HinduismHinduism path to human path to human

progressprogressDr.T.V.Rao MDDr.T.V.Rao MD

History of HinduismHistory of Hinduism According to historians, the origin of According to historians, the origin of

Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. The word "Hindu" is derived from the name The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of River Indus, which flows through north-of River Indus, which flows through north-western India. In ancient times the river was western India. In ancient times the river was called the "Sindhu", but the Persians who called the "Sindhu", but the Persians who migrated to India called the river "Hindu," migrated to India called the river "Hindu," the land "Hindustan" (Sanskrit, Hindi), and the land "Hindustan" (Sanskrit, Hindi), and its inhabitants "Hindus". Thus the daily life its inhabitants "Hindus". Thus the daily life practices evolved as the religion followed by practices evolved as the religion followed by the Hindus came to be known as "Hinduism the Hindus came to be known as "Hinduism

What is HinduismWhat is Hinduism

Hinduism is a term for a wide variety Hinduism is a term for a wide variety of related religious traditions native of related religious traditions native to India. Historically, it encompasses to India. Historically, it encompasses the development of Religion in India the development of Religion in India since the Iron Age traditions, which since the Iron Age traditions, which in turn hark back to prehistoric in turn hark back to prehistoric religions such as that of the Bronze religions such as that of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization Age Indus Valley Civilization followed by the Vedic religion. followed by the Vedic religion.

What is Hindu philosophyWhat is Hindu philosophy Hindu philosophy had six branches, Hindu philosophy had six branches,

evolving from about the 2nd century evolving from about the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE, viz. BCE to the 6th century CE, viz. Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Monotheistic religions like Shaivism Monotheistic religions like Shaivism and Vaishnavism developed during and Vaishnavism developed during this same period through the Bhakti this same period through the Bhakti movement. movement.

Supreme court defines Supreme court defines HinduismHinduism

In 1995 The Supreme Court of India In 1995 The Supreme Court of India highlighted Bal Gangadhar Tilak's highlighted Bal Gangadhar Tilak's formulation of Hinduism's defining formulation of Hinduism's defining features: Acceptance of the Vedas with features: Acceptance of the Vedas with reverence; Recognition of the fact that reverence; Recognition of the fact that the means or ways to salvation are the means or ways to salvation are diverse; and the realization of the diverse; and the realization of the truth that the number of gods to be truth that the number of gods to be worshipped is large, that indeed is the worshipped is large, that indeed is the distinguishing feature of Hindu distinguishing feature of Hindu religion. religion.

Hinduism is Sanatana Hinduism is Sanatana DharmaDharma

Hinduism is often referred to as Hinduism is often referred to as Sanatana Dharma meaning 'the eternal Sanatana Dharma meaning 'the eternal path'. The belief is a conglomerate of path'. The belief is a conglomerate of religious, philosophical and cultural religious, philosophical and cultural ideas characterized by the belief in ideas characterized by the belief in reincarnation, the path to reincarnation, the path to righteousness, and the desire to righteousness, and the desire to liberate from the cycle of births and liberate from the cycle of births and deaths. deaths.

Hinduism is Human Hinduism is Human DharmaDharma

Hinduism rests on the spiritual bedrock Hinduism rests on the spiritual bedrock of the Vedas, hence Veda Dharma, and of the Vedas, hence Veda Dharma, and their mystic issue, the Upanishads, as their mystic issue, the Upanishads, as well as the teachings of many great well as the teachings of many great Hindu gurus through the ages. Many Hindu gurus through the ages. Many streams of thought flow from the six streams of thought flow from the six Vedic/Hindu schools, Bhakti sects and Vedic/Hindu schools, Bhakti sects and Tantra Agamic schools into the one Tantra Agamic schools into the one ocean of Hinduism, the first of the ocean of Hinduism, the first of the Dharma religions. Dharma religions.

Dharma is foundation of Dharma is foundation of HinduismHinduism

DharmaDharma, a Sanskrit phrase meaning , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. "the eternal law", by its adherents. Hindu beliefs vary widely, with Hindu beliefs vary widely, with concepts of God and/or gods ranging concepts of God and/or gods ranging from Panentheism, pantheism, from Panentheism, pantheism, monotheism, polytheism, and atheism monotheism, polytheism, and atheism with Vishnu and Shiva being the most with Vishnu and Shiva being the most popular deities. Other notable popular deities. Other notable characteristics include a belief in characteristics include a belief in reincarnation and karma, as well as reincarnation and karma, as well as personal duty, or dharma. personal duty, or dharma.

