Hindu Dharma Quotes

There will always be individuals in non-Hindu societies who will recover the mystique of Sanatana Dharma through their efforts at self-discovery.

Each person is born with an unencumbered spot, free of expectation and regret, free of ambition and embarrassment, free of fear and worry; an umbilical spot of grace where we were each first touched by God. It is this spot of grace that issues peace. Psychologists call this spot the Psyche, Theologians call it the Soul, Jung calls it the Seat of the Unconscious, Hindu masters call it Atman, Buddhists call it Dharma, Rilke calls it Inwardness, Sufis call it Qalb, and Jesus calls it the Center of our Love. To know this spot of Inwardness is to know who we are, not by surface markers of identity, not by where we work or what we wear or how we like to be addressed, but by feeling our place in relation to the Infinite and by inhabiting it. This is a hard lifelong task, for the nature of becoming is a constant filming over of where we begin, while the nature of being is a constant erosion of what is not essential. Each of us lives in the midst of this ongoing tension, growing tarnished or covered over, only to be worn back to that incorruptible spot of grace at our core. When the film is worn through, we have moments of enlightenment, moments of wholeness, moments of Satori as the Zen sages term it, moments of clear living when inner meets outer, moments of full integrity of being, moments of complete Oneness. And whether the film is a veil of culture, of memory, of mental or religious training, of trauma or sophistication, the removal of that film and the restoration of that timeless spot of grace is the goal of all therapy and education. Regardless of subject matter, this is the only thing worth teaching: how to uncover that original center and how to live there once it is restored. We call the filming over a deadening of heart, and the process of return, whether brought about through suffering or love, is how we unlearn our way back to God

The ultimate goal of human life is to transcend culture and personality to the unconditioned pure being. But the means to do this is through our culture and way of life.

सत्यम् शिवम् सुन्दरम् ‘True is Shiv is beautiful’ - 83 -

There is no point in speaking to people who have either no faith or refuse to develop it through their own experience.

देवर्षिगणसंघातस्तूयमानात्मवैभवा भण्डासुरवधोद्युक्तशक्तिसेनासमन्विता ॥२४ Devarshi-gana-sanghaatha-sthooya-maana-aathma-vaibhavaa Bhanda-asura-vadha-udyukta-shakti-saena-sam-anwithaa 24. She revered by knowledgeable with divinity, She source of all, through Her everything be, She has strength to destroy evil heart fully, And enlighten devotee with knowledge truly. - 34 -

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत। कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्॥ ॥३- २५॥ न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्। जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन्॥ ॥३- २६॥ `Ignorant toil for result; wise – selflessly, Blaze the trail for detached action clearly, For the common weal, path to eternity, For the benefit of the entire humanity.’ 3. 25-26

You can't protect Dharma if you don't know what it is.

Man is subject to all kinds of hardships and misfortunes.

Mantras are all about observing, learning, evolving, and passing the wisdom on to next generation.

Dharma – the foundation of all human goals be, Refers to obligations, conduct, moral duties; - 25 -

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्। डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्ड्ताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥१॥ His neck, with thick forest-like locks of hair, holy by water flowing, On his neck, as garland whom none pair, lofty snake is hanging, His `Damaru’ drum with its Damat Damat Damat in air echoing, Shiv - auspicious Tandava dances - may He prosperity be giving. - 94 -

By incorporating him (Buddha) into the domain of Hindu traditions, and by depicting him as a Hindu sage who was a glorious incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Brahmins attempted to secure their position of authority in the society.

Throughout the year, in all regions, in all seasons; we HINDUS find reasons, to worship almost anything and everything, anyone and everyone; from people to Gods; from animals to plants; from planets to stars. So our spirits are always high with small surprises of life, we cherish meeting and greeting people, for in SANATAN DHARMA we celebrate every aspect of being human. We believe Bhagwan (God) is in every single particle and OM is in every single ATOM of the universe.

The Hindu sage Ramakrishna once said that the mind is like fabric; it takes the color of the dye it’s soaked in. Soak the mind in a quiet, relaxing environment and it will become quiet and relaxed. Soak it in floods of Facebook and, well.…

The Hindu views life as the opportunity to fulfill karmic obligations (dharma), indulge the ego with worldly power (artha), gratify the senses with worldly pleasure (kama), and discover the spirit (moksha). He can either react to samsara or simply witness it. The former fetters, the latter liberates.

