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| Basic
Study of Hindu Religion Hindu
Heritage Study Program
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Level 2 | | Chapter
- II.: An Introduction to Principles
of Hinduism | Brief
Information about Hinduism
for the Youth & the New Seekers |
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Lesson
: 01 | How
It all came about | |
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Hindu
Religion is the most ancient Religious faith, culture and traditional way
of life of a civilization that has existed for over 10,000 years all over India
and much of adjoining areas of Asia. Hindu Religion is not a true Religion in
the real sense of the term but more a way of life or a "Dharma" -to live a life
of purity with simplicity with a sense of Natural Justice. It does not have any
one founder, and it does not have one source book like a Bible or a Koran to which
controversies can be referred for resolution. Consequently, it does not require
its adherents to accept any one idea like a dogma imposed on every one. It does
not accept any dogmas or dictatorial religious guidance. It encourages every one
to think, analyze, question and accept the faith with true knowledge and intuition.
Since Hindu scriptures include not just books relating to spirituality but also
secular pursuits like science, medicine, astronomy and engineering, it defies
classification as a religion. In fact one can almost identify Hinduism with a
civilization and a culture that is flourishing even now. | |
Evidence
that Hindu Religion must have existed even circa 10000 B.C. is available: The
importance attached to the river Saraswati and the numerous references to it in
the Rigveda (interestingly, Ganga appears only twice) indicates that the Rigveda
was being composed well before 6500 B.C. The first vernal equinox recorded in
the Rigveda is that of the star Ashwini, which is now known to have occurred around
10,000 B.C. The technological sophistication required to even anticipate such
concepts is unlikely to have been acquired by a nomadic people. The faith existed
both on the East and the West of this Indus valley. The Aryan Invasion Theory
having been completely discredited, it cannot be assumed that Hinduism was the
nomadic faith of invaders belonging to a Central Asian race called Aryans. Rather
it was the common metafaith or belief of people of various races, including Harappans.
The Sanskrit word Aryan is a word of honorable address, not the racial
reference as 'invented' by European scholars and put to perverse use by the Nazis.
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Unless
otherwise specified, Aryan will be used in this document as a word of honorable
address. Within this culture, there were several variations in the groups, some
following narration of recitations and rituals and others joining together in
a common place for a congregational worship and for marker stones and symbols.
Various groups of people like hunters, farmers and other nomadic groups followed
it all over this area. It was seen with slight variations within each group. It
is said that there were several forms of the faith existing at the early history,
which was organized into one faith by King Vaivasvatha Manu [about 8600 BCE].
This evolved into the Sanatana Dharma or the modern day Hindu Religion of Vedas,
Agamas, Săstras and rituals as one great faith and practice. | |
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