Gayatri Mantra raises the Gayatri Mantra raises the Human consciousness Human consciousness

Aum bhur Aum bhur bhuvah svahbhuvah svahTat savitur Tat savitur varenyamvarenyamBhargo devasya Bhargo devasya dhimahidhimahiDhiyo yo nah Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat  pracodayat 

We meditate on the We meditate on the transcendental glory transcendental glory of of the Deity Supreme,the Deity Supreme,who is inside the who is inside the heart of the earth,heart of the earth,inside the life of the inside the life of the sky, sky, and inside the soul of and inside the soul of the heaven.the heaven.May He stimulate and May He stimulate and illumine our mindsillumine our minds.. "  "

For Dharmic man life is a For Dharmic man life is a DelightDelight

From Delight we From Delight we came into came into existence.existence.

In Delight we In Delight we grow.grow.

At the end of our At the end of our journey’s close,journey’s close,

Into Delight we Into Delight we retire.retire.

Dharma is foundation of Dharma is foundation of HinduismHinduism

DharmaDharma, a Sanskrit phrase meaning , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. "the eternal law", by its adherents. Hindu beliefs vary widely, with Hindu beliefs vary widely, with concepts of God and/or gods ranging concepts of God and/or gods ranging from Panentheism, pantheism, from Panentheism, pantheism, monotheism, polytheism, and atheism monotheism, polytheism, and atheism with Vishnu and Shiva being the most with Vishnu and Shiva being the most popular deities. Other notable popular deities. Other notable characteristics include a belief in characteristics include a belief in reincarnation and karma, as well as reincarnation and karma, as well as personal duty, or dharma. personal duty, or dharma.

Chandogya UpanishadChandogya Upanishad on origin of Lifeon origin of Life

""In the beginning was only Being,In the beginning was only Being,   One without a second.One without a second.   Out of himself he brought forth the Out of himself he brought forth the

cosmoscosmos   And entered into everything in it.And entered into everything in it.   There is nothing that does not come There is nothing that does not come

from him.from him.   Of everything he is the inmost Self.Of everything he is the inmost Self.   He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.   You are that, Shvetaketu; you are You are that, Shvetaketu; you are

that."that."  

Every Man’s PrayerEvery Man’s Prayer

Lead me from the Lead me from the unreal to the Real.unreal to the Real.

Lead me from Lead me from darkness unto darkness unto Light.Light.

Lead me from Lead me from death to death to Immortality.Immortality.

Concentration is Concentration is MeditationsMeditations

The earth seems to The earth seems to rest in silent rest in silent meditation;  meditation;  and the waters and and the waters and the sky and the the sky and the heavens heavens seem all to be in seem all to be in meditation." On meditation." On Earth, those who Earth, those who reach greatness reach greatness achieve it through achieve it through concentration.concentration.

Who Is GodWho Is God

"He is everlasting "He is everlasting and omnipresent, and omnipresent, infinite in the great infinite in the great and infinite in the and infinite in the small.  small.  He is the Eternal He is the Eternal whom the sages whom the sages see as the source see as the source of all creation. of all creation.

What is Creation What is Creation Veda UpanishadVeda Upanishad

Where there is Where there is joy there is joy there is creation. Where creation. Where there is no joy there is no joy there is no there is no creation: know creation: know the nature of the nature of joy.joy.

Your future life is decided Your future life is decided byby....

Live in accordance Live in accordance with our deep, with our deep, driving desire. It is driving desire. It is this desire atthis desire atthe time of death that the time of death that determines what our determines what our next life is to be. We next life is to be. We willwillcome back to earth to come back to earth to work out the work out the satisfaction of that satisfaction of that desire. desire.

From Mortal to ImmortalFrom Mortal to Immortal When all the desires When all the desires

that surge in the heartthat surge in the heartAre renounced, the Are renounced, the mortal becomes mortal becomes immortal.immortal.

When all the knots When all the knots that strangle the heartthat strangle the heartAre loosened, the Are loosened, the mortal becomes mortal becomes immortal,immortal,Here in this very life. Here in this very life.

