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Sanatana Dharma/Hindu Religion -Links to websites providing texts and information on Hinduism in English, Sanskrit, etc.

1) http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/hinduism/dharma/dharma_index.asp

 

A site that provides a lot of information and texts in English. Stupendous work.

 

2) http://sanskritdocuments.org/

 

Links to huge volumes of original Sanskrit documents and books. Also offers facility to learn Sanskrit.

 

3) http://sanskritdocuments.org/TextsElsewhere.html

 

Links of several sites that store Sanskrit documents provided by Sanskrit Documents site.

 

4) http://sanskrit.safire.com/

 

A treasure-trove for Sanskrit Slokas.

 

5) http://www.dlshq.org/download/download.htm

 

Free e-books of Divine Life Society, founded by Sri Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj, a divine Saint of recent times, who prepared disciples to roam the world and propagate Sanatana Dharma and Yoga.

 

6) http://www.awgp.org/

 

Site of All World Gayatri Parivar, Shantikunj, home of the greatest Saint of this era, Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, who has written more than 3,200 books in Hindi, covering nearly everything that humans need to know. The Saint, who reintroduced Gayatri, Yagna and Rishi Parampara to the modern world.

 

7) http://www.ramakrishna.org/rmk_ordr.htm

 

Site of the colossal monastic order created by Sri Swami Vivekananda, to propagate the teachings of Sri Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ma Sarada Devi.

 

8) http://www.bharatadesam.com/

 

A site that provides lot of information on India and its culture, including translations of several Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas.

 

10) http://www.gitapress.org/Download_Eng_pdf.htm

 

Site of the institution dedicated to the spreading of the message of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, with some of the cheapest books available anywhere in English, Hindi and Sanskrit.

 

11) http://www.jambudvipa.net/hinduism.htm

 

A site providing lot of links related to Sanatana Dharma.

 

12) http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/

 

An effort by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to store documents digitally. Site contains 79517 books with 26612644 pages, with books in several languages. Stupendous. Due to the heavy volume, site will be a bit slow.

 

13) http://www.indiantemples.com/

 

Site covers more than two thousand temples all over India, with detailed description about them. A must see for those doing Teerthadana or Holy Places Travel.

 

14) http://www.srivaishnavam.com/prabandham.htm

Site provides the Tamil Veda of Vaishnavites, Naalaayira Divya Prabhandam, in Tamil, English, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with audio. Great service. The parent site, http://www.srivaishnavam.com is also worth going through.

 

15) http://d.scribd.com/docs/cqaq1yicrpe7focn4an.pdf

 

Raja Yoga – By Swami Vivekananda.

 

16) http://d.scribd.com/docs/1hmotemaharmhatlkjvg.pdf

 

Thought Power – By Swami Shivananda.

 

17) http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/apr96/0055.html

 

A Dialogue on Hinduism – Chapter 1 of 13 – 1990

By Sri. V.N. GOPALA DESIKAN,

Published by Sri Visishtadvaita Research Centre,

C/O Sri Ahobila Mutt,

66, Dr. Rangachari Road, Madras 600 018.

Answers to the basic questions about various Hindu Scriptures.

 

One special link that provides lot of data on the ancient astronomy & mathematics and compares it with modern science is quite an interesting reading. This site has also got a calculation for the age of Brahma, the Creator. Go through the middle section of this site http://pvkalathur.blogspot.com/

 

Note: This list is not exhaustive. I shall be adding new sites as and when I get them. If you wish to have information on something that is not here, mail me at ramanujavr@live.com and I will try to get that for you.

Sanatana Dharma/Hindu Religion – “The Art of Living Life” & “The Great Science of Life Management”

Indian culture, also known as Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion, as you are well aware, is the oldest and loftiest culture in the world. However, many of us are not even aware that it is full of answers and solutions to the questions and problems of modern day world also. The advent of technology and its accompanying creature comforts have definitely lessened the physical burden of human beings. On the other hand, they have invariably aggravated the mental challenges and the victim is peace of mind. Due to the fast life revolving around antagonism, arrogance, adulation and accretion, with constant competition, concern for success and compulsion to earn more and more dragging the humans into the quagmire of endless pursuits, many of them totally unnecessary and cumbersome, people lose their vigour and vitality much faster than anyone could imagine. This leaves them tired, listless, sapped of physical and mental energies and prone to countless diseases.

