Principles of Hinduism Explained to Non-Hindus

By Mohan Sivasankaran

The book is an effort to clear a lot of misconception about Hindu theology and philosophy , such as its origins , it’s concept of a supreme being , the meaning of the multitudes of images of God and the ways and manners of worshiping the various forms of God. The book identifies the various scriptures that Hindus follow in the conducting of the religion . It explains the philosophical thoughts, its applications and the purpose or goal. Hinduism not just a religion or philosophy but a way of life for the whole population who follows it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728364735

Mohan Sivasankaran

Mohan Chandra Sivasankaran was born in a practicing Hindu household in October 1948 in the city of Trivandrum , Kerala , India . My Late Father, K.G. Sivasankaran Nair , retired educator , and late mother Sarojini Devi , housewife , were pious Hindus . They were more spiritual than religious . I grew up in such an household . I was exposed to spiritual matters from very young age. Later in life , after graduating from University of Kerala , India majoring in Physics and completing a deploma program in Aeronautical Engineering I started my career as a teacher, teaching physics, mathematics and engineering subjects . About 35 years ago I seriously started reading Hindu scriptures especially Vedas , Upanishads and Commentaries by ancient sages , and practicing on them . This book is the result of such efforts. My beloved wife, Salini Anandavally, has been very inspirational to this effort.

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© 2020 Mohan Sivasankaran. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-7283-6474-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-6473-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020911113

Published by AuthorHouse 08/03/2020

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Contents

WHAT IS HINDUISM?

THE BASIC NATURE OF HINDUISM.

VEDAs AND VEDANDAs.

OTHER SCRIPTURES IN HINDUISM.

HINDU CONCEPT OF GOD AND TRINITIES.

THE CONCEPT OF ABSOLUTE REALITY AND NON-REALITY IN HINDUISM. SATH and ASATH.

THE HINDU CONCEPT OF CREATION AND OF TIME

HINDU DIVISIONS OF TIME IN MACRO SCALE.

HINDU CONCEPT OF THE TYPES OF GUNAs (Attributes) AND THEIR RELATION TO YUGAS.

HINDU CONCEPT OF SAGES AND GREAT SAGES(Rishis and Maha Rishis)

HINDU CONCEPT OF THE RELATION BETWEEN HUMANS AND GOD.

YOGA PRACTICES ASCRIBED IN HINDU SCRIPTURES.

HINDU CONCEPT OF SELF REALIZED YOGI.

HINDU CONCEPT OF THE LAW OF KARMA (What you sow, so you reap).

HINDU CONCEPT OF DEATH AND REBIRTH.

THE HINDU CONCEPT OF HUMANS.

HINDU CONCEPT OF LIFE AFTER DEATH AND THE PROCESS OF REBIRTH.

HINDU PANTHEON OF GODS AND HINDU CONCEPT OF IDOL WORSHIPPING

HINDU CONCEPT OF HUMAN MIND.

HINDU CONCEPT OF ATHMAN.

HINDU SYSTEM OF VARNA AND POPULAR HINDU FAITHS AND SECTS.

HINDU CONCEPT OF AVATHARAM (Incarnation of the Supreme Lord on earth)

COEVAL WITH THE MOST RECENT AVATHAR,BHAGAVAN SHRI SATHYA SAI BABA

HINDU CONCEPT OF GHOSTS AND OTHER PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES.

HINDU TEMPLES.

NAMASTHE.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

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Hinduism for

Non Hindus

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THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO:

MY FATHER: K.G. SIVASANKARAN NAIR;

MY MOTHER: SAROJINI DEVI;

MY PARAM GURU: BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA.

AUTHOR: MOHAN CHANDRA SIVASANKARAN BSc(Physics); Diploma in Aeronautics.

"DO NOT STAND ON THE SHORES OF A GREAT OCEAN

AND SAY ALL STORIES ABOUT PEARLS COMING FROM

OCEAN ARE FALSE; INSTEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIVE

DEEP INTO THE OCEAN TO GET THE PEARLS."

BHAGAVAN SATHYA SAI BABA.

