1 What are the foundation literature of Hindu dharma ? You know that for Christians the one and only one religious literature is the Bible and for the Muslims it is the Koran. For the Hindus the foundation literature are not one or one dozen. They are in hundreds The foundation literature of the Indian culture have been classified systematically. The ancient books are being continuously subjected to refining by addition, deletion, modification and correction, for updating by keeping the original books intact. The original contents are maintained as the base for all references. For those who are interested in learning the old versions, they can follow that and make their own contributions and commentaries. Those who want to study the modern books, produced by addition, deletion , modification and correction ( by many scholars), have the freedom to do so. Thus we have authentic most commonly referred 10,000 commentaries in Sanskrit and 1,00,000 sub commentaries in other languages for 1280 ( there may be difference of opinion about this number) authentic foundation literature of sanathana dharma When these literature were composed ? Since Hindu dharma is actually of unknown origin, none knows clearly when these literature were composed. But there is a general agreement that these literature might have composed in the present style (even though they might have been existing earlier also) by 8000 BC onwards or so. The archeological evidence also agree to some extent to this figure. When the Hindu literature composing was completed? The Hindu literature is generally known as anaadi because its origin is not clearly known. It is also known as apourusheya which means beyond the capacity of human beings. Hence we cannot say when exactly it started composing and when it was over. My opinion is that the composing of Hindu literature is still continuing and it is as per the rule of addition, deletion, modification and correction. Who has composed our literature? Unlike the literature of other religion, Hindu literature are composed by hundreds and thousands of Rushies from different places, at different period of time. Why do we have so many literature ? Our Rishies knew pretty well that one book or one dozen books can not bring out all the knowledge required for human beings. Hence they decided to bring out literature on each subject and many Rishies contributed to make them up-to-date always. Why so many Rishies got involved in bringing out so many literature ? Our Rishies knew that one or one dozen Rishies cannot bring out all the required knowledge of the choice of the people, because knowledge is so vast and many have to contribute. Why the method of addition , deletion, etc, which is not seen in other religion, followed in Hindu dharma ? 2 The knowledge created during a particular period of time, need not find application for all the time. Hence refining the existing knowledge is required. Otherwise it becomes obsolete. Hence the writing of Hindu literature is a process which continues even today and will have to continue for the coming many thousand years. No knowledge is final. Is Ramayana also subjected to addition, deletion….. etc Ramayana is the aadi kaavya written by Marshi Vathmeeki. Later Kambar from Tamil Nadu wrote Kamba Ramayanam, Tulasi Das composed Tulasiddasa Ramayana, then in Kerala Thunjath Ezhuthacchan composed adhyathma Ramayana, In each State, many Ramaynas were composed by keeping the main theme almost the same and modifications in other explanations. None of this is the translation of Valmiki Ramaynan. Thus it can be seen that Ramayana has undergone addition , deletion, correction and modification. What was the ultimate aim of all these literature ? The ultimate aim of all these Hindu literature is to create iccha sakti, jnaana sakti, kriya sakti in each individual to lead a happy and useful life on earth and make heaven here itself. What is the most important class of Hindu literature ? Vedas are the most important class of Hindu literature. Vedas include, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads. These are the direct Vedic literature. They are the base for all the Indian cultural books ( Vaideeka saahitya).. How many Vedas are known and how many recensions are known? There are four Vedas . Rig Veda, Yajurveda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda . Rig Veda has 25 recensions (branches) Yajurveda has 108 (100) recensions; Sama Veda has 1000 recensions and Atharva Veda has 50 recensions. What is meant by recensions? This type of classification of the same literature under different recensions cannot be seen in any other religious books. Recensions means ‘Saakhas’. (Since Yajurveda has two streams Sukla Yajurveda and Krishna Yajurveda, in discussions, we use four + one Vedas = Rig Veda + Sukla Yajurveda,+ Krishna yajurveda + Sama Veda + Atharva Veda ) What are Brahmanaas ? Has it any connection with the Brahmnism ? Brahmanas are classified under these four + one Vedas. The Brahmanas word has nothing to do with the caste. It sometimes mean that ‘prose’ . We say that book or this book is composed in Brahminical style means , it is composed as prose. Brahmanas are books primarily written for conducting the yaagas. How the Brahmana books are classified ? They are classified under each Veda. That means the Brahamanas connected with Rig Veda, Yajurveda, Sama Veda and Athrvaveda. Names of Rigvedeeya Brahmana: Aitareya brahmana composed by Rishi Maheedasa Aitareya. Sankhyayana Brahmana composed by Maharshi Sankhyayana. Kousheetaki brahmana is composed by Kousheetaki Maharshi. 3 Names of the Sukhla Yajurvedeeya Brahmana: Sukla yajurveda has only one brahmana namely Satha patha brahmana available in two versions. One with 100 chapters belonging to vaajasaneyee maadhyndina yajurveda saakha and other having 104 chapters belonging to Kaanwa yajurveda saakha. Names of Brahmanas connected with Krishnayajurveda: Krishna Yajurvedeeya brahmana are Thaithireeya brahmana and Maithraayaneeya brahmana. Thaithireeya Brahmana is supposed to be composed of Maharshi Yajnavalkya and the other one is composed by Maitreya or Maithrayani maharshi. Names of Samavedeeya Brahmana : Samavedeeya brahmanas are many. Few among them are Jaimineeya brahmana, thaandya brahmana , aarsheya brahmana, shadvimsa brahmana, chaandokhya brahmana, saamavidhaana brahmana, abhootha brahmana, vamsa brahmana and samhithopanishad brahmana. Name of Atharva vedeeya brahmana : Atharva Veda has only one brahmana namely Gopatha brahmana. Gopatha word means deep / confidential / possessing indepth meaning or message. It also means the foot step of Vedas because ‘go’ also has two meanings; cow and other meaning veda. Why some of the Brahmanas have the Rishies name and some do not have that. ? There is no particular reason for that still whenever classification of more than one class of literature becomes necessary, one of the options is to classify under the composers name. As we say Tulasi dasa / Kamba/ Valmiki/….Ramayana. Why the name of the some of the rushies come under some Vedas ? Those Rishies who belong to the respective sakhas are known under that particular vedic Rishi. Say for example. Saakala Rishi belongs to Rigveda sakha. Kanwa Rishi belongs to Yajurveda sakha. This is the method of classification of all Indians even today. You ask any vedic scholar or Brahmin/kshatriya/…. under which sakha you belong. The answer will be we belong to Koushataki Rishi or kanwa Rishi or Viswamitra Rishi which is their Gotra. They are known as the people of Viswamitra gotra, Kanwa gotra, Koushathaki gotra and so on. Gotra is linked with every veda sakha to which that Rishi is connected. What is the subject matter dealt in the Brahmanas ? The subject matter in almost all the Brahmanas is the explanation on how to perform yagaas. The detailed description of each Veda and other literature will be coming as the second part of the book. Hence not included here. Where exactly these brahmanas come in the Vedas? How it is connected with aaranyaka ? Some of the Brahmanas are part and parcel of the Vedas themselves and some are entirely separate books. As a continuation of the Brahmanas come the aaranyakas. 4 What are aaranyakas ? Aranykas are those literature which are very difficult to understand describing the rituals to be performed by the men who are moving to vanaprastha and sanyasa. For each veda, there are separate aaranykas. Some of the aranykas coexist with brahmanas and hence separate aranyakas may not be available for some Vedas. Aaranyakaas are also classified under each Veda like brahmana literature: Rigvedeeya aaranyakas are Aithareya aaranyka and kousheethakee aaranyaka, Sukla yajurveda has no aaranyaka, Krishna yajurveda has Maithraayaneeya aaranyaka and thaithireeya aaranyaka. Sama Veda and Atharava Veda do not have aranyaka, even though their brahmanas contain subjects dealt in aaranyakas . What are Upanishads and why they are known as Vedanta ? The fourth part of Vedic literature is the Upanishad. Since they are coming as the end/ last part of Vedic literature, they are known as ‘Vedaanthaas’ (means which are coming in the end of Vedas. (see the order Veda- brahmana-aranyaka-upanishad) How many Upanishad are there and how they are classified ? There are many Upanishads of which most important are 108 . These Upaniahads are classified under four + one Vedas as follows. Rigvedeeya Upanishads: Aaithareya Upanishad , Kousheethakee Upanishad , Naada bindu Upanishad, Aathma bhodha Upanishad, Nirvaana Upanishad , Mulgala Upanishad, Akshamaalika Upanishad, Tripura Upanishad, Soubhaagya lakshmi Upanishad, Bahvrucha Upanishad . (total ten Upanishads) Sukla yajurvedeeya upanishads: Eesaavasya Upanishad, Bruhadaaranyaka Upanishad, Hamsa Upanishad, Parama Hamsa Upanishad, Subaala Upanishad, Manthrika Upanishad , Thrisikhi Braahmana Upanishad, Niraalamba Upanishad, Mandala Braahmana Upanishad, Advaya Upanishad, Thaaraka Upanishad, Bhikshuka Upanishad, Adhyaathma Upanishad, Muktika Upanishad, Thaaraasara Upanishad, Yajnavalkya Upanishad, S’aatyaayana Upanishad, Thuriyaatheetha avadhootha upanishad (Total eighteen upanishads) Krishna Yajurvedeeya Upanishads: Kata Upanishad , Thaithireeya Upanishad, Brahma Upanishad , Kaivalya Upanishad , Swethaaswethara Upanishad , Garbha Upanishad, Mahanaaraayana Upanishad, Amruthabindu Upanishad, Amruthanaada Upanishad, Kaalaagnirudra Upanishad, Kshurika Upanishad , Sarvasaara Upanishad, Sukarahasya Upanishad , Thejobindu Upanishad, Dhyaana bindu Upanishad, Brahmavidya Upanishad, Yogathathwa Upanishad, Dakshinaamoorthy Upanishad , Skanda Upanishad ,Saareerika Upanishad, Yogasikha Upanishad, Ekaakshara Upanishad, Akshi Upanishad, Avadhootha Upanishad, Katarudra Upanishad, Rudrahrudaya Upanishad, Panchabrahma Upanishad, Praanaagni hotra Upanishad , Varaaha Upanishad , Yogakundalini Upanishad, Kalisantharana Upanishad , Saraswathee rahasya Upanishad (Total thirty two Upanishads) 5 Saamavedeeya Upanishads: Kena Upanishad, Chaandokhya Upanishad, Aarunee Upanishad, Maithraayanee Upanishad, Maithreyee Upanishad , Vajrasoochika Upanishad, Yogachoodaamony Upanishad, Vasudeva Upanishad, Mahopanishad, Sanyaasa Upanishad, Avyakta Upanishad , Kundika Upanishad , Saavitri Upanishad, Jaabaala Upanishad, Darsana Upanishad, Rudraaksha jaabaala Upanishad (Sixteen Upanishads) Atharva vedeeya Upanishads: Prasna Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Maandukya Upanishad, Atharvas’ira Upanishad, , Atharvas’ikha Upanishad, , Bruhadjaabaala Upanishad, Seetha Upanishad, S’arabha Upanishad, Mahaanarayana Upanishad, Raamarahasya Upanishad, Ramathaapini Upanishad, S’aandilya Upanishad, Paramahamsa Upanishad, Annapoorna Upanishad, Soorya Upanishad, Aathma Upanishad, Paas’upatha Upanishad Parabrahma Upanishad, Thripurathaapini Upanishad, Devi Upanishad, Bhaavana Upanishad, Bhasma Upanishad, Ganapati Upanishad, Mahaavakya Upanishad, Gopalathaapini Upanishad, Sreekrishna Upanishad, Hayagreeva Upanishad, Datthathreya Upanishad, Garuda Upanishad, Narasimhapoorva thaapini Upanishad, Narasimha uttara thapini Upanishad, Naarada parivraajaka Upanishad (Thirty two Upanishads). After the Vedic literature what are the branches of knowledge appearing in our classification of literature ? After the Vedic literature comes Vedangas. Vedanga (don’t get confused with the word Vedanta) means the organs/ parts of the Vedas. There are six Vedangas. They are Siksha, Nirukta, Vyaakarana, Chandasaastra, Kalpasaastra, Jyothisha. A number of books are available on these six Vedangas. It is said that 18 books on each Vedanga are available. Even though they are not strictly classified under each Veda, it is known that the specific books discuss on specific Vedas. We shall discuss the subject matter in detail in the second part of this book. What are the upavedas? The Upavedas are the subsidiaries of Vedas. In fact they are scientific literature which are specified for each Veda. These Upavedas are Arthasaastra, Dhanurveda, Gaandharva Veda and Ayurveda + Sthaapthya Veda. Artha saasthra is economics which is the upaveda of Rigveda. Dhanurveda is the upaveda of Yajurveda, Gaandharva veda is the upaveda of Saamaveda and Ayurveda + Sthaapathya veda (Vaastu) are the upavedas of Atharva Veda.. After the upavedas, through which pathway we have to search the heritage knowledge? After the upavedas comes the Puraanaas. There are eighteen puranaas and eighteen upapuranaas. The puranas are : Vishnu puraana, Bhavishya puraana, Garuda puraana, Agni puraana , Mahabhagavatha puraana , Sivapuraana puraana, Markandeya puraana , Linga puraana , Brahmavaivartha puraana , Mathsya puraana , Koorma puraana , Varaaha puraana , Vaamana puraana , Skanda puraana , Brahmaanda puraana , Padma puraana, Vaayu puraana , Naaradeeya puraana. 