Religion, in the sense of spiritual principles, truly universal, applicable to all races, to all countries, to all times, is not to be found in them; and if it is, it does not form the governing part of a Hindu’s life. That for a Hindu dharma means commands and prohibitions is clear from the way the word dharma is used in the Vedas and the smritis and understood by the commentators. The word dharma as used in the Vedas in most cases means religious ordinances or rites. Even Jaimini in his Purva Mimamsa157 defines dharma as “a desirable goal or result that is indicated by injunctive (Vedic) passages”.

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं विश्वाधारं गगनसदृश्यं मेघवर्णं शुभाङ्गम्। लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यं वन्दे विष्णु भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम्। I bow to Vishnu, Master of Universe unquestionably, Who rests on great serpent bed, peaceful perpetually, From His navel sprouts Lotus of Creative Power surely, He the Supreme Lord of cosmos undeniably does be. - 146 - He supports the entire universe and all-pervading be, He dark as clouds with beautiful Lakshmi form glowingly, He the lotus-eyed, whom yogis see by meditation only, He destroyer of `Samsar’ fear – the Lord of all `loks’ be. - 147 -

the word ‘Hindu’ did not exist in any Indian language till its use by foreigners gave Indians a term for self-definition. Hindus, in other words, call themselves by a label that they didn’t invent themselves in any of their own languages, but adopted cheerfully when others began to refer to them by that word. (Of course, many prefer a different term altogether—Sanatana Dharma,

It makes no difference what your particular path is, as long as you follow it. A washerwoman who devotedly follows the way of the washerwoman is far superior to a prince who strays off the way of the prince. Having understood the meaning of life, Arjuna duly proceeds to follow his dharma as a warrior. He kills his friends and relatives, leads his army to victory, and becomes one of the most esteemed and beloved heroes of the Hindu world.

A comprehensive ancient African world view based on the values of intense humanness, caring, sharing, respect, compassion, and associated values, ensuring a happy and qualitative human community life in the spirit of family. Broodryk anticipates our next question: “It may be asked whether this notion is unique,” he writes, “since all cultures ascribe basically to these positive values.” He’s right, of course—if we think of ubuntu as, say, “human interconnectedness,” there are parallels in Buddhism, or the Hindu concept of dharma. The difference, he says, is that in Africa “these values are practiced on a much deeper level. It is about a real passionate living of humanity, as if humanity is the primary reason for living above all other concerns.

The Hindu heritage did not plagiarize the Semites (as the Jew did) and kept authentically its recount of the theological history where we see the avatar of Vishnu, Narasimha (aka, the Lion of Judah), raging to restore Dharma (i.e. the Giza Balance).

पूरे वर्ष, सभी क्षेत्रों में, सभी मौसमों में; हम हिंदुओं को लगभग किसी भी चीज और हर चीज की, किसी को भी और सभी की पूजा करने के लिए कारण मिलते हैं; लोगों से देवताओं तक; जानवरों से पौधों तक; ग्रहों से सितारों तक। इसलिए जीवन के छोटे-छोटे आश्चर्यों के साथ हमारा उत्साह हमेशा ऊंचा रहता है, हम लोगों से मिलना और उनका अभिवादन करना पसंद करते हैं, क्योंकि सनातन धर्म में हम मानव होने के हर पहलू का जश्न मनाते हैं। हम मानते हैं कि (भगवान) हर कण में हैं और ऊँ (ओ3म्) ब्रह्मांड के हर एक परमाणु (atOM) में है। Poore varsh, sabhee kshetron mein, sabhee mausamon mein; ham hinduon ko lagabhag kisee bhee cheej aur har cheej kee, kisee ko bhee aur sabhee kee pooja karane ke lie kaaran milate hain; logon se devataon tak; jaanavaron se paudhon tak; grahon se sitaaron tak. isalie jeevan ke chhote-chhote aashcharyon ke saath hamaara utsaah hamesha ooncha rahata hai, ham logon se milana aur unaka abhivaadan karana pasand karate hain, kyonki sanaatan dharm mein ham maanav hone ke har pahaloo ka jashn manaate hain. ham maanate hain ki bhagavaan (bhagavaan) har kan mein hain aur om brahmaand ke har ek paramaanu mein hai.