May all the beings in all the worlds be happy.

dedication.psd

By: Andrew Chandran

COVER PAGE DESIGNED BY:

My granddaughter: ASHLEY SAI ROSE ERTZMAN

AUM notation on the left is in Sanskrit and on the right is in Tamil.

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WHAT IS HINDUISM?

In modern times the general notion is that Hinduism is a form of religion that originated in India and the people practicing this religion are called Hindus. Accordingly, close to 80% of the Indian population are Hindus. Practicing Hindus are also present in many other parts of the world. They are either Hindus who migrated from India, some times many generations ago, or people who have adopted the faith. Worldwide there are more than a billion people who claim to be Hindus. The word HINDU is not anywhere in any of the Hindu scriptures. As per the modern archeologists and anthropologists, the word HINDU was coined by the ancient Sumerian and Zoroshtrian cultures of Asia Minor regions for the people who were living on the banks of the river SINDHU (Indus), which may be true. But the faith system is much older than that. Hinduism, unlike most other major religions of the world, has no founder or founders. Hindus believe it is an eternal faith as old as the beginning of the universe. There is some truth in that statement. If the readers come to accept my discussions in the following pages of this book they will see that the faith system called Hinduism is much, much older than the Sumerian civilization. Yes, the faith that we all call now as Hinduism is as old as the universe. There is a general acceptance among some Indian scholars that the faith was first introduced to a very ancient people of the Indian subcontinent. Modern scholars call them Dravidians (DRAVIDA in Sanskrit). Certain ancient civilizations have mentioned in their writings about a population in the ancient Indian subcontinent as Damilans. Maybe a reference to Tamil(the language) speaking people. Modern day Dravidians are mostly concentrated in the southern part of India, especially in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. RIGVEDA, one of the Hindu scriptures, mentions this population. Their language is called Tamil (THAMIZHA). Tamil is considered to be the oldest language. My discussions are based on the principles expounded by the hymns and verses in the Hindu scriptures. Nothing is from my imagination. Being a person of science, when I see a certain principle in the Hindu scriptures that correlates with modern scientific findings I just mention it. Also, I do not claim myself to be a scholar on Hinduism because to become a scholarly Pundit on Hinduism one lifetime may not be sufficient. Such vast and complex is Hinduism. But I happen to read and contemplate on many of the Hindu scriptures and commentaries by great sages of the past, and this is a humble effort to address a lot of misconceptions about Hinduism especially among the non-Hindu populations of the world. My discussions are not to compare Hinduism with any other religion. Read it with an open mind.

THE BASIC NATURE OF HINDUISM.

The core principles upon which the faith is codified were from the ancient Hindu scriptures called VETHAMs (in Tamil) or VEDAs (in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India still being used and taught widely in India. It is a regional language in at least one Indian state). According to these VEDAs the codes upon which the Hindu faith is built were initially given to the celestial Rishis (sages) by BRAHMA the creation aspect of the BRAHMAN (the formless, nameless, non-dual consciousness without which nothing exists). These celestial RISHIs(Sages) gave out these codes to humanity with the help of sages and saints born among humanity. These codes of conduct that were HEARD by the sages were put together as what are known as VEDAs (VEDAMs in Tamil). VEDAs are SHRUTHIs(that which are heard), not SMRITHs (what are borne of mind). There are four Vedas namely RIGVEDAM, SAMAVEDAM, YAJURVEDAM and ATHRVAVEDAM. They are voluminous treatises which provide, in addition to a theology, philosophy and rituals, detailed information of how humans should live their lives on earth in the most righteous manner. These codes of conduct contained in the Vedas are called SANATHAN DHARMA or eternal righteous actions. This SANATHAN DHARMA forms the code of conduct for a Hindu in any situation. Every thought, word and action of a Hindu should be according to the SANATHAN DHARMA. So Hinduism is a way of life, not strictly a religion in the true sense of the meaning of the word religion. Hinduism is not an institutional religion. There is no hierarchical structure to control the religious activities of Hindus. The religion provides ample freedom for the followers to choose their own ways to conduct the religious activities as long as they are within the boundaries of SANATHAN DHARMA principles. This is one of the reasons why Hinduism has many sects under its umbrella such as Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Kaliism, Deviism, Advaitham, Dvaitham, Visishta Advaitham, to name a few. There is even an atheist school of thoughts (NIRISVARAVADI sect) in Hinduism which denies the concept of a God. Another atheist sect is called NYAYA VADI (the arguments by logic) which argues that logic prevails over the concept of God. One common factor to all these different faiths or sects is that they all accept VEDAs as the core philosophy. Each one of these faiths successfully win their argument with the help of the VEDAs. Highly intellectual treatises called BHASHYAs (commentaries) and SHASTHRAs (analytical treatises)were written by philosophers who advocate these various philosophies.