6 What are Upapuranas ? There are less important puraanas 18 upa puranas . They are Saamba puraana, Devee bhagavatha puraana, Kaalika puraana , Laghu naaradeeya puraana, Harivamsa puraana, Vishnudharmotthara Puraana, Kalki puraana, Mulgala puraana, Aadi puraana , Aathma puraana, Brahma puraana , Vishnudharmotthara puraana , Narasimha puraana , Kriyaayoga saara puraana, Soorya puraana , Bruhad naaradeeya puraana , Purushotthama puraana , Bruhad Vishnu puraana . What are the darsanas ? Darsanaas are separate class of literature which are wrongly said as philosophical texts. They are not philosophy but visions of acharyaas. Since they are the Visions the word darsana ( which is seen). Nyaaya darsana of Gouthama Maharshi, Vaiseshika darsana of Kanaada Maharshi, Saankhya darsana of Maharshi Kapila, Yoga darsana of Maharshi Patanjali, Poorva meemamsa darsana of Jaimini and Uttara meemaamsa of Maharshi Veda vyaasa. These six darsanaas are known as shad-darsana and one more darsana which is powerful and high standard atheism is by Maharshi Charvaaka’s darsana known as Chaarvaaka darsana or Naastika darsana.. Where should we search for the epics? There are two epics. The Valmeeki Ramayana and the Vyasa Maha Bharatha. Smruthies are yet another section sometimes considered as the part of Kalpasaastra, are classified separately . They are considered separate branch of Indian dharma saastra literature. These smruthies are very important cultural part of the Indian literature connected with the day to day life of Indians. They are Usana smruthi, Yajnavalkhya smruthi, Vishnu smruthi, Manusmruthi, Aangeerasa smruthi, Yama smruthi, Athri smruthi, Samvartha smruthi, Bruhath parasara smruthi, Bruhath smruthi, Daksha smruthi, Saathaathapa smruti , Likhitha smruthi, Vyaasa smruthi, Paraasara smruthi, Sankha smruthi, Gouthama smruthi and Vasishta smruthi. There may be many more smruthies but are said to be less important. Explanations on Rigveda! Rigveda is the oldest literature of human race. It has been composed by many Rishies and not one Rishi. The Rig Veda is so known because it is composed of Riks. Riks means two lines of poems/ manthras with very stringent sruthies / tones to chant. Each suktha may have two or more Riks in it. Those who compose the Veda mantras are known as Manthra drushtara: means who could see the Veda manthra. Majority of the names of Vedic Rishies are not known to us and we will definitely explain that. These mantras were composed in many years and not at a particular period. They might have got composed during a period of thousands of years. The first part of the Rigveda appears in old Vedic Sanskrit and last part appears to be modern Sanskrit. In short there is an opinion that the first part and second part of Rig Veda manthra were composed in slightly different Sanskrit style. The composers of Vedas ! Rishies who composed the Veda mantra are known as manthra drushtaara. These mantras were classified by the Rishies of Veda Vyasa kula (clan). I.e 7 they classified/ rearranged all the Veda mantra sookthas available during then, to the present form as seen now in Rigveda. Majority of the Veda hymns are composed by the Rishies of Viswamitra kula, Angeerasa kula, Athreya kula and Bharadwaaja kula and Kanwakula. All the hymns are adoring the Vedic devathas. Rigveda is composed almost fully in poetical style. Sakhas of Rigveda ! There are 25 saakhas for Rigveda . These sakhas are wrongly interpreted in English as branches . No ! They are recensions. Out of the 25 sakhas only four are available now, the remaining are lost for ever. Each sakha is known in the name of respective Rishies. They are Saakala sakha, Bhaashkala sakha, Saankhyaayana sakha, and Kousheethakee sakha are most important and they are composed or organized in the present status by Saakala, Bhaashkala, Saankhyayana and Kousheethakee Maharushies. Major difference among these Vedic recensions of Rigveda are in the arrangements of some mantras (Riks) and also in the organization of the Parisishta mantras. ( parisishta mantras are those mantras which are not strictly part of Vedas but they are chanted in between Veda mantra sookthas as a custom. In different sakhas, in some places synonyms are also used like baahubhyam is changed to hasthaabhyam and like that. Arrangements of the mantras in different sakhas! The Rigveda mantras are arranged in the saakala sakha as mandala krama. All the mantras of the Rigveda has been included in ten mandala. In Bhaashkala sakha the arrangement is in ashtaka as the bunch of eight chapters. There are totally 64 chapters and they are arranged in 8 ashtakas. The Saakala saakha of Rigveda has 193816 words which are composed by 397265 letters. There are 10552 Riks (stanzas) which are composed using 193816 words and they are organized in 2024 vargas. These many vargas are included in 64 chapters (adhyaayaas) and eight each of this form ashtakas and hence Saakala sakha of Rigveda has 64 adhyaayaas or 8 ashtakas. Arrangements of the sookthas in mandalas! All these mantras included in 64 chapters ( 8 ashtakas) of Saakala Sakha are classified in a different method in the Bhaaskala sakha of Rigveda ( with minor variations) into 10 mandalas. The first mandala has 191 sookthas, then in the order from 2nd to 10th mandalas , respectively 43, 62, 58, 87, 75, 104, 103, 114 and 191 sookthas are present. The number of Riks in each suktha or each mandala is vary significantly. Say for example in the first mandala there are 2006 Riks included 191 sookthas and in the last Mandala has 191 sookthas but consists of only 1754 Riks. Names of the Rishies who composed the Veda mantras! We might have heard the names of some of the Rishies who have composed our puranas, itihasas etc. But we might not have heard the names of majority of the Rishies who composed Veda mantra. Some of the names are special. However if a researcher would like to go deep into the subject of the ‘names’ of these Vedic Rishies, he can understand that these names have very special meaning or message. Given below are the names of Rishies who composed Rig Veda. The names are presented here just for information: Kanwa, Sunssepha, 8 Aangeeras, Praskanwa, Savya Aangeeras, Nodha Gouthama, Gouthama rahoogana, Kuthsa angeeras, Kasyapa, Dhairghathamas, Romasa, Daivodaasi, Ouchadthya, Agasthya, Lopaamudra, Gurthsamada sounaka, Viswamitra gaadhina, Rushabha viswamitra, Utkeela kaathya, Katho viswamitra, Gaathee kousika, Bharatha, Prajapati viswamitra, Vamadeva gouthama, Thrasadasyu, Athreya, Kumara athreya, Vrushojaana, Vasusrutha, Isha athreya, Gaya athreya, Suthambhara athreya, Dharuna angeeras, Pururathreya, Vaprirathreya, Prayaswantha athreya, Sasa athreya, Viswasaama athreya, Gopayana, Loupaayana, Vasooyava athreya, Bharatha Raja, Viswamithrarathreya, Babhrurathreya, Gaathurathreya, Prabhuvasurangeeras, Athri bhouma, Avathsaara kasyapa, Sadaavuruna athreya, Prathikshathra athreya, Achanaana athreya, Bharadhwaaja, Bharhaspathya, Suhotra bharadwaja, Bharadhwaja, Samyu bruhaspati, Gargya bharadwaja, (Many Rishies of Bharadwaaja kula, Maitravaruna, Vasisthaputra, Viswamanu, Vaivaswatha manu, Medhathithi kanwa, Syaavascha athreya, Naabhaka kanwa, Syaavascha athreya, Viroopa angeeras, Thrisoka kanwa, Vasosavya, Ghora karna, Bhaga praagaatha, Pragaatha kanwa, Purahanma angeerasa, Haryatha praaagaatha, Gopavana athreya, Kurusutri kanwa, Kruthsa bhargava, Ekadhyunoundhas, Kuseedikanwa, Krishna aangeeras, Nrumedha angeeras, Thirascheera angeeras, Repha kasyapa, Nomobhargava, Jamadagnir bhargava, Sobhari kanwa, Medhathithi kanwa, Hiranyasthoopa angeeras, Darddyachyutha, Bindhurangeeras, Nidhruvee kasyapa, Ambareesha, Yama, Yamee, Yamavaivaswatha, Yaamayatha, Vimada aindra, Vasuka aindra, Kavasha ailoosha, Lusadhana, Abhithaapa sourya, Ghosha kaakshivati, Suhashtya ghousheya, Saptha guru angeeras, Agni souchika, Gayaplaatha, Vasu karna, Vasukra, Aayaasya angeerasa, Sumitra Vandhyaswa, Beruhaspati Lounkhya, Viswakarma bhouvana, Manyuthaapasa, Suryasaavitri, Vrushtikaama, Vaikhanasa, Mulgala bharmaswa, Durmitra, Vairoopa, Agniyutha, Bhikshurangeerasa, Atharvana, Vasishta, Hiranyagarbha, Vagamdhruni, Kusika, Parameshti, Sakapootha, Paijavana, Aapsathya, Brahma, Nainruthi, Vairraaja, Vathayana, Aghamarshana, Samvanana, are the Vedic Rishies who composed Rigveda manthra ( I habve tried to included almost all the names. Still there can be some omissions). Before chanting veda mantra everyone read/chant the names of the Rishi who composed the manthra, then the chandas (chandas is based on the number of letters in each Rik/ mantra in the suktha) and also the Vedic deity of adoration (the deity of the manthra). Example : Gaadhino viswamitra Rishi ,Anushtub chanda: mitro devata….then the Veda mantra is to be chanted. Here the author of the manthra is Gaadhina viswamitra, The chandas is anushtub and the Vedic Deity is mitra (Sun). Aapasthamba Rushi, Jagati chanda Agnirdevata… Here the name of the Rishi, the chandas and the devatha are given in the order. So it is easy to know the name of the composer of each manthra. There are many mantras composed by the same Rishi. There are also mantras composed by the family members of the same Rishi. In the Rigveda text itself the names of the composer of each manthra are given. Meaning and messages of Veda mantras! Remember that every Veda manthra has three types of meanings and messages. These meanings are known as aadhtyaatmika, aadhibhouthika and aadhidaivatha artha. This is the reason why after chanting every Veda manthra we chant three times Om Santhi Santhi Santhi for aadhyatmika saanthi, aadhi bhouthika saanthi and aadhi daivathaa saanthi. 9 How can we understand what are these three meanings ?. Yaskacharya has interpreted three meaning in a different way . Yaajnikam, daivatham and aathmeeyam. When you take the meaning as yaajneekam, then we consider that all whatever is ours we submit them to the divine power. We sacrifice them and get detached from them. The second daaivatha meaning is that we are doing all these for making the god and divine power happy for the blessings as common man does. In the athmeeya meaning we consider the aathma paramaathma relation and look into the spiritual aspect of the manthra. In a nutshell, if a line of mantra on the animal sacrifice is chanted it can have the three meaning. 1. In this meaning the Jeevathma of the animal is getting dissolved in the paramaathma chaitanya which is symbolically explained as animal sacrifice.(aadhi daivatha artha) 2. . The animal is the symbol of animal instinct like ego, anger, etc of the man and it is sacrificed or it is also the sacrifice of ignorance of human beings which is characteristics of the animals. (aadhyaathmika artha) there will not be any animal sacrifice according to this, it is only in explanation 3. Aadhi bhouthika artha in which the animal is sacrificed as offering to god / devatha for getting the benefits from the god. ( In old testaments of Bible and also in Quran animal sacrifice is described in every place, including for Bakrid. It is known that in India also during the olden days animal sacrifice was common) When are the veda mantras chanted ? Veda mantras are chanted in all the Vedic rituals where the materials are offered to fire. All the Vedic rituals are known as offering through Agni using the word swaaha. These mantras play very important role in Somayaga, Aswamedha yaga, Putra kameshti yaga, Vajapeya yaga, and many other yaagas. They are also chanted in some special rituals with the thantra. There are some mantras which are very commonly used, like Purusha sukta, bhagya sukta, Vishnu sukta, Sree Sukta, and so on. They are chanted always. Few mantras are chanted in every rituals. Fundamental principles of ved amantra chanting All these mantras are expected to be chanted with ten sruthies (tones) known as udaattha, anudhaatta, swaritha, repha, hraswa, pracheya, anunaasikaa, kampa, deergha kampa and plutha. Three among these are present in Gayatri manthra. In all the three Vedas Gayatri mantra written by Viswamitra is included. Vedic examination! There are many Vedic scholars in India who know the Rig Veda by heart. In fact a person is known as a ‘Vedic scholar’ provided he can chant a Veda mantra, a line or a suktha from anywhere from the Vedic text, from any chapter at any part, when asked to do so without looking into the text. The question comes chant the 9th sookthas of 3rd adhyaya of the 6th ashtaka. So learning Vedas is not done just like that. Excellent examination procedures like this is also adopted for verifying the knowledge by the examiners. Siksha or method of chanting the veda! The method of chanting the Veda mantra by Kerala Namboothiries is known as Sounaka siksha method. The method followed by Tamil/ Karnataka/Telugu Vedic scholars is known as Yajnavalkhya sikhsa and the scholars from North India and Maharastra chant Veda in Narayana Siksha. A person having no 10 background of Veda mantra listens to these three ways of chanting he can never know that all are chanting the same mantra in three different methods without any difference. Vedic messages! Bestow on us the brightest efficiency (RV. VI.44.9) Endow me with spiritual vigor (RV.I23.24) Win for us the mental power (medha sakti) (RV IX.9.9) Oh. God may my intelligence be active (RV.X.42 –43) Arouse our intelligence (dhi) (RV III.62; YV 36.3, SamV 1462) O Varuna sharpen the intelligence , wisdom and insight of him, who is striving for enlightenment (rv.viii.42.3) O Agni! Make us shine brightly like fire produced by friction. (rv.viii.48.6) Sharpen us like ther razor in the hands (rv.viii.4.16) Oh. Hero give manly vigor to our men ! (Rigveda mantras – one sukta) Urge us the heroic power ! I pray for soul force which none can bend ! Give strength to our bodies! In the friendship of three, the valiant we shall neither fear nor tire. Make us erect in our walk and our life! Your are wrath, give us wrath You are conquering power, give us that power Go forward you heroes and conquer! May the four regions bow before me! Fight he warrior in truth! Divine grace is my internal coat! Where the Brahma sakti and kshatra sakti both move together in concord.(Yajurveda) That world I shall know as holy where gods with agni dwell. Message on vrata, diksha, , dakshina, sraddha and satya) By self dedication (vrata) one obtains consecrations (Diksha) (Yajurveda) By consecration one obtains grace (Dakshina) By grace one obtains reverence (Sraddha) and by reverence is truth obtained (Satya) Message of anusasana on imparting knowledge (Rigveda X.32.7) One ignorant of the land asks of one who knows it; He travels forward, instructed by the knowing one This indeed is the blessing of instruction One finds the path that leads straight onward Anugraha in Vedic lines (Yajurveda) May we hear for a hundred years and speak for a hundred years 11 And may we hold our heads high for a hundred years even more than a hundred years. The line on family atmosphere (Rigveda X .24.6) Sweet be my going forth from home, and sweet my return to it. A prayer (Rigveda - sukta) Like a joyous streams bursting from the mountain The hymn of prayer have sounded to the deity. We worship, Oh Agni with joyous heart. Make us the enjoyers of wide room and happiness May we be masters of felicity now Show your grace to us today and here Do we really know what the veda is ? We were all thinking that the Vedas belong to Varenya varga and for Brahmins. Our ignorance has brought us up to this level. We are ignorant ! We are ignorant about our ignorance. We are ignorant about our past, present and future. We follow the people who continuously misguide us. We argue for proving which has already been proved wrong and try to prove that is correct. The world bow their before Indian heritage. We Indians go to some of the politicians, the Christians, the Muslims, the atheists, the leftists, the progressives, and the Pseudo Hinduthwaists. All are denigrating, exploiting and belittling our cultural heritage . Where to start the learning and teaching from this ocean of true and ultimate knowledge of our motherland. Dear friends, relatives and children of my motherland! I wish you will try to learn something. Something which belongs to all Indians ! Given below are few more messages of Vedas (given as a continuation of the past issues), which almost everyone is ignorant……Let you not be so. Let us have the iccha sakti, jnaana sakti and kriyaa sakti to connect the past glory and the present achievements and future position of our motherland bharath. More messages from the Vedas! These lines may be useful for understanding what the Vedas convey to us on various aspects of life. It is entirely different from other religious literature. The contents and also the method of presentation vary significantly. Hence the following messages are submitted for getting the most simple physical meaning of the Vedic mantras and messages Rigveda prayer! (this is known as aikamathya sooktham) * Assemble , speak in harmony, May your minds be of one accord May your prayer be common, Your assembly common Common your mind united your thoughts I counsel you to a common purpose and I worship with your common oblation Atharva veda mantra: (III.30) (suktha for unity in family and in society) *I shall make you united hearts and be of one mind free from hate.. Love one another as the mother cow loves her newly born calf. Let the son follow the father in his noble endeavor. 