Brilliance of Hinduism

Shiv Sharma Dr.

Description

Hinduism is not a religion in the stricktest sense of the term, but it is a way of life. A religion is that which has one religious book and one founder like Christianity and Islam. When we look at Hinduism it is like a vast and huge banyan tree, under which many religions took their root and prospered. If such religions could not make much headway or declined, it was not due to Hinduism, but due to their own limitations and deficiencies. In this book, I have laid stress on some exclusive characteristic features of Hinduism which distinguish it from other religions, though some fundamental traits are common to almost all the religions. I have tried my best to avoid controversial topics, especially that create dissensions amongst other religions but, even then, some references were unavoidable. But there is no overt or covert intention to deride and demean any religion. When salient features of a religion are mentioned, comparison cannot be avoided, nor even over looked, as comparative study enables us to discern between good and bad.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Hinduism

Informations

• Publié par: Diamond Books
• Date de parution: 06 novembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789385975493
• Langue: English

Extrait

Brilliance Of Hinduism
(Insight into exclusive traits of Hinduism)
 

 
eISBN: 978-93-8597-549-3
© Publisher
Publisher: Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.
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Edition: 2007
B RILLIANCE OF H INDUISM
By - Dr. Shiv Sharma
Preface
Hinduism is not a religion in the stricktest sense of the term, but it is a way of life. A religion is that which has one religious book and one founder like Christianity and Islam. When we look at Hinduism it is like a vast and huge banyan tree, under which many religions took their root and prospered. If such religions could not make much headway or declined, it was not due to Hinduism, but due to their own limitations and deficiencies.
Innumerable books have been written on the subject, which is exhaustive, deep and complex due to its multifaceted grand diversities. You will not find any religion in the world which has the capacity to offer something for people of variable notions and faiths. Moreover, it is the only religion whose treasure of knowledge, contained in various scriptures, can satiate innate urge of all and one. The Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagwat Gita, Meditation, Yoga and Commentaries thereon need hardly any introduction. So, it is a religion which enlightens a person and paves the way for deliverance. Its social, moral, religious codes of conduct serve as guidelines so that a righteous, honest, peaceful and prosperous life could be led.
In this book, I have laid stress on some exclusive characteristic features of Hinduism which distinguish it from other religions, though some fundamental traits are common to almost all the religions. I have tried my best to avoid controversial topics, especially that create dissensions amongst other religions but, even then, some references were unavoidable. But there is no overt or covert intention to deride and demean any religion. When salient features of a religion are mentioned, comparison cannot be avoided, nor even over looked, as comparative study enables us to discern between good and bad.
Hindu scriptures were written in Sanskrit which was not a lingua franca, hence it remained confined to a certain class of clerics and preachers and the common man had to solely depend on what was revealed and explained to him, hence he had no other option but to solely rely on averments and explanations offered to him, hence voice of dessent had no place here. Sanskrit is pronounced in different ways in different regions, so spelling and articulation were naturally at variations, though connotations remained unchanged, so to say. As for translation of Sanskrit words in English, I have ventured to take recourse to the spellings which are commonly used in northern India. For instance ‘c’ is translated as ‘ch’ and ‘s’ as ‘sh’ and so on.
Before concluding I would express my unqualified gratitude to all the authors whose works have fortified my knowledge.
Shiv Sharma
Noble Thoughts to Ponder Over
‘Religion is a configuration of doctrine and practice related to that which a community regards as sacred and holy.’
‘The endeavour of religion is to get rid of the gulf, between man and God and restore the lost sense of unity.’
‘To act solely for a desire for rewards is not laudable, yet an exemption from that desire is not to be found in this world.’
‘Unrighteousness, practised in this world, does not, at once, produce its results but, advancing slowly, it cuts off roots of him who committed it.’
‘For in the next world, neither father nor mother, nor sons, nor relations stay to be his companions, but spiritual merit alone remains with him.’
‘We live in the outer world but prompted from our own within. Unless we master our inner life, however efficient and perfect, cannot but bring sorrow and unhappiness.’
‘To gain freedom, we merely have to understand that our enemy is but an illusion of our mind, and then train ourselves to calm down the dreadful emotions that our mental mistake caused.’
‘Who, sees God in every being, realizes the essential unity of the universe, he is the perfect being, God never fails him in blessings.’
CONTENTS
Noble Thoughts to Ponder Over
Preface
Heritage and History of Hinduism
Traits of Hindu way of Life
Asrama (Stages of life)
Five Great Elements
Prakriti and Gunas
Indriyas
Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Karma Yoga
Raja Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Chakras
Mudras and Five Elements
Symbols and Images in Hinduism
Idolatory
Flora and Fauna in Hinduism
Reverene to Guru, Priests and Elders
Sanctity of Fasting
Concept of Universality
Dharma, Artha, Karma, Mokssha
Vaastu and Astrology in Hinduism
Salient Features of Hinduism
Mantra, Yantra and Tantra
Glory of Gayatri Mantra
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
Official Hinduism and Urbanite Hinduism An Introspection
Appendix Hindusim, at a glance
Bibliography
Heritage and History of Hinduism
Hinduism, in the wider context, is not a religion but a way of life, as it represents the culture, civilization and religious ethos of our ancient wisdom, which is enshrined in the Vedas, Puranas Upanishads, Vedanta, religious scriptures, the epics, Gita etc. No other religion in the world has such a vast, wide and deep treasure of knowledge that has something to offer to various faiths and religions. Hinduism and Hinduttava are recent versions which have their roots in Brahmanism, Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma. Hinduism is Sanatan because it is eternal and everlasting as it has no doubt, a beginning, but certainly no end. It is beyond the confines and limitations of time. Sanatan Dharma is the edifice upon which all our life and order are dependent.
Unlike Christianity and Islam, the other two great religions of the world, Hinduism can neither be interpreted nor explained in terms of a restricted sense; hence Hinduism is not only a religion but also a culture, a civilization a way of life, a faith — it is like a big river, like the Ganges, within which so many rivers submerge and lose their individual identity and existence. So, Hinduism is a mother to many religions which have spring up from it, like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc. which are religions but not a way of life. It can be compared to a rainbow which consists of seven colours but, in its synthetic and comprehensive form, it represents a multi-coloured fabric.
The word ‘Hindu’ and ‘Hinduism’ have their origin in Persian ‘Sindhu’ became Hindu and the inhabitants, living along the Sindhu river were called as ‘Hindus’ and the country to which they belonged came to be known as ‘Hindustan’. The Greeks called ‘Sindhu’ as ‘Indus’, so far then Sindhu or Hindu meant ‘Indian’ and ‘India’. But the term ‘Hindu’ and ‘Hindustan’ as also ‘India’ and ‘Indian’ indicated the civilization of Indian sub-continent. Similarly Sindhu Valley Civilization was also called as ‘Indus Valley Civilization.’ But Hindus and Hinduism were not confined to ‘Indus’ area, but it entailed area from Kashmir to Kanyakumari—this a wide spread expanse which connotes Hindu religion, philosophy and culture, apart from ethos and way of life.
Hindus attach utmost importance to mother nature which embodies mountains, rivers, oceans, air, earth, space and fire. Most of the important religious towns are situated in the banks of rivers, sea shore or mountains, hence utmost significance was accorded to such religious places, rivers and mountains. India is the only country where Hindu religion is deeply engrained in the minds of the Hindus who are devout by nature. It is the only country in the world which has so many religions, faiths, festivals, celebrations, rituals, social norms, and where freedom of expression and practice of various religions is a matter of practice, it is a unique example of unity in diversity. Similarly diversity in languages, spoken and written, is another salient feature of India.
Aryan Civilization cast great impact on the Hindus. Aryan race was initially confined between the area called ‘Indus’ (or Sindhu) and Saraswati (which is now extinct) rivers, called Sapta-Sindhu which was then known as ‘Brahmavarta’ or ‘Aryavarta’. But when this civilization spread to Gangetic plain and then to east, west and south regions, it was called as ‘Bharat’ or ‘Bharatvarsha’—this nomeclation owes its orgin to the war fought between the descendants of the great Bharatas. It is quite surprising that the Pakistanis prefer to refer India as ‘Bharat’, while we still call it India or Hindustan.
The Aryans migrated to India from other regions and it opened a new chapter of transition from Mohenjodaro and Harrapan Civilizations. The Aryans were a comparatively mature, enlightened and progressive race whose knowledge about industry, commerce, economy, transport, use of metals, concept of deities and worship were at variance, but all the same they also injected flow of new blood to Indian way of life and practices. Despite their unique and novel practices they were successful in adapting themselves to the Indus valley Civilization, religion and practices. The Aryans were a race of fighters, they were courageous, brave and permissive, loved art and literature, were also experts in agriculture. But they were men of receptive mind and approach, hence they had to face hardly any problem in adjusting themselves, alter vocations and religious practices in conformity with those of the Indians who were part and parcel of Hindu religion. Worship of deities like Shiva, (or Pashupati) and mother goddess, penance and yoga were the attributes of Harappan religion; and were incorporated in Hinduism at a later date. So Harappan Civilization was the pre-vedic, and Pre-Aryan culture, religion, civilization and practices, sensibly opted to follow a middle course, as they adopted what suited them and inducted new practices of theirs, so as to cultivate a synthesis and assimilation of religion and