 

The enormous stress accumulated from societal compatibility, physical adjustment and mental strain combine in destroying a person in toto, even when it might appear that the pinnacle has been achieved and there are no more worlds to conquer, no more mountains to climb. This is even truer for those at the helm, in the higher echelons of corporate hierarchy, who bear the brunt of the workload and its disastrous consequences, enduring the most and withstanding the worst. All hope seems lost and whole life looks like a complete waste after years of toil, struggle and slog.

 

However, the Saints of India, particularly the recent giants like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Shivananda, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, stand like beacons in the dark wilderness of modern life, to provide succour and relief to such tired bodies and souls. They have shown that the ancient tradition of the Rishis of yore is indeed the panacea for the physical ailments and the mental stress that is quite common now. Statistics reveal that about 80% of Americans consult a psychiatrist at least once in their lifetime, while more than 20% are undergoing treatment on a continuous basis. This is true for most of the nations of the earth. Still, the remedy offered by the psychiatrist is neither total nor comprehensive, because it does not take into account all the facets of the multi-layered nature of human beings. Compared to this, the option offered by our Saints of Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion is unique in all aspects. At one stroke, their method, their approach, addresses all the multifarious features of the problem, presenting a solution that is at once simple and effortless in its novel technique. They aver that the spiritual path propagated by the ancient Rishis is not just a haphazard practice but also a system that is completely scientific in nature, standing the test of reason and rationality.

 

The scientific spirituality of our Saints put forth by them through the vast literature presented by them over several millennia, covering all aspects of life, is indeed the key to a healthy physical and mental life, opening the doors of happiness, peace and everlasting bliss, here and now, in our day-to-day life. It is a solution not just for an individual, but also for the entire family, nay, the entire society of this earth. The elucidation can be termed as “The Art of Living Life” or “The Great Science of Life Management”, since the philosophy is both an art as well as a science at the same time. Systematically, they lead us out of our confused existence into the light of the eternal Divine Bliss, where all sorrows and sufferings vanish, leaving us at the altars of Heaven, in the presence of the Supreme Immortal Being. This is the greatness of Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion.

Sanatana Dharma Lessons on Stress Management

        The present day world is changing with incredible rapidity. Established customs, traditions and values are becoming insignificant. The children are no longer adopting the culture of their parents. Life styles have undergone a sea change from a simple and content life to an extravagant, flashy and self-centred fast life. However, this new development requires diverse adjustments both for individuals and for groups, so that we appear to conform to the current social, cultural, ethical and moral changes that everyone is forced to make today. This correction is against the basic nature of the human beings, which is inherently divine. The result is stress, strain and tension at three levels, psychological, physiological and social. In the burgeoning metro cities, the effect of stress is felt more than in rural areas, though the strain experienced by those people is of a different kind. The rich and the successful are forced to pay an exorbitantly high price for their so-called achievements and triumphs. The higher income group people are susceptible to stress twice that of the lower income people. This is also true for the more educated and those at the top of the ladder in the corporate hierarchy. The managers, executives and professionals suffer much more heavily from stress than others.

 

          Stress is a vague term and the western scientists have not clearly understood or properly defined it so far. Some of them look at stress from a purely physiological point of view, while others approach it from a purely psychological angle. Even those who have taken an integrated approach are yet to provide a clear definition of all the aspects of stress. This is the reason why the remedies suggested for stress management have also been inadequate. This is in sharp contrast to the thoughts and enunciations of the ancient Indian saint-philosophers of the Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion, who were able to take an integrated approach to stress and its management. In this context, it would be interesting to note an observation by the World Health Organisation on the physical health of human beings. WHO has given this definition: “Health is not only the absence of disease or infirmity, but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being.” A brief study of both the modern theories and our ancient Sanatana Dharma philosophies on stress will help us in understanding the basics of stress and in coping up with the same in an effective manner.