12 And be of one mind with the mother Let the wife speak sweet and beneficial words to the husband. Let not brother hate brother, sister hate sister, be all united and of one high purpose and speak words with friendliness.. May your water store be common And common your share of food! A great message from Rigveda on a personality! (RV I.91.20) * Who is fit for work (karmanya) who is fit for home (sadanya) Fit for the religious assembly (vidhathya) fit for the political council (sabheya) and a source of glory to his father . The unity of god ( all positive powers of the nature) in Samaveda * Sametha viswa ojasa pathim divo Ya ek id bur athithirjanaanaam Sa poorvyo noothanam aajigheeshan Tham varthaneer anyu vaavrutha ed ith Come together , you all with power of spirit to the lord of heaven who is the only one , the guest of the people , he the ancient desires to come to the new. To him all path ways turn, really, he is one. ( any path way of worship is Ok and it shows the divine power is one! The definition of god from Rigveda * Yo na: pitaa yo janithaa yo vidhaathaa Dhaamaani veda bhuvanaani viswaa Yo devanaam namdhaa eka eva Tham samprasnam bhuvanaa yanthyannyaa (Rigveda) The one who is our father, our creator, our disposer who knows all positions, all things existing, who is the one and only one, bearing names of different deities him other being seek the answers for all questions. The narration of divine power *.Abhyoornoti yahhagnam bhishakti vism yath thuram premandha:khyanni:srono bhooth (Rigveda VIII, 79) He clothes all who are asked, He doctors all who are sick; through him the blind man sees, the cripple goes about. The greatness of god * Utha vaatha pithaasi na utha bhrathotha na: sakhaa (Rigveda X.186.2 & Samaveda 1841) You are our father, our brother, our friends (and lead us.) How the human beings are viewed in vedas * Srunvanthu viswe amruthasya puthraa aa ye dhaamaani divyaani thasthu (Rigveda X.13.1) Oh. The children of immortal listen , all the possessors of celestial natures, let us all pray together 13 The relationship between the god and human beings * Vayam ghaa they thve idvindra vipraa api shmacy Nahi thvadanya: puruhootha kaschana maghavannasti mardithaa (Rigveda VIII –66-13) Truly God! We are yours. We worshippers depend on you. Except you, O much invoked , there is none, O mighty one, to show us the grace. (continued in the next few more issues Many people say that everything is described in Vedas. Why such a comment has come. Here, I shall quote one line from Bruhadharanyaka Upanishad. *Nakha krunthanena sarwam karshnayasam vijnaatham kaarshnaaya- samithyeva sathyam. If anywhere something about nail cutter is told, one should know that all about nail cutter including the iron metallurgy was/is known. Like this when various aspects are discussed or described, in thevedic lines one should take the message of other parameters. ( Vedic messages continue). * Aa sikshaayai prasninam upa sikshayaa abhiprasninam (yaj. Veda 30.10) For learning come and ask question! For learning from acharya come near and ask question from all sides ! (this informs us that there was a system of education by asking questions and analyzing the answers) * Siksha na indra raaya aa puruvidaam rucheeshama (RV VIII 92.9) Oh God teach us to win wealth. You are adorable with our hymns. ( the message of earning wealth) * Na thasya prathimaa asti yasya naama mahad yasa: (Y.V. 32.3) There is no parallel for the almighty. Whose glory , truly is great. ( the concept of god in a different way is mentioned here– not god fearing but looking to the god in a glorious way) * Adithir dyou adithiranthareeksham adithir maathaa sa pithaa sa puthra: viswe devaa adithi: pancha janaa adithir jaatham adithir janithwa ( RV I.89.10; Y V 25.23 A. V 7.6.1) The divinity is the heaven, the divinity is the mid region, the divinity is the mother, the father the son, the divinity is all deities, the divinity is the five classed men, the divinity is all that is born and will be born. ( this gives the understanding of the omnipotent omnipresent divine power as the specific concept existed here) * Thasmaath vai purusham idam brahmeti manythe Sarvaa hyasmin devathaa gaavo goshta ivaasathe (A V XI.8.32) There fore one who knows the prapancha purusha as the brahmam . truly, all divine powers abide in him just like the cows are inside the cow’s head. (we say the Vedas give the ultimate message of divinity. That is described here as prapancha purusha and also the self aware self conscious brahmam) * Devaso hi samaa manave samanyavo (RV VIII.27.14) 14 Truly, the gods are one spirit with man. ( In India we had only monotheism as described in Vedas. There are so many verses like this in all the Vedas.) * Thwam sthree thwam puman asi thwam kumara utha vaa kumaree thwam jeerno dandena vanchasi thwam jaatho bhavasi viswatho mukha: (AV 10:8;27) Oh Brahmam(n) ( chaithanya) you are woman, you are man, you are boy, you are maiden, you are the old man wandering with a staff, you exist in all forms. ( thus comes the one god, one explanation, the base of advaitham) * Sahasra seershaa purusha: sahasraaksha sahasra path sa bhoomim viswatho vruthwaa athyathishta dasaangulam ( in all the Vedas these lines are present known as purusha sukta) Oh that purusha has thousands of heads, thousands of eyes, thousands of feet . he pervading the earth on all sides, transcends the ten directions (means = that god is seeing, reaching, analyzing , what is happening anywhere in the universe). A beautiful narration of the universe as such is given. * Akaamo dheero amrutha: swayambhoo rasena thrupto na kuthaschanona: Thameva vidwaan na vibhaaya mruthyor aathmaanam dheeram ajaram yuvaanam (A V X.8.44) Desire-less, firm, immortal, self existent, contented with the essence, lacking nothing, is the omnipotent power. One fears not death who has known him, the sour who is the athman which is serene, ageless and youthful always. (description of the divine power and also those who know that power)- The basis of all explanation of athma paramaathma chaitanya is given here). We can see so many similar explanations as manthras in every Vedas, in every chapters. Further examples are given below. Given here is the Indian way of explaining the divine power. We are introducing many vedic stanzas and giving one of the many meanings exclusively for our understating of the Vedas. It is also important to extrapolate the meanings to messages. When we read one line and analyze seriously about the same, we can extrapolate to get a number of messages. If one manthra is chanted like this. * seesam cha me, syamam cha me, thrapuscha me, hiranyam cha me, naamayascha me, as given in Yajurveda. The meaning is that let me have the Zinc, silver, copper , lead, iron, gold……. * It conveys us the correct scientific message that the ores of thee metals were known, the metallurgy was known, the purification and use were known……other wise they would not have mentioned these many metals……that is the method of extracting the scientific meaning from Vedas. Now we will continue our analyses of Vedic lines. * Roopam roopam prathiroopam bhabhoova Thad asya roopam prathichakshanaaya indro maayaabhi:pururoopa ieyathe yukthaa hyasya haraya: sathaa dasa: (R V VI.47-18) The god is in every form, he has been the model, that form of his is visible 15 everywhere. The god by his maaya (illusion) moves in many forms. Truly, his bay steeds are yoked a hundred directions.( this is the basis for puranic stories, upanishadic messages and so on) * yoasaavaadithyey purusha: soasaavaham (Y.V 40.17) The same divinity present in the sun is present in me also. We say in modern science all form energy can be converged to one for,. When the same energy is present in Sun and human beings, one can see the convergence. ( the ultimate truth explained in Upanishads can be read here) * vi me karnaa pathayatho vi chakshur vee idam jyothirhrudaya aahitham yath Vi me manashcarathi doora aadhee: kim swid vakshyaami kim u noo manishye (R.V 6.9.6) My ears open to hear, my eyes to see; this light with my spirit shines beyond; My mind roams with its thought in the distance; what shall I speak and what really shall I think ? ( Many of the things what we see, hear, think are beyond the level of explanations says the darsanas. This line is the base of darsanas. It also gives a management message) * Savitha ! oh god! Send far away all evil; send us what is good (R.V 82.5. & Y V) - how to practice a good and dharmic life is the message here. He who sees all beings separately and also sees them together, May he, be our protector. (RV 3.62.9)- this message informs us that the ultimate faith is that we will be protected by the nature * I deem you as the holiest of the holy ! I deem you as the shaker of the unshaken ! I deem you o god! As the banner of heroes I deem you as the chief of the people (R.V 96-4) ( the concept that that existed on heroes, there existed the chief for the people or leadership for people and all these are connected with the positive qualities what everyone is expected to look for ) * I saw the protector who never rests who moves forward and backward over the earth. He, wearing splendor that gather together and spreads out travels constant within the world ( RV, YV & AV) ( Here the quality of the protector or leader is clearly given) Here mentioned an excellent Vedic management message. * Bhadram karnebhi srunuyaama devaa bhadram pasyema akshabhir yajathraa sthirairangai sthushtuvamsa sthanubhi vysema devahitham Oh Gods may we with out ears listen to what is good, and with our eyes see what is good and may we with firm body composed of healthy and strong organs, work the mission bestowed upon us as long as we are alive. (RV 89.8, S V & A V) Every management book instructs you to learn from others by listening and watching and doing the mission oriented work using the health. RV II21/6 gives the beautiful message * Indra sreshtaani dravinaani dehim chittim dakshasya subhagathwam asme Posham rayeenaam arishtim thanoonam swadmaanam vaacha sudintwam 16 ahnaam Oh. God bestow on us the best treasures: the efficient mind and spiritual luster, the increase of wealth, the health of bodies the sweetness of speech and fairness of days. ( these are the integrated management principles according to modern systems. (The integration of prosperity, wealth, mental, physiological, communicative and spiritual enlightenment is what is expected in Vedas and also in modern days. One can even evolve ancient Indian integrated management concepts from these Vedic lines) * Oh mighty lord you are great. Your powers are great, gaining wealth, Oh ! Valiant one and conquering enemies. The one king of the whole universe, you are You make battle and bring peace among the men (R V III.46.2) ( is it not giving us the message of KING AND KINGDOM, WAR AND PEACE- these are the messages written about 6000 years ago when there existed the kingdom, ruler, power, soldiers, prosperity and a very positive outlook on the nature ) * Inspirer of the truthful rouser of the good mind, May Saraswati accept our offering (RV 3.11, Y) * Apsu me somo abhraveeth atharviswaanibheshajaa agnim cha viswam sambhuvam aapascha viswabheshajee (RV & A V) Water is the universal medicine and all medicines heals. Says soma. Agni is the one which blesses and water is the one which heals (R V 23.22) ( Even today water is considered as the universal medicine. And agni/ fire is the one which always give the raw processing conditions) The whole concept of agriculture can be seen in Yajurveda line * yavaa schame, maashaschame, thilaascha me, mulgaascha me, ghalvaascha me, godhoomaascha me, masuraascha me, pringavascha menavascha me syaamaakaascha me neevaarascha me ( pronounce me = as may). Nine type of cereals and pulses are mentioned including barley,blackgram, greengram, gingely, wheat, rice, masoordal, fenugreek, and so on…… Even now many of the foreign scholars and few Indian intellectuals also think that these are the agroproducts came to India from Africa, 1500 years ago. Where as the period of Yajurveda has been refixed as 3000 BC or prior to that. This gives us clear ideas on many historical aspects too Yajurveda prayer (19.9) The message of the yajurvedic lines is obvious. Whatever we are expecting from a powerful man /leader / hero .Those qualities are mentioned here. What we have to aim in our life is narrated here as a prayer. The prayer echoes what we consider as the standard of life and aim of life. * Thejoasi thejo mayee dhehi Veeryamasi veeryam amayi dhehi Balamasi balam mayee dehi Ojosi ojomayee ddhehi 17 Manyurasi manyum mayee dhehi sahosi saho mayee dehi You are the fiery spirit give me the fiery spirit you are vigor, give me manly vigor. You are power give me power you are energy give me energy you are battle fury give me battle fury you are conquering might give me conquering might ( the message of elevating ourselves into a higher position on all aspects) The line which echoes the message of a marriage and how the married couple should maintain the relation. This gives us the message of family life. Even about 8000 years ago, the Indians were leading a power matured, disciplined family life. The whole history classifies human beings as primitive and uncivilized. * (RV 85.36) "I take your hand with mine for good fortune (says the bridegroom to bride) that you may live to old age with me, your husband, let all gods bless us who gave you to me as the queen of my home." – this manthra is chanted during marriage, like this there are hundreds of manthras. The great wedding manthra ( The status of the women in the society is given here. * Sumangaleer iyam vadhoor imam pasyatha Soubhagyam asyai dathwaayaa athastham vi parethana Hey married women/ sumangalees here is the bringer of good fortune standing as as this bride, come all of you and look at her; first wish her full happiness and then return home after giving your blessings to her. ( this mantra is the invocation to all married couples who are present in the wedding ceremony) Husband telling to wife (RV X.85.46 & AV) * Samrajnee swasure bhava samrjnee swasruvaam bhava nanaandari bhava smarajnee samrajnee adhi devrushu. Be a queen to your father in law, be queen to your mother in law, queen to your sisters in law, and a queen to your brothers in law..( The position of a daughter in law in a home is clear here. Is it not better than a developed society. . these are the manthras chanted during the wedding) * (RV VIII.31 ) "With sons and daughters by their side, may the two enjoy the full span of life, both decorated with ornaments of gold". ( the approach and aim of family life explained here. It is not moksha according to Vedas. Ultimate aim and pathway are enjoyment in full span of living. That means the experience of living) * (Message to women RV X.18.7) "Let these women who are not widows and who have good husbands enter anointed with unguent and balm, let the women who are tearless, robust and well adorned with jewels, proceed to the house first". ( the lines give the status of women in the society without any elaboration and commentary) * (Message from AV VI 106 –1) "At the approach to the house and exist from it let the flowering durva grass grow. And there let a spring rise and let a lake lie 18 with lotuses in bloom" .( How should each house be maintained is given through a nice manthra. How much developed was the vision of the family and house, garden, entrance etc. Can anywhere in these lines we spot a primitive life structure) * (RV X 124.8 ) "Viso na rajaanam varunaanaa": Like the people elect their ruler . ( The role of a leader. The concept of election or selection of the king or ruler of the country. These line gives the social concept of a democratic set up) Words of people to the King as given in YV 9.22 ( these lines give how the ruler of a country and the citizens of the country keep their faith each other. Can we say the political - not the present politrical – culture of the Vedic period was a primitive period. Or was it much better than the present system of imposing some rulers by some other ‘rulers’. * In us be your power . In us is your valor, your wisdom, In us be your mental splendors, Bow your head to mother earth This is your sovereignty You are the controller, ruler you are steady, firm You are culture and land You are for peace you are for wealth you are for nurture. Many of those who know chanting Veda manthras are not really Vedic scholars. The real Vedic scholars have devoted their life for learning and teaching Vedas. They can quote the Vedas from any chapter, any suktha without the help of a book. They can go beyond the chanting level also. They know the starting point of each Rik, suktha and in which chapter or from which mandala each line is present. They can chant them in the reverse order also. And they know each and every concept of the Veda. I shall use the word, they know Veda letter by letter and word by word. Even though it might have taken 10 to 20 years for them to learn. Here ends the part I of the Hinduism Hindu dharma . Detailed description of the Hindu literature will become the second part of this book. Wait for that…..