Truth alone TriumphsTruth alone Triumphs

Whatever takes Whatever takes form is false.form is false.

Only the formless Only the formless endures.endures.

  Truth alone Truth alone triumphstriumphs. .

Who is InfiniteWho is Infinite

For God is infinite,For God is infinite, Within the body Within the body

and without,and without, Like a mirror,Like a mirror, And the image in a And the image in a

mirror.mirror.

Ashtavakra Gita 1: 18-20Ashtavakra Gita 1: 18-20  

As the air is As the air is everywhere,everywhere,

Flowing around a Flowing around a potpot

And filling it,And filling it, So God is So God is

everywhere,everywhere, Filling all thingsFilling all things And flowing through And flowing through

them forever.them forever.

Ashtavakra GitaAshtavakra Gita

I am boundless I am boundless space.space.

The world is a clay The world is a clay pot. pot. 

  This is the truth.This is the truth. There is nothing to There is nothing to

accept,accept,

   Nothing to reject,Nothing to reject,   Nothing to Nothing to

dissolve.dissolve.

Sri RamakrishnaSri Ramakrishna

The formless The formless Absolute is my Absolute is my Father, and God with Father, and God with form is my Mother.” form is my Mother.” God reveals Himself God reveals Himself in the form which in the form which His devotee His devotee lovesloves most. His love for most. His love for the devotee knows the devotee knows no bounds.no bounds.

  

Tirukkural on CompassionTirukkural on Compassion

Find and follow the Find and follow the good path and be good path and be ruled by ruled by compassion.compassion.

For if the various For if the various ways are examined, ways are examined, compassion will compassion will prove the means to prove the means to liberation.liberation.

  

Mundaka UpanishadMundaka Upanishad Not by the weak, Not by the weak,

not by the not by the unearnest,unearnest,

  Not by those who Not by those who practice wrong practice wrong disciplinesdisciplines

  Can the Self be Can the Self be realized. The Self realized. The Self revealsreveals

  Himself as the Lord Himself as the Lord of Love to the one of Love to the one

  Who practices right Who practices right disciplines.disciplines.

Sarvepalli RadhakrishnanSarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975)(1888–1975)

Hinduism is not just a Hinduism is not just a faith. It is the union of faith. It is the union of reason and intuition reason and intuition that can not be defined that can not be defined but is only to be but is only to be experienced. Evil and experienced. Evil and error are not ultimate. error are not ultimate. There is no Hell, for There is no Hell, for that means there is a that means there is a place where God is not, place where God is not, and there are sins and there are sins which exceed his love.which exceed his love.

Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi (1869 - (1869 - 19481948

After long study and After long study and experience, I have experience, I have come to the conclusion come to the conclusion that that all religions are true; all religions are true; all religions have some all religions have some error in error in them; all religions are them; all religions are almost as dear to me almost as dear to me as my own Hinduism, as my own Hinduism, in as much as all in as much as all human beings should human beings should be as dear to one be as dear to one

The MahabharataThe Mahabharata on Highest on Highest Human DharmaHuman Dharma

Do not to others Do not to others what ye do not wishwhat ye do not wishDone to yourself; Done to yourself; and wish for others and wish for others tootooWhat ye desire and What ye desire and long for, for long for, for yourself.yourself.This is the whole of This is the whole of righteousness, heed righteousness, heed it well. it well.

Rig VedaRig Veda When there is harmony When there is harmony

between the mind, between the mind, heart and resolution heart and resolution then nothing is then nothing is impossibleimpossible

““One should performed One should performed his deeds for the his deeds for the benefit of mankind with benefit of mankind with an unbiased approach an unbiased approach because of bias gives because of bias gives birth to evil, which birth to evil, which creates thousands of creates thousands of obstacles in our path. obstacles in our path.

Rig VedaRig Veda “ “ Ego is the biggest Ego is the biggest

enemy of humans.enemy of humans. People who are soft People who are soft

spoken and truthful spoken and truthful are loved by all. ”are loved by all. ”

A person can achieve A person can achieve everything by being everything by being simple and humble.”simple and humble.”