 

          A major category of stress is termed as occupational stress, since a vast majority of the modern population is engaged in one type or another of paid employment nowadays. This occupational stress is classified as five types, namely,

1) Job stress: factors that are directly related to workload, physical working conditions, decision making opportunities, etc.

2) Role-based stress: factors associated with responsibility, role ambiguity and role conflict.

3) Work place relationship stress: factors that are involved in the relationship with superiors, colleagues and subordinates, as well as the interpersonal demands.

4) Career opportunity and development related stress: Factors connected to promotion, demotion, job security, job changes, etc.

5) Constitutional structure and climate related stress: Factors linked to relative freedom or restriction on behaviour groups or class conflicts in the working environment.

 

The response or reaction to stress is also classified or determined on five principles. They are,

1) Stress reactions are holistic.

2) Stress reactions are economical.

3) Stress reactions are either automatic or planned.

4) Stress reactions involve emotions.

5) Stress reactions have both inner and outer determinants as their components.

 

It is generally accepted that frustration leads to anger, danger brings forth fear and threat elicits anxiety. However, it has to be noted that the stress reactions vary widely from individual to individual. The cognitive appraisal and coping abilities of the individuals are always different and hence their response is also dissimilar. Given the same type of stress, some respond in an aggressive manner, while others retreat into depression. Anger usually comes out as aggression, while fear induces depression. This is known as ‘fight or flight’ reaction. On the other hand, when both fight and flight become impossible, then exhaustion sets in, resulting in collapse or even death.

 

The environment aspects of stress are determined by potential source of stress and its actual demand on a person along with the background and situational factors involved in that particular stressor. On an individual basis, the attitudes, needs, values, traits, past experiences, age, sex, education, etc. that constitute one’s individual ability as well as the judgement of threat or cognitive appraisal, which includes both perceived demand and perceived ability, play an important role in the handling of stress. When a person has successfully coped up with the stress, the stressor disappears. On the other hand, when a person has not been able to cope with the stress, then an imbalance arises, which leads to pressure, stress and distress. The effects of this imbalance can be physiological, psychological or behavioural and further these effects can be either short term or long term. Researches have proved that stress is correlated directly or indirectly to coronary heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of lever and suicide. As such, effective management of stress is of prime importance in modern day world.

 

One of the most effective methods of stress management has been Yoga, the biggest and most significant contribution of Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion to the world. Even though the Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga has not been clearly understood or interpreted, several schools of yoga have mushroomed all over the world, offering instant remedies for all types of stressors through yoga. Even many modern scientists and philosophers have not comprehended the completeness of the Patanjali Yoga Shastra and they assume that the approach of Patanjali is purely physical or understand it as exclusively psychological. Patanjali starts his postulation with the dictum “Yogah chittavritti nirodah,” that is yoga is the removal of mental modifications. However, he insists on both physical and mental exercises for climbing the ladder of yoga. The eight steps of Patanjali Yoga consist of both internal and external exercises and practices that provide stability to the body-mind complex for achieving a blissful state. The five Yamas come first, negative codes, namely, Ahimsa or non-violence, Satya or truthfulness, Asteya or non-stealing, Brahmacharya or sensual continence and Aparigraha or non-acquisitiveness. They are followed by the five Niyamas, positive codes, viz., Saucha or purity of thoughts, words and actions, Santosha or contentment, Tapa or austerity, Swadyaya or self-study and Ishwara Pranidana or surrender to the Almighty.

 

Asanas, Mudras and Pranayama are the next steps in the Ashtanga Yoga. It is said that there are eighty-four lakhs asanas, corresponding to the eighty-four lakhs species. However, only eighty-four major types of asanas are followed nowadays. The asanas are mainly intended to firm up the body, so that the practitioner maintains a sound health. Pranayama is literally what it means. Pran means breath and Ayam means pause. Even though pranayama is normally considered as a cleansing practice, it is said that one can control the entire cosmic forces, if prana is controlled. Patanjali himself says that pranayama helps in removing the barriers to knowledge. Mudras are also bodily poses like asanas but they are highly advanced processes and they require considerable technical expertise. Hence, they are usually not suitable for non-professionals. In the higher realms are the nadis and chakras. They are considered to exist in the subtle body, which most of us are unable to perceive due to our strong bondage with the gross body.