1 How the males and females dominance projected in the acharas ? We always considered the men and women have the same role and hence their involvement is equal. It is said that Aye cha Vyaye cha eka bhavena sandhaarayeth. In all the activities they should work as one with the feeling of oneness. How Indian concept of god supports this aspect? You can see that in India the gods are always presented and portrayed as couples as given in trimoorthy sankalpa. Equal importance is given to Brahma Vishnu and Maheswara similarly to Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathy. Is there any group of people or devotees whom the god loves maximum ? Absolutely there is no group of people whom god does more favor or loves more or hates. The approach who are obeying god only will be protected and those who are not obeying god will be punished, did not exist. Will the god curse anyone ? Remember the concept of god in India is beyond jealousy, hatred, vengeance, selfishness, hypocrisy, etc. Hence the god will never curse anyone in our concept. Even the concept that god cursed anybody for not helping him is cheap. The god is great and hence the god’s days are great , glorious and pleasant days. But in Bible, you can see the opposite of that. Will the god take your sins? In Indian concepts of gods, god will not take your sin but guide you to lead a sinless life. That is what repeatedly told in all our literature. Even the bus ticket cannot be transferred, then how can you transfer the sin to god or to the son of god. Can anyone be deployed for compensating your sins? It is nonsense ! How can somebody be hanged for your sins ? How can it be justified in the modern world. Do you think if somebody takes food you will become free from hunger. Will your thirst vanish if somebody else drink water ?. Can you hang somebody for the sin committed by you ? where is the logic ? Do we have any Satan in the Indian spiritual concept ? Our gods never fought with ghost and we do not have any Satan at all who are always acting against gods. We have people with asuric gunas /character . Those people are also here in the world even in 21st century. They are not Satan, but people having satanic character. God will never fight with them. It is the duty of the dharmic people to fight against them. How does the god created the human beings ? God has never created human beings in one day or on the spur of a moment. It is the evolutionary change. We never consider the man is created by god all of a sudden. And woman made using a pience of a back bone of man. But formed through evolution as described in dasaavatara. How dasavatara is related with human evolution? It is obvious that from mathsya, the life originated in sea /water which got continuously evolved to other animals including human beings. As mentioned in dasavatara as tortoise the animal which can live in water and land, pig type of 2 four legged animal, then half human being and half animal, then to dwarf man as Eskimos, then to rough human without order of life, then to systematically cultured human beings, then to the man of agriculture like Balaraama with plough and then to Lord Krishna who is the embodiment of wisdom and intelligence. Finally evolution to a level of destroying themselves using ultra modern weapons developed by themselves as kalki (Ghadki = the men with sword) Is there any mention about evolutionary theory in India ? Yes Patanjali has clearly mentioned that ‘jaathyanthara oarinaama prakruthyaa pooraath = the evolution of living being is the rule of the nature. What is our relation with planets and earth ? We consider earth is our mother and living beings are the part and parcel of our family. Since the Sun is responsible for the ‘life’ on the globe, we consider the Sun as divine embodiment of nature. All that what is present in the nature is part of the prakruthi devi. So they are all the divine for us. So are the planets too. What is our approach on sainthood ? Sainthood cannot be given to a man after death by another man as a decision in parliament is passed by majority voting. In Christianity, almost all the sainthood is given for directly or indirectly converting people to Christianity. But in India the sainthood is achieved ( not given) by the continuous life long saadana as done by Sankaracharya, Raghavendra , Thygaraja, Veda Vyasa…. Do we worship anyone showing miracles after death ? We worship great men of scholarship. Not those who are showing miracles before or after death. We never worshiped anybody who is doing ‘wonders’ after death. But we know the human beings can get himself elevated into the level of gods by good deeds. Even gods themselves take birth as human beings known as avathara. Those who have reached the level of saints are saints before or after death. We never waited for the proof for the saint hood after death. Can a living person elevate others into sainthood after death as Pope does in Christianity ? Our acharyas have never taken the responsibility of elevating somebody else to a higher position after death. It is humanly impossible. Collecting proof of the greatness itself is cheap, that too in a religion which strongly advocate to believe without questioning. Is converting others to sanathana dharma considered holy or sacred ? Indians never converted anyone to their religion by provocation and compulsion. If it is done then what is the different between a political party and a religion. Ours is a broad culture and those who are leaving this dharma is exclusively for minor benefits and never due to the greatness of other religion. Is conversion permitted in Hinduism ? After a series of attach from Muslims, for about 600 years and then the Christians for more than 200 years, many Hindus got converted into Islam and Christianity by force. Many of them were reconverted back to Hindu dharma by many acharya, later on. Thus even today many are brought back to our dharma. 3 What is the ultimate aim of human life according to our dharma ? Ultimate aim of human life in sanathana dharma is not to lead a luxurious life on earth or heaven but to attain the level of a brahmajnaani, the knower of ultimate reality and truth, giving up the luxuries and living with minimum wants and needs and make the life heavenly and divine on the earth itself. How can a common man follow the above principle ? For the common man this is not the route. He has dharma + artha + kaama + moksha path way. Follow dharma in each and every aspect of his life. Earn as much money as possible in dharmic way. Fulfill all your wishes and wants and then get relinquished from that . Become happy. Make others also happy. Can a common man become a Brahmajnaani Anyone can become so, provided he passes through the saadhana. It does not matter one is a common man or a genius, the pathway remains the same. Why do Hindus worship the animals ? In India every living being is considered as the embodiment of divine power. We elevated the animals and plants to the level of deva vahanas and punya vrukshas. They are all composed of life energy (jeevathma chaitanyam). And that life energy is known as jeevaathma. Jeevaathma is the part of paramaathama and hence they are the manifestation and manipulation of the same divine power which is present in human beings. So we worship them. Service is a method for spreading Christianity for Christians . How do Hindus view the service? Selfless nara seva is narayanana seva . Sevanam is one among the eight methods of worship. Sevanam or service is for the sake of service and not expecting anything in return. Conversion and increasing the number of the people in our religion was not the sevanam/service. Unfortunately now it has become a must. The Christians consider man as the sinner . How the Hindus estimate a man ? Every human being, we consider as the tool in the hands of the omnipotent omnipresent divine power. He is divine and Vedas declare that srunvanthu viswe amruthasya puthraa… Oh the children of immortals listen to us….We are the embodiment of divinity. Hence we say Aham brahmasmi ( I am the embodiment of divinity) and thathwam asi ( you are also the same) . Arya putra, Aryavamsa, aryavartha etc are all convey the meaning the great people. Christians pray to save themselves from the sin What is the Hindu prayer ultimately aimed at ? HIndu prayer directly or indirectly is to lead us all from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge and from the day to day pains of the life to permanent and ultimate happiness. Our prayer was never hate anyone or for material benefits. Our prayer is "let us all exist together share together and enlighten together". Our prayer is not due to fear but due to devotion towards god. 4 Death is the punishment of sins for Christians. What about Hindus ? Death is not a punishment for sins for Indians, but it is the moksha and it is considered as a small incident in the life. It is considered as one among 16 part sanskaara in life which is to be performed with acharas. All acharas connected with death, together is known as anthyeshti. The last ritual of human life done not by self but by children or relatives... How these acharas directly influence Hindu life ? Like many other acharas, there are many concepts which we practice knowingly or unknowingly in our day today life. All these have a specific message and meaning. Our culture in toto is the output of all these visions. Since these visions are in alignment with individual consciousness, social consciousness and cosmic consciousness, they are still alive and exuberant. World over without a Pope or ministry for spreading it, it is reaching to millions of people. How many such concepts are there in Hindu dharma ? There are thousands of concepts like this in India . These are the foundations of Indian thoughts, on which the sanathana dharma has been built up. Because of this broad outlook and co existence and harmonious visions, out of the 49 cultures/civilizations existed on the surface of the globe earth, only this one survived in spite of more than 800 years of foreign rule and atrocities which destroyed our materials and treasures. It is continued in a different way for the last 60 years, even after independence. Our own rulers are now destroying our self respect and dignity. Let us think and act. Not for weeping but for taking the challenges and opportunities. How can we say we did not convert people to our religion? We welcomed Parsis, Christians, Muslims and Jews when they faced atrocities in their own countries from their own people. We gave full support to construct their religious and business centers . We gave full freedom to propagate their religion and philosophy We took their good knowledge, manpower, experience, visions, etc and enriched our culture . We invited the western scientific thoughts and scholars with full respect. Many travelers like Albiruni, Megashtanese, Fahein and Huansang, came here. We never converted or tried to convert anyone. ( Now many Hindus feel truly sad about it and they start thinking that we could have converted them. ) Christians and Christian god never tolerated the opposing visions what about Hindu gods? Contradictory and opposing visions/views and opinions were welcomed/accepted with full respect. In sanathana dharma the success and failures , acceptance and rejection, superiority or inferiority were confined to intellectual level only. Muscle power was never used to establish the success or superiority. Christian approach for knowledge (particularly scientific knowledge) is somewhat negative. What was the Indian approach ? Indians welcomed people from all over the world for giving and taking knowledge. We send our scholars to China, Singapore, Korea, Kenya, Lanka, 5 and so on and conquered their mind with the power of knowledge and never tried to conquer them with weapons . We considered knowledge as universal and never kept confidential. We gave it to sincere, dedicated students anywhere in the world. In Bhagavath Geetha the message given is there is nothing which can be compared with Jnaana . It is repeatedly stressed at different part of Geetha. Even the great scientists in the west were not allowed to say , write or think against Bible, What about Hindus ? Anyone was free to think, to bring new ideas, to accept or reject any ideas or any teacher or any school of thought. He is free at all level of his academic learning. The teachers and scholars were free to teach students on their subject of expertise. For higher learning, the students were free to opt more competent teachers anywhere in the world. They were free to follow their own way of presentation. Those knowledge can be well agreeing with the existing knowledge and it can be opposing existing way of thinking. When Christianity got its birth from Jews, the former took it a challenge to massacre the latter. How the Hindus view the formation of new religions ? Hindus allowed to sprout out new religions including the school of atheism from our own culture. And also like Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and so on without any protest or suppression got their birth from sanathana dharma. These newly sprouted religion had all the freedom to preach and also could become part of the main culture. They even had the freedom to reject and oppose Hinduism. Major part of Buddhism and Jainism got merged with Hindusim now. Almost same is the case with Sikhism also. Not much respect is given to the Hebrew language in which original Bible has been written. What about Hindusim ? Sanskrit became the main source of knowledge and when the regional languages grew, Sanskrit provided the source of knowledge like words, grammar, rules and guidance. Sanskrit words with suitable modification and sometimes without modifications could be used for the enrichment of regional languages. Infact Sanskrit became the mother of all Indian languages. In Semitic literature the messages of Jehova or Allah are given as directions and guidance. How about Hindu literature ? The messages for ultimate well being of human and nature have been presented in different ways in different Indian literature In epics the common mans dharma saastra books, the facts are presented as such to the readers. Through the story of Sri Rama in Ramayana and through Pandavas in Mahabharata. The good and bad are presented in epics from which the reader is free to accept/ follow/ reject/ criticize/…….. the message /story /fact/facts connected with the messages. Whereas in other Indian literature the ultimate truths are presented. In Puranas the presentation is done as stories. In Vedas messages are gives in the manthra style. In darsanas the messages are given as highly philosophical approach. None carries the order of a god or the god men. 6 What about the democratic approach in Hinduism ? For Christians the Churchianity has the final word. ? Democratic way of functioning was the part of life at all levels right from the family level. Human life has well defined goals in which all the dharmic, economical, philosophical and sociological aspects were integrated as purusharthas, in a democratic set up. What is the role of the country and king in Hindu dharma ? Hindu dharma sastra specifically give the guidance that a nation (raashtram) should support its citizens with