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 one’s 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