 

The fifth step in the Patanjali ladder is Pratyahara, the withdrawal of the mind from the senses. Pratyahara is not the withdrawal of the senses or their incapacitation but complete mastery over them through the mind or the total mastery of the human psyche. A psyche that has been mastered is not affected by the senses but is able to use them effectively whenever required.

 

The final three steps of Patanjali Yoga are purely internal. Dharana is the holding the mind in a focussed state in a restricted manner. Steadiness of mind and concentration are the two major aspects of Dharana. Dhyana is the unity of the mind with a particular object, where all the external and internal stimuli vanish. Samadhi is the final state of bliss or beatitude, where the practitioner, the object of concentration and the process of concentration become one. Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi are quite inseparable. However, care should be taken before venturing into these final steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sanatana Dharma – The Power of Mantras

Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion is structured not as a religion with fixed dogmas but as a flexible way of life. The number of deities in Hindu religion is often questioned by people from other religions. They claim that too many Gods cannot exist. The answer is quite simple. Had anybody thought about the size of this universe? Scientists tell us that our earth in which we are living is revolving around a star known as Sun. According to the scientists, Sun and earth exist in a galaxy that they had named Milky Way. The scientists tell us that the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy can be between 125 and 150 billion. The star nearest to us is 4.4 light years away. The size of the galaxy cannot be computed easily or understood by us. Further, scientists say that the number of galaxies in the universe can again be between 125 and 150 billion. Nobody knows the distance between the galaxies. Is it not something mind boggling?

 

Let us take one nation or even one single state in a nation. The governor is the person in charge of the state. Either a council of ministers or a chief minister assisted by other ministers administers the state. Thousands of secretaries, officers, clerks, and other functionaries like district collectors help the government run the administration smoothly. Is it possible for one single person to control the entire state without the help of anybody else? Each government official attends to a specific special function.

 

If this is the kind of administration required for just one single state in one country, how many officials would be required to administer the vast universe, which we cannot even imagine? This is where the various Hindu Gods come into the picture. Each God, Demi-God and other angels attend to specific maintenance areas of the universe and the inhabitants in it. If we have to approach a particular official in the government, he/she will have a specific designation and you have to address him/her by that designation. In a similar fashion, each God is having not only a personal name but also a Mantra, which is the equivalent of the designation.

 

The ancient Rishis or seers of India realized this fact and due to their intense meditation and penance, obtained the identity and the mantra of various Gods that govern the universe. A Mantra is not a collection of words. Its power is real. Scientists now talk of the power of auto suggestion. They claim that you can achieve certain results if you utter certain words to yourself repeatedly. If ordinary words can produce such results, then the Mantras, which are the fundamentals of the individual Gods, can definitely bring those Gods to you. It does not matter which God you believe in. If you repeat the name of Jesus several hundred thousand times, the power of the words uttered by you will bring Jesus in his original shape before you. The same is true for all other Gods, whether it is Allah, Shiva, Vishnu, Rama, Krishna, Buddha or any other God, Demi-God or Angel. What is required is true devotion and persistence. Never underestimate the power of Mantras.

 

Each God has got a particular Bija Mantra and a Gayatri Mantra. The Gayatri Mantra is the most powerful Mantra for each God. Even Jesus and Allah have their own Gayatri Mantras but they had not been revealed until now to the world. Those who are interested about the Gayatri Mantra of any God that they wish to worship can contact me and I will provide them with that Mantra. I will also tell them how and when they should chant the Mantra. I repeat, never underestimate the power of Mantra. Of course, the Mantra will be in Sanskrit, because Sanskrit is the first language in the world, created by the Almighty. It is also the most scientific language in the world. However, if you practice the Gayatri Mantra of your particular God in that Sanskrit verse for a few days, you will become perfect in chanting it properly and you can achieve your goal of beholding your God.