the dharmic values (dharmena eva prajaa: sarvey rakshanthi sma parasparam). Dharma should be protected at all levels by the king and rulers. So that the nation will be protected by the dharma itself. The nature will support the king who protects the dharma. If king betrays the citizens and lead an adharmic life, the nature will put all negatives upon the country. In Islam , arts and music are against religion . How it is looked into in Hinduism ? Arts and literature are the part of cultural and spiritual life in Hindu dharma . All the arts and music are together known as upavedas. They are the upa veda of sama veda known as Gaandharva veda. Even music is considered as Sabda brahmam. Many rishies have composed the music and dance performance rules. Those who composed the dance is Bhratha muni. In Semitic religion the human body is buried in church or mosque. How this is looked into in Hinduism ? The human body (sareeram) is considered as the most important, divine, first and foremost, holy tool i.e. dharma saadhanam. So we say sareeram aadhyam khalu dharma saadhanam. It was considered as the aalayalam (house) for the jeevatma. Hence it is also known as kshetram/ temple. Till the jeevathma is present in the body it is holy. However after the death, we consider it as a decaying material like any other dead material. So Hindus never allow dead body inside the temple or even in the campus. Why the relatives of dead are not permitted to enter temple for few days ? None has said that they should not enter in the temple. Instead it has been told that the relatives of the dead should not go out of his home because he is expected to live a detached life for ten days. Which is a demonstration of his love and affection towards his parents. As you know, if a leader of the nation passes away, many celebrations and festivals used to be cancelled. It is only to offer our homage to the leader. In one’s own life it is the homage to our parents . In modern sociology this gives a lesson to the next generation, on how to keep the relation in the family . It is the demonstrative anthropology. What are the ultimate goal or missions of human life ? The four missions bestowed upon human life are dharma , artha, kaama and moksha . This is a method of systematically undertaking, fulfilling and giving up of the dharmic responsibilities by one and all at different level of their life 7 What is the definition of dharma ? Dharma is the in toto of duty + responsibility + privilege. Dhaaranaath dharma. The one which is protecting you is dharma. It is also said Dharanena dharma. It is the one which is guiding you in your life. Hence dharma. Each and everyone one has their dharma in their respective position. Maathru dharma, pitru dharma, putra dharma etc. What is meaning of artha in purushartha ? Fulfilling all the human endeavors and wants in a dharmic way. This fullfilment comes under artha and kaama. Dharmasya moolam artha. For performing all dharmic activities one needs money. Hence money is very important to lead a dharma based life. All the rituals are divided into two. Known as kaamyeshti and mokshesti. The rituals which are performed for prosperity are known as kamyeshti. The one which is for going to heaven is known as moksheshti (means relinquishing this life through spiritual rituals and to attain moksha) What is Kaama in purushartha ? Is it the sexual life ? Never never. Kaama is the wants, needs and expectations in our life. Any physical and mental thirst will be coming under kaama. Each and every one wishes to possess many things in his life. This ambition also come under kaama. What is the meaning of the fulfillment of life ? We have declared the ultimate aim of life is not preparation for living , but the experience of living. Attaining a very high position in power, wealth, property, name and fame are all welcomed in the system under artha - kaama. These are also the part of Hindu dharma. But retention in the same level for ever is impossible. So the last part is getting relieved from all these burdens known as moksha. What is moksha ? Moksha is the mohasya kshayam. Relinquishing from the wants and expectations. Getting detached from the earthly comforts . There are two ways suggested for this. One is the pathway to relinquish after enjoying them after many days. The second pathway is directly from Brahmacharya to vanaprastha and sanyasa. What are the four asramas and what is the purpose of dividing like this ? The life period has been divided into four stages. brahmacharya, gruhastha, vaanaprastha and sanyaasa. Here a very systematic demarcation of different periods is declared. This is particularly aiming at attaining the fulfillment of the whole life right from child hood to the last days. How the profession of an individual and dharma are related ? No profession or job has been declared as lower or higher. All have the freedom to choose their own work. It has been told in Vyasa smruthi that there is no work which is inferior or superior uttamam cha adhamam cha ethat karma na vidyathe. All are viewed as part of dharma part of karma yoga. It can become part of vyakti dharma, kula dharma , samooha dharma or rashtra dharma. 8 How scientific and spiritual knowledge were taught ? Basic and technological knowledge are taught according to the interest of each person and according to his capability. It is taught through gurukula system and also learning from generation to the next directly at home. Is it compulsory that one should strictly follow his profession ? Changing the profession/ job was commonly permitted . The scholars of any branch of knowledge were respected . Anyone can change the profession from the traditional to ultra modern. During war many go to the battle field whether they are kshatriyas or not. That can be seen in our practice and also in literature. Scholars with scientific, social, anthropological, technological, spiritual, philosophical, rational knowledge were all respected as Maharshies or as acharyas. Maharshi Vyasa, Maharshi Valmeeki, Maharshi Susrutha, Maharshi Charvaka. None bothered about their caste or varna or profession. How the respectability bestowed upon different branch of knowledge ? Knowledge was considered supreme . Jnaana yogi is the word used for a scholar. Jnaana and vijnaana are the two branches of knowledge which are spiritual knowledge and scientific knowledge. In Upanishads they are explained as vidya and avidya. What about Bharmin caste ? Brahminism is not a caste at all even though it is now labeled so. It is the status given. Janmanaath jaayathey marthya karmanaath jaayathey dwijna and brahma jnaanena eva brahmana. By birth every one is sudra and by selecting a profession, he takes next stage/’birth’ and by attaining highest position in that field he reaches the level of brahmajnaani. That level is brahmana. Can a sudra by birth become a brahmana by karma ? Sudra api seela sampanno brahmanaath gunavaan bhaveth brahmana api kriyaheena sudraath prathyavaro bhaveth. A sudra can elevate himself beyond the level of brahmana by attaining knowledge and performing the acharas and. even if born in a Brahmin family, he is far lower than a sudra if proper acharas are not performed (from dharma satra.) What is varna and what is the caste ? Varna is the strata in the society which is attained by profession it is not caste. Nothing like caste existed in India. The British rulers labeled Indians doing different jobs under the jaati or caste. It is just like somebody labeling you as clerk, peon, security, soldier, secretary,etc. as your caste. In India the people doing different job had different respectful names with meaning. Unfortunately they were all wrongly labelled as castes first by foreigners then by our own rulers. At present what is the term Brahmin stands for ? Always the scholars were termed as Brahmins and that position was exclusively given to those who have reached a very high leve like using the name Boston Brahmins. It is a class of people in Boston USA and they are not Indian Brahmins. They are highly professional American scholars. 9 Can we give example where Brahmin position could be attained other than by birth ? Veda Vyasa was born in Fisherman family, Valmiki was born as robber in forest, Aitheraya who has written fantastic Upanishads and Brahmanical books was from Chandala family, Swamy Vivekananda, Swamy Aurobindo, Swamy Chinamayanda, Sri Satya Sai Baba, Matha Amruthananda Mayee Devi and many others are not born in Brahmin family. Even Sri Rama was a Kshatriya and Sri Krishna is from Yadava and majority of the Rishies who wrote Veda manthra are from the Kshatriya (Viswamitra) Kula. It is not a must that one should become a Brahmin birth to attain a scholarly position. How the level of respect bestowed upon profession ? Every type of job has been declared as the yajna/ samarpanam and the professionals were also known as achaaryas . So even the carpenter and mason are known as asaari/ acharya. All the scientific and technological profession have their Acharyas in top. What about the status of women in the society ? Indians have always taken the masculine and feminine genders as the combination of two energies with equal status and prominence. Every ritual is performed in presence of wife and husband. In our concept of god too and in all symbolism of divine explanations this concept of wife and husband can be seen. For Christians and Muslims the Jehova and Allah are masculine / Males and they are the ultimate gods. What about Hindus ? The Brahma chaitanyam/ Brahmam is the ultimate final point in Hindu dharma. Brahma satyam Jagath Mithya is thus arrived. For this ultimate divinity the equivalent feminine counter part is known as Mahaamaaya. So Brahma chaitanya is never the ultimate single masculine figure. It is not in its unique supreme level as Jehova or Allah. But it has an equivalent feminine concept also. But you see, in Vedas and Bhagavath Geetha prapancha purusha sankalpa is explained as the final point bearing everything in it, which is masculine in form. Is this not a contradiction ? Prapancha purusha sankalapa has also an equivalent feminine form. At that stage of divine concept, the prapancha purusha chaitanya has the feminine equivalent as prakruthi devi . Prakruthi has eight components ( Bhumi, apa, anala, vayu, akasa, mana, buddhi and ahamkara (awareness ) are the eight prakruthi. And prapancha purusha is only one, thus says Bhagavath geetha and our darsanas. What about the trinity concept and their feminine concept? The trinity concept of Christianity is something confusing. Father, son and the holy ghost. But in Hindu concept the trinity concept is related with generation , maintenance and destruction which is the natural phenomenon. How Brahma-Vishnu- Maheswara sankalpa and their equivalent feminine concepts agree ? 10 Brahma Vishnu Maheswara sankalpa is the symbolic presentation of srushti- sthithi-samhaaram. The Lord of creation (Brahma) has the feminine equivalent of goddess of knowledge (Saraswati). Brahma has the four dimensions of x, y, z and time axes as the four heads of Brahma. The goddess of knowledge as Saraswati, attached to the Lord Brahma. The Lord of sthithi/ existence has the goddess of prosperity (Lekshmi). The Lord of samhaara has with him goddess of energy (Parvathy ) with him. How their prominence looked into in Hindu dharma ? Prapancha purusha itself has the three in it. Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are part of Prapancha purusha. The three sakthies Iccha Sakrti ( Mahalakshmi) Jnaana sakti ( Saraswati) and Kriya sakti ( Parvati) are the incarnation of Prakruthi Devi or Mahamaaya. What are the three sakties? The fundamental need of human being is the power of entrepreneurship which is iccha sakti, power of knowledge is jnaana sakti and power of work is kriya sakti. These three combine in women. So, all the three powers are symbolically present in women (or as women). In Christians and Muslims worship in the feminine form is generally absent. What about in Hindu dharma ? All the creative positive qualities are bestowed upon the feminine gender like Lekshmi; goddess of prosperity, Saraswathy; goddess of knowledge, Parvathy; goddess of energy. Thus worship in the feminine form is very common. And you can see so many temples of devi, kali, durga and so on. How in other ways women are worshipped? Bhagavath geetha says: keerthi, sree, vaak, dhruti, kshama, vijaya, bhooti, dhruva, neeti and so on are feminine gender. Puranic stories carry these names for giving the messages of their qualities. How the feminine deities are worshipped in festivals ? Navaraatri celebrations are connected with the worship of goddesses in nine forms . The detailed explanation is given in Saptha sati which is also known as devi maahaathmyam. Ayudha pooja, Pusthaka pooja, Bhoomi pooja, etc are all connected with this celebration in the feminine forms. What is sakti pooja ? Tools/ Instruments/ weapons ,etc are worshipped, in India as Ayudha pooja with sakti pooja. Poojas are performed to the books and granthas during Sarasvati pooja. Symbolically it is said that even the gods (males) worship the trhe goddesses mahamaaya. In puranic stories it is told that even the trimoorthis are created by Mahamaya (who stands as mother). What are the other concepts which give prominence to women? Prosperity has the name Dhanalakshmi. Earth is given the status of Bhoo maatha (ayam maata pruthvi putroham pruthivyaa = this earth is my mother and I am the sonof this earth ). Bharath (India) is given the status of Bharth maatha 11 Gomaatha and Ganga maatha are holy . Each and every feminine concepts like river, ocean, motherhood, pancha maatha concept, etc are worshipped with reverence in feminine forms. How the epics give the importance for the women ? The two Indian epics have their origin from the feminine key role players. . Manthara / Kaikeyee / Sita are the focal points in Ramayana. Even the Ramayana epic got its birth due to these women. In Mahabharatha , Panchali, Kunti and Gandhari are the key players Rishies follow brahmacharya. How it is looked into ? No! It is wrong to say so. Every Maharshi had a great supporting wife for undertaking the mission of learning and teaching the dharma. Very rarely maharshies live the unmarried life. What the Indian history says about the prominence of women ? Twenty seven secretaries out of 41 were women in Chandra Gupta Maurya’s secretariat. Chanakya had specifically allotted the duty of spying to women in Arthasaastra. In the morning prayer (pratha smarana) panchakanyas are remembered as ahalya /droupadi/ seetha/….. Many heroines fought during Indian war of independence as a continuation of the history of brave Indian women, which never occurred in any other country except in India. What is the criticism and allegation against manusmruthi ? Manusmruthi has clearly mentioned that yathra naaryastu poojyanthey ramanthey thathra devathaas – where the women are worshiped, there the goddess bless with great happiness. Another comment without a negative meaning: Pitha rakshati koumare, bhartha rakshati youvane putro rakshati vaardhakye na stree swa thanthram arhati = The father protects (rakshati) during childhood, the husband protects in youth and the children protects at old age and a woman should not have to suffer by doing the work of her own ( swa = of her own , thanthra = doing work for lively hood). The meaning of each word is positive it is rakshati (protecting) and not controlling or preventing doing something. This line is targeted for criticism against manusmruti. Freedom for the women has not been curtailed anywhere at any instances as can be seen in all our puranas and itihasas. What about the marriage of women ? is freedom allowed here ? In Hindu marriage, it is swayamvaram which means the lady selects from among the great men whom she likes as her husband. Seetha Devi did swayamvaram of Rama. Swayam varam was very common through out India. Even today, in the marriage rituals, first the garlanding is done by the bride to bridegroom. Then only the bridegroom ties the knot on the neck of the bride. How the family ‘rule’ is designed in India and the role of women ? Dharma neeti sara tells that; aaye cha vyaye cha eka bhaavena sandhaarayeth - in handling the income and expenditure, ups and down, happiness and unhappiness in a family, both wife and husband should work together. The wives were the motivating forces behind all great Indian men/kings: Gandhari to Dhrutharashtra, Sita to Rama, Mandodari to ravana, Thara to Baali and always the wives had the choice, privilege , duty and responsibility to advise and guide their husbands. 