Santana Dharma (Hinduism)

Religion is definitely important for human development. General mistake in religion is that the soul develops ego by comparing its religion to other religions. With the intrusion of ego soul loses its way to spirituality. Ego destroys the feeling to live a religious life full of divine qualities. Such a soul passes the rest of its life by commenting on the religious activities of others. Under the dark shadow of ego the soul believes that only it is following the best religion where as all the remaining religious customs are mere illusions.

Through the eyes of universal wisdom, different religions are like different schools in cities or town. Truth, sacrifice, love and compassion, non-killing etc. are their classes. Self-analysis is the examination through which we test ourselves to know whether we pass or fail.

Santana Dharma (Hinduism)

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus. It is the oldest of all living religions. Hinduism is not a man-made religion. Any single person did not form it. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is the product of the seers of the Vedas. It was developed from age to age by the teachings of Avataras, Rishis, Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita and the Itihasas. It will exist as long as the world lasts. There is a peculiar, mysterious spiritual force that is ingrained in the heart of every Hindu.

Hinduism is also known by the names Sanatana Dharma and Vaidika Dharma. Sanatana Dharma means eternal religion, the Ancient Law. Vaidika Dharma means the religion of the Vedas. The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of Hinduism.

Hinduism allows absolute freedom to the rational mind of man Hinduism never demands any undue restraint upon the freedom of human reason, the freedom of thought, feeling and will of man.

Hinduism is a religion of freedom. It allows the widest freedom in matters of faith and worship. It allows absolute freedom to the human reason and heart with regard to questions such as the nature of God, soul, creation, form of worship, and goal of life. It does not force anybody to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship. It allows to reflect, investigate and enquire. Hence, all sorts of religious faiths, various forms of worship or Sadhana (Meditation), diverse kinds of rituals within Hinduism, and are cultured and developed in harmonious relationship with one another.

Hinduism, unlike other religions, does not dogmatically assert that the final freedom or God realization is possible only through its means and not through any other. It is only a means to an end, and all means which ultimately lead to the end, are equally approved.

The religious hospitality of Hinduism is highly popular. Hinduism is extremely liberal. This is the fundamental feature of Hinduism. Hinduism pays respects to all religions. It does not revile any other religions. It accepts and honours truth, wherever it may come from and whatever garbs it may put on.

In every religion, there are three parts, viz., philosophy, mythology and ritual. Philosophy is the essence of religion. It sets forth its basic principles or fundamental doctrines or tenets, the goal, and the means of attaining it. Mythology explains and illustrates philosophy by means of legendary lives of great men or of supernatural beings. Ritual gives a still more concrete form of philosophy so that everyone may understand it. Ritual consists of customs and ceremonies.

Mythology is a part of every religion. Mythology is factual philosophy. Mythology is the science which investigates myths or legends founded on remote events, especially those made in the early period of people’s existence. Mythology inspires the readers through principle and admired examples, and encourages them to attain perfection or the highest ideal. The abstract teachings and Holy ideas are made highly interesting through the garb of stories, legends, and narratives. The high quality philosophical ideas and ideals are taken straight to the heart of the masses through impressive stories. There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You can not ignore a thing simply because it has the touch of mythology. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote this mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now.

You study geography through maps. There is no real country or town in a map, but it helps you to know a great deal about the different countries. Similar is the case with myths. You can grasp the philosophical truths through myths only. The object of myth and legend is merely to lure the mind to the truths of religion.

Hinduism is not a religion of mere theories. It is highly practical. In no religion will you find such a variety of Yoga practiced, and such admired unique philosophy expounded.

Hinduism provides spiritual food and Yoga Sadhana (Meditation) for all sorts of people to suit their conditions, capacities, tastes, stages of spiritual development, and conditions of life. It prescribes Yoga Sadhana even for people doing professional work to attain God-realization, while performing their duties in the world. Hindu Yoga and Vedanta teachers lay great stress on self-restraint, Tapas, renunciation and practical Sadhana, which are best calculated to control the mind and the senses and unfold the Divinity within or attain Self-realization. 

Hindu philosophy is a way of life. The Law of Karma is one of the fundamental doctrines of Hinduism. As a man sows, so shall he reap. This is the law of Karma. Desire produces karma. You work and exert to acquire the objects of your desire. Karma produces its fruits as pain and pleasure. You will have to take births after births to reap the fruits of your Karmas.

The doctrine of reincarnation or transmigration is a fundamental tenet of Hinduism. You will not cease to exist after death. Before this birth you have passed through countless lives. The word ‘reincarnation’ literally means coming again into a physical body. The individual soul takes again a mortal vehicle. The word ‘transmigration’ means passing from one plane to another or passing into a new body.

The doctrine of rebirth is similar to the law of Karma. The differences of qualities that are found between one individual and another must be due to one’s respective past actions. Past action implies past birth. Further, all your Karmas cannot certainly bears fruit in this birth alone. Therefore, there must be another birth for enjoying the remaining actions. Each soul has a series of births and deaths. Births and deaths will continue till you attain knowledge of the Self.

You do not come into the world in total forgetfulness and in utter darkness. You are born with certain memories and habits acquired in the previous births. Desires take their origin from previous experiences. We find that none is born without desire. Every being is born with some desires, which are associated with the things enjoyed by him in the past life. The desire proves the existence of his soul in the previous lives.

Man contains within himself infinite possibilities. The power of imagination and wisdom is within him. He has to unfold the Divinity within. This is the object of living and dying.

A foreigner is struck with astonishment when he hears about the diverse sects and creeds of Hinduism. But, these varieties are really an ornament to Hinduism. They, certainly, are not its defects. There are various types of mind and temperament. So, there should be various faiths also. This is but natural. This is the major principle of Hinduism. There is room in Hinduism for all types of souls-from the highest to the lowest for their growth and evolution.