Aum Hindutvam

Aum Hindutvam

The author negates some of the very old concepts, viz., that females and Shudras, and people who have not undergone the Upanayana Samskaras have no access to Vedas or they should not perform Vedic rituals. He insists that 'all religious observances of a man, if devoid of right conduct, are of no avail. Right conduct constitutes an important element of education and civilization. In his opinion Hindus will have to develop the all-comprehensive idea of Hindu Dharma in and through their lives and activities. Their welfare lies in the Vedic prayers and practices. Those who are interested in Hindu Dharma, and those who want to know about its rituals will find the present work indispensable. The author deals with the religious practices, observances and rituals. When, how, and where certain rituals are to be performed, is clearly discussed. Benefits of Divine Communion are given special emphasis.

Hinduism for All

Hinduism : The Faith Eternal

The evolution of Hinduism has been a saga of continuous progression from the unreal to the real, from the profane to the profound, in successive stages of human development. Hinduism has withstood challenges of all hues, both within and without. It has had its periods of light and shade, occurring concurrently, through the course of history. Sometimes shady aspects assumed vast proportions and enveloped the lofty ideals of the Vedas, but prophetic souls appeared to redeem the society of evil, from Adi Shankaracarya to Bhakti reformers of medieval India, and from Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayananda and Swami Vivekananda to Mahatma Gandhi. Like any other human faith, Hinduism has its philosophical and practical sides, called “the kernel and the husk” respectively. The survival of Hinduism has been due to its ability to separate the former from the latter, in an unending process, and to withstand challenges of all types by adhering to the timeless principles of truth (satya) and righteousness (dharma). Hinduism has been open, flexible and adaptable. It has discarded outworn ideas and institutions, absorbed the best elements of fellow cultures, and reinterpreted itself in changing milieus. The present publication by Advaita Ashrama, a branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India is an attempt to explain the quintessential of Hinduism within the orbit of time and beyond it, involving an explication of the eternal values and principles which sustain existence. It explores the dynamics of Hinduism in religio-historical framework through the second millennium of the common era. About the Cover:The image of Lord Shiva as Nataraja, the king of dancers. As the Cosmic Dancer, his dance represents the five cosmic activities of creation, preservation, destruction, concealment of Truth behind apparitions, and divine grace. He dances on the prostate body of the demon, Apasmara. Apasmara symbolises man's ignorance or forgetfulness of Truth. Shiva is Time (kala), and he is also the Great Time (maha kala), i.e. Eternity. This is the dance of the Cosmic Being, eternally going on.