12 What about women becoming priests of the temples and doing yagas ? In Christianity and Islam it is not at all permitted. There are many temples in India where women are the priests, like eight temples in Kerala have women priests. Matha Amruthananda Mayee Devi born in a fishermen family has consecrated more than forty Brahmasthaana temples throughout the world, in the temple sanctum sanctorum. In many part of India women are doing yagaas. Why people are not discussing about these points ? The above points are given to show few examples are for explaining Indian cultural merits and meant for giving the women’s status to give the clear picture on women-hood and to remove the misunderstanding that women are ill treated or deprived in India. Why in Sabarimala, a temple in Kerala on top of a mountain, the women are not permitted to enter? You know the hilly slippery region and dense forest, are cumbersome for woman during olden days. Even today in a crowd the effect is the same. Too cold with snowy soil surface gives terrible risk. Hence the message might have given through stories to prevent the entry of women. This type of restrictions are not practiced in other Ayyappa temple. However the sareera suddhi is also taken a part. See some of the restriction in Islamand Christianity. No woman is allowed in magrib of mosque and women are not permitted to become the priests/bishops/ methran / pope/ in Christianity Incidentally since the question of sabarimala came, we would like to know what is makara jyoti, whether it is lighted by men ? Many people ask this question. If the idol, sanctum sanctorum, temple structure, the 18 steps, the forest path, the prasadam, the materials for the prasadam, the pooja, the food, the building,….etc are all made by men ( human beings) and all those who are working there are also human beings. Then what is the problem if the makara jyoti in sabari mala is also made by men. Nowhere in any book it has been told that the jyothi is made by god. It has been mentioned everywhere that the jyothi is divine but not made by god.. Why we consider the Air, water, etc as the god ? Air (vayu deva) is needed for the survival of all living beings. So it is considered as the Vedic god/ divine power (vaideeka devataa). The antharathma which is also known as jeevaathama can exist only with air and water, in our body. Modern science says that the Sun is a ball of fire. How can we consider and worship it as god ? Ancient Indians also knew that Sun is a ball of fire Agnairvaa sooryo ajaayatha ( from the fire the Soorya was formed). Sun is responsible for the life on the eart.So it is worshipped and we do the soorya namaskaara. Without air, water and sun nothing on the surface of the globe earth survives. Hence they are all given the divine status in Vedas. 13 The earth also got the same status of god . why ? In fact the earth has got a different status as mother earth. She gives us food of all sort directly or indirectly. Hence Bhoo maatha. Earth which protects is worshipped by doing bhoomi pooja for bhoomi devi. Now, in developed countries, too the concept of mother earth is getting accepted. What about rivers. Why do we worship and name it in our pratha smarana ? In our puranas and itihasas, divine status is given to nadhi /river, to remind that water should hey are not be polluted or exploited. They are to be maintained clean because they are the source of water for all living beings including human beings. Hence we worship the rivers as punya pravaahini, the life stream of civilizations. On the banks of these rivers the great civilizations were built. Where can we see these explanations ? Every river is the part of puraana and itihasa. Even Vedas give the names of many rivers like ganga, sindu, sarasvati and so on. Mahabharata gives full credit to Ganga, beyond the level of our imagination. Each puranic story has linked with the rivers and they are elevated into divine status. Same status is applicable for the mountains / hills in our puranic stories with deep message in symbolism for protecting nature. Why do we worship all the tress, plants, animals and so on ? We worship the Nature as prakruthi devi and prapancha purusha conveying the message that every part of prakruti is divine. The world/ viswam is symbolically presented as the nest of a bird (viswam bhavatyeka needom= let this world become the nest of birds having different colors) and all living beings are considered as different types of birds living together. What is the status of fire in Hindu worship ? Fire ( the most prominent form of energy) is worshiped as agni devata. Hence Vedas adore agni as the noblest energy. It is considered as the vehicle carrier to gods. In short agni is the only one which never gets polluted even when polluted materials are offered to it. Agni gives heat and light two energies inevitable for all living beings. Hence the first word of the first book in the world (Rigveda) is Agni. There are so many sookthas in Vedas which adore agni. All yagaas are performed in agni. Even anthyeshti, the offering of the human body after death , is a yaga sankalpa. Why the energy is worship in India ? Indians followed sakti araadhana worshipping power and energy. Sound energy as sabdha brahmam, light energy as chakshu brahmam, vayu/fire/water etc are adored as prathykasha brahma. As mentioned in all our puranaas, sakti itself has been presented as embodiment of devata /devi. Why animals are worshipped ? Every living being is considered as the manifestation of divinity, having the jeevaatma chaitanya in them. It is a part of paramaathma chaitanya. The animals/ birds/trees are elevated to the status of deva vahana to remind you that 14 they are also divine in nature, without which human life is impossible. We have to elevate ourselves to a higher level to understand this concept. What is the status of the celestial bodies ? In ancient India all the planets and stars were well studied including their rotation and revolution. Still they were all considered as the part and parcel of the prapancha purusha chaitanya and hence divine by itself. So all the celestial bodies and planets are elevated to divinity in nature and described in puranic stories. Aryabhatta who wrote the perfect astronomy book wrote his book after praying to all grahas /planets. How the spiritual outlook is utilized in nature preservation ? Plants are elevated into poojapushpam and poojapatramstatus. Specific pushpam/ flower is also connected with specific deity/ gods or goddesses. Thus preserving and protecting them with spiritual outlook can be best utilized for the preservation and protection of nature. Why so many gods for Hindus ? In India the ultimate divinity has been confined to one GOD / (monotheism if anyone wants to say so). The Upanishads tell us: ekam sath vipraa: bahudaa vadanti – the ultimate truth is one and only one. But the scholars may say in different ways. The Vedas tell you… dyaava pruthvi janayan deva eka: = the god which created the earth and all other celestial bodies is one and only one. Why then the contradiction of so many gods are being worshipped ? You know the ultimate goal is one. But there are many pathways to reach that goal. This is simply demonstrated in India. For reaching New York there are hundreds of flights and pathways. But New York is only one. You are all getting confused between the goal and pathways. For Hindus pathways are also symbolically pictured as goddesses and gods and ultimate truth is one and only one. The paramathma chaitanya. How this one is explained for a common mans understanding ? The comparison of the ONE is given as follows: Like the one and only one moon reflects in different waters (jala chandravath) or the Sun reflects in water (jalaarkavath). The one and the same divine power reflects/ manifests in each and every living being. This is the explanation of purana and darsana. What the Vedas tell about the ultimate truth ? Vedas also give the same message that the divine power is one and only one (dyaavaa pruthvi janayan deva eka)…advitheeyam….advayam, advaitham,..not having more than one ekameva advitheeyam….this is the message of Vedas. But the puranas give so many names and there are so many gods why ? The puranas also tell us the same (eka eva hi bhoothaathma bhoothe bhoothe vyavasthithaa ekadaa bahudaa chaiva drusyathe jala chandravath) the one and the only one divine power is manifested in every living and non living beings . The manifestation can be observed as the only one and some people explain it as many. But it is like the only one moon is reflecting in different waters. The stories convey you the message of world through the names of god. Saraswathy is embodiment of knowledge, the prosperity is symbolically presented as 15 Lakshmi and the strength or force is symbolically presented as Parvathy and so on. Through stories you are told to analyze the power of prosperity, knowledge or strength. Why such a sankalpa / concept arose only in India ? The nature and natural phenomenon are demonstrated symbolically as the gods/deities for easy understanding and imagination for the common man. In other ancient cultures like Greek and Egypt, also such concepts were existing. This is for getting the benefit of applied spirituality of protecting . Can we define using science the Indian concept of Brahmam ? The final point of Indian spirituality is ‘Brahmam’ The definition of Brahmam is given in Kena Upanishad : Yat chakshusha na pasyathi yena chakshoomshi pasyati….yath srothrena na srunoti yena srothra midam srutham…..yath manasa na manuthe yenaahur mano matham…thadeva brahmathwam viddhi. ‘The one which cannot be seen by the eyes at the same time the one which makes your eyes see.. the one which cannot be heard , but that which makes your ears hear… the one which cannot be mentally perceivable but that which makes your mind work…… is known as Brahmam……… How can we define this concept for a common man? It is difficult to define for the common man’s level. It is an experience and imagination which one should get. As you know if I am explaining about the atoms to the 5th standard student, it is not easy for him to imagine that. Like that you cannot define the taste of any fruit. You can only tell them to experience and get the feeling. The same is applicable for the understanding of the ultimate point of Hindu’s. So they said the above lines still I shall try to define the same. "It is the ‘intrinsic, inherent, self guiding, self motivating, self energizing, awareness and consciousness’ present in all living and non living beings. Is that the one which is pervading all the universe? Yes it is the same. It is what is ‘filled’ in the universe : sarvam khalu idam brahma = everything present here is that brahmam and nothing else. Are thos things which we see also come under this Brahmam ? Yes definitely. What is really existing is the brahmam and all other beings are temporary and only the manipulation and manifestation of Brahmam. So it is said brahma satyam jagat mithya. The essence/truth/fact of the universe is Brahmam and what we see is only temporary and exist only for a short period. Can we relate Brahmam and energy , because Indians worship energy ? It can definitely be defined and explained as energy . Brahmam is nothing but the Energy+ awareness + consciousness. As per Einstein’s equation every matter can be finally brought into energy according to the equation E = MC2 . So we said Brahmam is satyam which means the truth, essence and fact. So in-fact every material can be reduced to energy by the above equation. That energy is single unit. What are the other explanations connected with brahmam ? Brahmaandam is the consolidated form of energy presented/ imagined like a ‘universal egg’ Brahma vaivartham is the manifestation and manipulation of this 16 energy. It is said that the energy which continuously undergoes changes and it manipulates and manifests in different forms and hence vaivartham i.e. changing . Brahma vaivartham, is the change e ( manifestation and manipulation) form of energy What about Lord Brahma ? Lord Brahma is the concept which is responsible for creating the materials in its form and shape using the energy and matter from the universe. Hence, he is symbolically named as Brahma. He has four heads because four dimensions are symbolically thus represented (as mentioned earlier), x, y, z, and time axes. For any creation the four axes are essential according to modern mathematics of dimensions. What is the Brahmaananda ? Brahmaananda is the happiness derived when we know that the universe is the manifestation of this divine power. And we feel that everything existing in the universe is nothing but the brahmam itself. We can get the real feeling what we are. We can understand our limitations and capabilitites. What is. Brahma saakshaath kaaram Brahmasaakshaathkaaram is the realization that the only truth /fact / essence of everything is nothing but the Brahmam . This is the point where the science and spirituality meet. And the realization is known as brahma saakshaathkaaram. The yogi get this realization through internal saadana and the scientists get this understanding through external scientific experiments. What is the meaning that ‘ I ‘am also part of god ? Since the brahmam is within me/us and each of my cell/organ/body part works with this unseen energy with the awareness and consciousness, we say aham brahmaasmi . That I am also the embodiment of that divine power. It is known scientifically that all the organs function by its own awareness and we do not have any control over it even though it is within body. Can we say all the organs function of its own? My eyes, ears, mind, liver, lungs, heart, blood vessels,……… each of the organs have the awareness on how to work, how to function, how to proceed each step on the biochemical and biological process resulting in the breathing, functioning of the heart, functioning of the lungs, talking, listening, smelling, analyzing, storing the memories, keeping the body temperature, digesting the food even when we are in deep sleep………..In short each and every activity of the body is NOT under our control, but it is controlled by a power in the body. (Geetha gives fantastic explanation on this) Scientific relation between jeevathma, paramaathma and brahmam ? That power of self functioning existing in all living beings is the jeevaatma which is part and parcel of the paramaatma which is nothing but the ultimate brahma chaitanya. Here meets all the bio-chemistry, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, biotechnology, etc, because every natural /physical/ chemical/ biochemical/ forces or energies are manifestation and manipulation of the same universal energy whether it is electrical/ chemical/ magnetic/ kinetic/ potential /biochemical …energies. That energy with awareness and consciousness guides the jeevaathma. 