Have a child like Have a child like Innocence Innocence

Rig VedaRig Veda

By getting up early By getting up early in the morning one in the morning one also gets more time also gets more time at his disposal for at his disposal for work as compared work as compared to late-risers. to late-risers. Scholar and Scholar and thinkers get up thinkers get up early in the early in the morning and morning and contemplate contemplate

Rig VedaRig Veda One should, perform One should, perform

karma with karma with nonchalance without nonchalance without expecting the benefits expecting the benefits because sooner or later because sooner or later one shall definitely one shall definitely gets the fruits. ~ gets the fruits. ~

People accept only that People accept only that person as their leader person as their leader who is radiant with who is radiant with good knowledge and good knowledge and karma (deeds). ~ karma (deeds). ~

Rig VedaRig Veda

One should be cautOne should be cautions not to speak aions not to speak anything that hurts nything that hurts others. Such kind oothers. Such kind of speech never helf speech never helps but always brinps but always brings destruction. ”gs destruction. ”

“The main factor b“The main factor behind success is - sehind success is - self control.elf control.

Rig VedaRig Veda

Kindled in various Kindled in various forms, the forms, the perennial flame is perennial flame is One; sprinkling the One; sprinkling the world with golden world with golden beams at dawn; beams at dawn; painting the painting the evening clouds with evening clouds with changing colors, changing colors, the sun is one. the sun is one.

  Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda

You have to grow You have to grow from the inside from the inside out. None can out. None can teach you, none teach you, none can make you can make you spiritual. There is spiritual. There is no other teacher no other teacher but your own but your own soul.”soul.”

  Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda

We are what our We are what our thoughts have thoughts have made us; so take made us; so take care about what care about what you think. Words you think. Words are secondary. are secondary. Thoughts live; they Thoughts live; they travel fartravel far

Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda

““The goal of mankind is knowledge ... The goal of mankind is knowledge ... Now this knowledge is inherent in man. Now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.”infinite knowledge.”

Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda

Never think there Never think there is anything is anything impossible for the impossible for the soul. It is the soul. It is the greatest heresy to greatest heresy to think so. If there is think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin, this is the only sin to say that you sin to say that you are weak, or others are weak, or others are weakare weak..

Dharma basis of Dharma basis of HinduismHinduism

Dharma is God's divine law prevailing Dharma is God's divine law prevailing on every level of existence, from the on every level of existence, from the sustaining cosmic order to religious sustaining cosmic order to religious and moral laws which bind us in and moral laws which bind us in harmony with that order. Every form of harmony with that order. Every form of life, every group of men, has its life, every group of men, has its dharma, the law of its being. Related to dharma, the law of its being. Related to the soul, dharma is the mode of the soul, dharma is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous advancement, the right and righteous path. path.

Dharma is Divine LawDharma is Divine Law When we follow When we follow

dharma, we are in dharma, we are in conformity with the conformity with the Truth that inheres and Truth that inheres and instructs the universe, instructs the universe, and we naturally abide and we naturally abide in closeness to God. A in closeness to God. A dharma is opposition dharma is opposition to divine law. Dharma to divine law. Dharma is to the individual is to the individual what its normal what its normal development is to a development is to a seed--the orderly seed--the orderly fulfilment of an fulfilment of an inherent nature and inherent nature and destiny. destiny.

What is superiorWhat is superior

The desires are The desires are superior to the superior to the senses, the mind is senses, the mind is superior to the superior to the desires, the desires, the intuition intuition (understanding) is (understanding) is superior to the superior to the mind, the great Self mind, the great Self is superior to the is superior to the intuition. intuition.

Controlling self remain the Controlling self remain the Highest YogaHighest Yoga

The senses, they say, The senses, they say, are the horses; the are the horses; the objects of sense, what objects of sense, what they range over..they range over..

He who is ever of He who is ever of unrestrained mind, unrestrained mind, devoid of true devoid of true understanding, his understanding, his sense-desires then sense-desires then become uncontrollable become uncontrollable like the wild horses of like the wild horses of a charioteer. a charioteer.

Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi (1869-(1869-19481948) )

Hinduism has made marvellous Hinduism has made marvellous discoveries in things of religion, of discoveries in things of religion, of the spirit, of the soul. We have no eye the spirit, of the soul. We have no eye for these great and fine discoveries. for these great and fine discoveries. We are dazzled by the material We are dazzled by the material progress that Western science has progress that Western science has made. Ancient India has survived made. Ancient India has survived because Hinduism was not developed because Hinduism was not developed along material but spiritual lines along material but spiritual lines

Mother Sarada DeviMother Sarada Devi,,

Hinduism Hinduism does not does not see sins, see sins, but only but only mistakes mistakes

Why I am a Hindu Why I am a Hindu Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

I am a Hindu I am a Hindu because it is because it is Hinduism which Hinduism which makes the world makes the world worth living. I am worth living. I am a Hindu hence I a Hindu hence I Love not only Love not only human beings, but human beings, but all living beings all living beings

Hinduism is Spiritual Hinduism is Spiritual ProgressProgress

Hinduism has made Hinduism has made marvellous discoveries in marvellous discoveries in things of religion, of the things of religion, of the spirit, of the soul. We have spirit, of the soul. We have no eye for these great and no eye for these great and fine discoveries. We are fine discoveries. We are dazzled by the material dazzled by the material progress that Western progress that Western science has made. Ancient science has made. Ancient India has survived because India has survived because Hinduism was not Hinduism was not developed along material developed along material but spiritual linesbut spiritual lines

Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

Sri AurobindoSri Aurobindo HinduismHinduism.....gave itself no name, because .....gave itself no name, because

it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole universal adhesion, asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up no single narrow infallible dogma, set up no single narrow path or gate of salvation; it was less a creed path or gate of salvation; it was less a creed or cult than a continuously enlarging or cult than a continuously enlarging tradition of the God ward endeavor of the tradition of the God ward endeavor of the human spirit. An immense many-sided and human spirit. An immense many-sided and many staged provision for a spiritual self-many staged provision for a spiritual self-building and self-finding, it had some right building and self-finding, it had some right to speak of itself by the only name it knew, to speak of itself by the only name it knew, the eternal religion, Santana Dharma...." the eternal religion, Santana Dharma...."

Wilhelm von HumboldtWilhelm von Humboldt

Bhagvad-Gita is Bhagvad-Gita is the most beautiful, the most beautiful, perhaps the only perhaps the only true philosophical true philosophical song existing in song existing in any known any known tongue…....perhaps tongue…....perhaps the deepest and the deepest and loftiest thing the loftiest thing the world has to show. world has to show.

Ralph Waldo Emerson on Ralph Waldo Emerson on Bhagwad GitaBhagwad Gita

It is sublime as It is sublime as night and a night and a breathless ocean. breathless ocean. It contains every It contains every religious religious sentiment, all the sentiment, all the grand ethics which grand ethics which visit in turn each visit in turn each noble poetic noble poetic mind… mind…

Voltaire on Sacred LandVoltaire on Sacred Land

I am convinced I am convinced that everything has that everything has come down to us come down to us from the banks of from the banks of the Ganges, - the Ganges, - astronomy, astronomy, astrology, astrology, metempsychosis, metempsychosis, etc." etc."

Dr. Annie BesantDr. Annie Besant

After a study of some forty years and After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophic, and scientific, none so philosophic, and none so spiritual as the great religion none so spiritual as the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. The known by the name of Hinduism. The more you know it, the more you will more you know it, the more you will love it; the more you try to understand love it; the more you try to understand it, the more deeply you will value it”it, the more deeply you will value it”

Dr. Annie BesantDr. Annie Besant

After a study of some forty years and After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none so philosophic, and scientific, none so philosophic, and none so spiritual as the great religion none so spiritual as the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. The known by the name of Hinduism. The more you know it, the more you will more you know it, the more you will love it; the more you try to understand love it; the more you try to understand it, the more deeply you will value it”it, the more deeply you will value it”

Will DurantWill DurantHinduism teaches Love for allHinduism teaches Love for all

Perhaps in return for Perhaps in return for conquest, arrogance and conquest, arrogance and spoliation, India will spoliation, India will teach us the tolerance teach us the tolerance and gentleness of the and gentleness of the mature mind, the quiet mature mind, the quiet content of the content of the unacquisitive soul, the unacquisitive soul, the calm of the calm of the understanding spirit, and understanding spirit, and a unifying, a pacifying a unifying, a pacifying love for all living things."love for all living things."

Hinduism Hinduism continues to continues to Inspire Great Inspire Great

thinkers in the thinkers in the World in spite of World in spite of several Religious several Religious

beliefsbeliefs

Dr.T.V.Rao MDDr.T.V.Rao MD

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