Sanatana Dharma – The Power of Yagna proved in Photos

Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion is not a simple religion built upon certain premises or philosophies. The foundations of Sanatana Dharma go much deeper than them. The ancient Rishis or Seers developed a way of life for humanity on concrete scientific facts and processes, gleaned by them from the functions of nature and assisted by their devotion to the Almighty. One major aspect of Sanatana Dharma was Yagna conducted on a regular basis or Homam performed daily. The Yagna was not a blind belief. Atheists had been arguing that the oblation of ghee, sweets, eatables, milk, honey, costly clothes, etc. offered to the Yagna fire go just waste. They further argue that the wood burnt in the Yagna fire is another environmental hazard. Little do these people know the power of Yagna. Hence, a set of photographs taken in a Yagna that took place in a temple in the town of Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu in India had been presented in my website, http://ramanujavr.spaces.live.com/. The descriptions given under the photos are self-explanatory. Still, I am offering a few explanations of the events that led to this Yagna and the realization of the power of the Yagna.

 

The Yagna, termed as Sudarshana Homam, was conducted by a highly qualified Chief Priest, assisted by a group of priests. All of them had retired after serving in high posts in various departments. They had also studied the scriptures and the procedures of Yagna and had been practicing them for several years. A temple, known as Vittoba Temple in Pudukkottai, with Lord Krishna as the main deity, had not been functioning with proper daily rituals of worship for several years. It was feared that an Evil Spirit was haunting the temple. People interested in reviving the temple invited the Chief Priest and his group of priests to conduct the Sudarshana Homam to cleanse the temple of the Evil Spirit.

 

The Homam was conducted. A few oblations were offered and the appropriate Deities arrived and received the oblations, which could be seen in the photosl. During the course of the Yagna, the Evil Spirit arrived and used its power to prevent the Chief Priest from uttering the holy Mantras, by squeezing his throat. He realized what was happening, signaled the photographer to continue to take pictures of the Yagna fire and indicated by another signal to the other priests to continue the chanting of the Mantras. Then his wife brought the holy water kept separately. With the help of the holy water, he freed himself from the power of the Evil Spirit and continued the Yagna. The other oblations were offered and the relevant Deities received the oblations. After completing the Yagna, the Chielf Priest bound and dragged the Evil Spirit into the Yagna fire through appropriate Mantras and destroyed it.

 

Throughout the conductance of the Yagna, a bird, known as Garuda locally, a type of Sacred Eagle, was sitting in a tree and watching the Yagna. Garuda, according to the belief of followers of Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Religion, is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu or Narayana. These sets of photos, as well as the sets of photos of the Vittoba Temple had been presented in the website.

 

Those who wish to know more about the disease and illness healing powers, as well as the environment purifying powers of Yagna should read the books by Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya of All World Gayatri Pariwar or AWGP, Shantikunj, Haridwar, India. He had proved scientifically the actual happenings when a Yagna is conducted and written books on this subject. Following in his footsteps, the present Heads of AWGP, Her Holiness Shailbala Didi and His Holiness Dr. Pranav Pandya, had been conducted not only normal Yagnas but also large-scale Ashwameda Yagnas all over India and even abroad. The scientific research in the powers of Yagna is still continuing on an ongoing basis.

 

Yagna is the perfect answer to the present environmental hazards and the harmful effects and consequences to humanity from the emission of greenhouse gases. It is hoped that these sets of photos and this blog would work as eye-openers to persons concerned about the health and welfare of human beings on this earth.

Sanatana Dharma – Bestower of Human Values

Human beings cannot survive without appropriate codes of conduct. Without such codes, life will be like a jungle, where only the mighty survive and the meek perish. That is the essence of the Darwin theory but not the law of the Almighty. Sanatana Dharma, commonly called as Hindu Dharma or Hindu Religion, is nothing but the compilation of the codes of conduct that teach humans to live in happiness and peaceful coexistence, so that each individual attains the highest state possible.

 

Gurudev Shriram Sharma Acharya says that humans generally live in three states. They are human-worm, human-animal and human-devil. How many worms know that they can become butterflies? Majority of them live and perish as worms, while only a few become butterflies. Many humans also live and die without realising their full potential, which is essentially divine. Animals live to eat, sleep, copulate and beget offspring. They never try to achieve anything more in life. Most of the humans also pass their entire lives in these activities, never trying to rise above these to higher levels of beings. Devils have no peace for themselves nor do they allow others to live in peace. Several humans today are only a source of trouble and distress for fellow human beings. This includes politicians, government servants, industrialists, so-called leaders of art and culture, terrorists and their ilk. A detailed explanation of this matter will be taken up separately later.

