UNVEILING OUR DHARMA

Ramya Ramakrishnan

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 Dharma before it was cast into the mould of religion.

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 the duties + 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.

SANATHANA DHARMA
 Rule of practicing aachaaras Saakshaath anubhavairdhrushto na srutho na guru darsitha lokaanaam upakaaraaya ethath sarvam pradarsitham.  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 human beings and it should be the prime focus for practicing the Hindu aachaaraas.

SANATHANA DHARMA
 Practice of aachaaras is a matter of convenience - Swagraame poornam aaachaaraasasm anya graame thadardhakam pattane tu thath paadam yaatre baalaad aaachaaraasastheth.
In ones own village, practice all the aachaaraas, in other villages (while travelling or staying) practice one half of the aachaaraas, in the cities/ towns follow at least a minimum of one quarter of them and while traveling, 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.

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

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 gives social relations and friends, and the followers of achaaras are considered as the embodiment of 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 as anaachaaraas, Those which leads to negatives/ non deleterious results are known as duraachaaraas and Those achaaraas which give very positive and useful results are known are sadaachaaraas or generally known as aachaaraas

SADAACHAARAS-PURPOSE IN 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

PSYCHOLOGICALLY 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).

PSYCHOLOGICALLY 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 many years 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)

PHYSIOLOGICALLY 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 karadarsanam is said just after rousing from sleep without cleansing our self by even brushing.

PHYSIOLOGICALLY 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 earth varies to extreme limits on both the new moon (Amavasya) and the full moon (Purnima) day. Compared to any other day of the moon cycle, atmospheric pressure 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/strain may damage our system. Thus, it is advisable that after fasting on Ekadasi, on the immediate next day (Dwadasi), we should get up early and eat as soon as possible.

PHYSIOLOGICALLY 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.

PHYSIOLOGICALLY 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 thus healing them. Therefore it is used as a cure for skin infections, cuts and lesions.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIAL 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 the forefathers.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIAL TIES

 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 are getting married and suitable corrective measures can be adopted.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIAL TIES

 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 gained in the last 60 years of life, when the period of rest starts.

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.

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 not have hatred towards anyone , let noble thoughts come from all over the 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