17 What is the life force ? is it the same as jeevathma ? The same life force which is self guiding and self motivating biochemical energy is present in all, is the jeevaathma. What is the soul ? That divine power which is also known now as the SOUL ( remember it is in English not in Sanskrit). It is the same as the jeevathma so we, in India said ayam athma brahma. Life science is progressing in the same line drawn by Indians for finding out the soul. The food gets converted into heat energy in the body, sound energy in the vocal chord, electrical energy in nose, biochemical energy in eyes, mechanical energy in heart, oxidation/reduction energy in blood, magnetic flux in brain, etc. This conversion takes place under the guidance of the omnipotent omnipresent power in our own body, which when lost, we can say we are dead. What was lost from us = what was existing in us before death and what is not in us after death. That is jeevaathma. What is prajnaanam ? Wherever jeevaathma is present, there exist the intrinsic, inherent, self guiding,……’knowledge’ or awareness of reproduction /procreation / birth-growth-evolution- death –thirst-hunger –sexual urge……. etc. That inherent knowledge (/awareness and consciousness) is also divine, which is present in us till the last date of life ( death). This is known as Prajnaanam brahma – it means glorious knowledge); pra means glorious, jnaanam means knowledge) Because of this jeevatma, every cell is functioning in the bodies of 1.6 million types of animals and 0.4 million types of plants and one million type of microorganisms. What are the four Sanskrit messages given above known as ? All the four messages are known as mahavaakyas. They are prajnanam Brahma (from Rigveda) Aham brahmasmi (from Yajurveda), thathwamasi (from Samaveda) and ayam athma brahma (Atharva veda) They are explained in mahavakyopanishads .The Mahavakyas are explained in various Upanishads and the ultimate message of each and every Upanishad is the same as given in the mahavakyas. These messages are pure biochemistry/ science according to modern science . Every modern scientist , directly or indirectly search for this prajnaanam in nature. From where these mahavakyaas are derived ? Rigveda gives the message Prajnaanam brahma, yajurveda tells aham brahmasmi, sama veda gives thathwamasi and Atharva veda informs you ayam athma brahma. What is saguna brahmam abd nirgunan brahmam ? Ancient Indians answered this question in a simple method : an atom, the earth, the universe, the Sun …. remain calm and almost silent from the external observation, in spite of the torrential changes taking place within that . There are two types of observations in nature for everything whether it is a minute particle or a great one. Sagunaathmakatha (dynamic nature) and (silent/static nature) nirgunathmakatha. These two are not contradictory nor opposite, but complimentary to each other. It has also been explained as ‘ saguna brahmam and nirguna brahmam’ 18 Can it be further be clarified with examples ? I shall try to explain further. Earth is rotating by itself and revolving around the Sun with torrential speed, but we do not ‘feel’ the effect of rotation and revolution. In atoms and molecules electrons are revolving around the nucleus. This is happening in our body, food and everything. But we are not ‘feeling nor experiencing ‘ that . Each and every cell of our body is functioning all the 24 hrs including during sleeping. Still we do not ‘feel’ the biochemical changes taking place in our body Every cell, in every system including in a grass is continuously functioning but (from outside) it looks as though they are all silent/static . The Saguna Brahma and Nirguna Brahma are co existing and complementing in nature as seen above. Saguna and nirguna are opposite words . Can they complement ? Even though we say saguna is opposite to nirguna, saguna brahma and nirguna brahma are not opposite states, but they are complementary. We know LOWER primary and UPPER primary are not opposite but complementary. But lower and upper are opposite words . How far that study could reach in modern science ? Dr. Guenther, a great biochemist got Nobel Prize for proving that certain protein molecules have ‘awareness and consciousness’ and it can attach only towards certain other specific protein molecules. Even in physics , it has been proved that quantum entanglement, particles separated by a large distance also behave like parts of a single unit. They too have awareness ! How can we say two opposite forces or observations are co existing ? You know the concept of electrons in which electron is termed as material and also it is termed as wave. So it is a combination of opposites. The wave and material nature of electrons are co existing in observation and also in reality. It is obvious that dynamic and the static states are co-existing in everything (living and non living beings) How can we extrapolate these concepts to an atom ? The electrons revolve around the nucleus with specific pathways known as s, p, d, f orbitals. We can say that the electrons have a specific pathway through which they are ‘guided to revolve’ around the nucleus at a velocity ~ 2180 kms /sec. There exist an ‘awareness in the electrons to follow that specific path way and speed’ How this concept is applicable for the universe ? There exists an awareness in all the planets to follow the pathway of revolutions around the Sun. Even when the planets pass through the apogee or perigee, they neither fall on to the Sun nor fly away from the Sun. All the changes take place in earth is as though they are well designed and defined. How can we extrapolate this concept to living beings ? Every cell produces specific enzymes either to synthesize or to deplete some products and the path way of the biochemical changes are well defined and designed . The function of every cell is a continuous process till the life exist in the cell. Hence awareness is present in every cell. Every animal /plant system 19 functions on this awareness ! How / when/ where/ what…. to eat /absorb/ do / not to do/….etc are designed in the system. Can we explain the growth of an embryo to full animal or man like this ? Every embryo knows how to change itself to a full ‘animal’ or plant by itself either in the womb of the mother or inside an egg or in the seed. Every plant cell knows how to absorb and covert the carbon dioxide into carbohydrate and then to cellulose through a series of systematic biochemical process in presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. In our body (also in animals) the sugar, potassium, oxygen, carbon dioxide, iron, zinc, pH, acidity, alkalinity, iodine, ……maintained at a particular level (balanced state) under normal conditions. In short, an equilibrium is maintained Each and every organ like heart/lungs/liver/ pancreas/ eyes/ ears/ tongue/ intestine/…. functions in a very systematic/ similar way in all the human beings and animals. How the scientists give the answer for the above points ? All these and many more points/ questions may be asked to scientists, why these are all happening ? Is there anyone/any power guiding these biochemical processes ? Is there anybody directing all these through a well defined pathway ? The scientist will answer ! It is the rule of the nature ! Again ask a question ; who or what is this Nature ? The answer will be ‘That is the divine power or GOD existing in each and every living and non living beings’. How the above scientific line has been explained in our ancient books ? According to our forefathers – eesaavaasyam idam sarvam……that divine power is existing in everything….. that divine power is disseminating the message and knowledge in all cells and living beings from within and not from outside. Who carries the messages and what is the message ? DNA and RNA ‘carries the message’… through genes. So they ae known as messenger RNA and so on. What is this message ? It is the message which cannot be read directly even by the scientists . But they can analyze it after continuous search and re-search . Finally they come to the conclusion that there exist a messenger and creator of a message….! This is exactly what is explained in advaitha philosophy in India. ! Can we say the science and advaitha philosophy meet here ? Yes ! Here meets the modern science and Indian spirituality. The spirituality which says that every living and non living beings (as in the case of an atom or universe itself and also the living beings) are guided, monitored, energized, and controlled by an omnipotent omnipresent divine power which may also be called scientifically awareness and consciousness . Thus many modern scientists say that the Eastern philosophy is filling the gap of modern science. Many questions which cannot be answered using the pure scientific facts can now be answered with the help of our scientific spirituality. What is the evolution theory and what is the recent devolution theory ? The evolution theory states that each animal evolved from a lower or primitive level to higher or sophisticated level. This is said to be propounded by Charles Darwin. As some of you may be knowing that same line has been told here 20 2300 years ago by Patanjali Maharshi as jaathyanthra paninaama prakruthyaa pooraath. The evolution of living being is the rule of the nature. This is the theory of evolution in a nutshell. The theory of devolution is that the awareness and consciousness of the universe got devolved in the formation of living beings. This theory is based on Bhagavath geetha Aham sarvasya prabhava matthath sarvam pravrutthathi = I am the source of energy in everything and because of me everything works. Aham beeja pratha pithaa = I am the source of seed / sperm providing father in everything ( this aham is the divine power). It is the manifestation of the universal energy/power which is undergoing devolution (not evolution) to form every living being. The consciousness and awareness existing in each animal/ plant/ microorganism know how to perform every activity in the body of the respective animal and plant. How the awareness and consciousness functions in animals ? What the modern scientists are now searching for ? The modern scientists are searching answers for all what they observe ! The cow knows which are the edible grass and which are not. Even when it walks through a dense grass valley it can select the edible grass , without any training given from the external source . Every chicken knows how to find out its food from underground. Every embryo of animals has the consciousness and awareness on how to develop into a full ‘animal’ having similar size, shape and characteristics of its parent. The number of chromosomes are so designed to include all the characteristics in them and also the human number balance is maintained at almost 50:50 females and males, in the world. The nose / the lips/ the eye brows / the number and shape of teeth / the size, shape, characteristics of each and every finger in the hands and leg,…..etc in human being and in all the animals are so designed to lead a comfortable life by adopting that part of the body. Many of the bodily changes in the animals/plants take place during the course of their growth. It means the basic structure is so designed to include all the further biological development in the body with a primary aim of generation, growing, ageing and finally dying. Even without any instruction from an external source, the teeth appears in human baby at around 1- 2 years, one after the other. After 6 years or so, the second level teeth start coming out , at the age of 8 - 15. At the age of 10 – 16 puberty takes place spontaneously from within, in human beings without any instruction from outside. The male female attraction in all the animals is inherently imbedded in the body. All the needed biochemical information are inscribed in the developing cells/tissues. Even clotting of blood is so designed in such a way that more bleeding should not take place beyond a level. Series of chemical changes take place, on the spot, for this when a wound is formed in the body. The movement of the sperm from the semen towards the egg is so designed as though everything is programmed in a computer to swim and reach the egg , penetrate and become an embryo and grow to a fully grown animal within hrs, allotted by the nature. Genetically everything is codified not because of the science nor from the instructions of scientists, but with the nature’s ‘will and pleasure’. Scientists have not inscribed anything in the gene. They are only trying to understand with difficulty what is inscribed. The greatest wonder in the world is not Taj Mahal, Pyarramid, Eiffel tower, Hanging Garden,… it is the cell in the brain. The sound we hear / the sight we see / the smell we enjoy / the taste we experience / the language we understand/ etc are all inscribed in the brain not as sound /light/ smell/ taste ….but…. they are all inscribed as some type of chemicals or chemical changes which when take place, the brain feels that he is hearing the 21 voice or seeing the thing or smelling and tasting the material etc. None of the material can be stored in the brain as floppy disk/ CD/ photo/ paper writings/….., but something which produces the sense is taking place in the brain. When you want to remember a phone number/ a date / an incident / a conversation / a promise…. How the brain cell works……… ! The scientists are searching for the answers. They are searching the answers for the following questions also. What is meant by thinking or memorizing ? What are the chemical changes taking place in the brain during then?. When you talk to somebody how the specific words/ lines/ message are formed in the brain and communication takes place from your brain to the vocal chord ?. How the Vocal Chord vibrates and the sound is so clearly produced as Malayalam or English conveying the message?. The sound waves produced from your vocal chord creates a particular level of electricity in the ear drum of the listener and the cochlea and the electricity produced is sensed as sound /sight /smell / taste…. In different sensory organs in our body….Wonderful..! No ?. This capability is present in every living beings. Hence our forefathers said every living being is the manifestation of that divine universal power. Hence it is the devolution and not the evolution. Whatever has been explained can only be explained through the presence of ‘awareness and consciousness’ which in Sanskrit is named as said earlier Prajnaanam /swa bhodham (consciousness or awareness) . It is the divine power gets devolved in animals and plants . All the biochemistry /botany /zoology /biotechnology / ………come under this final answer Only in India you will get the answer for all the questions connected with these physiological /biochemical/ psychological/ phenomenon. That is the greatness of the Indian spirituality. How can we explain with the devolution theory, some of the geographical or celestial phenomenon ? The answer for many universal phenomenon cannot be given as ‘just like that ‘ How can we answer the question why so many hurricanes are hitting at certain place ? Why is it raining ? Why low pressure /depression is created / …….. ? We may have to give the answer as they are Nature’s rule /natural phenomenon. What is this nature ? There is nothing like a ‘Nature’. It is the universal consciousness and awareness present in the Universe. So many people worried that by October, 2005 the Ozone layer would have almost completely disappeared. Why it did not happen? Nothing of the sort of ozone layer vanishing happened. Who maintained the ozone layer ?. Perhaps nothing is heard about the ozone layer afterwards or now a days. How can we answer about this maintenance / requipment of the ozone layer. How can we explain the birth and death of stars? How they become black holes ? Billions and billions of galaxies are revolving continuously. What is the force /law/ rule/ guiding force/…behind all these? The universe is expanding with an acceleration why, how, when, to where ? all these questions remain unanswered. It is the same awareness which guides everything including ozone layer. If god is present everywhere and in everything how can we justify temple worship ? Indian concept of divinity is that ‘ god /divine power is present in everything both living and non living’. For a common man this may be required for a particular purpose to get psychological and physiological comfort and happiness. 