I will definitely become research astronaut within 11 years but what can I choose in academics? Sanatana? Ecology? History? Literature? Mathematics? I am Hindu and Indian always whatever happens I will die as Indian and Hindu only. I have gained certain knowledge and still lack many things to be frank especially completely remembering Sanskrit and learning hindi that was taught by Saraswathi on top of my head (Akshara abyash to write on tongue but Saraswathi kissed on top of my head before I was born ) even before I was born and since I was born in Tamil Land, I have to respect Tamil always that is dharma. Whatever I have learnt and will be learning in each and every aspects and dimensions of life and lifeless inside universe and beyond will be applied through science and I am suitable for all sciences but I have to learn many things before I enter Most probably Nalanda or CMI then only I can eradicate bad people and good people will be happy. Neutral people will definitely survive and they have so many things to do

Is dharma and religion same? - Hindu Academy - YouTube channel - My opinion / Comment There are two types of Dharma, one which is to satisfy your soul that you want to do something for the society or a person with heartfelt love, two which is to compensate what you have done wrong to the society or a person. But either way dharma is a self perception about the society but influenced by the religion you follow. For myself I follow Natural Dharma with Hindu Philosophy.

Sanatana Dharma is advaita sanskriti, that is, a culture of nonsectarianism, Hindutva means mindless saffronization.

Hinduism is a foreign name. The words “Hindu” and “Hinduism” are not found in the Vedic literature, which favors the term sanätana-dharma meaning eternal occupation. This phrase elucidates that the natural occupation of the eternal soul is to serve God free from any artificial social or ethnic designations.

The Hindu tradition speaks of four “goods” of life, each of which constitutes a valuable, worthwhile aim in life. First is the good of dharma, or duty. The second is the good of artha, or wealth and material acquisition. The third is the good of kāma, or pleasure and enjoyment of the sense. Mokśa is the fourth and highest good. To achieve mokśa, one must be willing to give up the other three goods, because even though doing one’s duty and pursuing wealth and enjoyment are viewed positively, they also keep one bound to the wheel of rebirth. For those who are not yet prepared to abandon a life of duty, material acquisition, and enjoyments, the religious life means doing one’s best to improve this life and future lives.

The ancient Varna system was re-engineered under colonial rule to result in the modern caste system. Blaming caste abuse today back onto ancient history is a mischaracterization of Hindu dharma as the cause of social oppression. Such claims do not explain how Valmiki (author of the Ramayana), or Vyasa (author of the Mahabharata) rose from the humblest strata to be revered by all. Nor does it explain how the great sage Vasishta achieved his brilliance despite being born in the most challenged community. Even Kalidasa, who is respected as the greatest Sanskrit poet, had humble origins.

According to the code of dharma, women had only one duty: obey the father when unmarried, the husband when married and the son when widowed. For men, duty was determined by varna, station in society, and ashrama, the stage in life.

Dharma must not only domesticate nature, it also needs to ensure there is harmony between nature and culture.

For three centuries, the Vijayanagara Empire, stood like a mighty bulwark, protecting the Hindu dharma in the South and in the Deccan. It stood like a rock against the Muslim invasions that had ravaged and destroyed large parts of the North. Today it exists only in stones and stories, but its legacy would forever be remembered.

Literally, "eternal religion," the name given to the body of Vedic teachings. SANATAN DHARMA has come to be called HINDUISM since the time of the Greeks who designated the people on the banks of the river Indus as INDOOS, or HINDUS. The word HINDU, properly speaking, refers only to followers of SANATAN DHARMA or Hinduism. The term INDIAN applies equally to Hindus and Mohammedans and other INHABITANTS of the soil of India (and also through the confusing geographical error of Columbus, to the American Mongoloid aboriginals).

Dharma or right conduct is so central to Hindu life that it encompasses everyone, irrespective of age, station in life, or caste. Each being has its own dharma consistent with its nature. A tiger’s dharma, for example, is to kill and eat its prey. Yielding milk to sustain the life of the young is a cow’s dharma. The dharma of humans is to serve.