 

Gurudev goes on say that humans should first lift themselves from these worm-animal-devil states and become humans first. Then they should elevate themselves to the level of superhuman. From superhuman, they should reach the state of angels and then become one with the Almighty. Such people only can bestow bliss and happiness to all their kindred souls. They are the saints or seers, who are considered even above God. They have shown us how values can lift humans to a level higher than that of the Supreme Being. These lofty values that lift us to superhuman plane form the essence of Sanatana Dharma.

 

The Vedas and the Manu Smriti are the foundations of such tenets. The often misunderstood Varnaasrama Dharma commands us to gradually go up in the way of living from an ordinary person to a guide and model to the entire society. That is the state of a Brahmin and an ascetic, the highest state in varnaa and aasramaa respectively. Attaining these states is not dependant on birth, caste, creed, sex or religion. They are just the loftiest levels that a human can achieve. It is in this context that Gurudev has ordained everyone to become a Brahmin. He firmly believed that every human being should become a Brahmin first, if the state of superhuman has to be aimed at.

 

A true Brahmin does not live for himself or herself, only for the benefit and welfare of the society. The codes for a Brahmin are quite harsh but wholly necessary for the purity and clarity required at that level. This subject will be dealt with in more detail in the exposition that I plan to write on Manu Smriti. For now, it would suffice that every human, wherever he/she is living in the world, should endeavour to become a Brahmin in the real sense, not in the sense that is made out by certain sects claiming themselves to be Brahmins merely by birth. That is the goal of the tenets of Sanatana Dharma, represented by the Vedas and the Manu Smriti. More to come…

 

"Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." – Martin Luther King Jr.

The truth about Aryan – Dravidian divide in Sanatana Dharma / Hindu Religion

 

Max Muller and his contemporary Westerners introduced the concept of Aryans and Dravidians as the inhabitants of India, with both as separate races or tribes or clans. Majority of the Indian historians blindly accepted this preposterous and mischievous theory that was fully in accordance with the divide & rule policy followed by the Westerners in general and the British in particular. Result is the acute acrimony between the North Indians and the South Indians till today. What is the truth? What do the scriptures of the Sanatana Dharma / Hindu Religion say about this? Let us take up a few facts on this delicate subject.

 

According to the above mentioned historians, Dravidians were the original inhabitants of the Indus area of civilisation and the Aryans invaded from the western frontiers through the Kyber pass. The Dravidians were conquered and relegated to third rate citizens and as untouchables or milechas. The fun in the whole thing is that the word ‘Dravida’ is a pure Sanskrit word. Moreover, the first person to use the word ‘Dravida’ was none other than Svaayambhuva Manu, the author of Manu Smriti, about 196,08,53,110 years ago. (Please see the file ‘Life of Universe’ in the Sanatana Dharma folder in my website, http://ramanujavr.spaces.live.com).  According to Manu, Dravida is a caste or a sub-sect in the Aryan race, not a separate race (Manu Smriti, Chapter 10, Slokas 22 & 44). This fact had either been unknown to these historians or they purposely chose to ignore it or it could be that they deliberately decided to keep it hidden. The myth of Aryan invasion happening about 5,000 years ago was repeated again and again in a Goebbels fashion. However, sincere persons like Dr. David Frawley had already strongly refuted this absurd idea and had written considerably on this subject.

 

What was the original India? The scriptures like the Vishnu Puranam, Padma Puranam and Brihaspati Samhita are very clear about it. "Aaasindo Sindhu Paryantham Yasyabharatha Bhoomikah Mathru Bhuh Pithrubhoochaiva sah Vai Hindurithismrithaah". [The Bharat nation or the ancient India had the Indian Ocean and the rivers Sapta Sindus (Seven rivers including present day Indus and its tributaries) as its borders. This is the fatherland and the motherland of the Hindus, according to the scriptures]. This covers the entire India, including South India, not just North India alone.

 

As such, it is clear that the nation known as Bharata Kandam was one nation with one tribe from the time of Svaayambhuva Manu and the divisions had been forced upon the inhabitants either by ignorance or by deceit.

