unveiling our dharma

8/3/2019 Unveiling Our Dharma

1/20

UNVEILING OUR

DHARMARamya Ramakrishnan


2/20

SANATHANA DHARMA

What we know of as Hinduism, a religion of thousands of Gods,

was actually considered no more than a way of life followed by people

belonging to Hindusthan.

This way of life was known as Sanathana Dharmabefore it was cast

into the mould of religion.


3/20

SANATHANA DHARMA

Sanathana - that which cannot be destroyed by fire, weapons, water,

air, and which is present in all living and non living being. Dharma - the way of life which is the total of all aachaaraas or

customs and rituals.

There is no specific English word for dharma, but it is the sum of theduties + responsibilities + privileges of that individual.

Sanathana Dharma - It is the total of mathru dharma + pitru dharma

+ putra dharma + putree dharma + acharya dharma + poura dharma +

+etc.


4/20

SANATHANA DHARMA

Rule of practicing aachaaras Saakshaath anubhavairdhrushto na

srutho na guru darsitha lokaanaam upakaaraaya ethath sarvampradarsitham.

Aachaaraas are to be followed based on their merits available from self

experience, one need not blindly follow a teacher or someone who gives

advise without reasoning.

All these aachaaraas are mentioned for the prosperity of the humanbeings and it should be the prime focus for practicing the Hinduaachaaraas.


5/20

SANATHANA DHARMA

Practice of aachaaras is a matter of convenience - Swagraame poornam

aaachaaraasasm anya graame thadardhakam pattane tu thath paadam yaatre baalaadaaachaaraasastheth.

In ones own village, practice all the aachaaraas, in other villages (whiletravelling or staying) practice one half of the aachaaraas, in the cities/towns follow at least a minimum of one quarter of them and whiletraveling, like a child one need not practice any of the aachaaraas.

Hence depending upon the place , time, season, age, availability of the

materials, financial position of the individuals, the aachaaraas can be duly

modified.


6/20

SANATHANA DHARMA

Basis of analyzing aachaaras as given in book of dharma shaastra -

Saastram pramaanam : scientific results

aapta vaakyam pramaanam : guidance to be taken from the scholars

prathyaksham pramaanam : the direct experience is the next

anumaanam pramanam guessing the consequences/results


7/20

PURPOSE OF AACHAARAS

It has been described in the smruthies (dharmasaastras) : achaaraath labhathehyaayu:

aachaaraath dhanamakshayam achaaraath labhathe suprajaa aachaaro ahanthya lakshanam

By following the aachaaraas one gets health and longevity, it leads to prosperity, it givessocial relations and friends, and the followers of achaaras are considered as the embodimentof nobility

By very definition, aachaaras are dynamic threads of tradition. The dynamism is

shown in smruthies :

Those customs and rituals which are irrelevant in the modern times are known asanaachaaraas,

Those which leads to negatives/ non deleterious results are known as duraachaaraasand

Those achaaraas which give very positive and useful results are known are sadaachaaraas orgenerally known as aachaaraas


8/20

S

ADAACHAARAS

-PURPOS

EIN HINDU DHARMA

Sadaachaaras are studied based on the kind of positive results they

have when they practiced :

Psycologically beneficial

Physiologically beneficial

Strengthning of familial ties

Strengthning of social ties


9/20

PSY

CHOLOGICALLY

BENEFICIAL

The positive songs and keerthanas, the Vedic mantras which produce

psycho linguistic and neuro linguistic effects - give extremely good

response in the brain cells by way of producing curative hormones.

Reading a puraana gives the messages of ups and downs/failures and

success/pains and pleasures in the life.

Reading Bhagavath geetha is for mentally preparing to face any type of

consequences and practicing swadharama (ones own duty).


10/20

PSY

CHOLOGICALLY

BENEFICIAL

Through puranic story telling for the children , value based messages

are given in the form of story capsules to remain in the memory for manyyears and to get the reminder whenever the abnormal pathway is opted to

in their life.

Consulting a good astrologer is to see that things are meticulously

planned and the blessings of the Vedic devathaas are assured for an

optimism in ones endeavor (however this should not go to the level of

superstition and should be carefully monitored)


11/20

PHYS

IOLOGICALLY

BENEFICIAL

The soorya namaskaara / sun salutation performed in the morning

is a combination of 7 yogaasaanaas practiced in ten steps, which give

smooth exercise for all the movable skeletal joints in the body and

hence this is also known as the king of the exercises.