In May 1945, some Gujarati colleagues decided to reprint an old pamphlet of Gandhi’s on the caste system. They asked him for a fresh foreword, which he disarmingly began by saying: ‘I do not have the time to read this book again. I do not even wish to.’ He then outlined his current thinking on caste. While the Hindu scriptures spoke of four varnas, in his view ‘there prevails only one varna today, that of Shudras’, or, you may call it, Ati-Shudras’, or Harijans’ or untouchables.... Just as it is not dharma but adharma to believe in the distinctions of high and low, so also colour prejudice is adharma. If a scripture is found to sanction distinctions of high and low, or distinctions of colour, it does not deserve the name of scripture.’ Given how far he had moved on in this regard, Gandhi requested the reader ‘to discard anything in this [older] book which may appear to him incompatible with my views given above’.

As he travelled through India, Gandhi continued to be reminded that what all parts of the country had in common was the treatment of certain castes as ‘untouchable’. He was appalled by this stigmatization by his fellow Hindus of their co-religionists. In May 1920, he emphatically declared that 'We cannot compare the sufferings of the untouchables with those of any other section in India. It passes my understanding how we consider it dharma to treat the depressed classes as untouchables; I shudder at the very thought of this. My conscience tells me that untouchability can never be a part of Hinduism. I do not think it too much to dedicate my whole life to removing the thick crust of sin with which Hindu society has covered itself for so long by stupidly regarding these people as untouchables. I am only sorry that I am unable to devote myself wholly to that work'.

Among the more important letters written by Gandhi in the first half of 1926 was one to his son Manilal. Still based in Natal, running the Phoenix Ashram, Manilal had fallen in love with a girl named Fatima Gool, whose parents, based in Cape Town, were also of Gujarati descent, but Muslim rather than Hindu. Fatima loved Manilal too, and was even amenable to the idea of converting to Hinduism. When Manilal wrote to his father about the relationship, Gandhi conveyed his strong disagreement, writing to his son that 'what you desire is contrary to dharma. If you stick to Hinduism and Fatima follows Islam it will be like putting two swords in one sheath; or you both may lose your faith. And then what should be your children’s faith?... It is not dharma, only adharma if Fatima agrees to conversion just for marrying you. Faith is not a thing like a garment which can be changed to suit our convenience. For the sake of dharma a person shall forgo matrimony, forsake his home, why, even lay down his life; but for nothing may faith be given up. May not Fatima have meat at her father’s? If she does not, she has as good as changed her religion.' Gandhi continued: ‘Nor is it in the interests of our society to form this relationship. Your marriage will have a powerful impact on the Hindu–Muslim question. Intercommunal marriages are no solution to this problem. You cannot forget nor will society forget that you are my son.’ Manilal seems to have asked his father to speak to his mother on his behalf. ‘I cannot ask for Ba’s permission,’ said Gandhi. ‘She will not give it. Her life will be embittered for ever'.

Sanatana Hindu Dharma, is created by the rishis whose brain was at least few thousand times more active than any possible human brains can happen in the future. Because of enlightenment, they (the rishis) operated beyond the body, mind and brain. That is why I am saying, only the traditions created by the Vedic rishis, the truths declared by them, the truths revealed by them, the lifestyle created by them, is capable of the enlightened thinking created by them, enlightened thinking presented by them; only that is capable of standing the scrutiny of the developed human brain of this century. This New Age thinking era, only that tradition, that enlightened thinking, the science of enlightenment, science of Completion, Advaitha, is capable of standing the scrutiny of the modern-day brain. That is why I am telling you, in the future, if at all religions exist, they may have any name, but the stuff will be simply the pure Advaitha presented by Upanishads.

As Muslims, my family rejected ideas of karma or reincarnation, but as Bangla Muslims, we still say the Sanskrit word dharma for faith, not deen, as you would in Arabic, the part of our Buddhist and Hindu ancestors’ language we kept.

Understand, the primary, fundamental, foundational first principle of Sanatana Hindu Dharma is Guru-Disciple relationship. Everything starts there, everything ends there.

The fundamental principle of Sanatana Hindu Dharma is Guru-Disciple relationship. And fundamental, primary secret to make it successful; what is the success of Guru-Disciple relationship? You realizing the Oneness with Sadashivatva, you realizing the ultimate. That is the success of Guru-Disciple relationship; that is the purpose. The fundamental primary secret, raja vidya, raja guhyam, royal knowledge and royal secret is, to make Guru-Disciple relationship successful is realizing – by His state He is compassionate, all-encompassing, all committed and non-demanding.

