Introduction
Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus, earlier known as Sanatan Dharma.
In the Vedic period, Sanatan Dharma was prevailing all over the world and there was no other religion prevailing on the Earth in those periods.
All other religions have originated from Hinduism - Sanatan Dharma.
Hinduism is the oldest of all living religions. Hinduism is not a man-made religion. It was not founded by any single person like other religions.
Islam was founded by a psychic man called - Mohammed Paigambar.
Christianity was founded by a man called Jesus.
Hinduism is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It was not started as a system, like Islam or Christianity. It is the product of the seers of the Vedas.
Vedas means - Science of life.
Hinduism was developed from age to age by the teachings of Avataras, Rishis, Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita and the Itihasas.
Hinduism will exist as long as the world lasts because, 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.
A Religion of Freedom
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.
Like in Islam, there is a binding that every Muslim should unconditionally accept the Quran and he who questions or disbelieves the Quran, will be tortured, killed, looted, raped, slaughtered alongwith his family and friends - Such heinous preachings do not exist and will never be accepted in Hinduism, because Hinduism is a Religion of Eternal Peace and Humanity.
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 everybody to reflect, investigate, enquire and cogitate. Hence, all sorts of religious faiths, various forms of worship or Sadhana, diverse kinds of rituals and customs, have found their honourable place side by side within Hinduism, and are cultured and developed in harmonious relationship with one another.
Hinduism, unlike other religions, does not dogmatically assert that the final emancipation is possible only through its means and not through any other. It is only a means to an end, and all means which will ultimately lead to the end are equally approved.
The religious hospitality of Hinduism is proverbial. Hinduism is extremely catholic and 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 garb it may put on.
Hindu Philosopy and Legends
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. Hindu Legends explain and illustrate the Hindu Philosophy by means of legendary lives of great men or of supernatural beings, which existed amongst us in their times and such Legendary Men and Avatars will continue to come and live amongst us in times to come. The lives of such legendary men and Avataras is meant to guide to the path of achieving the final goal of our lives - Moksha.
Such teachings are not given in any other religion, which have originated only from one man and his rules.
Ritual gives a still more concrete form of philosophy so that everyone may understand it. Ritual consists of forms and ceremonies. Such rituals, which set the form of our lives to the path of Divine happiness is one more thing Hinduism has given to us humans. Such rituals help us humans to maintain the difference in the lifestyles of us Humans from animals.
Mythology is an essential part of Hinduism. Mythology means concretized philosophy. Mythology is the science which investigates myths or fables or legends founded on remote events, especially those made in the early period of a people's existence. Mythology inspires the readers through precepts and laudable examples, and goads them to attain perfection of life of the highest ideal being, which is called as Avatar in the Sanatan Dharma or Hinduism.
The abstract teachings and subtle ideas are made highly interesting through the garb of stories, parables, legends, allegories and narratives. The sublime and abstract philosophical ideas and ideals of Hinduism are taken straight to the heart of the masses through impressive legends and examples. Mythology in Hinduism is nothing but History of Supreme being in Human history, who actually lived amongs the masses in the Vedic period and also in the later ages. Such examples and legends start from the earliest period of the Satya Yuga and then follow in the Treta Yuga and Dvapar Yuga. Such examples also have their legendary existence in the Kali Yuga. The latest exampls of such legends of Hinduism are - LORD KRISHNA (The eight avatar of Lord Vishnu), who lived amongs us during the ending era of Dvapar Yuga and LORD BUDDHA (The nineth avatar of Lord Vishnu), who lived among us in Kali Yuga.
There are great truths behind the ancient legends of Hinduism.
You cannot ignore a thing simply because it has happened in the ancient period of the Human Race. Do not argue. Use your intellect with the right degree when you study the legends of Hinduism. When you keep your Intellect in the right degree, then it helps you to understand the actual Science behind all the legends in Hinduism and their purpose of guiding the Human Race towards the path of attaining Divinity towards the end of our lives ie Moksha.
Give up arrogance, vanity. Cultivate love for divinity. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by such legends. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote this history of legends in Hinduism. You will really enjoy the Legendary History of Hinduism now.
You can grasp the subtle, philosophical truths through such legends only. The object of legends is merely to guide your minds to the truths of religion.
