Principles and Practice of Hindu Religion
Chapter - III : A Historical Approach to the Hindu Traditions
A Study of the History and Evolution of the Faith along with
the Beliefs and Culture of India over the Time of Several Millennia
 
   
 
Lesson - 36 :
One God and One Faith with Many Practices
The Faith on Divine Manifestation
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

Many schools of Vedic scholars, Rishis, gave different meanings to the Vedic teachings and wrote the six "Dharsanas" or philosophical explanations. Some emphasized the rituals as the main feature of the practice. Some stressed the philosophy. Some even ignored the aspect of the "God" in the teachings and some others stressed the importance of a Philosophy or complicated rituals only as the ultimate means of liberation. Some mixed the rituals, Philosophy and Theism (Belief in God) in a single system. Most of the time the teaching that missed faith in God was not accepted and was denied popular support. Later Rishis wrote new versions of these theories with new meanings, modified to accommodate the faith in God, to make them more acceptable to the people. As the Veda taught us the essence of monotheism in our daily prayers, slowly people started forgetting the true meaning of the faith along with the basic essence of the philosophy.

 

As the practice changed with time from prayers of Mantras to teachings of Upanishads and later to Rituals with sacrifices, people followed the teachings with blind faith, discipline and fear. This was the way religious faith of Sanatana Dharma and Vedic way of life was practiced from the dawn of civilization until about 2500 years ago. At this time, Sri Krishna taught us, through the Bhagvat Geeta, the true essence of Vedic Hindu Philosophy. He explains the importance of one's duty to the society and the true meaning of religion and rituals. He tells us not to concentrate only on rituals as the sole path and means of achieving the goal of uniting with God. He tells us of the oneness of the Divine Force (Brahmam) in various forms and the unity of Atmam and Brahmam. The basic teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads on Hindu religious belief remains the same forever, as told again by Sri Krishna in Srimad Bhagavat Geeta that: "When Dharma declines and Adharma gains strength, God manifests Himself to protect the community." "Whatever form a devotee seeks to worship with faith, God will stabilize his faith in that form for him."

 
   
 
 
   
 
Lessons : - 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46, 47 , 48 .