 

The same situation applies to the Varnaasrama Dharma of Manu Smriti. The four divisions of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras were not based upon birth but by the way a person lived. “Janmanaat Jaayate Jaati, Vrinute Varnam.” That is, caste is obtained by birth but what is chosen is Varnam. The root word ‘Vrin’ conveys very clearly that one is not born as a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya or Sudra but it is a voluntary choice. If one lives according to the tenets that bind the Brahmin Varnam, then irrespective of the caste, that person is deemed to be a Brahmin. This is equally applicable to all other Varnams. Here again, ignorance and distortions have created mighty divisions. These and many other such distortions about Sanatana Dharma / Hinduism will be covered by me in a separate detailed writing on Manu Smriti. More to follow….

 

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe." – Anatole France.

 "If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes." – Andrew Carnegie

All World Gayatri Parivar – Pillar of Sanatana Dharma

Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Dharma is only a way of life for all human beings irrespective of where and how they have been born. There are lot of misconceptions about the scriptures of Hindu religion and their teachings. This has arisen out of misinterpretations and misunderstandings of the true import of the teachings of the great rishis or seers of Sanatana Dharma. The rishis have received their knowledge through Divine intuition, after years of severe penance and meditation. That can never be wrong. Unwanted additions and lack of proper understanding have led to the present confusions and blaming of the scriptures. One such scripture is Manu Smriti, which has been accused of creating divisions among society along casteist lines. I shall be writing separately on the true meanings and imports of Manu Smriti. 

For now, I would like the readers of this blog to know more about Vedamurti, Taponisht, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, the greatest Rishi of recent times, the seer without parallel in our era. Known as Gurudev to those who have heard about him, he revived the culture of Gayatri Mantram and Yagnam, the two great pillars of Sanatana Dharma or Hindu religion. He termed these two as the Mother & Father of Hindu Dharma. He founded the vast institution of All World Gayatri Parivar and he penned more than 3,200 books in Hindi, covering nearly every subject on earth. I shall be writing more on Gurudev and his teachings but ample materials are available at the Homepage of All World Gayatri Parivar, situated at Shantikunj, http://www.awgp.org/?home/. Headed by Smt. Shailbala Pandya, daughter of beloved Gurudev and his consort, Mataji Bhagavati Devi Sharma, and their son-in-law, Dr. Pranav Pandya, the institution is the finest example of what human beings should learn. The art & science of life management is taught here like nowhere else. The journal Akhanda Jyoti in English & Hindi are a must read for every human being, wherever he/she is living, for a blessed, happy, healthy, life. More soon…

Sanatana Dharma /Hindu Religion – The Truth Eternal

Sanatana Dharma, also called as Hindu Dharma or Hindu Religion, is not just the oldest way of life but it is the starting point of human civilisation. The Hindu philosophy commences from the time of creation of this universe, which, according to the scriptures of Hinduism, is 19,608,53,110 years old, the time when Svaayambhuva Manu was created by Lord Brahma. (To know more about the age of the Universe, refer to the file, ‘Life of Universe’ in the files folder in this website). I am not a very learned person of the Hindu scriptures. I do not know the great language of Sanskrit. However, I have understood the unparalleled fountain of knowledge contained in the Vedas, Upanishads, Smritis, Puranas, etc. I sincerely wish that the world understands and recognises the uniqueness of this timeless spring of knowledge. As a small effort in this direction, I have created this website.

 

I do not know web designing, not even operating a website. I do hope that my endeavour will be accepted as an attempt by a child to drain the ocean water with a small cup. I will be providing links to the various Hindu Scriptures in Sanskrit, English and other languages, as much as possible by me. I will also be furnishing all the information that will be useful to humanity to lead a life full of happiness at all times. This joyful living is what Sanatana Dharma teaches us. Meanwhile, if you have any doubts or if you wish to know anything in particular about Hindu Religion and its various aspects and practices, communicate to me. I will try to provide you the relevant answer. My email ID is ramanujavr@live.com. I also request all the visitors to contribute whatever materials they have that are related to Sanatana Dharma, so that they can be shared with everybody. More soon….