Emphasis on Practice
Hinduism is not a religion of mere theories. It is eminently practical. In no religion will you find such a variety of Yoga practiced, and such sublime unique philosophy expounded.
Hinduism provides spiritual food and Yoga Sadhana for all sorts of people to suit their temperaments, capacities, tastes, stages of spiritual development, and conditions of life. It prescribes Yoga Sadhana even for a scavenger or a cobbler to attain God-realization, while doing his ordinary avocation 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.
Religion is the practical aspect of philosophy. Philosophy is the rational aspect of religion. The philosophy of Hinduism is not armchair philosophy. It is not meant for intellectual curiosity and vain discussion. Hindu philosophy is a way of life. The philosopher of Hinduism seriously reflects after hearing the Srutis (Vedas), does Atma-vichara (enquiry into the nature of the Self), constantly meditates, and then attains Self-realization or Atma-sakshatkara. Moksha (liberation from birth and death) is his goal. He attempts to attain Jivanmukti (liberated being) now and here.
Law of Karma
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. This is the law of Karma.
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-passing into a new body.
The doctrine of rebirth is a corollary to the law of Karma. The differences of disposition 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 bear 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.
Such 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.
Such desire proves the existence of his soul in the previous lives.
Man contains within himself infinite possibilities. The magazine of power and wisdom is within him.
He has to unfold the Divinity within. This is the object of living and dying.
Hindu Sects
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 cardinal tenet of Hinduism. There is room in Hinduism for all types of souls-from the highest to the lowest-for their growth and evolution.
Hinduism thus has studied all types of egos, mindsets, characters existing in any Human Being and has made such various types of provisions to guide all of them to the final goal of divinity - Moksha. Hinduism is NOT an unilateral text. It contains various sects and diversions according to different types of humans living in the whole world. Thus Hinduism - speaking in social sense, possesses the power of embracing - Unity in Diversity in the true sense.
The term Hinduism is most elastic
It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta, Saivism, Saktism, Vaishnavism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a league of religions than a single religion with a definite creed. It is a fellowship of faiths. It is a federation of philosophies. It accommodates all types of men and women. It prescribes spiritual food for everybody, according to his qualification and growth.
This is the beauty of this magnanimous religion. This is the glory of Hinduism.
Hence there is no conflict among the various cults and creeds.
Sanatan Dharmists, Arya Samajists, Deva Samajists, Jains, Sikhs and Brahmo Samjists are all Hindus. Despite all the difference of metaphysical doctrines, modes of religious discipline, and forms of ritualistic practices and social habits prevalent in the Hindu society, there is an essential uniformity in the conception of religion, and in the outlook on life and the world, among all sections of Hindus.
Glory of Hinduism
Muslim emperors ruled India for seven hundred years. The British ruled India for two hundred years. Some joined Islam through force. The Muslim emperors and the British were not able to convert the whole of India. The glory of Hinduism still persists. The culture of Hinduism still prevails. Nothing can shake its greatness and root.
Hinduism is neither asceticism nor illusionism, neither polytheism nor pantheism. It is a synthesis of all types of religious experiences. It is a whole and complete view of life. It is a complete Science. It is characterized by wide toleration, deep humanity and high spiritual purpose. It is free from fanaticism. That is the reason why it has survived the attacks of the followers of other religions of the world.
Hinduism is extremely liberal, tolerant and elastic
No religion is so very elastic and tolerant like Hinduism. Hinduism is very stern and rigid regarding the fundamentals. It is very elastic in readjusting to the externals and non-essentials. That is the reason why it has succeeded in living through millennia.
The foundation of Hinduism has been laid on the bedrock of spiritual truths. The entire structure of Hindu life is built on eternal truths, the findings of the Hindu Rishis or seers. That is the reason why this structure has lasted through times immemorial.
Hinduism stands unrivaled in the depth and grandeur of its philosophy. Its ethical teachings are lofty, unique and sublime. It is highly flexible and adapted to every human need.
It is not in need of anything from any other religion. No other religion has produced so many great saints, great patriots, great warriors, great Pativratas (chaste women devoted to their husbands). The more you know of the Hindu religion, the more you will honour and love it. The more you study it, the more it will enlighten you and satisfy your heart.
HINDUISM IS A PERFECT RELIGION BY ITSELF
COMPILED BY
VAIBHAV GUPTE
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