Religious activities are just one of many activities prescribed in the Vedas. In fact, none of the Hindu scriptures provide any religious ceremony a non-Hindu could receive to become a Hindu. Anyone who follows the SANATHAN DHARMA ways of life, which includes acknowledging religious activities cited in the VEDAs may be accepted as a Hindu. Some Hindu groups and sects concocted a few verses from the scriptures to make up a ritual to convert a non-Hindu into a Hindu. These are nothing but sorts of cleansing rituals. Many Hindus, even in India, claim themselves as Hindus just because they are born in Hindu family households even though they have no respect for the codes of conduct as per SANATHAN DHARMA. Truly speaking they are not followers of HINDUISM.

VEDAs AND VEDANDAs.

VEDAs (VETHAM in Tamil singular)are those which were heard by the sages. They are SHRUTHIs. VETHAMs are VAIMOLI (the sacred oral codes) from which the root word VID (wisdom) in SAMSKRUTHAM BHASHA (Sanskrit language in English) was formed. SAMSKRUTHAM means refined and cultured. BHASHA means language. Veda in SAMSKRUTHAM (Sanskrit) means sacred knowledge. Vedas are four as mentioned above. They were originally spoken in Tamil language, the ancient Dravidian language of India. Vedas were not written down originally, but were memorized and passed on orally by generations after generations, the tradition is still being practiced to-date. Later, when Sanskrit became the language of the Hindu elites, they were written down in Sanskrit. The group of people who were placed as the guardians of Vedas were known as Braahmins (BRAAHMANAs in Sanskrit). This group of people belong to one of the four VARNAs (the Vedic caste system) proclaimed by the Vedas. Later, the kings and emperors entrusted Braahmins with the conducting of the religious rituals elaborated in the Vedas. Traditionally, Braahmins were doing priestly duties in any HINDU temple. They were the only ones well versed in Vedas and other scriptures. Hindu priests were just priests. They were not considered to be a representative of God or any Diety the temple is dedicated to. Priests had no control over the devotees visiting the temples. Based on these principles, in modern times, anyone who is well versed in VEDAs and other scriptures can become an officiating priest for any HINDU ceremonies and temples. VEDAs are written in Verses and Hymns which provide detailed explanations of conducting various aspects of life such as how a man or woman should behave in the society as a member, as a spouse, as a parent, as a son or daughter etc. The Hymns give out wide details of how to worship a Diety, what are the rituals involved, the materials needed, the place and time for those rituals, the results of various rituals etc.. Some of the Hymns are parables or short stories to make a point across the hows and whys of those procedures. Some of those parables and stories may have been weird, unbelievable and impossible for a modern person. The importance is how a point is made across by these parables and stories. Rigveda is considered as the oldest and Atharva Veda the latest. These assumptions were made by the scholars by looking at the words used, the pronunciations of some of the words and an overall grammatical structure of the Hymns. But keep in mind the Vedas originated in the very distant past, timeless past, and if at all there were written languages existed then, they might have been much different from what we have now. Besides, Vedas were passed on generations to generations by oral tradition from memory. So there must be caution to assume the four Vedas originated at vast time differences apart. Many of the Hymns are shared by all four Vedas. Occasionally, a Hymn may sound slightly different from one Veda to the other. Again, it may be due to the oral tradition.