Morning prayer karaagre vasathe lakshmi karamadhye saraswathi

karamoole sthithaa gouri prabhaathe karadarsanamis said just after rousing

from sleep without cleansing our self by even brushing.


12/20

PHYS

IOLOGICALLY

BENEFICIAL

Fasting leads to cleaning of the intestine, certain fasting (partial) in which

change of food is instructed leads to getting variety of micro nutrients from

different types of food sources.

Fasting is also encouraged only on certain days of the month, like Ekadashi.

According to scientific research, it is known that the air pressure on the earthvaries to extreme limits on both the new moon (Amavasya) and the full moon(Purnima) day. Compared to any other day of the moon cycle, atmosphericpressure is lowest on Ekadasi days. Thus, this is the best time to fast and

cleanse the bowel system. If we fast on any other day, the high pressure/strainmay damage our system. Thus, it is advisable that after fasting on Ekadasi, onthe immediate next day (Dwadasi), we should get up early and eat as soon aspossible.


13/20

PHYS

IOLOGICALLY

BENEFICIAL

The direction of the head towards north because the magnetic meridian of the

earth retards the blood flow through brain capillaries and affects the functioning of

brain cells.

Praanaayaama activates the lungs cells and functioning.

Reason behind not chewing the Tulsi leaves is due to its mercuric content.

German researchers have discovered that the leaves of the Tulsi plant contains

traces of mercury. If the leaves are chewed, the mercury may damage the teeth. But

when taken as a whole, the mercury is found beneficial for the digestive system.

This mercury content is now being used in anti-cancer drugs.


14/20

PHYS

IOLOGICALLY

BENEFICIAL

Turmeric is used both as a spice as well as for natural coloring. Ayurveda cuisine

refers to the use of turmeric in it's dishes.

Prevention or Slowing down Alzheimer's disease.

Turmeric (Curcumin) blocks Brain tumour activity.

Curcumin is anti-inflammatory, and thus is helpful in diseases like rheumatoid

arthiritis.

Turmeric helps in digestion by inducing bile juice, and is thus good for the liver too.

Curcumin inserts itself into cell membranes, making them more stable and thushealing them. Therefore it is used as a cure for skin infections, cuts and lesions.


15/20

S

TRENGTHENINGFAMILIAL TIES

Every spiritual and family based customs are to be practiced by the

wife and husband together. The message, maathru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava : Let the mother and

father be divine to me ( gods to me) inculcate a strong thread of relation

between the children and parents.

In all the rituals, the individual is expected to tell the gotra (clan) and

sootra (thread of connection) which again shows the connection with theforefathers.


16/20

S


During the construction of the house the ground breaking, stone

laying, the door fixing and house warming ceremonies are all connected

with the star of birth of the wife, thus giving importance to the wife in

the family.

If properly performed matching a horoscope before marriage gives an

opportunity for understanding the personality of the individuals who aregetting married and suitable corrective measures can be adopted.


17/20

S


After marriage ceremonies are aimed at getting a healthy baby and

giving the feeling of love and affection among the couples. Dhampati pooja is performed by other family members to remind

their respect and appreciation on strengthening the bondage between the

couples.

Celebration of the 60th birth anniversary (shashtipoorti), is to remind

the time for doing more good for the society using the experience gainedin the last 60 years of life, when the period of rest starts.


18/20

STRENGTHENING

SOCIAL TIES

Family visits during happy and unhappy occasions by relatives and friends ( even

without making formal appointments) is to confirm to the family members that during

happy and unhappy incidents in ones life their relatives and friends will be with them.

Get togethers during festival occasions is for strengthening social bondage among

the society members.

Many spiritual and religious activities as samooha pooja, samooha bhajan, mantra

aalapan etc are all done in groups with the leadership of the common Hindus themselves,

not through appointed priests , which lead to the cultural integration of the social

bondage in the Hindu society.


19/20

CONCLUSION

saha naa vavathu, saha now bhunakthu saha veeryam karavaavahe

thejaswinaavadheethamstu maa vidvisha vahai aano bhadraa Let us exist together, share the results of the work together, work

together, thorough that path way let us enlighten ourselves, let us nothave hatred towards anyone , let noble thoughts come from all overthe world.

sarve bhavanthu sukhina: sarve santhu niraamaya sarve bhadraani

pasyanthu maa kaschit dukhabaag bhaveth Let all become happy and glorious, free from pains and sorrow


20/20

unveiling our dharma

Documents