one with the underlying reality of the Universe.
Supreme Reality is both formless and with form, personal and impersonal, imminent and transcendent. The supreme reality becomes in various aspects and forms, and is known by different names so individuals can realize God with their temperament.
Main object of searching God is to get freedom from the cycle of birth and death. This in fact guides each to be a better person to live harmoniously and seek union with God. For such spiritual environment the liberty to discuss, research and argue is provided in Hindu dharma which ensures Non-reliance on a single book. As it has many sacred writings Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, Purans etc.
Deep study and research exposes the Ultimate Reality is one, the sages, saints, preachers and reformers through different modes tell that there is one God. But there are two different way in telling among Brahmins, transcendent (impersonal) and immanent (personal) in the impersonal aspect Brahman is without attributes (Nirguna Brahman) and in personal aspect (Saguna Brahman) the God is creator, preserver and controller of the universe. Saguna Brahman is worshipped in male and female form. Thus Hindu Deities represent various perceptions of one God thus Hindus believe in monotheistic polytheism, rather than polytheism.
Three manifestations of the Supreme Reality represent Lord Brahma as Creator, Lord Vishnu for Preservation and Lord Shiva for Destruction. This Hindu Trinity represents Three Faces of Divine, Three Cosmic Functions of the Supreme Lord, Creation + Preservation+ Dissolution thus it explains that the Generator + Operator + Destroyer = GOD.
The Hindu dharma explains four ends of Hindu life based on the principle of progressive evolution of soul. These four ends form is the basis of individual and social life of a Hindu. These four Ends are:
First Dharma is Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices in as the scriptures are which includes all duties, individual, social and religious
Second is Artha (Wealth) is not an end in itself but is basic necessity, one must earn enough to raise a family and maintain, but must not to hoard but to share with handicapped, poor and needy. This earning is for living necessity and is not an ultimate end of Hindu religious life.
Third is Kama that Denotes the wants and desires of body and mind, in the form of desires, passions, emotions and drives Satisfaction of genuine human desires such as art, music, food, sports, conjugal love, affections, clothes, jewelry are not suppressed but must be satisfied in a controlled way. Controlled satisfaction of genuine desires and passions, one becomes free from Kama.
Freedom from sensual desires and passion is a necessity to attain Moksha can be made possible by the proper maintainace of dharma, Artha, and Kama.
Fourth is Moksha Freedom from cycle of birth and death. To make an individual a better person, so that one can live harmoniously in this world and seek union with God.
This religion explains three debts during the life on this earth.
First Debt is to God is repaid by dedicating life to God service by serving all mankind, Respecting elders, teacher, non-violence, truthfulness, respectfulness, Obeying scriptural injunction, Protection of the Earth, Purity in Diet, Moderation, Simplicity, Non-interference, Peace universally.
Second Debt is to sages and saints that can be repaid by Respect and service to saints, sages and gurus, Transmitting scriptural teaching and cultural heritage, serving society and poor, without execrating returns.
Third Debt is toward one's ancestors which can be repaid by raising one's family with the moral and ethical principles of dharma.
This religion also guides to follow ten great observances. Those are Patience, firmness and stability (Dhruti). Forgiveness (Kshama). Self-control and contentment (Dama). Not to steal or conceal, or be selfish (Asteya). Cleanliness, purity and honesty (Saucham). Control over senses and sexual energy (Indriya Nigraha). Right knowledge of the scripture (Dhee). Material and spiritual knowledge or study (Vidya). Truth (Satya). Absence of anger (Akrodha).
Hindu Dharma explains four stages of Hindu life first stage is Brahmacharya Ashrama starting from entering school to finishing schooling to acquire knowledge, build character and learn to shoulder responsibilities.
Second stage is Grhastha Ashrama beginning at marriage where individual pays three debts (service of God, serving sages and saints and to ancestors), and enjoys good and noble things in life in accordance with Artha-Kama-Moksha.
Third stage is Vanaprastha Ashrama starts after the responsibilities of Grhastha ashram are complete. This is known as ascetic or hermit stage of life where one gradually withdraws from active life and begins devoting more time to study of scriptures, contemplation and meditation.
Fourth is Sannyas Ashrama the final stage of life in which an individual mentally renounces all worldly ties, spends all of his or her time in meditation and contemplation and ponders over the mysteries of life.
The most sacred symbol in Hindu dharma is Aum (OM), the sound of the infinite.
Aum is the essence of the Vedas, all mantras, the highest of all mantras, ultimate reality itself. By sound and form, AUM symbolizes the infinite ultimate reality and the entire universe. A stands for Creation, U stands for Preservation. M stands for Destruction or dissolution. This is representative of the Trinity of God in Hindu dharma (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). The three portions of AUM relate to the states of waking, dream and deep sleep and the three gunas (rajas, Satva, and Tamas).
The three letters indicates three planes of existence, heaven (swarga), earth (martya) and netherworld (patala). A is produced by the throat, U & M by the lips.
In the Vedas, AUM is the sound of the Sun, the sound of Light. It is the sound of assent (affirmation) and ascent (it has an upwards movement and uplifts the soul, as the sound of the divine eagle or falcon.
This all leads to the acceptance, adaptation, co-existence which the present society needs to understand. Perhaps the other religions or sects nearly teach to be good, very good to human. |