The survival of the Hindu Dharma in the mothership [Bharat] and outside will serve as an inspiration to all other indigenous cultures trying to regain and revive themselves.

There is no such thing as Hinduism - the actual phrase is Sanatana Dharma, which is not a religion, but an everyday sense of oneness or advaita - which is the very backbone of the Indian society. Only in India people celebrate Eid with as much enthusiasm as they celebrate Diwali - they celebrate Christmas with as much enthusiasm as they celebrate Nanak Jayanti - and that's Sanatana Dharma for you.

There are only two ATHEISTS, the one who opposes GOD and the one who believes in RELIGION

Religion can Only bind up the people, not devide the people. Because every religion are just branches of love...!

to remember this in a country that has long been mesmerized by the romantic figure of ‘the renouncer’, even before the Buddha came along.6 My mother, however, was spot on in recognizing ‘my third stage melancholy’. During my second stage, I had felt as though I was waking up each morning, going to work, and feeding my family—only to repeat it the following day, as my children would after me and their children after them. What was the point of it all? Now in my third stage, I wanted to find a better way to live. Meanwhile, my friends and acquaintances were incredulous. ‘So, what is this I hear about wanting to go away to read old books?’ one asked me at a dinner party. ‘Don’t tell me you are going to turn religious on us!’ exclaimed another. My wife began to explain my idea of an ‘academic holiday’ to some of the guests, who reciprocated with suitable looks of sympathy. ‘Tell us, what books are you planning to read?’ asked a retired civil servant. A self-proclaimed ‘leftist and secularist’, who had once been a favourite of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, he had the gruff, domineering accent of an English aristocrat, not surprising in a former civil servant of the old school. I admitted reluctantly that I had been thinking of reading the Mahabharata, the Manusmriti, the Kathopanishad perhaps, and ... ‘Good Lord, man!’ he exclaimed. ‘You haven’t turned saffron, have you?’ The remark upset me. Saffron is, of course, the colour of Hindu right-wing nationalism, and I wondered what sort of secularism is it that regards the reading of Sanskrit texts as a political act. I was disturbed that I had to fear the intolerance of my ‘secular’ friends as much as the bigotry of the Hindu Right, which had become a force in Indian politics over the past two decades with the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

This is Dharma. You sit and feel your breath. You can’t say this is a Hindu breath or a Muslim breath or a Christian breath.

IT IS LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSING YOUR BLIND SPOTS TO YOURSELF; YOU WANT TO BE IN DELUSION, LIKE HOW THE INDIAN HINDUS ARE THINKING THAT THEY ARE MAJORITY AND SANATANA HINDU DHARMA IS NEVER GOING TO BE DESTROYED.

*BUT ANY GOOD THIS SCIENCE HAS - THE PURE SCIENCE COMPONENT - IS DIRECTLY FROM SANATANA HINDU DHARMA.

Hinduism is not about joining a church but about developing respect for all beings, not only humans but plants and animals as well. It is not about a particular holy book but about understanding our own minds and hearts. It is not about a savior but about discovering the Divine presence within us.

It is only when you stop calling yourself a Hindu, that you rise as a true Hindu, it is when you stop calling yourself a Christian, you rise as a true Christian, it is when you stop calling yourself a Buddhist, you rise as true Buddhist.

The voting system in Hinduism is there from time immemorial. Even in the Vedas and Puranas, there is a reference where a concept is debated and voted.

I heard all that he told you. It was completely wrong. Be a human being first. Behave like a human being! Everything else other than humanity is false. Pay heed to what I say. Do you understand? See my tonsured head. My white forehead without kumkum. My empty neck without a mangalsutra. My appearance is disfigured and hideous because I am a Hind widow. I am a human being, but I am treated as a bad omen. He died but I had to live through tortures worse than death.' 'What are you trying to say?' 'That you must treat everyone as human. Behave humane. That's all.' 'Hindu dharma stands on the foundation of humanity doesn't it?' 'No. No religion stands on the foundation of humanity. The all stand on the concept of God. We talk so much about god: But do we ever talk about humans? We must! We talk a lot about heaven. But how much do we talk about the society we live in? The life I lived as a widow has given me this insight, my own perspective. Forget me. Think of the untouchables. If not today they will ask for an answer a hundred years later. You think you are such a wise pandit. What do you feel when you look at you mother as a bad omen? I have given birth to you, hence I have the right to ask.' 'You live all alone by yourself. That is why you think like this. "Whoever has been isolated like me, they all think the same way, remember that.