VEDANDAs (Vedandam in Tamil singular) were spoken and written at much later periods. They are collections of theological and philosophical thoughts enunciated in the Vedas. So, as for the theological and philosophical aspects of Hinduism they constitute the end of Vedas. Hence Vedandas. Anda in Sanskrit means end. Many of the Hymns are directly transferred from the Vedas. The philosophy of the spiritual aspect of Hinduism is very seriously dealt with in Vedandas. More than one hundred Vedanda texts are known to exist of which only less than twenty are full and are recommended by the scholars. While Vedas illustrate the various processes involved in practicing religion and other social norms, the Vedandas provide the ways and means by which the spiritual uplifting of an individual person could be possible. They solidify the core philosophy of Hinduism that each individual human is a fully developed spiritual entity, having all potential to be able to become God-like. Various practices known as Yoga (union with God) are enumerated in these texts to reach the primary goal of human birth of realizing the fact that each one of us is none other than God. In modern times, such spiritual experience is known as Self realization, Nirvana, sayujyam, merging with the Lord etc.. Each Vedanda treatise is something like question and answer type conversations between a Sage (Rishi) and a student who sits near to the Sage. Hence, Vedandas are also known as UPANISHADS. Upa Ni Shad in Sanskrit means sitting nearby. Upanishads, like Vedas, are SHRUTHIS. Even though Upsnishads are conversations between sages and students, the sages provide answers using the Hymns from the Vedas. The sages do not contribute any new ideas.

Some of the most popular Upanishads are: Aitareya Upanishad, chaandogya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Taitiriiya Upanishad, Isha Upanishad, Brahadaaranyaka Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Maanduukya Upanishad, Prashna Upanishad.

OTHER SCRIPTURES IN HINDUISM.

Other Hindu scriptures fall into three categories namely: Puranas, Ithihasas and Samhithas. These scriptures came into existence at much later periods. These treatises are borne out of the super conscious states of the Maha Rishis (Great Sages) while they are in deep meditation. Since these treatises are borne of the MEMORIES of the great sages, they form a category of scriptures called SMRUTHIS. Smru is a prefix used to denote from the memory.

PURANAs (Puranam in Tamil singular) are stories pertaining to celestial beings who influence the workings of everything that is going on with the universe including earth and its inhabitants, living and nonliving. Most of the Puranas were written in Sanskrit, though a few of them were written in Tamil, the ancient language of India. Many of the Hindu pantheon of Gods and Sages (Rishis) are narrated in these Puranas. In many ways Puranas are the store houses of the stories pertaining to these pantheons of Gods and Sages and their influences over earth, its inhabitants and the cosmos at large. Puranas narrate the interaction between celestial Gods and kings and heroes residing on earth; their boons and exploits; their grace and punishments to earthlings. Puranas are many some of which are: Siva Purana, Vayu Purana, Garuda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana, Kurma Purana, Agni Purana, Bhagavatha Purana, Skanda Purana. Some of the Puranas contain tens of thousands of verses.

ITHIHASAs (Ithihasam in Tamil singular): Ithihasas are narrations of historical facts. The time, places and the people involved are very elaborately narrated. Spoken by Sages who were contemporary to the events. Valmiki Ramayana and Mahabharatha are the most well known Ithihasas. Sage Valmiki is the author of Ramayana while Sage Vyasa is the author of Mahabharatha. These epics were written in Sanskrit as poems containing thousands of verses. According to one of the UPAPURANAs (sub Purana) of Vishnu Purana sage Valmiki was a contemporary of Lord Rama’s time called THRETHA YUGA, in Hindu chronology of time. The epic Ramayana is the history of Lord Rama and his family members and associates which includes the battle between Lord Rama and an evil emperor called Ravana who ruled the neighboring kingdom called Lanka, the present day Sri Lanka. Ravana, though evil, was a great scholar of the time by mastering Vedas and other spiritual austerities such as rituals and Yoga practices. By his mastery of the mental, physical and spiritual capabilities there was no one on earth who could stop his evil deeds. His deeds were threatening the existence of everything on earth. Sages prayed earnestly. As a result,