22 Is there any symbolism in the temple worship ? For a better understating and that too for common men it is presented in a perceivable way. This presentation is primarily symbolical but with scientific input. They are symbolically consecrated as idols/ images . What is meant by different levels can understand ? A school student may not be in a position to understand the spherical shape of earth directly if it is said that the earth is spherical. We also may not be in a position to understand the divine power which cannot be perceived through our naked eyes or mind directly . For a student a globe will give the miniature form of earth and he can understand about earth in a better way. Is the earth a wooden globe ? No ! It is not the earth ! Is the earth , that wooden globe.? No ! The earth is not that wooden globe.1 Then what is this wooden globe ? It is only a symbolic representation of the EARTH ! How a vigraha compared with a globe ? Almost like the above explanations, any vigraha / prathishta or a photo /picture can give an image or feeling of the divine power in such a way that you can get an idea and picture for imagination or for saadhana This is consecrated as an idol in temples. What is the purpose of a temple ? A temple is not for god, god does not need a place to sit or sleep. God doesnot look for praising ! god does not need the sweets, manthras, music, achaaras, light, musical instruments, safety within the locked rooms, golden sanctum sanctorum, costly decorations….etc. These are all for us to imagine in a better way and do prayer or saadhana if they are useful at that level. If you feel nothing of the sort is required, then it is not required at all. Even the kailasa parvatha does not have any of these rituals but the sivasthaanam of our imagination is the abode of Siva where no temple is built. How can we worship a stone ? If you can see/ experience the divine power in a stone or even in a cow, or for that matter in a poor man… that high is your level/ position in spirituality So seeing the divinity even in stones is a higher level of god realization What is meant by low or high level ? The level means which shows you have reached that level of imagining divinity even in a stone. Thus came the temple concept known in Sanskrit as kshetra which means the one which protects you from deterioration – kshayaath thraayathe iti kshetra. Is there any relation in concept between the temple and the human body ? This human body is also kshetra says Lord Krishna in Bhagavath Geetha – idam sareeram kountheya kshetra mithyabhidheeyathey : Oh. Arjuna ! this body is known as kshetra, Why the human body and a temple are known as kshetras? In our body the jeevathma chaitanya is present so it is kshetram . Paramaathma chaitanya resides in the temple so that is also kshetram, because Jeevathma chaitanya is a ‘small part of paramaathma’ chaitanya or a better explanation : 23 jeevathma chainya and paramaathma chaitanya are one and the same. So wherever they exist that place will become the temple /kshetra Can we further compare the body and temple ? Since our body and the temple are kshetra, all what are needed for the human body are also needed for the temple That is why we have to get up at 5.00 am, the temple is also to be opened at 5.00 am . After waking up we pray for few seconds sitting on the bed. The same prayer is offered in the temple just after opening the sanctum sanctorum . After getting up from the bed we clean our body. So is done in the temple through abhisheka . After taking bath we take a cup of tea. Same is done in the temple after abhisheka a small nivedya is offered . After the tea we dress properly and the same is done in the vigraha which is decorated with flowers and garlands. After proper dressing we take breakfast. In that place the usha pooja and nivedya are offered. After that we take lunch, at that time uccha (noon) pooja and nivedya are performed. We like to listen to music similarly in the temple manthras and musical instruments are played. We like sweets to eat same is the case in a temple; all the nivedyam are sweet in taste. We need energy like that in the temple energy is provided. Through lighting the lamps heat and light energy are provided. Through music/ manthra/ musical instrument/ the sound energy is given., Through flowers /sweet smelling leaves / ashtagandha / camphor /bathies/ rose water etc chemical energy is given. Thus energization process to vigraha and to the environment is undertaken. From the temple the energy is transferred to our body. What is the difference between a church / mosque and a Hindu temple ? A church and a mosque are prayer halls. The Hindu temples energisation centers for the body known quantum healing centers. Why Hindus do not entertain group prayers ? They are all individually energisation centers meant for psychological – physiological – family relation based – social and national integration centers / beneficiating centers. All the five type of benefits and also spiritual elevations are aimed through these temples. What is the applied spirituality and dharma ? You can experience or know the applied spirituality only in Indian culture. That is why Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam said we, Indians have never invaded any other nation, we never tried to conquer the world through muscle power, we never tried to spread our religion through swords. We could find good in all and we prayed for good to all . What is meant by Hindu fundamentalism. Are they the vedic instructions ? The Vedic manthras are the fundamental principles of India and our culture, or in short these are Indian fundamentalism. Unfortunately many of the so called scholars, thinkers, intellectuals and politicians say that Indian/ Hindu fundamentalism is dangerous. They are ignorant about Indian fundamentalism. Can you think these foundation messages of our culture… saha naa vavathu….., asatho maa sath gamaya….bhadram karnebhi….lokaa: samathaa….sarve bhavanthu sukhina…..etc dangerous for others ? Can you imagine without these Vedic messages what would have been the real India ? 24 How Hindu fundamentalism differ from others (Muslim and Christian fundamentalism) ? In other religion; it is specifically mentioned, " One should not worship other god / should not read other religious book / one should not support other religion / one should destroy others’ idols / idol worship is dangerous / worshipping through other methods will lead to hell / others’ temples are the saataans workshop/ other gods are saataans/ our god will get angry and he will revenge if we support other gods / convert others into their religion for reaching to god and heaven / a day will come the people from other religion will be judged for following other gods, by the Semitic god with a sword in hand and punish them/ destroy their temples / destroy their idols / ……! All these are the ‘cruel childish nonsenses’ of the religious fundamentalism which can not be seen in Indian thoughts. These irrational, nonscientific, illogical crude primitive messages. In that religion the god’s days are terrific says the religious book, They are the days of fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, etc. Even the proof of god’s coming to earth is the natural calamity, hurricane, tsunami, wild fire , etc ! Can anyone imagine that the gods days are terrific’ ? Generally the people with common sense would have thought that god’s days will be good. That is why the divine power is known as GOD ! If god’s days are terrific what would be the Sataan’s days ? Will it be very comfortable and good ? Then what you will opt for god’s days or saataan’s days ? The negative explanations are given in our puranas (earth quakes, hurricane, comets, wild wind, etc) as the days of asuraas like Kamsa / Raavana / Hiranyakasipu/ Hiranyaaksha, Poothana, etc’. This shows that the concept of god itself is opposite in Semitic religion and in Indian culture. What we say the aasuric character appears to be the divine qualities in the Semitic religion. Hence Indian fundamentalism, Indian spirituality, Indian outlook, etc are different from that of any other religion. Indian divinity are for those who practice even beyond the limitation of religion, language, age, boundaries of nations, etc in its original sense and applications. That means there is nothing like Hindu fundamentalism. Is it correct to say only the Hindus worship Idols ? In every religion there is direct or indirect idol worship. You can see the idols /images of many saints, the Cross, Jesus on the Cross, etc with garlands, candles and flowers. You can see the Muslims doing the pradakshina around Ka Aba and a 30 cms diameter stone looking like Siva Linga, inside that. Even the use of the photograph of the lines of Quran is an image. Every religion has this type of image/ idol worship. Why many blame that only Hindus are worshipping vigrahas ? As long as the Hindus are ignorant in answering such comments and allegations , this will continue. Tell them that they are also worshippers of the vigraha. As I told you everyone in the world worships idols /images and vigraha. What is the main difference of Hindu worship of idols and that of others ? For others the image is nothing but an image or an idol. But for Hindus it is symbolic presentation of divinity and a tool for energisation. Every temple has a principle of energisation in it.. What are the specialties of Hindu vigrahas / images ? There are eight types of vigrahas / idols worshipped by Indians which can be consecrated in the sanctum sanctorum according thanthra samucchaya. This 25 classifcation is given by Lord Krishna in Uddava Geetha. Those which are made of granite, marble, latterite or clay, wood, pancha loha, lamp or simple pictures/photographs and the eighth one is the ‘image’ ( manoroopam) in your mind (sankalpa in mind) How the consecration of vigrahas differ from other religion ? Hindus never consecrate the vigraha just like that, but a series of procedures of prana prathishta are done during the consecration. Inevitably the avaahana and prathishta are done before consecration unlike the simple prayer halls of the other religion . Why south Indian temples are very big and north Indian are small ? In south Indian temples manthra , thanthra and yanthra are the three important parameters to be followed in the daily worship/rituals. Hence the temples are big having the shape of yaaga saala. In north Indian concept, the most important parameter is the manthra ( thanthra and yanthra are given less significance) . Hence generally small temple structures are enough and even very small temples attract millions of devotees in North India. Why this difference is attributed ? North India is known as punya bhoomi and jnaana bhoomi because almost all the books / Vedas/ puranas were written there. Majority of the great pilgrim centers are in North India. Many holy places connected with puranas and ithasas are also in North India. S. India is the Yajna bhoomi or karma bhoomi where karma is important so the yanthra and thanthra are also to be added with manthra. .Hence all the three; manthra, thanthra and yanthra are required for attaining the glory of the temple. How North Indian temples attain glory beyond their size and shape ? North Indian temples have their own glory due to sthaana /sthala mahathwam where as south Indian temples become famous only due to karma mahathwam. It is said that temples become famous (keerthi) by manthra/ thanthra and yanthra,. How the temples can scientifically attain glory ? For attaining glory five type of suddhies (purity) are suggested for the priests and for devotees suddhi of body (sareera suddhi) of mind ( mana suddhi) of words ( vaak suddhi), of work (karma suddhi)and of food ( aahaara suddhi) . Thus arose variety of customs and rituals in South .India. . In short south Indian temples are ‘energized’ in three pathways of manthra- thanthra – yanthra What are the significance of these three parameters ? Manthra influences the mind ( mananena thraayathe) thanthra influences the body ( thanu means body ) yanthra (yam= guiding) means the one which controls/ guides the body and mind balance. These parameters are important in our day to day life, Why so many temples and temple acharas for the Hindus ? Since the temples are energisation centers many temple rules and acharas are charted according to that . Temple worship has the following general rules 26 developed based on direct observations which can be scientifically explained. The acharas tell: should not wear deep red, blue and green colored dress which thwarts the energisation process The best color for the dress during temple visit is yellow, because it is the ideal colour for absorbing energy which is the colour of the human aura in a pleasant mood . What is the science of sareera suddhi ? Cleanliness of the body is required to keep the primary and secondary radiation generated by the surface of skin at a mild and harmonious state. When the body is effected negatively the primary secondary radiation produced seen as aura affects the energy absorption pattern. Hence sareera suddhi is needed. Why ahara suddhi needed ? It has been proved that satwic vegetarian food keeps the mind and body at peace (yatho anna thatho mana.) The temperament of body is decided by the food you are taking. The behavior pattern of the drunkard changes before and after drinking. The non veg food also changes the body chemistry to negative . How mind is affected in temple worship ? Feelings and thoughts in the mind will influence the body chemistry. Hence the mind should be pleasant while visiting the temple (mana suddhi) . Any violent feelings will definitely result in higher level of adrenalin ejection into the blood which creates a change in the ‘body chemistry’ and the aura thus rejecting the absorption of the energy. How the use of words affect our temperament ? The Upanishads tell that Vaang me manasi prathishtithaa mano me vaachi prathishtithaa. …the words are from the mind and mind is reflected in words… Hence every word uttered or listened has their positive or negative effect in the body. If the words are positive, definitely the effect in the mind also will be positive. The conversation should be pleasant because the words can create violent feeling in the mind. How the karma affects the body and mind ? You know that for every action there is an equal and opposite action ( not reaction). Hence do good, the action coming back will be good. So that each and every action/work should be positive ( yajna karma samudbhava- the work/karma should be done with yajna bhava). So there should be karma sudhi when you visit the temple. When we do work in a pleasant mood, the energy utilization will be optimum where as in an opposite mood the mind rejects the attitude to work. Purity of body +mind +vaak+ aahaara+ karma are the five requirements for temple visit.……… How the role of the priest in Hindu dharma differs from that of other religion ? It is an important question. The role of Hindu priest is in keeping the temple energy at the highest level and he needs only to guide the people to prayer and not lead the people to group prayer. It is told that archakasya prabhaavena sila bhavati sankara … it is because of the high quality and qualification of the priest, the stone attains the power of even Lord Siva. 27 How many type of worship are there in Hindu dharma ? For a better understanding of our method of worship, there are eight types of worship. They are very important for a common man hence described in details earlier. .