Daivi Astra: Daivi = Divine; Astra = Weapon. A term used in ancient Hindu epics to describe weapons of mass destruction Dandakaranya: Aranya = forest. Dandak is the ancient name for modern Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. So Dandakaranya means the forests of Dandak Deva: God Dharma: Dharma literally translates as religion. But in traditional Hindu belief, it means far more than that. The word encompasses holy, right knowledge, right living, tradition, natural order of the universe and duty. Essentially, dharma refers to everything that can be classified as ‘good’ in the universe. It is the Law of Life Dharmayudh: The holy war Dhobi: Washerman Divyadrishti: Divine sight Dumru: A small, hand-held, hour-glass shaped percussion instrument Egyptian women: Historians believe that ancient Egyptians, just like ancient Indians, treated their women with respect. The anti-women attitude attributed to Swuth and the assassins of Aten is fictional. Having said that, like most societies, ancient Egyptians also had some patriarchal segments in their society, which did, regrettably, have an appalling attitude towards women Fire song: This is a song sung by Guna warriors to agni (fire). They also had songs dedicated to the other elements viz: bhūmi (earth), jal (water), pavan (air or wind), vyom or shunya or akash (ether or void or sky) Fravashi: Is the guardian spirit mentioned in the Avesta, the sacred writings of the Zoroastrian religion. Although, according to most researchers, there is no physical description of Fravashi, the language grammar of Avesta clearly shows it to be feminine. Considering the importance given to fire in ancient Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, I’ve assumed the Fravashi to be represented by fire. This is, of course, a fictional representation Ganesh-Kartik relationship: In northern India, traditional myths hold Lord Kartik as older than Lord Ganesh; in large parts of southern India, Lord Ganesh is considered elder. In my story, Ganesh is older than Kartik. What is the truth? Only Lord Shiva knows Guruji: Teacher; ji is a term of respect, added to a name or title Gurukul: The family of the guru or the family of the teacher. In ancient times, also used to denote a school Har Har Mahadev: This is the rallying cry of Lord Shiva’s devotees. I believe it means ‘All of us are Mahadevs’ Hariyupa: This city is currently known as Harappa. A note on the cities of Meluha (or as we call it in modern times, the Indus Valley Civilisation): historians and researchers have consistently marvelled at the fixation that the Indus Valley Civilisation seemed to have for water and hygiene. In fact historian M Jansen used the term ‘wasserluxus’ (obsession with water) to describe their magnificent obsession with the physical and symbolic aspects of water, a term Gregory Possehl builds upon in his brilliant book, The Indus Civilisation — A Contemporary Perspective. In the book, The Immortals

Balinese and Javanese Hinduism eventually split into two traditions, one known as Agama Dharma Hindu Indonesia, which fashioned itself into a monotheism in accord with legal strictures in Indonesia concerning what can be a legally recognized religion, while the more historically authentic tradition became known as Agama Tirtha, the religion of the holy waters, referring to the central practice in it of blessing water through the recitation of mantras or through the performance of other ceremonies. Water can also be blessed by simply placing it in a shrine. The blessed water then becomes the vehicle rendering other ceremonies effective, by being sprinkled over offerings, to purify the place of worship or the worshipers, and in specific purification rituals as well as rituals associated with cremation. The water drawn from coconuts is also used sometimes in this tradition.69 The use of water in Agama Tirtha can be compared with the ancient Greek practice of asperging, or sprinkling with holy water called khernips, often sanctified to the God Apollo by dropping a burning laurel or myrtle leaf into it, or dipping into it a sacred branch of the laurel tree. Some of these asperging practices were in turn taken up by the Greek Christian clergy.

What an irony in that the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims remain doctrinally sundered by their self-same Semitic God and the diverse pantheon of Hindu deities render their respective devotees into the social fold of sanatana dharma!

What an irony in that their self-same God turns Jews, Christians and Muslims religiously antagonistic to each other and the pantheon of diverse Hindu deities unifies their respective devotees in sanatana dharma’s social fold!

Unlike other religions in the world the Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one god; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more.

Whereas the Muslim invaders failed to Islamize Hindustan, the British colonialists succeeded in Macaulayzing the Hindu minds into slighting its sanatana dharma.