Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life.  Unlike other religions, Hindu dharma has many specialties.  This is not known as a religion, it is known as the dharma; Sanaathana Dharma.  Sanaathana means, according to Bhagavath Geetha, which cannot be destroyed by fire, weapons, water, air, and which is present in all living and non living being.  Dharma means, the way of life which is the ‘total of all aachaaraas or customs and rituals’.

Hinduism SymbolHinduism has been variously defined as a religion, a religious tradition, a set of religious beliefs, and “a way of life.” From a Western lexical standpoint, Hinduism like other faiths is appropriately referred to as a religion. In India the term dharma is preferred, which is broader than the western term religion.

Sanaathana Dharma has its foundation on scientific spirituality.  In the entire ancient Hindu literature we can see that science and spirituality are integrated.  It is mentioned in the 40th chapter of the Yajurveda known as Eesaavaasya Upanishad that use scientific knowledge for solving problems in our life and use the spiritual knowledge for attaining immortality through philosophical outlook.

What are some of the key beliefs of Hinduism?

  • Hindus believe in reincarnation – a belief that the soul is eternal and lives many lifetimes in one body afer another. The soul is sometimes born in a human body, sometimes in an animal body and sometimes in a plant body et.,
  • Hindus believe that all forms of life contain a soul, and all souls have the chance to experience life in different forms.
  • Samsara means going through the cycle of repeated births and deaths (reincarnation). Hindus beliee that existence of this cycle is governed by Karma.

Remember that in each and every aachaaraa there will be a component of spirituality in it.  Without spirituality, nothing exists in Sanaathana dharma.  Generally everyone bear a wrong impression that this spirituality is religion.  Spirituality is different in Hindu dharma.  Here the question of religion does not exist at all, because Hindu dharma was not created by an individual, prophet or an incarnation.  Spirituality is a part of every Hindu custom in the normal life of a Hindu.

hinduism

Aachaaraas are to be followed based on their merits available from the self experience; you need not blindly follow a teacher or someone who gives advice without reasoning.  All these aachaaraas are mentioned for the prosperity of the human beings and it should be the prime focus for practicing the Hindu aachaaraas.

Achaaryaath paadam aadatthe

paadam sishya swamedhaya

paadam sa brahmachaaribhya

sesham kaala kramena cha

This is an important advice given in smruthies.  It means a person can get only one quarter of knowledge from Achaarya – the teacher, another quarter by analyzing self, one quarter by discussing with others and the last quarter during the process of living by method addition, deletion, correction, and modification of already known aachaaraas or new aachaaraas.

Aachaaraath labhathe  hi ayu:

aachaaraath dhanamakshayam

aachaaraath labhathe  suprajaa:

aachaaro ahanthya lakshanam

Aachaaraas are followed for the psychological and physiological health and long life; Aachaaraas are followed for prosperity and wealth; Aachaaraas are followed for strong family and social bondage and following the Aachaaraas give a fine personality, dharmic outlook and vision, says our dharmasaastra.

In India everyone followed Aachaaraas for the above mentioned psychological, physiological, family relation, social benefits and national integration based benefits.  It is your right and duty to understand scientifically, rationally and logically the meaning of each and every Aachaaraas and follow the same in your life systematically.

Leave a Comment