Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 50

 

50) OṀ HAINDAVA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

           OṀ (AUM) - HAIN - DA - VA - BHOO- MYAI- NA-- MA- HA

 

             (Hindu: means-that who rejects the untruth)

 

 

 

 

 

Hinduism is sometimes dubbed as 'a way of life' and not a religion. It is better to have a life that helps one to elevate oneself and be useful to the society, than have a religion that makes an individual dogmatic and the society anti other societies and at present, that is what happening with other religions in the world. Actually Hinduism is a comprehensive system that incorporates in itself all aspects of human life: philosophy, religion, ethics, all facets of culture including the various arts, sciences and literature. In spite of constant invasions from outside or battles among the various rulers inside, the Hindu society has successfully maintained remarkable stability, both at the family level and at the social level. Hinduism permits the acquisition of wealth and the enjoyment of the legitimate pleasure of life. But they should always be within the perimeters of dharma, the true values of life, greatest good of the greatest number.

 

The Sanātana Dharma- has been the way of life for thousands of years for the inhabitants of Bhārata Varṣha. Strangely enough, 'Hinduism' is not its original name! In fact, its adherents never gave it any particular name except 'dharma,' which simply means 'The eternal law that supports and sustains those who practice it'. Nor was there any need to do so since, being ancient-and in a way prehistoric-there was no other religion from which it had to distinguish itself from! Actually, the origin of the words 'Hindu' and 'Hinduism' is geographical. The land of river Sindhu (Indus) and the people inhabiting it came to be known as 'Hindu' among ancient Persians, in whose language, the 'S' of Sanskrit became 'H'. And this name somehow stuck. Looked at from this angle, all religions of Indian origin-whether it is Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism or tribal cults-become different facets of Hinduism. However, in practice, the term is applied specifically to the religion dependent on the Vedas. Also, in Sanskrit Hṃ means asat (untruth) and ḋ means reject. In other words, Hindu is the one who is after Sat (absolute Reality). The word 'Sanātana Dharma' (the 'Ancient and Eternal Religion') is sometimes applied to Hinduism by its more orthodox followers.

Hinduism does not have a single founder, a single Book, a single Church or even a single way of life. Its strength has been able to withstand all the onslaughts of time or the barbarous invasions and external aggressions from outside, nor internal upheavals have destroyed it and showed power of resilience and survival. Hinduism is not idolatry, not fatalism though it preaches through the theory of karma that 'one reaps what one sows'; not the caste system and its hierarchies. Hinduism does not preach or uphold untouchability. Hinduism is not responsible for the occasional stagnation of the Hindu society.

 

Hinduism is both ancient and modern and has survived the vicissitudes of history and onslaughts of time and still standing as 'Haindava Bhūmi'.